Leigh Travel Club

POPULATION  13.4 million

Cambodia lies at the heart of Indochina and the Khymer empire ruled for centuries over much of South East Asia. This wonderful country has it all - ancient forgotten ruins swallowed by the jungle, a bustling capital,mile-long untouched sandy beaches, eerie but beautiful colonial towns - from the heat of the plains to the steamy jungle and the coolness of the hills. Cambodia's charms are truly awesome. Cambodia has emerged from the past to enjoy a deserved status as one of Asia's most captivating countries. Be enthralled by its most magnificent treasure- the ancient temples of ANGKOR WAT a World Heritage Site dating back to the ninth century. Explore the bustling boulevards of the capital Phnom Penh, or travel south to the exquisite beaches that pepper Cambodia's coast. Glide past floating houses and ancient citadels in Siem Reap or head deep inland to experience some of the most unspoilt scenery in the region.

CAPITAL - PHNOM PENH - Nestling on the Mekong River,the capital of Cambodia still retains undeniable charm with examples of colonial architecture, new Khymer buildings and vibrant life on the streets. The city is home to several impressive temples and monasteries. Contrast the Silver Pagoda and the National Museum with the chilling Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocidal Crimes and the Choeung Ek Memorial (better known as the "Killing Fields").

PEOPLE - The people you meet are warm of heart and their movements full of grace. They are most welcoming.

CLIMATE -  The climate can generally be described as tropical. As the country is affected by monsoon, it is hot and humid with average temperature around 27C (80F). There are two distinct seasons- Rainy and Dry Seasons. However dry seasons are divided into 2 sub seasons.

The Rainy Season:- From June till October  27C-35C (80-95F)

The Dry Season:- (cool) From November till February 17-27C (80-95F)

The Dry Season:- (hot) From March till May 29-38C (84-100F) 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

CURRENCY  - US dollars are as commonly used as the Cambodian Riel, although it is recommended to have small denominations of the Cambodian Riel. Credit cards are not widely accepted.

ATM's are located in major cities, whilst travellers cheques can be exchanged in authorised foreign exchange banks in Phnom Penh and you must have a local account to use it.

 

TIME- Cambodia runs at GMT+7hrs (the same as it's neighbours Thailand, Vietnam and Laos)

VISAS - Tourist visas are issued on arrival - (you will need 20 US dollars cash and one passport photo). The visa is valid for 30 days. When you enter Cambodia overland you will be asked to show your health card and international vaccination card. A PASSPORT PHOTO IS A MUST. Otherwise they will charge you a fortune to take a photo in the customs hall. 

LANGUAGE -The Cambodian language is Khymer. This language is written in Thai.

Ther are 10 million people in Cambodia and about 90-95%are Khymer Ethnic.  10% of the population live in the capital of Phnom Penh. Cambodia is largely a country of rural dwellers, farmers and artisans.

THERAVADA BUDDISM  is the official religion of Cambodia.

CLOTHING - Casual loose-fitting cotton clothing is recommended and long sleeved items for protection against mosquitoes and the sun.

HEALTH - Never drink tap water, purified water is available everywhere. Visitors should check with their doctor regarding protection against Malaria,Typhoid, Tetanus and Hepatitas A and B.

Food - Khymer Cuisine is closely related to that of neighbouring Thailand although not as spicy. Curry stir fried veg., rice, noodles and soup are the staple diet of the Khymer.

GETTING THERE - You cannot Fly direct between the UK and Cambodia; the main gateways are Bangkok,Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.The lowest fares are likely to be with the national carriers; 

Thai Airways 0870 606 0911  www.thaiairways.co.uk from Heathrow via Bangkok

Singapore Airlines 0870 608 8886  www.singaporeair.co.uk from Heathrow via Singapore 

Malaysia Airlines 0870 607 9090  www.malaysiaairlines.com from Manchester and Heathrow via Kuala Lumpur

TIPS - ( Learnt from experience ) - Share and Share alike:- share family clothes between suitcases so that if a bag goes missing      you will still have someyhing to wear. If you do loose your suitcase (one of ours was left at Bangkok airport), do not loose your cool. It will get you nowhere!! Most Cambodians do not understand English and as a nation are very peaceful and will look at you as if you're mad if you raise your voice. Wait until you get to your hotel and then offer the concierge a small reward. He will then move heaven and earth to locate your luggage which will probably appear by the end of the day.

As Cambodia is such a hot country you will not need many clothes,only shorts and t'shirts. It is a very good idea to pack into your suitcase loads of childrens clothes or other gifts. If visiting the Tonle Sap Lake area the people are very poor and wear rags. Our driver distributed bags of clothes we took and we were completely humbled by the gratitude shown by the mothers.

ACCOMODATION - With stability virtually assured these days,new hotels are popping up in major tourist centres every day.Options range from dormitory accomodation in budget traveller guesthouses to five star luxury. Hot water can be sporadic at the budget end, though it is hardly a necessity when temperatures consistently hover around 30 degrees.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Tourism Cambodia (00 855 23 216 666)  www.tourismcambodia.com

Cambodian Embassy, 4 rue Adolphe-yvon, Paris 75116, France.(+33 1 4503 4720) There is no embassy in the UK.

Useful reference sites include  www.cambodia.org  and  www.mot.gov.kh  

And before you go check out  www.fco.gov.uk/travel/countryadvice.asp  for up to the minute advice.