Fascinating Cambodia
Aktualisiert: 24. Apr. 2021
Typical Asian – yet again completely different.
Impressions that I have collected during my three trips to Cambodia:
Crazy markets, delicious dishes, fresh fruits around every corner, chaotic traffic with tuk tuks and scooters (on which they can fit 5 people) – colourful, diverse and full of life. Palm trees, coconuts, green hills, beach and ocean – you can also find these characteristics of a tropical paradise in Cambodia, making it the perfect place to unwind.
One of my all-time-favourites: The temple ruins of Angkor – between the 9th and 15th century this was the centre of the Khmer empire, today it´s an UNESCO-world heritage site. The main temple Angkor Wat is the world´s biggest sacral monument and the most well-known landmark of Cambodia. And furthermore: THE ULTIMATE sunrise-postcard-image – and yes, I got up at 4am to secure my spot amongst the tourist crowd, to watch the sun rise above the temple. To sum it up: Despite all the people a truly magical spectacle.
A dark and to me previously quite unknown chapter of the country´s history: the regime of the ‘Khmer Rouge’ under the dictatorship of Pol Pot – a genocide on their own people, that (between the years of 1975 and 1979) cost close to 25 % of the Cambodian people their lives. These days, the course of the dictatorship, which was driven by the goal to establish a radical-communist farmer´s state, is displayed at the former prison Tuol Sleng and the so-called ‘Killing Field’ Choeung Ek. To me an absolute must-visit – especially to better understand present-day Cambodia and it´s society.