| Cambodia
is a developing country that has just emerged from a 30-year period
of upheaval and civil unrest and is putting increasing emphasis
on tourism to improve its economy. During the reign of the Khmer
Rouge (1975-79), around 2 million of Cambodia's then 7 million population
were killed.. After the Vietnamese invaded and overthrew the Khmer
Rouge, the country was caught in a series of guerrilla wars until
a peace accord was negotiated in 1991. In 1998 they held the first
real elections which passed off relatively smoothly and the country
has been largely stable since then.
Tourism
in Cambodia is a rapidly growing industry with Ankor Wat being the
main attraction,if people remain in Cambodia after visiting the
temples they tend to visit Phnom Penh the capital city and the beaches
of Sihanoukville.
You
can visit any time of year although the best months temperature-wise
are from Dec –Feb (dry and not too hot, not too cold ). The
official language of Cambodia is Khmer but English is widely spoken
and French often spoken by older Khmers. Visas cost US$20 for a
tourist visa or US$25 for a business visa for one month (you will
need 1 pass photo) and are available at Phnom Penh's Pochentong
airport and the embassies in Thailand and Vietnam,among others.
You can get a visa extension in Phnom Penh or Sihanoukville. The
Laos/Cambodia border is an off/on affair best attempted if you have
plenty of time.
Cambodia's
official currency is the riel, however US$ are the general currency
of choice for everyone. As far as getting around goes, there are
buses to and from the main cities and owns. Don't expect too much
from the roads, although Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville and Siam Reap
is good. Some towns are also served by a railway – very slow,
but cheap. You can also fly etween Phnom Penh and Siem Reap or take
a river ferry. Once in town, motodops (motorbike taxis) are the
most common although not the safest form of transport or you can
usually arrange a private car for daily hire.Siem Reap, Phnom Penh
and Sihanoukville all have a mixed range of accommodation, so you
can choose depending on your budget – anything from US$2/3
to US$2000 per night. Eating out – there is plenty of choice..
For
more info on Cambodia try Wikipedia
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