Travel story from Cambodia
Cambodia is a country located in south part of Asia according to Countryaah. Most Cambodians are Buddhists. Although the locals are clearly poor, they are sincerely cheerful and hospitable, and overall our trip went very well. Our own highlights from our trip were:
1. Spiritual excursion to Phnom Kulen National Park (near Siem Reap):
I was particularly impressed by the river, on the bottom of which 1000 centrifuges are engraved (the centrifuge is a conical or cylindrical sandstone statue).
The incredibly beautiful light made the slings standing in the sparkling water look fabulous. The greenery of the trees and plants beautifully frames the waterfalls, in whose holy water the locals, often dressed in colorful clothes, bathe to “purify themselves” both spiritually and physically. The temple in the middle of the forest and the big reclining Buddha of Siem Reap also came to mind. For nature lovers, the national park is the perfect place to visit.
2. Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom & Ta Prohm
My colleague Anneen was particularly impressed by the Angkor Wat Temple Complex, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm Temple.
Especially Ta Prohm and the huge tree trunks that grew through it were a magical sight. There is an enchanting mystical atmosphere in and around the temple, which is also impressed by the filming of Angelina Jolie’s Tomb Raider.
3. The Koh Trong Islands and the Iraba Dolphin
Along the way, we stayed on the scenic island of Koh Trong.
Our magnificent resort was located in the middle of lush nature, and on a quiet little island you can still experience “authentic Cambodia” (most of the nearby residents live on the mainland).
The dolphin trip was one of the absolute highlights of the trip. The water was high, but the dolphins still cycled to jump above the surface many times (at least 20 times). Once as many as 3 dolphins bounced off the water right next to our boat at the same time. It was a memorable experience.
4. Elephant Valley: Awesome Animal Experience!
Elephant Valley is an elephant sanctuary where elephants can be found in their natural habitat. The atmosphere is wonderful. The satisfaction of both visitors and elephants is equally important to the organization running the project, so there are no elephant rides or swimming trips with elephants available here.
The project focuses specifically on animals and the jobs and health care of the locals who care for them, not tourists. Many others could follow suit!
5. The capital of Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia and at the same time the largest city in the country. The city is pulsating with life, and something is happening all the time. The combination of Cambodian architecture and buildings from the French colonial period makes the cityscape fascinating. The country has a long French history, as Cambodia was a French colony for almost a hundred years.
Since independence, Phnom Penh has developed into a modern metropolis, with tall skyscrapers shading wide and green park streets dating back to colonial times.
The main attractions of the city are the Royal Palace and the famous Silver Pagoda. The palace’s fascinating temple complexes and tropical gardens are definitely worth a visit.
Wat Phnom: Built on top of a hill, the temple is perhaps the most famous shrine in the capital. Phnom is a Khmer language and means “high”.
Penh, on the other hand, was a woman who in 1372 found five statues of the Buddha on the banks of the Mekong River, which she erected on this hill.
6. Everything was crowned by a beach holiday on the paradise beach of Koh Rong:
Koh Rong has plenty to do: island jumping, snorkeling, diving, fishing, hiking, biking, kayaking, sailing, horseback riding – and of course relaxation.
We spent our free days on Koh Rong mainly lounging on a perfect sandy beach.
After breakfast we headed to the beach for a swim. After that we took a nap, and in the afternoon we went for a walk. As we walked we saw many homemade swings and seashell chains hung on the branches of trees, but almost no other people. As the sun set, we enjoyed dinner, and when evening came we listened to the noise of the sea and admired the clear starry sky.
Our conclusion: Sok San Beach is one of the most beautiful sandy beaches we have seen!
