The Kingdom of Cambodia formerly known as Kampuchea derived from Sanskrit Kambujadesa), is a country in South East Asia with a population of over 14 million people. The kingdom's capital and largest city is Phnom Penh. Cambodia is the successor state of the once powerful Hindu and Buddhist Khmer Empire, which ruled most of the Indochinese Peninsula between the 11th and 14th centuries.

A citizen of Cambodia is usually identified as "Cambodian" or "Khmer," though the latter strictly refers to ethnic Khmers. Most Cambodians are Theravada Buddhists of Khmer extraction, but the country also has a substantial number of predominantly Muslim Cham, as well as ethnic Chinese, Vietnamese and small animist hill tribes.

The country borders Thailand to its west and northwest, Laos to its northeast and Vietnam to its east and southeast. In the south it faces the Gulf of Thailand. The geography of Cambodia is dominated by the Mekong River (colloquial Khmer: Tonle Thom or "the great river") and the Tonlé Sap ("the fresh water lake"), an important source of fish.

Tourism in Cambodia is still in its infancy,  with few activities on offer. Snorkelling and  diving are popular in Sihanoukville, and boat  trips on rivers and around coastal areas can  usually be arranged with locals keen to make  some money. Improving roads are drawing an  increasing number of cyclists, while the few  remaining roller-coaster roads are paradise  for experienced dirt bikers. Elephant rides  and rewarding trekking are both possible  in the wilds of Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri  provinces.

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodia

People of Cambodia

Currency

Cambodia’s currency is the riel, abbreviated  here by a lower-case r written after the  sum. The riel comes in notes with the following  values: 50r, 100r, 200r, 500r, 1000r,  2000r, 5000r, 10,000r, 20,000r, 50,000r  and 100,000r.  

Throughout this chapter, each establishment’s  prices are in the currency quoted to  the average punter. This is usually in US dollars  or riel, but in the west of the country it  is sometimes in Thai baht. While this may  seem inconsistent, this is the way it is done  throughout Cambodia and the sooner you  get used to thinking comparatively in riel,  dollars or baht, the easier travelling will be.  

Cash  

There are no banks at Cambodian land-border  crossings, so arrive with some US dollars in  hand. US dollars are accepted everywhere so  there’s no compelling need to change money,  although riel is useful to pay for motos and  such. Hardened travellers may argue that  spending dollars makes things slightly more  expensive, but you’ll soon pick up plenty of  riel in change along the way. Exchanging dollars  is best done at markets, as there are no  queues and no paperwork. Those with cash  in another major currency can change it in  major centres.  

Credit Cards  

Cash advances on credit cards are now available in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville,  Kampot, Battambang and Kompong Cham.  Canadia Bank offers the best service, with free MasterCard and Visa cash advances. Credit cards are accepted at some hotels, restaurants,  shops, airlines and travel agents.  

Travellers Cheques  

Like credit cards, travellers cheques aren’t  much use when venturing beyond the main  tourist centres. Most banks charge a commission  of 2% to cash travellers cheque, and  dish out US dollars rather than riel. Some  hotels and travel agents will also cash travellers  cheques after banking hours.

Art & Achitecture

To ensure order and harmony in the universe, Angkor's architects and sculptors created stone temples that symbolized the cosmic world and decorated them with wall carvings and sculptures of Hindu gods and the Buddha. Religious guidelines dictated that a basic temple layout include a central shrine, a courtyard, an enclosing wall, and a moat. More than 60 of these temple complexes survive in the Angkor region. In addition, several stone bridges and reservoirs built in the Angkor period are still in use. Many Cambodian public buildings, such as the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, are decorated in the Khmer architectural style and use motifs such as the garuda, a mythical bird in the Hindu religion.

