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The Definitive Guide to Moving to Southeast Asia: Cambodia Geography & Culture
Cambodia Geography & Culture
Cambodia is a square-shaped country of 14 million people, bordered by Vietnam in the southeast and east, Thailand in the west and northwest, and Laos in the northeast. The coastal regions in the south and west border the Gulf of Thailand, and the mighty Mekong River (the 12th longest river in the world) traverses the country from north to south.
There isn’t much elevation in the country, as the highest mountain measures only 1,771 metres and is located in the eastern part of the Cardamom Mountains (running across the southwest of the country). These mountains are lush and covered with virgin rainforest, spanning a range of more than one million hectares - said to represent Southeast Asia’s greatest natural resource. Within these mountain range are thousand of birds, plants, and animal species, including elephants, pleated gibbons, and Siamese crocodiles, as well as excellent opportunities for hiking, trekking, and boating.
Farther north, the Siem Reap region is dominated by the enormous Tonle Sap, which is known as Cambodia’s Great Lake - responsible for more than 70 percent of the country’s protein since it is a major source of fish. Located 15km south of the town, this body of water measures 2,500 sq km in the dry season and swells to 12,000 sq. km in the rainy season, making it one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia. The lake drains into the Tonle Sap River which meanders southeast, eventually merging with the Mekong at Phnom Penh.
One of the fascinations about this river is that during the wet season, a unique phenomenon occurs causing the river to reverse direction, filling the lake instead of draining it. This happens when the Mekong becomes bloated with snow melt from China and Tibet as well as runoff from the monsoon rains during the wet season, and backs up into the Tonle Sap River at the point where the rivers meet in Phnom Penh. This forces the waters of the Tonle Sap back upriver into the lake. If you’re in Phnom Penh at this time (sometime in November), you’ll actually observe a difference between one day and the next when the river has changed direction.
Wherever you travel throughout Cambodia, you’ll always see one thing: rice fields. Approximately 80 percent of the country’s population lives in rural areas, and 71 percent depend primarily on agriculture (largely rice) for their livelihood.
While most of the country consists of flat plains, there are wonderful sights to behold when travelling across it. You’ll see workers planting rice in the paddies, buffaloes bathing in mud puddles, lush vegetation (during rainy season) in the mountains of the northeast, huge lakes for swimming, jungles for trekking, and islands for exploring.
Some of the more popular places to visit include:
Siem Reap. Home of the magnificent Angkor Wat temple complex – a jaw-dropping collection of ancient ruins, some of which date back to the 9th century. Siem Reap is the area most visited by tourists in Cambodia, so it’s best to go during the off season (rainy season) or mid-week if you don’t want it to be overrun with crowds. I also find it best to visit the temples in the midday heat of the day (when everyone runs for shade or goes for lunch) or late in the afternoon just before they close at 5 or 6pm (depending on the temple) if you want to share it with fewer people. In addition to the temples, the town of Siem Reap has a wonderful, lively energy, bursting with restaurants, bars, spas, and markets - and there’s plenty to do for at least several days.
Hot tip: Visit the Silk Farm on the outskirts of town for a glimpse into the entire process of silk making, from worm to loom.
Kep. This little seaside town on the south coast is one of our favourite weekend getaways. Firstly, it’s an easy 3 ½ hour bus ride from Phnom Penh. Secondly, there’s not a lot to do so it’s a great place to relax, lie in a hammock, or watch the sunset. It’s not a place for nightlife, shopping, or tourist attractions, as it’s a sleepy haven with some of the best crab you’ll ever taste. There are a handful of places to stay - and it’s also the kick-off point for the 30-minute boat trip to Rabbit Island.
Hot tip: Take a hike into the Kep National Park while it is still rugged and unspoiled (there are plans to build a road through it).
Rabbit Island. There are a number of islands off the Cambodian coast, but Rabbit Island is the easiest to get to. The half-hour boat ride from Kep ($7 if you share a boat) takes you to this tiny island, occupied only by a handful of beach huts (which you can rent for less than $10/night) and a few local restaurants on the sand.
