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Showing posts with label jakarta travel. Show all posts

Travel to Indonesia

Travel Tour to Indonesia

Tourism culture and History tour in Indonesia

Indonesia overview

The islands of the Indonesian archipelago, genuine emerald floating over the centuries have attracted people with very varied. Chinese traders and Indians, European settlers, missionaries proselytizing, intrepid adventurers, mining companies and mass tourism, all at one time or another, have felt trapped by the sandalwood and spice breezes, their way of life and Bali Hai its magnificent beaches, mountains and volcanoes.
Indonesia_flag
But another frequent visitor to the nation is a war correspondent, who came to report on the latest uprising, disturbance or coup d'etat. The stereotype of paradisiac lucky country for its natural resources is often compromised because of the deep racial and religious, despotic autocracy, government corruption, economic mismanagement and natural disasters. Recent developments of sectarian violence and military have made Indonesia a problematic destination for most Western travelers.

best time travel in Indonesia

Although you can travel during the rainy season for most of the country, the time may be an impediment for some activities and by driving muddy roads in less developed areas is complicated. In general, the best time to go to Indonesia coincides with the dry season between May and October.

Christmas holidays attract waves of Australians, and there is an even bigger tourist rush during the summer in Europe. The main Indonesian holiday period is the end of Ramadan, a period in which some resorts are crowded and the prices astronomical amount

Mean Events and Holidays in Indonesia

With its great diversity of ethnic groups, Indonesia has abundant cultural events throughout the year. On Sumba, mock fights, dating back to the era of wars of mutual annihilation, are held in February and March. On the eve of caka Balinese New Year (March-April) sea bathing in the icons of the temples, while the drums to scare away evil spirits to return to their spiritual habitat. During the festival of Galungan Balinese (dates variable), even the gods descend to earth and join the earthly joy. It organizes a spectacular procession on Easter Island Larantuka, duels with whips in Ruteng (Flores) in August, and funeral feasts are held in Toray Celebes (Sulawesi) Central, mainly between August and October. Like most Indonesians are Muslims, many events follow the lunar calendar, so dates are often delayed for about ten or eleven days each year.

attraction and tourism in Indonesia

Bali Indonesia

Bali may seem like a decoration: the terraces of rice paddies climb the hillsidbali_-indonesiaes like giant steps, volcanoes rise beyond the clouds, tropical forests are characterized by their exuberance and the beaches are lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. But the brightness of the idyllic paradise is the work of the international tourism  sector and not the Balinese themselves, which even have a word for paradise in their language and does not reflect the harsh reality of life in the capital, which currently suffers the impact of economic crisis and the collapse of its currency.

Java Indonesia

This island is the political, geographic and economic Indonesian archipelago. Java is a relatively small (about as England) but it inhabit 112 million people, 55% of the population. His silhouette, long and narrow, is surrounded by a chain of volcanic  mountains that make your spine. It was in Java where the Hindu and Buddhist empires reached their best, producing architectural wonders such as Borobudur and Prambanan. When Islam was introduced in the island in the fifteenth century, absorbed the local cultures, rather than cancel, so that Java has a great mix of historical and religious influences. The strong presence of the ancient beliefs and mystical thought in the current Java represents a bulwark against widespread modernization.

Lombok Indonesia

The site consists of empty beaches and quiet countryside, and is dominatedLombok Indonesia by the spectacular Rinjani volcano. The people profess, most of Islam (the sasak), but remain isolated Balinese Hindus. The remarkable sasak culture is characterized by interlocking  their dances, bright and spectacular, and his struggles based on ostentation and rites. Balinese culture survives in Lombok - a vestige of when the Balinese princes controlled the island - and most of the tourist shops are run by Balinese.

Sumatra Indonesia

The island of Sumatra has abundant natural resources and life, remember that huge muddy river Amazon, and some important works of architecture. Its size is almost four times higher than neighboring Java, but hosts less than one quarter of its population. Duri ng the Dutch, supplying large quantities of global oil, rubber, pepper and coffee.  These resources, seemingly inexhaustible, yet maintain the economy indonesia. Sumatra is the home of many races and peoples: the former head hunters and cannibals batak regions of the Muslim culture minangkabau (maternal transmission line) and of the primitive clan Mentawai islands

Komodo and Rinco

These two small islands located between Sumbawa and Flores (East Nusa Tenggara), have achieved fame due to their four-legged inhabitants: Heavy Comodo Dragons. Variable size komodo  indonesia(from a 20 g lizard real monsters to 130 kg), could Enraged. Visitors little apprehensive to attend their banquet organized walking trails and observation by Comodo Dragon, but can be somewhat staged and bloody. If you want access to an alternative less-planned, it should be addressed to Rinco, where spaces have been installed on the intake and look where Lizards depend on luck. Comodo is mountainous and desolate, while Rinco has more life, there are several monkey colonies, wild water buffalo, deer, eagles and wild Turkeys. It has enabled a service for Comodo ferry from Sape (Sumbawa) and Labhuanbajo (Flores). To reach Rinco, should charter a boat.

