Article Time

New Year’s Eve is widely celebrated in Phnom Penh by European expatriate communities and Chinese and Vietnamese immigrants. Even though it is not an official government holiday with ever increasing immigrants and tourists arriving in Phnom Penh New Year’s Eve has come to be celebrated in a grand scale.

Expect many of the city’s restaurants, bars and hotels to be hosting special New Year’s Eve dinner dances and parties which are mostly targeted at tourists and expatriates. Though many Cambodians celebrate their traditional New Year which is based on the harvesting pattern of the crops on April 13th and 14th each year, the International New Years Day is also recognized as an important event in the country.

A large number of religious and cultural practices have been built up around the traditional New Year’s festival such as unique sporting events, religious rites and special culinary delights. Some of these aspects have been integrated into New Year’s Eve celebrations by locals in Cambodia.

For example it is customary for Cambodians to go to the temple on New Year’s Eve, meet the incumbent priests and ask for their guidance and advice on their affairs in the New Year. Prayer recitals that are meant to invoke blessings on the family as well as offering flowers and burning incense sticks are also practiced once again to ask for good fortune and prosperity in the coming year.

Much of the New Year celebrations are confined to New Year’s Eve dinner dances held at many a Phnom Penh hotel. A luxury hotel in Phnom Penh usually offers all inclusive packages that give accommodation in their luxury suites and breakfast and of course pulsating music and a great atmosphere to party.

Most travel stories are of the happy-go-lucky variety. Every once in a while, however, one visits a place that evidences the vicious, dark side of mankind. Khmer Rouge Prison 21, known as Tuol Seng, is one such place. It is a stark reminder of the cruelties humanity can visit upon itself.

Tuol Sleng

In 1962, the high school of Ponhea Yat was opened in the center of Phnom Pehn. The school consists of three buildings in a horseshoe layout with each building having three stories. In the 1970s, the name was changed to Tuol Svay Prey High School. In May of 1976, the school became the headquarters of the Khmer Rouge genocide campaign in Cambodia.

The infamous Khmer Rouge was the ruling party of Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, with fighting going on for many more years. Led by Pol Pot, also known as Brother Number One, the party is estimated to have killed as much as 1/3rd of the population of Cambodia through murder and starvation. The Khmer Rouge has justly been compared to Hitler for its brutal genocidal actions. Tuol Sleng represents the most brutal example.

Tuol Sleng covers roughly a city block, but is tucked back among alleys in Phnom Pehn. During the Khmer`s rule, two folds of iron sheets encased in electrified barbwire to prevent escape enclosed it. Prisoners were chained to walls and tortured on a daily basis until they admitted crimes against the state. The prisoners were required to follow ten regulations. A shocking sampling include:

1. Do not try to hide facts by making excuses. You are strictly prohibited from contesting me.

2. While being lashed or electrocuted, you must not cry at all.

3. Disobey any rule and you will get 5 lashes with an electric wire.

Much like the Nazi concentration camps, the Khmer Rouge documented ever prisoner and atrocity. Upon arrival, each prisoner`s picture was taken and a detailed biography was documented. Prisoners were then confined to cells approximately the size of a closet by chaining them to iron posts. Daily torture was undertaken through beatings, electric shock and other atrocities. At the end of their imprisonment, prisoners were marched about two miles to the killing fields. To save bullets, they were beaten to death.

The atrocious numbers for Tuol Sleng:

From 10,500 to 14,500 adult prisoners.

Another 2,000 children prisoners.

7 survived.

Yes, just 7.

Only 2 Khmer have ever been prosecuted for the atrocity.

Today, Tuol Sleng is a genocide museum. The walls are full of pictures of the prisoners. Men and women. Boys and girls as young as 5-years old. There are still bloodstains on the floors of the interrogation rooms.

Why visit or write an article about Tuol Sleng? Traveling is about discovery, even if the subject is something horrible. Failing to recognize the dark side of humanity dooms us to repeat those failings. The Nazi concentration camps existed in the 40s, Tuol Sleng in the 70s, and today similar atrocities are occurring in North Vietnam and Darfur. Will we ever learn?

Rick Chapo is with Nomad Writing Journals – makers of travel journals, the perfect travel accessories. Read travelogues and travel articles.

Cambodia is a land on the mend. From 1977 through 1980, the Khmer Rouge ruled the country, fanatics bent on genocide. Millions were killed and the period was put to film in the movie, “The Killing Fields.” Fortunately, those days are over and the country is becoming a tourist destination.

