The Best of Cambodia & Laos

Cambodia in Depth
If ever a country could be in possession of charisma, then this troubled
but fascinating Southeast Asian kingdom has it in droves. Where for 3 decades misfortune
and war have obscured a rich history and vibrant culture, for the last decade that
perception of the country as a place of unmitigated darkness has been in a state of constant
revision. It is a nation at peace, no longer a proxy battleground for world superpowers.
Historically, Cambodia was home to one of the most glorious and influential
civilizations in Asia. The Khmers ruled from what is now Cambodia, all across Laos,
Thailand, and large parts of Vietnam. A homogenous race, their art, language, and architecture
helped influence every region their empire touched. Subsequent history saw all
those glories diminish and implode, culminating in some of the most horrific episodes
of savagery in the history of mankind. It may be a cliché, but in the case of Cambodia
one is justified in using the phrase “a country of extremes.” Very few walk away from
Cambodia with simple indifference.
As a tourist, you will be witness to this regeneration of Cambodia as it happens. With
the war long since finished, Cambodia is now easy to visit and get around. Infrastructure
is vastly improved and accommodations in every category are plentiful. Blessed by some
of the most fascinating and beautiful sites Southeast Asia has to offer, Cambodia is finally
welcoming visitors on an industrial scale.
Just over a decade ago, Phnom Penh was
lawless, guns were commonplace, and
checkpoints from different political factions
leveled “contributions” on all roads out of
the city. At night the streets were dark and
potholed, and you would be taking a risk
by venturing down them at night. Those
days are gone and Phnom Penh is reemerging
as a boomtown, leaving behind the
pressures of the Cold War that drew it into
the years of absolute darkness. It is a city
that has seen a brand-new economic explosion
over the last 3 years.
The mysteries of Angkor Wat are once
again being explored by the numbers of
tourists it deserves. Rather than being the
quiet dusty village of 10 years ago, Siem
Reap is thriving as it develops far enough
to cater to this never-ending procession of
visitors.
1 CAMBODIA TODAY
Not long ago, traveling around Cambodia
was an obstacle course and there were
areas where it was dangerous to venture.
Now most roads are surfaced and sealed.
There is regular bus service to pretty much
anywhere you might want to visit. There
are good accommodations at often incredibly
reasonable prices in every town you
would want to visit. New restaurants, serving
cuisine from every continent of the
planet, spring up daily across Phnom
Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville. New
border crossings open all the time and in
many ways Cambodia is transforming
from one of the most difficult countries to
travel into one of the easiest and most
welcoming.
Cambodia may be booming, but that is
not to say that all the country’s past problems
are history. Although there is a new
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