Cambodian Trip Preparation:Step1, General Info Gathering
Sunday, March 11, 2007 by Eva.Usermaatre
" If our lives are dominated by a search for happiness, then perhaps few activities reveal as much about the dynamics of this quest--in all its ardour and paradoxes--than our travels. They express, however inartculately, an understanding of what life might be about, outside of the constraints of work and the struggle for survival."----------"The Art of Travel"
Cambodia: Kingdom of Cambodia, with her capital Phnom Penh
Religion:95% Theravada Buddhist with the balance being Muslim, Christian and animist.
Food:Rice and fish are the basic foods enjoyed by Cambodians. Delicious noodle soups are available at cafes. Fresh seafood is plentiful at Sihanouk Ville. In major cities a wide range of culinary fare is on offer including; Chinese, Thai, French, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Vietnamese and Middle Eastern.
Voltage:220v/50Hz
Shopping:Weaving,Silver,Basket weaving,Antiques,Sculptured Reproductions,Wood Carving,Gold and Gems.
"遊記不但是旅遊經歷的紀錄，也是所見所聞的知性整理。旅遊不但是感性的享受，好奇的滿足，也是一種生動而活潑的自我教育，所以真正的旅行傢一定見多識廣，心胸開闊，不會用本鄉的觀念來衡量一切。有心的旅人不但前行前要做準備功夫，對將游之地有所認識。。。”余光中《隔水呼渡.自序〉
Cambodia: Kingdom of Cambodia, with her capital Phnom PenhGeography:Cambodia has an area of about 181,040 square kilometres (69,900 sq. mi), sharing an 800 kilometre (500 mi) border with Thailand in the north and west, a 541 kilometre (336 mi) border with Laos in the northeast, and a 1,228 kilometre (763 mi) border with Vietnam in the east and southeast. It has 443 kilometres (275 mi) of coastline along the Gulf of Thailand.
The most distinctive geographical feature is the lacustrine plain, formed by the inundations of the Tonle Sap (Great Lake), measuring about 2,590 square kilometres (1,000 sq. mi) during the dry season and expanding to about 24,605 square kilometres (9,500 sq. mi) during the rainy season. This densely populated plain, which is devoted to wet rice cultivation, is the heartland of Cambodia. Most (about 75%) of the country lies at elevations of less than 100 metres (330 ft) above sea level, the exceptions being the Cardamom Mountains (highest elevation 1,813 m / 5,948 ft) and their southeast extension the Dâmrei Mountains ("Elephant Mountains") (elevation range 500–1,000 m or 1,640–3,280 ft), as well the steep escarpment of the Dângrêk Mountains (average elevation 500 m / 1,640 ft) along the border with Thailand's Isan region. The highest elevation of Cambodia is Phnom Aoral, near Pursat in the centre of the country, at 1,813 metres (5,948 feet).
Temperatures range from 10°–38°C (50°–100°F) and Cambodia experiences tropical monsoons. Southwest monsoons blow inland bringing moisture-laden winds from the Gulf of Thailand and Indian Ocean from May to October, and the country experiences the heaviest precipitation from September to October. The northeast monsoon ushers in the dry season, which lasts from November to March, with the driest period from January to February. Cambodia has two distinct seasons, the rainy season which runs from May to October (temperatures up to 40°C with accompanying high humidity), and the dry season from November to April (temperatures drop to 25°C to 35°C). Temperatures can reach 40°C by late April. The best months to visit Cambodia are November to January when temperatures and humidity are lower.
The most distinctive geographical feature is the lacustrine plain, formed by the inundations of the Tonle Sap (Great Lake), measuring about 2,590 square kilometres (1,000 sq. mi) during the dry season and expanding to about 24,605 square kilometres (9,500 sq. mi) during the rainy season. This densely populated plain, which is devoted to wet rice cultivation, is the heartland of Cambodia. Most (about 75%) of the country lies at elevations of less than 100 metres (330 ft) above sea level, the exceptions being the Cardamom Mountains (highest elevation 1,813 m / 5,948 ft) and their southeast extension the Dâmrei Mountains ("Elephant Mountains") (elevation range 500–1,000 m or 1,640–3,280 ft), as well the steep escarpment of the Dângrêk Mountains (average elevation 500 m / 1,640 ft) along the border with Thailand's Isan region. The highest elevation of Cambodia is Phnom Aoral, near Pursat in the centre of the country, at 1,813 metres (5,948 feet).
Temperatures range from 10°–38°C (50°–100°F) and Cambodia experiences tropical monsoons. Southwest monsoons blow inland bringing moisture-laden winds from the Gulf of Thailand and Indian Ocean from May to October, and the country experiences the heaviest precipitation from September to October. The northeast monsoon ushers in the dry season, which lasts from November to March, with the driest period from January to February. Cambodia has two distinct seasons, the rainy season which runs from May to October (temperatures up to 40°C with accompanying high humidity), and the dry season from November to April (temperatures drop to 25°C to 35°C). Temperatures can reach 40°C by late April. The best months to visit Cambodia are November to January when temperatures and humidity are lower.
Weather:From December to April the climate in Cambodia is at its driest with abundant sunshine and temperatures often reaching 40ºC (104ºF) in April, the hottest month. The humid southwestern monsoon from May to October sees rain fall mostly in the afternoon, accounting for 70-80% of annual rainfall. The highest temperatures around this time average just above the 30ºC mark (around 88ºF).
Money: USD is accepted everywhere and can easily be used instead of riel (local currency unit) - travellers will get a better price for small items such as bottled water, cyclo rides, etc, if they have some riel. You are advised to carry a mix of USD cash and travellers cheques. Credit cards can be used in limited shops in Phnom Penh and are not widely accepted outside the capital. Visa and Mastercard are the most commonly accepted. Departure.
Time Zone:GMT/UTC +7
Language:Khmer, secondary languages: English and FrenchReligion:95% Theravada Buddhist with the balance being Muslim, Christian and animist.
Food:Rice and fish are the basic foods enjoyed by Cambodians. Delicious noodle soups are available at cafes. Fresh seafood is plentiful at Sihanouk Ville. In major cities a wide range of culinary fare is on offer including; Chinese, Thai, French, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Vietnamese and Middle Eastern.
Voltage:220v/50Hz
Shopping:Weaving,Silver,Basket weaving,Antiques,Sculptured Reproductions,Wood Carving,Gold and Gems.
