In the 1920s, Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh, situated on the banks of the Mekong, was known as the "Pearl of Asia" and today it retains much of its elegance with its Khmer and French architecture. The city takes its name from Wat Phnom or Hill Temple which was built in 1373 and is Phnom Penh's oldest structure.

The Royal Palace with its Silver Pagoda dates to the mid 1800s and is a prime example of Khmer architecture as is the National Museum. The French also left behind their villas, boulevards and churches etc. An important example is the Art deco market, Phsar Thom Thmei.

Although the architecture survived the horror of the Khmer Rouge regime, the rush to develop and modernise is now putting much of the city's heritage under threat from property speculators and there is a rising movement to preserve the city's past.

Most visitors to Cambodia pass through the city of Siem Reap without so much as a second glance, but this was once S. E. Asia's most glamorous city and destination of the rich and famous. The name, Siem Reap is testimony to Cambodia's sometimes troubled relationships with its neighbours – it means 'Defeat of Siam' today's Thailand!

With its tree-lined boulevards and old French buildings by the river, it is today Cambodia's fastest growing city. Actually Siem Reap is more of a string of villages along the river, each centred on a Buddhist pagoda or Wat. The town is centred on the Old Market district where the visitor can find old colonial buildings and the main shopping area. This is an ideal city from which to explore the surrounding countryside and fishing villages.

But Siem Reap's main claim to fame and prosperity is that it acts as the gateway to world renowned, 820,000 square metre, Angkor Wat temple complex. Built by the Khmer king, Suryavarman II in the early 12th century Angkor Wat was originally the king's palace and a temple dedicated to the Hindi god, Vishnu. In the 13th Century, the king converted to Buddhism and the country followed suit – Angkor Wat became the main Buddhist temple. So important is Angkor Wat to Cambodia that it appears in the country's flag and is a potent symbol of national pride to the Cambodian people. Tourism to Angkor Wat has helped provide funds for the protection of the site.

Sihanoukville, in the south, is Cambodia's main port and a popular tourist destination. Named after King Sihanouk who opposed French colonialism in the 1950s, this is a relatively new city, founded in the 1960s after independence from France. The city has a number of white-sand beaches ranging from Sokha Beach, attached to a 5-star hotel with all the facilities one would expect, to the more simple Serendipity Beach with its beach huts and small guesthouses. Offshore are a number of islands with beautiful beaches. The islands are largely undeveloped although some such as Bamboo Island offer bungalows to rent.

Are you planning to go to Cambodia? Please contact Indochina Odyssey Tours , maybe they can give you some help.

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