Cambodia is a land of incredible contrast. Thick forest, mountains and pristine rivers compliment amazing white beaches. When you get down to it, however, travelers know Cambodia for two things, Angkor Wat and the nastiest roads around. But, let`s not get ahead of ourselves.

Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia. The city is a combination of old French beauty and modern condominiums. The city is full of amazing Wats [Buddist monasteries], including Wat Ounalom, Wat Phnom and Wat Moha Montrei. Modern buildings surround these monasteries and it`s difficult to avoid a feeling that the old ways are being lost.

Still, the vibrancy of the city is impressive considering the fact that it was completely abandoned for three years in the last 70s. During this period, the Khmer Rouge tried to return the Cambodian people to their agricultural heritage and evacuated all cities. The only exception, of course, is Tuol Sleng, a high school used to torture and kill “enemies of the state.” Just beyond the city, one will also find the infamous killing fields where thousands upon thousands were put to death.

Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville is a small, sleepy village on the Southwest edge of Cambodia. Fairly undeveloped, the area is an oasis similar to the beaches of Thailand. The difference, however, is the lack of tourists. Depending on the time of year, the beaches can be more or less empty and privacy assured. Rooms run between $5 and $15 a night and come with private bathrooms. If you are looking to lounge professionally, Sihanoukville is a very good place to do it.

Angkor Wat

Stunning. There is no other word for the temples of Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is a temple surrounded by hundreds of others. Each is unique and worth a look. The most famous are Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Phrom. Angkor Wat is in the best shape as well as the most known. The Bayon is impressive, but the constant mob of tourist makes it a pain to visit. Ta Phrom is amazing because it has been left to the jungle, which is to say trees and the structure have become one in many areas. If you have seen Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie, you have seen Ta Phrom. Personally, I prefer Angkor Wat to the Pyramids in Egypt.

Roads From Hell

Cambodian roads are evil. There is simply no other way to put it. The country is hit by monsoons every year and is still recovering from the Khmer Rouge. This combination has resulted in roads with huge potholes, missing bridges and pretty much the worst elements of Dante`s Hell. Avoid them if at all possible!

Rick Chapo is with Nomad Writing Journals – makers of travel journals, the perfect travel accessories. Read travelogues and travel articles.

The recently opened Phnom Penh Night Market is already creating waves in the Cambodian capital. Opened in November 2007 the Night Market is a recent addition to the Cambodian tourism industry but it has already made its mark among the hordes of visiting tourists. The Phnom Penh which is the commercial and cultural hub of Cambodia has always been the star attraction of the country, for many tourists the central focus of their visit has been here. Thus to increase the tourist potential of the city the authorities have incorporated a night market as an added attraction, the kind that is usually seen in many Thai cities.

Located just in front of the Ounalom Temple the market is exclusively devoted to displaying authentic Cambodian items ranging from clothing and food to handicrafts. During the Cambodian Water Festival the market can be seen open daily from 5pm to mid night. However, on regular days the market is usually only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Upon entering the market your ears will be bombarded by the loud crescendo of voices speaking out in a multitude of languages.

Due to the availability of Cambodian handicrafts, most of the visitors here are foreigners who are usually too busy to go souvenir shopping during the day. Almost 150 different stalls made of bamboo and covered with traditional thatched roofs display their wares to the visitors. Among the items on sale are traditional Cambodian clothing, rattan furniture and wooden souvenir items.

The natural materials that have been used in the construction of the market such as rattan have given the market an organic look and feel and give it an ethnic touch. A number of entertainment activities are also being planned for the future as the creators of the market look toward making the market more interactive. Traditional Cambodian tattoo artists, painters, nail artists and body painters will soon be in attendance here, as well as themed parties at the bar. Also located within walking distance of the market is Raffles Hotel Le Royal a Phnom Penh hotel that offers comfortable accommodation.

The Royal Palace is not one single structure, it is a complex of buildings, and is the residence of the King of Cambodia. It is called the Preah Barom Reachea Vaeng Chaktomukh. It has had royal presence since1866, when it was built. In the mid 1800s, King Norodom relocated the royal capital from Oudong to Phnom Penh. The Royal Palace situated on the western bank of four divisions of the Mekong River and faces the east. The Silver Pagoda occupies the north side, while the Khemarin Palace is on the southwest and the central compound has the Throne Hall. Many buildings have been built, dismantled and built all over again till as late as the 1960s.

