Despite being a small country with a modest population, Cambodia can be
difficult to summarize in a few sentences. Most famous for having undergone
disastrous change while governed by the Khmer Rouge regime, this often
forgotten Southeast Asian nation can surprise the visitor with the resiliency
of its people and the richness of its culture. Most foreigners will come
only to visit the awe-inspiring temples of Angkor, but Cambodia offers
so much more with a new discovery lurking around every corner.
Places visited in this travelogue include:
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (Phnom Penh)
This former high school was converted into a prison by the Khmer Rouge,
becoming Cambodia's most notorious torture centre during the Pol Pot era.
It's now a museum taking visitors back to one of the darkest chapters
of the 20th century.
Chong Kneas floating village
Off the shores of the Tonle Sap Lake, the village of Chong Kneas has adopted
a maritime lifestyle where even schools and churches have no permanent
address. Naturally, fishing is the main source of income, although crocodile
and fish farming also play a role in the local economy.
Kompong Phluk
Like Chong Kneas, this lakeshore village has adapted to the seasonally
rising waters of the Tonle Sap Lake. Instead of relying on buoyancy, however,
the houses of Kompong Phluk are perched on high stilts.
Pailin Province Located near the Thai border, the provincial city of Pailin was
a Khmer Rouge strongpoint, and is presently known to harbour many of the
regime's former leaders. Its surrounding areas, once rich in gemstones,
have over the years become one of the most heavily mined regions of Cambodia.