Flores Island

Nggela, Wolojita and Jopu belong to the island of Flores are renowned for their beautiful ikat sarongs and Shawls. The population of traditional whaling Lamalera in Lembata (in Alor and Solor Archipelago, east of Florida) offers the opportunity to browse among the stranded boat and watch the men make spears. The remaining villagers as whalers, so they are exempt from the international ban on whaling.
Tricolor lakes of Keli Mutu has become the most prominent attraction of Nusa Tenggara. flores The waters of the three volcanic craters are rare habit of changing color in recent times prevail turquoise blue, olive green and black, but a few years ago tended to color teal, maroon and black. Nobody has to explain the origin of the colors and their changes only suggest the hypothesis that in each lake are various dissolved minerals. According to local legend, is that the lakes are home to the souls of the dead. The souls of the young decantarían by the heat of the green lake, those of the turquoise older, more milk, and of Thieves and Murderers of the black lake.
The only moment of the day on which you can see the lake from the upper rim (1.600 m) is the volcanic crater at dawn, before the lower clouds. Visitors entering on the path of 13 km from the nearest town, Moni, can travel on foot, riding a bus or rent a SUV. If you rent a horse to cover the trip, you should check the health of the animal and ensure it is saddle.

Sulawesi

Most travelers visit the rugged mountains of Tanatoraja (in central and southern Celebes), and the population of Rantepao attracts many of them. The inhabitants of the region are the Toray, rice farmers, pig breeders and lovers of water buffalo. This town has focused the attention of tourists thanks to its elaborate ceremonies, and burial areas for the traditional houses.
Toray most important ceremonies are related to travel beyond the dead. Without the funeral rites for the deceased's spirit will cause misfortune to their families. The funeral can be extended several days, with hundreds of guests and the sacrifice of many buffalo. The festivities, dances and songs can be supplement with cockfights, sisemba (struggles with your knees) and even buffalo fights, in which animals, very excited by the inclusion of Chile in its rear hook their horns and measured forces.
If the visitor is invited to a ceremony, you should dress respectfully and provided for sharing of gifts, should not sit in areas for the hosts or family members. You can take pictures, but in moderation. The best time to move to embrace Rantepao March to May, although most funeralbunakentrip1 ceremonies are held in the holiday season, July to September. During July and August high season, hotel prices rise with immoderation.
The prosperous city of Manado in northern Sulawesi (Sulawesi), appears as the starting point for discovering the amazing coral reefs offshore, near Pulau Bunaken. There are numerous accommodations, modest but comfortable in Pulau Bunaken, diving instructors and many offer their services, but the best diving is found on the main island of Sulawesi. The coral that inhabit the waters of Bunaken has suffered the neglect of ship traffic, but can be accessed by swimming to the closest point of immersion, which remain intact.
It is possible to rent canoes or small motorboats to reach the most isolated reefs surrounding the islands nearby: Manado Tua, Siladen and Pulau Pulau Mantehage. There is also a daily ferry service between Pulau Bunaken and Manado. In addition to its treasures under the sea, the culture is fascinating to Manado, a hybrid cultures of Indonesia, the Philippines and in southern California, with some very interesting local dishes (also fried field rat) and spectacular volcanoes.

Kalimantan

The image of half-naked and covered dayak tattoo skipping through the streets of Balikpapan and Pontianak is unreal, the first impressions of Borneo (Kalimantan) will provide the oil refineries and mills. Timber and mining interests have venture into the forests and mountain ranges that wiped out at an alarming speed, pollute the rivers and leaves of indigenous cultures to the social and economic intrusions of the twentieth century.