The royal officials once carried out their duties in the Throne Hall. Now it is used for religious and royal ceremonies like coronations and royal weddings. It is also used as a meeting place for the King’s guests. The Throne Hall is cross-shaped with three spires and the fourth is a white, four faced head of Brahma, the deity. A Royal Throne and busts of former Cambodian Kings are on display in this hall. The Silver Pagoda complex houses national treasures like silver and jeweled Buddha statues. The ‘Emerald Buddha’ of Cambodia and a life sized Maitreya Buddha encrusted with 9584 diamonds dressed in royal clothes is also kept here. King Sisowath commissioned this Buddha statue to be made. During his reign, the Silver Pagoda was inlaid with 5000 silver tiles, giving its current name.

The Khmerin Palace is the residence of the Khmer King and is on the right side of the Throne Hall, separated by a small wall. It is topped with a single spired prong. The Moonlight Pavilion, or the Chan Chhaya Pavilion, is an open-air pavilion, which is used for Khmer classical dances, and can be seen from outside. It has a balcony, which was formerly used as a platform to view marching parades.

Visiting Cambodia is always a pleasure, as the country offers a lot of scenic beauty and historic sites for the tourist. Enjoy everything Cambodia has to offer by staying a few days at a Phnom Penh hotel and taking the time to visit every place at leisure. For the utmost in Cambodia luxury, staying at a luxury hotel in Phnom Penh is highly recommended.

As in almost everywhere else in the world, Christmas is as an important religious festival in Cambodia. Though Phnom Penh has only a few Christians; most of them being expatriates and tourists Christmas is a religious celebration that transcends all ethnic and cultural boundaries. The Christmas season brings with it a feeling of hope and good cheer, coupled with the fact that the year is drawing to a close; there is a feeling of optimism and hope of better things to come in the New Year.

Gift giving is an integral part of Christmas in Cambodia, like it would be everywhere else. People give thoughtfully picked out Christmas gifts to their families and loved ones. At this time of year gifts are ways of telling them that you appreciate their role in your life and that they are loved. Shopping malls and stores across Phnom Penh get into the seasonal mood by offering great discounts and seasonal sales; be warned however that the malls are jam packed at this time of the year.

However, the first signs of Christmas are found in the colorful decorations around Phnom Penh, in particular shopping malls and store fronts. Almost the entirety of Phnom Penh is gaily decorated with colorful fairy lights and fresh flowers in full bloom.

Special Christmas dinners can be enjoyed at a Phnom Penh hotel, with traditional Christmas delicacies such as Christmas pudding, minced pies and roast turkey. Dances and other Christmas parties are also organized at many a luxury hotel in Phnom Penh and lets you spend an unforgettable Christmas in Cambodia with your loved ones.

Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia bordering with its three main rivers of the Mekong, the Tonle Sap and the Bassac and happens to be the main economic, cultural, historical and tourist center of the country. Well-known for its traditional Khmer performances and the architecture influenced by the French empire, it was called the “Pearl of Asia” at the beginning of the decade of late 20s. It is home to over one million of Cambodian population and is the richest city in the country being the industrial and political hub of Cambodia.

The city name came firstly from the hill temple which was called “Wat Phnom Daun Penh” in 1373 but after the name was changed to “Daun Penh” who was a wealthy widow during that period. The story of the city begins with this woman who was called “Grandma Penh” and who lived on the west bank of the river. During a continuous rainy season in 1372 many Koki tree were floating on the flood blocking the land of the woman and in a hole of one tree found one stone and four bronze Buddha statues. Then Daun Penh wanted to pile up earth next to her house and set up a temple there using the Koki trunks to keep the five Buddha statues. Thus the temple was named “Wat Phnom Daun Penh” and eventually the city got the name Phnom Penh derived from the name Phnom Daun Penh.

Phnom Penh has now become a land full of ancient temples along with many exotic tourist attractions offering enjoyable experience in beautiful beaches. The city covers an area of 375 square kilometers and despite the destruction during the war period; it still has protected the traditional value and its colonial charm. It has also become a major shopping destination for tourists and locals alike. In addition it has converted into a destination that provides premier accommodation facilities with many Cambodia hotels such as Raffles Le Royal which is a much sought after luxury hotel in Phnom Penh.