Category: Cambodia

Some tourist hotspots end up disheartening disappointments. Others live entirely up to their hype. According to TripAdvisor travelers, the one landmark that lives up to its mythical reputation is Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, which topped this year’s list of world’s top landmarks for the second year in a row.

The largest religious monument in the world, Angkor Wat stands as a living testament of the Khmer Empire. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992.

Of the more than 40,000 reviews left on the site, Angkor Wat boasts a five-out-of-five bubble rating, with the majority of visitors leaving glowing reviews of their experience.

“Nothing could prepare us for the awesomeness and size of the temple” wrote one visitor from Australia.

Added another visitor from India: “Awesome and if you are the imaginative type, the guides paint such a vivid picture of the bygone era and the grandeur you can picture it all.”

The recurring caveats on many reviews, however, are complaints of overcrowding, stifling heat and ongoing renovations.

Read more from source: These are the world’s favorite landmarks 2018: TripAdvisor

• Despite how long the lines might be, Niagara Falls is a must-visit.
• The Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower both came from the same man, and both landmarks are must-sees.
• India’s Taj Mahal is considered to be the greatest achievement in Indo-Islamic architecture.

Acropolis

History and architecture buffs — particularly those with a penchant for ancient Greece — won’t want to miss a trip to the Acropolis of Athens. Situated on a rocky hill above the city, the citadel complex contains an ensemble of significant classical structures, namely the Parthenon, which is regarded as the most important surviving monument from Greek Antiquity. Take a peek at these landmarks, including the Acropolis, zoomed out.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is a must-see-before-you-die natural wonder. Sure, waiting in line, donning a bright blue poncho, and boarding a visitor-packed boat (aka the Maid of the Mist) is pretty much the definition of a touristy activity, but the chance to come so close to the gushing waters and powerful spray make it all worth it.

Read more from source: 13 tourist traps around the world that are actually worth visiting

Cambodia is setting its sights on growing its golf tourism industry.

The Southeast Asian nation is becoming increasingly popular with foreign tourists, attracting more than five million visitors in 2016. Around seven million are expected by 2020.

Golf tourism is still very much in its infancy, however.

There are currently nine golf courses in Cambodia: four in the capital Phnom Penh, including the country’s oldest course, Cambodia Golf & Country Club, which opened in 1996, the Grand Phnom Penh Golf Club course by Nicklaus Design and the IMG-managed Garden City Golf Club, which opened in 2013.

Among three courses in Siem Reap are former Asian Tour venue Phokeethra Country Club and the Nick Faldo-designed Angkor Golf Resort, which opened in 2007 and is a Golf Course Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

There are also two courses on the coast at Dara Sakor Golf Club, forming the first part of a project by a Chinese developer in Koh Kong Province.

Read more from source: From Temples to Tees: Cambodia Eyes Golf Tourism Growth

Last fall the Trump administration announced it would withdraw from UNESCO, the cultural organization of the United Nations that is known to travelers for its list of World Heritage sites.

The withdrawal is scheduled to go into effect at the end of 2018. There are 23 World Heritage sites in the United States, including Grand Canyon National Park, Independence Hall, Yellowstone National Park and the Statue of Liberty.

If the United States withdraws from UNESCO, it would remain a state party, having signed and ratified the World Heritage Convention. “There is one consequence only,” said George Papagiannis, the chief of media services at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, about the U.S. withdrawal. “The U.S. cannot be elected to the World Heritage Committee,” a managing committee made up of elected representatives from 21 countries. The committee is in charge of allocating financial assistance and determining what sites are included on, or removed from, the World Heritage List.

The World Heritage program, which began in 1972, includes a list of 1,073 sites “that are of outstanding universal value to humanity,” and should therefore “be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy,” according to UNESCO’s website.

Source: Will US withdrawal from UNESCO affect heritage sites?

Built between roughly A.D. 1113 and 1150, and encompassing an area of about 500 acres (200 hectares), Angkor Wat is one of the largest religious monuments ever constructed. Its name means “temple city.”

Originally built as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, it was converted into a Buddhist temple in the 14th century, and statues of Buddha were added to its already rich artwork. Sometime later it was turned into a military fortification. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that scientists are struggling to preserve.

Its 213-foot-tall (65 meters) central tower is surrounded by four smaller towers and a series of enclosure walls, a layout that recreates the image of Mount Meru, a legendary place in Hindu mythology that is said to lie beyond the Himalayas and be the home of the gods.

Within the largest city in the world

The city where the temple was built, Angkor, is located in modern-day Cambodia and was once the capital of the Khmer Empire. This city contains hundreds of temples. The population may have been over 1 million people. It was easily the largest city in the world until the Industrial Revolution.

Read more from source: Angkor Wat: History of Ancient Temple

Cambodia is a culturally beautiful country with a tragic past. Explore the wonders it has to offer but remember to take these precautions so as to not meet disappointment!

Cambodia is a nation that is on its way to rebuilding itself from the aftermath of the Khmer Rouge. With tourism picking up gradually, there is hope for the country’s recovering economy. Cambodia has much to offer with its picturesque landscapes and rich Khmer heritage. However, many outsiders who are not familiar with the country hold skewed misconceptions that may shape their expectations of travelling to Cambodia. Today, we dispel the false expectations to give you a dose of reality that may come in handy when you’re exploring the land of the Khmer.

Expectation: All payments are made in Cambodian Riel

Cambodia’s currency is known as the Riel. As with most other nations, it is common to expect only the local currency to be used. So, some tourists may exchange their home currency for Riel before setting foot on Cambodia.

Reality: The US Dollar is widely accepted too

Read more from source: Cambodia: Expectations Vs. Reality