The well-known representations of Borneo originate in exaggerated stories of the early European explorers, but the stories about the island of Kalimantan and the Dayak peoples of ethnicity provide interesting ideas for captions: tattooed head hunters, tribes and exotic wildlife disappeared. Samarinda is the best starting point for navigating the river by boat to small towns such as Tanjung Isuy, Muara Muntai, Malacca (with its forest of orchids in 20.234 km ²) and Long Iram. Unfortunately, in some Precincts tour packages are offered for groups of visitors seeking a true picture of life for dayak and pay by the hour to see the primitive cultures. Tanjung Putting National Park in Borneo (Kalimantan) Central houses a wide variety of flora and fauna: alligators, binturongos, Orangutans, monkeys and dolphins.Bali_Indonesia_Water_Palace

The appropriate time to approach the equatorial river city of Pontianak, on Borneo (Kalimantan) West coincides with the sunset when the lights are the floating houses on the majestic river. It is advisable to move the channels to go through the city and soak up the atmosphere Chinese-Indonesian. In the afternoon, in the rickety wooden Piers on the southern shore, meet many young people to fly kites huge role. The most notable sites include the current mosque Mesiyi Abdurrajam schooners and Javanese style and celeb Pinisi port. The pristine beaches of Pasir Panjang is located in the vicinity and the city is an ideal starting point for trips to the Kapuas.
Moluccas

The thousand islands of Maluku (Maluku) have become legendary for its spices, which attract merchants Indian, Chinese, Arabs and later Europeans, who demanded Cloves, mace and nutmeg, spices that grow here. At present, these islands, divided by a vast ocean, offering a tropical landscape with a Polynesian atmosphere, exotic birds, old forts, towns and beautiful beaches, dive sites suitable for ... without any pollution or sellers. Most travelers heading to Ambon, Ternate and the bands, taking as a basis to access the many tiny islands away from the tourist circuit. But the violence shook Ambon in 1998 and 1999, as a result, fled tens of thousands of refugees and the island has disappeared from the tourist routes. If you travel by boat, it would take at least five weeks to recognize the islands, and a minimum of three weeks if you are traveling by plane.
Irian Jaya

This island can be considered one of the last wild corners of the globe. Papuans, who share the island with its eastern Papua New Guinea, are related, culturally and ethnically, with the Papuans of New Guinea, and are similar to the Melanesian South Pacific. Living in one of the most rugged land of the globe (from snowy mountains to mangroves), with fantastic jungle scenery, equatorial glaciers, birds and animSumatra Indonesiaals in abundance and ideal for trekking. It should be stressed Baliem valley, with its unique culture and numerous walking tracks, Sentani, travel by boat around Lake Sentani and Kota Biak for access to the immersion. One should not underestimate the size of West Irian or time or money going to cost displacement, there is no one road to the major cities, and ships are slow and irregular, so the air is often the only option. Incorporation into Indonesia, migration and indiscriminate logging and mining dislike the Papuan indigenous: it has formed a guerrilla movement fighting for a free Papua for nearly thirty years. Requires permission from the local to move many areas.

activates in Indonesia

There are places suitable for diving (with or without tube) in the waters of Bali (Nusa Dua, Sanur, Padangbai) between Comodo and Labuhanbajo in Florida and around the islands of Banda and Pulau Biak, off the northern coast of Irian Western (Irian Jaya). The sea gardens of Sulawesi, particularly around Manado, are legendary. The most popular sites for surfing is located in Ulu WATU (in Bali), Grajagan (in Java) and Nias (opposite Sumatra), but you can enjoy this sport on the southern coast of most of the islands Nusa Tenggara. Windsurfing enthusiasts will enjoy the beaches in the south of Bali. Rafting appears as a new activity for the moment that you can practice on the river Ayung Bali.
Sumatra has attractive walking tracks through the jungle, especially in the Gunung Leuser National Park. Berastagi and Bukit Lawang are also popular for trekking in Sumatra. In the jungles of Borneo and West Irian this is an adventure. For those who want to reach the highest, Mount Bromo in Java and Bali Agung can climb in a day, Gunung Rinjani, the volcano that dominates Lombok, deserves an exhausting trip of three days.