After the devastation of culture in the Khmer Rouge era, the traditional arts and handicrafts of Cambodia are reviving. Notable among these traditional arts are textiles, silver work, basketry, woodcarving, stone sculpture, and painting. Artisans use cotton to weave the krama, a rectangular scarf made in colorful checks and stripes, and the sampot, a skirt for women. Beautiful silk sampots with elaborate, multicolored patterns, often entwined with gold or silver thread, are woven using the ikat technique, in which each individual thread is tied. Cambodia's long tradition of metal work nearly disappeared, but the French revived it in the early 20th century. Silversmiths produced popular items of the period, such as animal-shaped boxes, intricately decorated, that were used to hold the ingredients of a preparation known as betel, which is chewed as a stimulant and tonic.

Music, Dance and Theatre

Classical Pinpeat of Cambodia, The Cambodian pinpeat ensemble is traditionally heard on feast days in the pagodas. It is also a court ensemble used to accompany classical dance for ritual occasions or theatrical events. The pinpeat is primarily made up of percussion instruments: the roneat ek (high bamboo xylophone), roneat thung (low bamboo xylophone), kong vong touch and kong vong thom (small and large sets of tuned gongs), sampho (two-sided drum), skor thom (two large drums), and sralai (quadruple-reed instrument).

Classical Dance of Cambodia The epic poem of Rama (Ramayana) is believed to have been revealed to a Hindu holy man named Valmiki by Brahma, the god of creation. This religious literary work, dating from about ad 4, is known in various versions throughout India and Southeast Asia. In Cambodia, the story has been set to music and dance and performed by the Royal Ballet since the 18th century. Although the epic is also known in the villages, where it is translated orally or dramatized in the popular shadow puppet theater, the ballet was traditionally a courtly art performed in the palace or for princely festivals. The music of the ballet is performed by the Pinpeat orchestra, which is made up of traditional xylophones, metallophones, horizontal gongs, drums, and cymbals

Khmer classical dance derived from Indian court dance, which traces its origins to the apsarases of Hindu mythology, heavenly female nymphs who were born to dance for the gods. The traditions of Thailand and Java (in Indonesia) also influenced the music and dance of Cambodia. In classical Cambodian dance, women, dressed in brightly colored costumes with elaborate headdresses, perform slow, graceful movements accompanied by a percussive ensemble known as the pinpeat. Pinpeat orchestras include drums, gongs, and bamboo xylophones. In Cambodia's villages, plays performed by actors wearing masks are popular. Shadow plays, performed using black leather puppets that enact scenes from the Reamkern, are also enjoyed. Folk dancing is popular in rural Cambodia and is performed spontaneously to a drumbeat.

Several festivals are held annually which are of interest to both international and domestic tourists. The major festivals are as follows:

April
Bonn Chaul Chhnam(April) is the traditional New Year's festival when Khmers clean and decorate their houses, make offerings and play traditional games.

May
Bonn Chroat Preah Nongkoal (May) is the Royal Ploughing Ceremony which inaugurates the planting season and involves symbolic ploughing and sowing of seed.

September
Bonn Dak Ben and Bonn Pchoum Ben (September) is the festival held for commemoration of the spirits of the dead; 15 days later offerings are made in the temples.

October
Bonn Kathen (October) is a 29-day religious festival when people march in procession to the temples where the monks change from their old to new robes.

His Majesty the King's Birthday (30 October - 1 November) is celebrated in regal fashion and the Royal Palace is sometimes open to the public.

November
Independence Day (9 November) celebrates the date when Cambodia achieved independence from France in 1953.

Bonn Om Took (November) is the water festival which ushers in the fishing season and marks the reversing of the current in the Tonle Sap River. This very popular festival attracts many people to watch the longboat races on the Tonle Sap in Phnom Penh, fireworks and a lighted flotilla of boats.

Tourist Visa

Ref: http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/e-visa/vindex.aspx

Import regulations:
Free import, a reasonable amount of tobacco products and spirits under control of customs agents are allowed.