Hot tip: Get a massage at one of the small wooden platforms set up on the beach, where $7 buys you an hour of pampering with the sound of the waves lapping next to you.
Kampot. Located 30 minutes from Kep, Kampot is situated on the Kampot River and is a delightful place to visit for a weekend. There are some lovely eco-lodges on the river (about 15 minutes out of town) as well as fascinating caves to explore, pagodas, and a local market. Kampot is known for producing one of the best peppers in the world and you can visit pepper plantations and taste the spice right off the vine. A new casino resort opened in 2012 at the top of Bokor Mountain if you’re looking for glitz and nightlife.
Hot tip: Don’t miss the incredible firefly boat trip ($2 for one hour) which leaves from Les Manguiers eco-lodge every evening.
Sihanoukville. Also located on the south coast, Sihanoukville has a reputation for being a little on the edgy side, which it is in some areas such as Victory Beach and Occheuteal Beach, where there are lots of bars and nightlife. Otres, Serendipity, and Independence Beach are more appealing for visitors wanting a more laid-back experience and there are day trips to waterfalls, national parks, and a handful of beautiful islands off the coast
Hot tip: Take an excursion to Lazy Beach on Koh Rong Sanloem where you can stay in cabins, swim in warm waters, dangle in a hammock and while away the days in perfect tranquility. Space is limited as there are only 17 bungalows on the island (making it extremely private) and reservations are essential, particularly in high season.
Koh Kong. Koh Kong is in the far west of the country on the border with Thailand (so it’s a popular destination for visa runs). It’s a wonderful place to visit if you enjoy the outdoors, as you can go hiking in the Cardamom Mountains, kayaking on the river, and scuba diving in the Gulf of Thailand.
Hot tip: Take a day tour of trekking in the jungle, where you’ll feel as though you’re the only people for miles around.
Other areas worth exploring to get a taste of Cambodia are Battambang (ride the bamboo train and see the bat cave), Kratie (cross the river to Koh Trong for the pomelos and homestays), Mondulkiri (visit the amazing Bou Sra waterfall), and Ratanakiri (see the crystal clear volcanic crater lake. It’s a very long and bumpy bus ride to this part of the country, so make sure you have more than a couple of days there)
Cambodia is a square-shaped country of 14 million people, bordered by Vietnam in the southeast and east, Thailand in the west and northwest, and Laos in the northeast. The coastal regions in the south and west border the Gulf of Thailand, and the mighty Mekong River (the 12th longest river in the world) traverses the country from north to south.
There isn’t much elevation in the country, as the highest mountain measures only 1,771 metres and is located in the eastern part of the Cardamom Mountains (running across the southwest of the country). These mountains are lush and covered with virgin rainforest, spanning a range of more than one million hectares - said to represent Southeast Asia’s greatest natural resource. Within these mountain range are thousand of birds, plants, and animal species, including elephants, pleated gibbons, and Siamese crocodiles, as well as excellent opportunities for hiking, trekking, and boating.
Farther north, the Siem Reap region is dominated by the enormous Tonle Sap, which is known as Cambodia’s Great Lake - responsible for more than 70 percent of the country’s protein since it is a major source of fish. Located 15km south of the town, this body of water measures 2,500 sq km in the dry season and swells to 12,000 sq. km in the rainy season, making it one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia. The lake drains into the Tonle Sap River which meanders southeast, eventually merging with the Mekong at Phnom Penh.
One of the fascinations about this river is that during the wet season, a unique phenomenon occurs causing the river to reverse direction, filling the lake instead of draining it. This happens when the Mekong becomes bloated with snow melt from China and Tibet as well as runoff from the monsoon rains during the wet season, and backs up into the Tonle Sap River at the point where the rivers meet in Phnom Penh. This forces the waters of the Tonle Sap back upriver into the lake. If you’re in Phnom Penh at this time (sometime in November), you’ll actually observe a difference between one day and the next when the river has changed direction.
Wherever you travel throughout Cambodia, you’ll always see one thing: rice fields. Approximately 80 percent of the country’s population lives in rural areas, and 71 percent depend primarily on agriculture (largely rice) for their livelihood.