Indonesia History

It is likely that the first inhabitants of the Indonesian archipelago originated in India or Burma. In 1890, there were fossils of Java Man (Homo erectus), some five thousand years old, in East Java. Later, around 3000 BC, the Malays of southern China and Indochina populated archipelago. Java and Sumatra appeared stronger communities, such as the Buddhist Srivijaya empire and the Hindu Mataram kingdom at the end of the seventh century. The last Hindu kingdom of importance was the mayapahit, founded in the thirteenth century. In the fourteenth century, the expansion of Islam through the archipelago mayapahit the people forced to retreat to Bali in the next century.indonesia history
At that time, had already formed a strong Muslim empire based in Melaka (Malacca), the Malay Peninsula. His influence was short-lived and fell under Portuguese domination in 1511. The Dutch displaced the Portuguese and launched raids into Indonesia. The Dutch East India Company, based in Batavia (Jakarta) dominated the spice trade, and controlled Java in the mid eighteenth century, when it was in decline. The Dutch dominated the early nineteenth century and included in their domains across the archipelago, including Aceh and Bali in early-twentieth century.
Among the growing nationalism and the Japanese occupation of the archipelago during World War II, the decision of the Dutch broke, and finally transferred sovereignty to the new Republic of Indonesia in 1949. Achmed Soekarno, the main advocate of the self since the beginning of the 1920s, was named president. In 1957, after a period of parliamentary democracy aimlessly, Sukarno dissolved the parliament, declared martial law and initiated a more authoritarian style of government, which defined the euphemism of guided democracy. And command, Sukarno consolidated his power through the construction of monuments and the socialization of the economy, a decision that increased the gap between rich and poor and left much of the population to the brink of starvation. Rebellions broke out in Sumatra and Sulawesi, Indonesia and Malaysia are dangerously close to a direct confrontation and instability increased. In 1965 there was an attempted coup (purportedly by a Communist group) threatened to remain in power Sukarno.

The president came out victorious in this situation, but was defeated when General Soeharto, who is responsible for crushing the coup, he seized the presidency in 1966. Soeharto introduced a proposed policy changes, but the promises of economic reform and greater transparency in government soon degenerated into a nepotism, cronyism and excessive costs, coupled with the brutal massacre of East Timorese nationalists in Dili in 1975. In March 1998, Soeharto was totally isolated from the people and announced that only five years would remain in office. Therefore fail to meet in late May of that year, his post was occupied by Vice President Jusuf Habibie.

Habibie, who had never enjoyed great popularity, reiterated the same promises of reform, and even seemed likely to grant independence to East Timor. The uncompromising stance with regard to this land led to a chain reaction and sectarian violence, student protests and increased demands for independence were reproduced in Ambon, Borneo (Kalimantan) and West Irian (Irian Jaya). Several groups of offenders, controlled and financed by the Indonesian army as the general belief was revealed in East Timor after the referendum of 1999, concluded with an overwhelming majority vote for independence. Local police forces and the army were sent to crush rebellions other; student protesters were killed in the streets and the country became an inferno.

It is likely that the first inhabitants of the Indonesian archipelago originated in India or Burma. In 1890, there were fossils of Java Man (Homo erectus), some five thousand years old, in East Java. Later, around 3000 BC, the Malays of southern China and Indochina populated archipelago. Java and Sumatra appeared stronger communities, such as the Buddhist Srivijaya empire and the Hindu Mataram kingdom at the end of the seventh century. The last Hindu kingdom of importance was the mayapahit, founded in the thirteenth century. In the fourteenth century, the expansion of Islam through the archipelago mayapahit the people forced to retreat to Bali in the next century.

At that time, had already formed a strong Muslim empire based in Melaka (Malacca), the Malay Peninsula. His influence was short-lived and fell under Portuguese domination in 1511. The Dutch displaced the Portuguese and launched raids into Soekarno Indonesia. The Dutch East India Company, based in Batavia (Jakarta) dominated the spice trade, and controlled Java in the mid eighteenth century, when it was in decline. The Dutch dominated the early nineteenth century and included in their domains across the archipelago, including Aceh and Bali in early-twentieth century.

Among the growing nationalism and the Japanese occupation of the archipelago during World War II, the decision of the Dutch broke, and finally transferred sovereignty to the new Republic of Indonesia in 1949. Achmed Soekarno, the main advocate of the self since the beginning of the 1920s, was named president. In 1957, after a period of parliamentary democracy aimlessly, Sukarno dissolved the parliament, declared martial law and initiated a more authoritarian style of government, which defined the euphemism of guided democracy. And command, Sukarno consolidated his power through the construction of monuments and the socialization of the economy, a decision that increased the gap between rich and poor and left much of the population to the brink of starvation. Rebellions broke out in Sumatra and Sulawesi, Indonesia and Malaysia are dangerously close to a direct confrontation and instability increased. In 1965 there was an attempted coup (purportedly by a Communist group) threatened to remain in power Sukarno.

The president came out victorious in this situation, but was defeated when General Soeharto, who is responsible for crushing the coup, he seized the presidency in 1966. Soeharto introduced a proposed policy changes, but the promises of economic reform and greater transparency in government soon degenerated into a nepotism, cronyism and excessive costs, coupled with the brutal massacre of East Timorese nationalists in Dili in 1975. In March 1998, Soeharto was totally isolated from the people and announced that only five years would remain in office. Therefore fail to meet in late May of that year, his post was occupied by Vice President Jusuf Habibie.

