Geography
Cambodia is a small, unique kingdom with a land area of 181.035 square. Kilometers, making it about the same size as the State of Washington or as England and Wales. The Mekong River is the lifeline of Cambodia and it cuts a path for about 500 kilometers dividing the country into the north and the south.

The Tonlé Sap Lake is the largest fresh water lake in Southeast Asia. During the monsoon season between June and October the Tonlé Sap River reverses its flow and runs in the opposite direction, filling the Tonlé Sap Lake. The Tonlé Sap River is the only river in the world that flows in both directions.

The central plains account for two-thirds of the country and are mainly agricultural areas that become flooded in the monsoon season. Most of the population lives on the fertile flood plains, which are very important for the country’s agricultural production, especially of rice. The plains are sparsely forested, whereas all other parts of the landscape are composed of densely forested hills.

Climate
Two monsoons set the rhythm of rural life in Cambodia. The cool, dry, northeastern monsoon blows from about November to March and brings little rain. From May to early October, the south-western monsoon picks up moist air from over the Indian Ocean, bringing strong winds, high humidity, and heavy rains throughout the country. The weather is transitional between the seasons, but even during the wet season it rarely rains in the morning. Most of the rain comes in afternoon downpours.

• Practically speaking, Cambodia has four seasons:hf

1. November-February,cool/dry.
2. March-May, hot/dry windy
3. June-August hot/wet
4. September-Obtober,cool/wet

The majority (90%) of the population is Khmer. The remaining 10% are comprised of Cham (Khmer Muslims), minority hill tribes, Chinese and Vietnamese. The population is approximately twelve million (estimation of 2001).

LANGUAGE
Khmer is the official language. English and French are popular second languages.

RELIGION
Theravada Buddhism is the official religion in Cambodia. The majority of people are Buddhist and 5% are Muslim or Christian.

FESTIVAL AND HOLIDAY

January 01                  - International New Year Day

January 07                   - Victory Day Over Genocidal

February 21                 - Meak Bochea Day

March 08                     - International Women’s Day

April 13, 14,15            - Khmer New Year Day

May 01                        - International Labor Day

May 13, 14, 15            - Royal Birthday of the King Sihamoni

May19                         - Visakh Bochea Day

May 23                        - Royal Plowing Day

June 18                        - Royal Birthday of the King Mother Monineath Sihanouk

September 24              - Constitutional and King’s Coronation Day

September 28, 29, 30  - Pchum Ben Day 

October 29                  - Royal Coronation of the King

October 31                  - Royal Birthday of King Father Norodom Sihanouk

November 09              - Independence Day

November 11, 12, 13  - Water Festival and Moon Festival and Boat Racing

December 10               - International Human Rights Day  

CURRENCY
The local currency is Riel, although the US dollar is widely accepted throughout the country and in all major markets. In recent years the rate of exchange has been floating around USD1= 3,900 Riels. Some popular Riel denominations include: 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000 notes.

VISA & FEE
For most visitors to the kingdom, visa are obtainable upon arrival at both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap International Airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. At land crossing from Thailand, visas are available at Poipet Banteay Meanchey and Cham Yeam (Koh Kong providence). Visitors who enter from Vietnam through Bavet (VN: Moc Bai) or Ka-Om Samnor (VN: Chao Doc) will need to have already obtained their visas prior to their arrival through a Cambodian Embassy or Consulate overseas.

The border crossing form Laos is also possible through Voeun Kham border checkpoint, but travelers are advised to obtain their Visas prior to arrival at the border. Please note that other border crossing not mentioned above are not classified as international checkpoints therefore we suggest that you secure confirmation before commencing your trip. Various Visa extension options are also available.

Visa Fee: US$20 of tourist Visas & US$25 for business Visas. The fee is payable only in cash.

Airport Tax
From Phnom Penh International  - Airport in Phnom Penh
International Departure Tax US $ 25 per person and domestic $6 per person

From Siem Reap International - Airport in Siem Reap 
International Departure Tax US $ 25 and Domestic $6 per person

FOOD & BEVERAGES
It may surprise some, but Khmer dishes are, typically, not too spicy for western palate (as can sometimes be the case in Southeast Asia). In Cambodia the basic meal is almost always built around rice and usually includes fish, chicken, pork, beef and fresh vegetables. Freshwater fish is frequently served due to the country's abundant supply of this natural resource

While selecting from Khmer menus, we suggest you do order some fish for your meals, especially the popular Amok or Elephant fish dishes. Chinese, European, Thai and Vietnamese foods are also available in numerous restaurants in Cambodia's major cities.

