Cambopedia

Photoblogger at mythicaldude has a series of interesting pictures of his trip to Udong, Cambodia’s capital city between 1618 and 1866. With this link, you will be able to meet some people of Cambodian Muslim community.

While I certianly enjoyed the magnificent vista from the beautiful new pagoda at the top of 509 steps, my main mission for the day was to visit Cham (Cambodian Muslim) communities in the Udong vicinity. There were a group of white-clad Buddhist pilgrims praying at the temple when I arrived.

Other photo of Phnom Udong can also be found here, by Stefan at Cambodia Log.

There are two separate buildings on this hill top. The one to the right looks like a temple, but it is a mosque. I remember reading an excellent text by William Collins about the Chams in Cambodia. Chams are a Muslim minority, successors of the Kingdom of Champa which used to exist on the territory of today’s Vietnam. Among other things, Williams reports that Udong is a spiritual and religious centre where the language and culture of the Chams is maintained and preserved today.

The Cambodian capital has it all for local residents, visitors, and recently for travel writers. Cambodia is not only about Angkor Wat and other ancient temples in Siem Reap, but also about a burstling capital where business and culture take place.

In 1657 words, STUART EMMRICH of the New York Times wrote on the country’s largest city beginning with a meaningful headline: In Phnom Penh, Hopefulness Replaces Despair. The reporter goes on to compare Phnom Penh to little Paris of France and even to next Prague, the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic.

In fact, after a few days in this city, you notice that Phnom Penh has something of a “next Prague” vibe about it — a place where many young people from around the world, heady with excitement and the thrill of the unknown, are coming to reinvent themselves.

Following this, Ksenia Glebova has a new article, titled The Phnom Penh experience. Unlike the New York Times article, Ksenia put it this way: “Phnom Penh is like the Berlin of South East Asia – a hectic but fascinating construction site, slowly coming to terms with layers of turbulent history”.

Photographer Claire Gray has a portrait of woman prisoner taken at Toul Sleng genocide museum aka S21 in Phnom Penh. You can, of course, contribute your critique.

Taking two years and half to travel the world, ednaims have just made their way to Cambodia from Thailand.

After a wonderful week or so in Northern Thailand it was time to head south and on to Cambodia. With time running out, and our weary bodies craving some relaxing beach time we decided in a very quick “in-and-out” visit of Cambodia. Well, quick might not be the best way to describe the epic series of buses, tuk-tuks, more buses, pick-up trucks and then yet more buses we took to finally get to Angkor Wat. All in all it was a 36hr journey, and the last 6-7 hours were spent riding the most bone-rattling road I can remember!! Needles to say Aimee developed the mandatory cases of the sh!ts about 30mins before the trip, just to make it that little bit more uncomfortable.

tathei aka Jonathan, an amateur photographer has a great set of pictures he took in Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital.

this set is dedicated to people in Cambodia - no matter how harsh your life in Cambodia, i could see that you guys really enjoy life. it’s something we have to learn for life long. i will not forget everyone’s smile in this lovely country.

There have been a vast number of pages of all things Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s magnificent temple, where tourists from around the world spent their holiday to visit.

Angkor Wat is a triumph of imagination, craftsmanship and devotion, representing the culmination of the ideals and aspirations of the Khmer people and their leaders. It is a unique and awesome monument to faith and it is for this reason that it is considered one of the wonders of the world.

Tim Patterson lets us know that there are at least three tourist places in Siem Reap providing wireless Internet access. Look for Two Dragons Guesthouse, The Singing Tree Cafe, and The Blue Pumpkin.

Say that Cambodians are more Cambodian, and more about nationalism. 24 year-old Makara Kao brought an issue of Angkor Wat, once listed in the 7 wonders in the world, to the online world. The young folk asked:

After reading the FAQs at new 7 wonders website. A question just came up in my head. “Will Angkor Wat (Cambodia) be one of the new 7 wonders” in the world?

Not by plane or by car, you can travel around Cambodia by motorbike. “Cambodia is the perfect place to test your motorcycle wandering spirit,” wrote Brandon and Amy. For foreign travelers, all you need is a passport when you want to rent the motorbike.

Our tour began in Sihanoukville and took us on a 281 kilometer round trip journey over scenic mountain passes, through coastal villages, and along winding jungle roads to the corner of southeast Cambodia near the Vietnam border. This fun, overnight experience only cost $23.

That said, for only a few days in Cambodia AmyH from the United States wasimpressed by that fact that:

Cambodia is an amazingly beautiful country with resilient people. I can only hope that it continues to heal from its brutal past and more people will discover what a lovely place it is.

And so Joon from Singapore, who wrote: Cambodia looks very nice right now.