Habibie, who had never enjoyed great popularity, reiterated the same promises of reform, and even seemed likely to grant independence to East Timor. The uncompromising stance with regard to this land led to a chain reaction and sectarian violence, student protests and increased demands for independence were reproduced in Ambon, Borneo (Kalimantan) and West Irian (Irian Jaya). Several groups of offenders, controlled and financed by the Indonesian army as the general belief was revealed in East Timor after the referendum of 1999, concluded with an overwhelming majority vote for independence. Local police forces and the army were sent to crush rebellions other; student protesters were killed in the streets and the country became an inferno.

After several acts of international diplomacy, the United Nations and Australia were involved: the United Nations sent a symbolic number of troops to show their disapproval of the methods in Indonesia, while Australia sent a contingent of his army to East Timor. Indonesia considered it an act of aggression and interference in its domestic politics and the situation reached a high degree of tension. And veiled threats were launched contraamenazas, but none was implemented. Finally, when the atmosphere calmed down, East Timor had received the self so fresh from the ruins of their own country; Habibie had withdrawn from the scene, held the power D. Abdurrahman Wahid, the first democratically elected president, had resigned, General Wiranto, head of the Indonesian army, paramilitary groups were again mixed with the residents of Jakarta, the rupee remained volatile and the relations between Indonesia and Australia remained tense and intermittent but improved slightly. On July 23, 2001 the parliament deposed Indonesian president Wahid for incompetence and corruption, and was replaced by Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri, the daughter of Sukarno. Megawati, social stability and economic growth. However, he could not fight corruption legislation.

Indonesia Culture & people

Over time, social norms and religious have been refined into a code of behavior called adat or traditional law. Islam, religion in the archipelago, coexists with elements of Hinduism, Buddhism, adat and animism. Especially in Java where there are hundreds of sites, it is believed, has the spiritual energy that can absorb the faithful. Despite the long colonial period, the missionaries succeeded in converting only a small population groups indonesia: the Batak of Sumatra, Sulawesi and the torakos of 95% of the population of Flores are notable examples.312-459~Yali-People-Dancing-at-a-Ceremony-Membegan-Irian-Jaya-New-Guinea-Indonesia-Posters

In the archipelago more than three hundred languages spoken, and most part of the Malay-Polynesian language group. Within this family there are many regional dialects and speeches. The lingua franca of the archipelago, Bahasa Indonesian, Malay is very similar, with many foreigners, shows the time that Indonesia has been in  contact with other cultures. In recent years, teenagers have turned Bahasa Indonesian in a new vernacular and own the latest trends called Bahasa prokem quite incomprehensible to the previous generation.

Batik fabrics are manufactured (method is to apply wax to the fabric and then some color with colorful designs and spectacular) in Indonesia, but the center of production is in Yogyakarta, Java. Other crafts include indonesia ikat, a form of weaving with dyed yarns, and songket, a silk fabric embroidered with gold thread or silver, and Kris, designs often decorated with jewels. Guignol with the Javanese Wayang (puppet) and gamelan (hypnotic music composed mostly of percussive instruments) are also popular artistic forms.

Many Indonesian dishes reflect Chinese influences, but there are others, like those from Sumatra Padang cuisine, typical of the area. The sale of snacks such as potato, nuts, candy, cookies or fruit is widespread. Rice is the basis of every meal, whether it is as if the soup is blended in an assortment of spicy and highly seasoned dishes, salad and pickles. The Nasi goreng (fried rice) can be considered the most common dish, among other highly prized are the sate (skewered meat with peanut sauce and spices), the Gado-Gado (vegetables and beans with peanut sauce) and seafood. This land has a variety of tropical fruits: cherimoya, durians, guavas, bread fruit tree, mangoes, papayas, rambutan and carambola.

Indonesia Map

indonesia_map

Cambodia Travel

Travel Tour to Cambodia
Tourism culture and History tour

Cambodia in general

Ancient temples, deserted beaches, mighty rivers, remote forests ... and, beyond Angkor, few visitors. Cambodia has emerged from the ashes after decades of war and isolation, which made it a country of atrocities, refugees, poverty and political instability. The magic of Angkor temples to attract back the tourists, who admired the cover, and the country is back on the map as a tourist destination in Southeast Asia.
cambodia-flagCambodia, the successor state of the mighty Khmer empire that ruled much of which now occupy Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, boasts a rich culture, a beautiful French colonial capital, somewhat damaged, and a magnificent natural landscape. The country enjoys a relatively recent but stable peace, and is gradually attracting tourism, which currently chooses the neighboring Vietnam. However, the picture is not as gratifying as it may seem, because of the existence of landmines and banditry acts that occur in more remote areas. At present, the most traveled routes seem to be the best to visit.

