Few countries have left more of an impression upon me than Cambodia. I've now visited four times and each and every time I had a completely different experience. I learned what I loved and what I disliked about the country. In particular, I became fond of cities such as Siem Reap and Battambang whereas I found Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville to be less appealing. The shining star attraction I could never get enough of was the Temples of Angkor. Cambodia is a country with a tragic past; however, the future appears to be brighter as it becomes more frequented by tourists every year.
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The following is a list of the top things to do while traveling in Cambodia with an emphasis on the top attractions in this travel guide:
1) Angkor Wat! Visiting Cambodia and not going to Angkor Wat is the equivalent of a traveler going to Peru and not checking out Machu Picchu. As the largest religious structure in the world you'll be amazed at it sheer size!
2) One of the more quirky attractions in Cambodia is the Bamboo Train in Battambang. For a small fee you can hop on a bamboo platform and race across rickety old rail tracks. With the wind in your hair you might - once or twice - wonder about the safety of the experience.
3) Khmer cuisine is delightfully delicious and learning how to make it is surprisingly affordable compared to the costs of cooking classes in many neighboring countries. We tried our hand at making Amok, a fish in a coconut curry base, and Lok Lak, tender beef strips in a thick sauce.
4) Trying traditional Cambodian food. We had a big platter of different Khmer delights in the heart of Siem Reap. It's worth it just to dig right in and enjoy!
5) To learn more about the tragic history of Cambodia a visit to Choeung Ek, also known as the Killing Fields, is a must. The brutal Khmer Rouge regime executed 1 in 4 of its population with many being tortured and killed here - eventually being discarded in mass graves.
6) To enjoy Khmer arts and performances I'd highly recommend a traditional Apsara show. The performance consists of several parts including a folk dance, folk music and mime.
7) Want to feel happy inside? How about trying a happy pizza in Siem Reap? Not long ago, these special Khmer pizzas featured marijuana as a topping. Nowadays, it is just spices and herbs. A pizza pie won't cost you a fortune.
8) In Phnom Penh, one of the main tourist attractions is the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum formerly known as S-21. What was once a primary school became converted into a detention, interrogation and torture center for the Khmer Rouge. An estimated 20,000 died here between 1975 and 1978. The evil man behind all of this was Pol Pot.
10) One of my favorite temples, aside from Angkor Wat, is Bayon located in Angkor Thom. At these ruins, you'll notice many cold faces that offer a hint of a smile. If you're good at counting try to spot the 216 faces that exist!
11) The local circus in Battambang supports a great cause while offering an entertaining show. Run by an NGO helping out disadvantaged children the performances are spectacular. What was great to hear is that some of the most talented performances.
12) If you must have beach time I suppose you could consider Sihanoukville.
13) If you wake up early enough and head straight to Banteay Srei you may just have the entire temple to yourself. That's exactly what happened to us as we were the first to arrive.
14) While visiting the temples of Angkor chances are you'll hear traditional Khmer music. Many of the performers playing traditional Cambodian music are landmine victims.
15) Have you ever watched the movie Tomb Raider before? If you have you'll notice Ta Prohm. This is where nature dominates architecture.
16) Taking a bus in Cambodia is never dull. Just look outside of your window and you'll be treated to stunning scenery and automobiles that don't exist elsewhere.
17) When visiting Cambodia be sure to check out the rural countryside. We took a countryside tour of Battambang where we got to see how certain foods are prepared and we even got to try eating insects! They tasted yummy!
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