Pets::
Cats and dogs must be accompanied by Veterinarian Good Health and Rabies Inoculation Certificate issued at the port of origin.

Baggage Clearance regulations:
Baggage is cleared at the airport of Phnom Penh, Pochentong International Airport.

Ref: http://www.iatatravelcentre.com/KH-Cambodia-customs-currency-airport-tax-regulations-details.htm

Weather Information for Phnom Penh - Pochentong

Ref: http://www.worldweather.org
Remark: Climatological information is based on monthly averages for the 30-year period 1961-1990.

Cambodia has a tropical monsoon climate.      

The Cool Season
November to February in Cambodia means clear blue skies by day and cool evenings with a nip in the air.  Perfect weather for exploring the temples.  Expect chilly nights however in December so be prepared to bring a jacket/sweater.

The Wet Season
With cooling monsoon winds, runs from June to October and is also very pleasant.  The rain usually comes in brief afternoon squalls.  When the sun comes back out, the world smells and looks freshly born. Average annual rainfall is about 1,400 mm (about 55 in) on the central plain and increases to as much as 3,800 mm (150 in) in the mountains and along the coast.

The Hot Season
Runs from March to May.  Some dry and dusty visitors get short-tempered when temperatures are running over 35 degrees.  Overland journeys experience choking dust even within the confines of air conditioned vehicles. The Khmer New Year starts in this period around April 15 and to celebrate the beginning of the rains everyone in sight is doused with water by excited celebrations.  Good for people but bad for passports and documents so make sure they are secured in waterproof pouches.

The average annual temperature is about 27°C (about 80°F).

Getting there
Air  Cambodia has regular air links with its Southeast Asian neighbours. Some airlines offer open-jaw tickets into Phnom   Penh and out of Siem Reap, which can save some time and money.

Getting around

Air
Domestic airlines have been in a state of turmoil in recent years. The most reliable carriers right now are Angkor   Airways (Phnom Penh 023-222056; www.angkorairways .com) and Siem Reap Airways (Phnom Penh 023-720022; www.siemreapairways.com), connecting Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and  PMT Air (Phnom Penh 023-221379; www .pmtair.com) connecting Ban Lung in Ratanakiri province   with the capital, and Siem Reap with Sihanoukville.

Boat  
The most popular boat for foreigners runs on the Tonlé Sap, connecting Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Be warned:   the 5½-hour trip can be insanely overcrowded and breakdowns aren’t unknown. Less crowded and more stunning   are the speedboats between Siem Reap and Battambang. Both trips can be slowed by low water in the dry season,   and are overpriced given buses run the routes for a fraction of the price.   The beautiful boat trips on the Mekong, which travelled from Kompong Cham to Kratie and on to Stung Treng, are   no longer an option, as sealed roads and cheap buses have put them out of business. Riding the Gulf of Thailand’s   swells between Sihanoukville and Krong Koh Kong is another viable route.  

Bus  
A proliferation of sealed roads and improved dirt tracks means buses reach further than ever before. The cities of   Stung Treng and Sen   Monorom are now easily reachable in a day from Phnom Penh, a feat unimaginable just a few years ago.   Competition between bus companies is rife along the major routes, causing prices for comfortable air-con buses to   plummet on routes to Siem Reap, Poipet, Battambang and Sihanoukville. Phnom Penh Sorya Transport has the   most extensive network, which also serves smaller centres like Tonlé Bati, Takeo, Kompong Chhnang, Kompong   Cham and Kratie. Hour Lean’s buses are the newest and delve deeper into the northeast, covering the provinces of   Kratie, Stung Treng, Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri.  

Car and Motorcycle  
Self-drive car hire is a bit of a masochistic option, given the state of roads, vehicles and other drivers (in no   particular order). However, guesthouses and travel agencies can arrange a car and driver for anything between   US$20 and US$50 a day, depending on the destination. For the sticky roads in the wet season, a 4WD plus driver is   more like US$50 to US$100.  