While most of the country consists of flat plains, there are wonderful sights to behold when travelling across it. You’ll see workers planting rice in the paddies, buffaloes bathing in mud puddles, lush vegetation (during rainy season) in the mountains of the northeast, huge lakes for swimming, jungles for trekking, and islands for exploring.
Some of the more popular places to visit include:
Siem Reap. Home of the magnificent Angkor Wat temple complex – a jaw-dropping collection of ancient ruins, some of which date back to the 9th century. Siem Reap is the area most visited by tourists in Cambodia, so it’s best to go during the off season (rainy season) or mid-week if you don’t want it to be overrun with crowds. I also find it best to visit the temples in the midday heat of the day (when everyone runs for shade or goes for lunch) or late in the afternoon just before they close at 5 or 6pm (depending on the temple) if you want to share it with fewer people. In addition to the temples, the town of Siem Reap has a wonderful, lively energy, bursting with restaurants, bars, spas, and markets - and there’s plenty to do for at least several days.
Hot tip: Visit the Silk Farm on the outskirts of town for a glimpse into the entire process of silk making, from worm to loom.
Kep. This little seaside town on the south coast is one of our favourite weekend getaways. Firstly, it’s an easy 3 ½ hour bus ride from Phnom Penh. Secondly, there’s not a lot to do so it’s a great place to relax, lie in a hammock, or watch the sunset. It’s not a place for nightlife, shopping, or tourist attractions, as it’s a sleepy haven with some of the best crab you’ll ever taste. There are a handful of places to stay - and it’s also the kick-off point for the 30-minute boat trip to Rabbit Island.
Hot tip: Take a hike into the Kep National Park while it is still rugged and unspoiled (there are plans to build a road through it).
Rabbit Island. There are a number of islands off the Cambodian coast, but Rabbit Island is the easiest to get to. The half-hour boat ride from Kep ($7 if you share a boat) takes you to this tiny island, occupied only by a handful of beach huts (which you can rent for less than $10/night) and a few local restaurants on the sand.
Hot tip: Get a massage at one of the small wooden platforms set up on the beach, where $7 buys you an hour of pampering with the sound of the waves lapping next to you.
Kampot. Located 30 minutes from Kep, Kampot is situated on the Kampot River and is a delightful place to visit for a weekend. There are some lovely eco-lodges on the river (about 15 minutes out of town) as well as fascinating caves to explore, pagodas, and a local market. Kampot is known for producing one of the best peppers in the world and you can visit pepper plantations and taste the spice right off the vine. A new casino resort opened in 2012 at the top of Bokor Mountain if you’re looking for glitz and nightlife.
Hot tip: Don’t miss the incredible firefly boat trip ($2 for one hour) which leaves from Les Manguiers eco-lodge every evening.
Sihanoukville. Also located on the south coast, Sihanoukville has a reputation for being a little on the edgy side, which it is in some areas such as Victory Beach and Occheuteal Beach, where there are lots of bars and nightlife. Otres, Serendipity, and Independence Beach are more appealing for visitors wanting a more laid-back experience and there are day trips to waterfalls, national parks, and a handful of beautiful islands off the coast
Hot tip: Take an excursion to Lazy Beach on Koh Rong Sanloem where you can stay in cabins, swim in warm waters, dangle in a hammock and while away the days in perfect tranquility. Space is limited as there are only 17 bungalows on the island (making it extremely private) and reservations are essential, particularly in high season.
Hot tip: Take a day tour of trekking in the jungle, where you’ll feel as though you’re the only people for miles around.
Other areas worth exploring to get a taste of Cambodia are Battambang (ride the bamboo train and see the bat cave), Kratie (cross the river to Koh Trong for the pomelos and homestays), Mondulkiri (visit the amazing Bou Sra waterfall), and Ratanakiri (see the crystal clear volcanic crater lake. It’s a very long and bumpy bus ride to this part of the country, so make sure you have more than a couple of days there)
The Definitive Guide to Moving to Southeast Asia: Cambodia Geography & Culture
Reviewed by Kavei phkorlann
on
12:37 AM
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Reviewed by Kavei phkorlann
on
12:37 AM
Rating:
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