Cambodia when to go

The most propitious time to visit Cambodia is focused in December and January, when humidity is bearable, temperatures, rainfall and cooler, unlikely. Since February, the levels amounts to be unbearable in April. A good time to visit Angkor, despite the humidity, the wet season is from May to October, because the pits are overflowing and the foliage is lush. However, we should avoid travel to the northwestern regions of the country during these months, because the roads are flooded and the journey is hard. In early November, we celebrate the country's largest festival, the Bon Om Tuk, essential.

Cambodia holidays and festival

China ethnicities and celebrating the Vietnamese Lunar New Year in late January or early February. The Khmer New Year celebrations across the country for three days in mid-April, and throwing large amounts of water and talcum powder. Chat Preah Nengkal (real festival of plowing) occurs in the vicinity of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh in early May. The key event of the Khmer calendar, the Bom Om Tuk, happening in late November to commemorate the end of the rainy season. This is the most appropriate time to visit Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. During the holidays, banks, ministries and embassies are closed.

Holidays

January 1 - New Year's Day

March 8 - Women's Day

April 13 - Khmer New Year

May 1 - Labor Day

June 1 - International Day of Children

September 24 - Constitution Day

October 23 - Paris Peace Agreement

October 30 - Anniversary of the King

November 9 - Independence Day

December 10 - Human Rights Day United Nations

Cambodia attraction and places

Phnom Penh

The capital retains its undeniable charm, despite a turbulent and often violent past. The crumbling colonial architecture represents an attractive backdrop to the bustling cafes lining the streets and renovated area of the riverside walk, a particularly active on Friday and Saturday nights. Among the places of interest include various VATS (temples) imposing such as Vat OunalomPhnom Penh center of the Cambodian Buddhist patriarch, the Wat Phnom Pagoda, situated on the summit of a hill and named the city and the newly painted Wat Lang Ka. The greatest pride of the city leads to the spectacular Silver Pagoda, one of the few places in the country that the Khmer Rouge did not destroy, but only retains 40% of the elements embodying the brilliance and richness of Khmer culture. Another prominent attraction is the National Museum, with samples of exceptional artesaníajemer.
The killing fields of Choeung Ek remember the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge. In this enclave, just 15 km southwest from the capital, were executed about seventeen thousand people. After the glass panel of the stupa (Buddhist monument) built in 1988 in memory of the victims can be found more than eight thousand skulls, broken down by sex and age. Before his execution, the deceased had been confined in the prison known as S-21, located in the secondary school of Tuol Svay Preyl. At present, the Tuol Sleng Museum offers the testimony of the crimes and explains in detail the torture and death to which the victims were subjected. The central market area, where the boulevard Monirong is the main focus for budget travelers because it uneconomical housing, and many food stalls. The street markets are erected as places to browse and find interesting offers jewelry, antiques or ubiquitous Kramer (cotton scarves). To eat well and drink a little beer money, we recommend the area of the river walk.

Angkor

The biggest tourist attraction in Cambodia focuses on the renowned temples of Angkor. It is a set of one hundred pagodas, built between the XIII and IX centuries to glorify a succession of Khmer kings. Represent the sacred remains of what became in time a great religious and administrative center. Most of the city was abandoned in the fifteenth century and the temples were gradually swallowed by the AngkorWATaerial forest. In the late nineteenth century, the enclave became a source of interest to scholars following the publication of the book Voyage à Siam et dans le Cambodge, the French naturalist Henri Mouhot. At present still made great efforts to remove vegetation that threatened to completely destroy the buildings, along with the work of restoration.
Among the magnificent Angkor Wat temples are the, the Bayon and TaProhm. A few kilometers from the pagoda, is Siem Reap, a town where travelers can stay and eat something.

Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville's beaches are not comparable with those of Thailand and also there are few sites of interest. However, as the country's only seaport, is the area designated to go and explore the south coast and nearby Ream National Park. The beaches that surround the place are four: Ochheuteal, Sokha, Independence and Victory, its fishing port offers the ability to instantly capture that difficult sunrise or sunset. An hour's drive can take a variety of activities related to diving and Sihanoukville swimming in a waterfall. In its vicinity lies the sleepy colonial Kampot complex situated on the promenade of the river and next to it are the remains of the strange sea front of Kep. Sihanoukville is located 232 km from the capital, and is supplied by a regular bus service.