While major roads are a bit wild for motorcycles, many of Cambodia’s less travelled tracks are perfect for two-  wheeled exploration. However, forays on motorcycles into the remote and diabolical roads of the northwest and   northeast should only be attempted by experienced riders. If you’re lacking experience, it’s best to hire a motorcycle   and driver for those long days through seas of sand – it’ll set you back about US$15 to US$20 per 24-hour period.   In all cases, proceed cautiously as medical facilities are limited in Cambodia.  

Phnom Penh has the best motorbikes, with daily rates ranging from US$3 for 100cc motorbikes to US$7 or more for   250cc dirt bikes. Kampot also has a good range of bikes with competitive prices. In other provincial towns, it’s   usually possible to find a 100c motorbike for around US$5 a day. Rental of self-drive motorcycles is currently   prohibited in Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, although rules keep changing in Sihanoukville.  
Local Transport  
There are no local bus networks in Cambodia, save for a couple of routes to towns near Phnom Penh. Most people   use motos (motorcycle taxis), remorque-motos (motorcycled-pulled trailers) or cyclos (pedicabs).  

Cyclo
As in Vietnam and Laos, cyclos are a cheap way to get around urban areas. Being pedalled about is a slower, more   relaxing way to see the sights, but for everyday journeys cyclos are fast being pushed out of business by motos.   Cyclo fares vary wildly depending on your negotiating skills, but aim to pay about the same as moto prices.  

Moto
Motos are a quick way of making short hops around towns and cities. Prices range from 1000r to 4000r, depending   on the distance and the town. Most journeys are about 1000r to 2000r – expect to pay double late at night.   It’s best to set the price before mounting the moto, as some drivers assume foreigners will pay more. Most also   presume you know the route and this can create complications if they don’t speak English – drivers will often just   keep going until you tell them to turn, so be vigilant unless you want to end up in Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City. The   unofficial uniform of the moto driver is the baseball cap.  

Remorque-kang and Remorque-Moto
The remorque-kang is a trailer pulled by a bicycle, a sort of reverse cyclo. In places such as Battambang and   Kompong Cham, the remorque-kang are used in place of the cyclo. A trailer hitched to a motorcycle is called a   remorque-moto, also often called a túk-túk à la Thailand. This is the Cambodian equivalent of a local bus in the   countryside. Remorque-motos with covered carriages are pretty popular with tourists in Phnom Penh and Siem  Reap.  

Share Taxi, Pick-up and Minibus  
While vast road improvements across Cambodia have boosted bus transport, the country’s minibuses, pick-up   trucks and share taxis are still a crucial part of the equation for those wishing to lose the crowd.   Pick-ups continue to take on the worst roads in Cambodia. Squeeze in the air-con cab or, if you feel like a tan and a   mouthful of dust, sit on the back. They leave when seriously full. Much quicker are share taxis, which run on the   same routes during the dry season. It is quite possible to buy spare seats to make the journey more comfortable.   Arrange pick-ups and share taxis independently, as it’s cheaper than going through a guesthouse. Haggle patiently   to ensure fair prices. There are almost no metered taxis in Cambodia, save for a couple in the capital.   Minibuses usually travel sealed roads and are the cheapest and most cramped of transport options. While they offer   little in savings, they tend to leave more regularly than other options.  

Train  
As Cambodia’s roads improve, so its railways continue their descent into oblivion.There are currently no passenger   services operating in Cambodia, but it is just about still possible to pay your way on to a cargo train. However, this is   only for serious train spotters, as these are some of the slowest trains in the world.  A lack of maintenance since before the civil war means tracks are more crooked than a Cambodian politician. Trains   can’t travel at more than 20km/h, so the 274km Battambang trip takes 15 hours. Optimists might say this offers   more time to take in the countryside – a lot more time.   It’s possible to sit on the roof of Cambodian trains, a novelty that many travellers enjoy.