Battambang

This elegant riverside city, second largest in the country, home to some of the best preserved colonial buildings of Cambodia. Formerly, Battambang is located outside the route of the passengers, but in recent times, its infrastructure has improved and has become the location indicated to move the temples and villages around.Battambang He is considered a secondary center in the land route between Thailand and Vietnam, which ultimately may disappear if the improvements are made in the National Road 6, which joins Poipet to Siem Reap. Its major attraction lies in the charming shops and old French, which are grouped along the river's edge. There are also various VATS scattered around the city. In the small museum has a collection of objects from the period angkoriana and backs of the city you can visit some temples located on top of a hill, and other VATS and a large lake. 293 km of busy shared taxi ride between the capital of Battambang. It also has a service which operates daily flights, except on Tuesdays

Phnom Udong

Between 1618 and 1866, the capital of Cambodia was established in the city of Udong, 40 km north of Phnom Penh. This is a very peaceful, where tourists are scarce, except on weekends. The ruins are spread over two hills. In the small, lie the remains of two buildings, various Phnom Udong stupas and the walls are shot through with bullets Ta San Mosque. At the foot of the hill, large cree which is a hidden treasure of the sixteenth century, which are scattered the ruins of a large Vihara (shrine) and a statue of Buddha that bombed the Khmer Rouge in 1977. Around these relics, there are some more tiny viharas, stupas and Buddha statues are still intact. At its base, stands a monumentoconmemorativo to honor the victims of Pol Pot which houses the bones of people buried in one of the hundred graves in the area.

Kompong Luong

Ten thousand people inhabit this floating city on Lake Tonle Sap. The ships are the foundation on which rise housing, schools, restaurants and karaoke, with the tide moving Kompong Luongup to 5 km from its original position. Most of the Vietnamese population, as in the Vietnamese floating village of the north end of the lake. In Kompong Luong proposals and current games and any place to stay, so their interest is in discovering the environment of life on the water with an iced coffee or a beer in his hand. The city is located in the southern part of Lake Tonle Sap in Pursat province, about 40 km northwest of the town of Pursat.

Cambodia activities

As the Cambodian tourism industry is in its initial phase, the main activity that can be done is to make tourism. In Phnom Penh travelers can take their leisure time in activities like driving karts, the jet ski, mini-golf or bowling. Slowly we are creating a network of national parks across the country, with facilities for visitors, the most interesting and accessible, Ream and Bokor, are located on the south coast. In Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri, is feasible and mountaineering elephant ride, always within the limits and with guidance. For those who prefer snorkelling practice, we recommend the area of Sihanoukville (aka Kompong Som), which hosts the best beaches in the country.

Cambodia history

Very little is known about the prehistoric Cambodia, although archeological discoveries have shown that in the period prior to 1000 BC, the Cambodian people subsisting on a diet of fish and rice and lived in houses on stilts, a feature that still remain. Between I and VI centuries, most of the territory belonged to the Southeast Asian kingdom of Fu-nan, who played a key role in the development of political institutions, culture and art of the future states Khmers. However, it was not until the angkoriana was started in the eighth century, when the kingdom was transformed into an artistic and religious power.

In 1431, the forces of the Thai kingdom of Ayudhya sacked Angkor, causing a situation of war and dynastic rivalries between Thai and Khmer to be last for a century and a half. In this contest, also played an important role in Spain and Portugal, who had arrived a short time before the region, until the rancor toward their power increased so that in 1599 culminated with the massacre of the Spanish garrison at Phnom Penh bet. Beginning in 1600, and until the arrival of the French in 1863, the country was ruled by a series of weak monarchs.

After signing the treaty of 1863, Cambodia became a French protectorate and in 1884 forced the Gauls to King Norodom to sign another agreement by which the country became a genuine Cologne. The following period was marked by relative calm, even the peasant uprising in 1916 was considered a peaceful event. In 1941, the French gave the throne to Prince Sihanouk, 19, preveyendo the docility of the ruler. However, the years after 1945 were fraught with conflict, and French colonial power was declining due to the proximity of the war between France and the Viet Minh, which occurred in Vietnam and Laos. In 1953, proclaimed the independence of Cambodia, finally confirmed at the conference in Geneva next year, and the enigmatic King Norodom Sihanouk remained in command of the national policy for the next fifteen years before being overthrown by the army.

In 1969, United States planted bombs suspected communist base camps in the nation, causing thousands of casualties among civilians and the forced participation of the country in the Vietnam War. U.S. and South Vietnamese troops invaded the territory of Cambodia in 1970 with the intention of annihilating the Vietnamese communist forces, but the operation failed. However, they retreat of the leftist guerrillas Cambodian Khmer Rouge, to the interior. Cambodia was involved in this struggle, which ended with the taking of the capital of the Khmer Rouge.

Over the next four years, the Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot, systematically killed about two million citizens, especially intenectuales in a brutal attempt to turn the country into a land dominated by cooperative farmers. Currency was abolished, the postal service was interrupted, the people became slave labor and Cambodia was virtually isolated from the outside world. In response to the continuing Cambodian incursions into their border provinces, Vietnam invaded the country in 1978, forcing the Khmer Rouge to flee to the jungle shrine located in the Thai border. From there, during the 1970s and 1980s, led a guerrilla war against the government, backed by the Vietnamese.

In mid-1993, held general elections supervised by the United Nations, which converged on a new Constitution and the renaming of King Norodom Sihanouk. The Khmer Rouge boycotted the elections, rejected peace talks and bought large quantities of arms to the Cambodian military leaders. In the months that followed the elections, amnesty backed by the government secured the first defections from the ranks of the Khmer Rouge, which continued until 1994, when the government finally declared illegal.

The difficult coalition between the National United Front of Prince Ranariddh and the Cambodian People's Party of Hun Sen was interrupted by violence in July 1997, when the situation eased, Hun Sen took the solo lead in the nation. The elections held in mid-1998 he was awarded a victory, despite the protests led by opposition candidates, who criticized the dubious electoral practices. Although it did not have dazzling democratic credentials, the man eyed and has proved a strong stabilizing force for Cambodia. The death of Pol Pot of an apparent heart attack in April 1998 was met with disagreement of opinions with anger because he was never tried, and with skepticism, because it was not the first time they gave him for dead. It is expected that the most prominent leaders of the Khmer Rouge are still alive to be tried in late 2001 in a trial sponsored by a tribunal supported by the United Nations and overseen by a joint team of foreign and local lawyers. However, hope for justice is marred by the fact that former members loyal to the Khmer Rouge still occupy positions of power, and only a very small group has been jailed. There is no certainty that Ieng Sary, former foreign minister and brother-in-law of Pol Pot, will be tried, because it might jeopardize the stability of the newly released country. This view can help greatly to restore faith in Cambodia, at attracting foreign aid and strengthening the country's position within the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).

The future stability also depends on improving the ailing economy, which received a blow with the devastating floods that hit in 2000, to eradicate the ingrained culture of corruption and the need to meet King Sihanouk's successor The last of the long line of divine kings of Angkor.

The future stability is linked to improving the country's economy, which has long been in crisis, to the eradication of established culture of corruption, reduction of the army and the clarification of the controversial real estate. The Prime Minister of the Cambodian People's Party, Hun Sen, won the elections in 2003, but the political stalemate lasted until June 2004 when Hun Sen found an ally to form a collation and was able to resume his work in office. In October 2004, King Sihanouk announced his intention to abdicate due to health and inconvenience of internecine political strife in the country

Cambodia culture & people

Fortunately, much of the Cambodian cultural heritage has survived the historical approach of a clean sheet of the Khmer Rouge. In addition to the two million estimated civilian casualties, it also destroyed objects, statues and books, but some famous examples of architecture angkoriana as the temples of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, were relatively unharmed. In the National Museum in Phnom Penh, can be examples of Khmer sculpture, as highlighted beautifully painted Hindu gods. The most tangible link with their country's glorious past is the real ballet, of great elegance and traditional relationship with the dance of Thailand, Java and India. During the Pol Pot years, even this art was threatened, survived with only a seamstress who conveyed the old techniques of costume design.

Theravada Buddhism is predominant in Cambodia with 95% faithful. The official language, Khmer, can be considered a difficult language to learn, but the few words to be learned will be of great help. English is rapidly becoming the second language of the country over the French, who continue to speak of many citizens, educated before the 1970s.

Khmer cuisine is similar to Thai but with fewer spices. A typical meal will include Cambodia in most cases a stock and must be based on the fish living in the nation. One of the specialties is the fish from the river on the grill, wrapped in lettuce or spinach and served with fish sauce and nuts. The salad is seasoned with coriander, mint or lemon grass, very common in three flavors Cambodian dishes. The French influence is seen in the meal on bread baked daily. Among the desserts are the bland rice cakes and fruit pudding. It is advised not to drink tap water and confined to the mineral water, fruit juices and soft drinks. They should also avoid muscular wines of recent proliferation

Cambodia map

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