Many of the same beverages which are generally offered in the outside world are readily available including the usual suspects: canned soft-drinks, beer, and wine (most of them imported). Coca Cola, Angkor Beer and several others are also bottled here.

Businesses Hours (local time is GMT plus 7 hours)
Most business offices are open from 08:00 till 12:00 and from 13:00 till 17:00, Monday through Friday. Banks generally operate from 08:00 till 15:00hrs. Most private companies work on Saturday, while government offices are closed.

Souvenirs from Cambodia
The Krama (a traditional cotton scarf) is one of the most popular, typical Cambodian souvenirs. These multi-purpose garments, similar to a sarong, are used for bathing, cleaning, protection from the sun and many other purposes in the Khmer life. It is also one of the national symbols that distinguish Khmer people from their neighbors. Both cotton and silk Krama are available throughout local markets and souvenir shops. Ask the seller to demonstrate the proper wearing of the Krama so you may carry and wear it yourself while sightseeing for a more elegant and traditional look.

How to get to Cambodia
Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are still considered the major point of entry and exit for Cambodia. Both are international gateways.

Border crossing by land is available from neighboring Thailand and Vietnam, including two major checkpoints from Thailand Poipet and Chamyeam, the province of Banteay Meanchey and Koh Kong provinces respectively. One popular gateway from Vietnam is through Bavet. From Laos, the checkpoint is called Voeun Kham. Beside these major border check points, there are still others that are also open as official international entry / exit points from neighboring countries, but were still not very popular with tourists at the time of this writing .We suggest those who intend to cross border at these new checkpoints to contact us in advance to make sure your trip runs as smoothly as possible.

Flight Information
The airlines that are currently operating to/form Cambodia are: Dragronair, Silk Air, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Lao Aviation, Vietnam Airlines, Southern China Airlines, Eva Airlines, President air and Shanghai Airlines.

Domestic carriers are:
Royal Phnom Penh Airways, President Airlines and Siem Reap Airways.

Agriculture
The monsoon with its cycles of dry and wet seasons builds the rhythm of the Cambodian people and agriculture. The wet season (May – October) transforms the plains into fertile arable land. The pattern of expansion and contraction of the Tonlé Sap Lake is the backbone of Cambodian production of fast growing deep-water rice. The annual flooding covers the surrounding countryside with a nutrient rich layer.
The Cambodian fishing industry also relies on the Tonlé Sap. In the dry season there is large-scale commercial fishing and with the annual replenishment of the waters of the Great Lake with the nutrient-rich waters of the Mekong, fish yields are some of the highest in the world.

History
According to legend, during the first century AD, Kaundinya, an Indian Brahmin priest following a dream came to Cambodia's Great Lake to find his fortune. He met and married a local princess, Soma, daughter of the Naga king, and founded the first kingdom called the Phnom, introducing Hindu customs, legal traditions and the Sanskrit language. Modern historians refer to it as Funan, the first Khmer kingdom and the oldest Indianized state in the Southeast Asian region, which became a dominant power in the region for more than 600 years. Jayavarman II, a Khmer king, united all the Khmer people under his leadership in approximately 800 AD. Establishing his capital in the north-western part of Cambodia, north of the Tonlé Sap Lake, Jayavarman II was crowned as King of Kampuchea and adopted the Hindu religion. With a succession of capitals located in and around the Siem Reap province, the Khmer kings exhibited an enormous talent for marshalling the genius of their people. Although Cambodia had a rich and powerful past under the Hindu state of Funan and the Kingdom of Angkor, by the mid-19th century the country was on the verge of dissolution. After repeated requests for French assistance a protectorate was established in 1863. By 1884, Cambodia was a virtual colony.

France continued to control the country even after the start of World War II through its Vichy government. Full independence came on 9 November 1953, but the situation remained unsettled until a 1954 conference was held in Geneva to settle the French-Indochina war. The Cambodian delegation agreed to the neutrality of the three Indochina states but insisted on a provision in the ceasefire agreement that left the Cambodian government free to call for outside military assistance should the Viet Minh or others threaten its territory.

In February 1969 a new chapter in Cambodian history was opened as the Vietnam war spilled into Cambodia. On 30 April 1970 American and South Vietnamese government troops invaded southeast Cambodia.

As Vietnamese troops retreated deeper into Cambodia the Khmer Rouge grew in strength. As the Khmer Rouge grew, they became increasingly independent of their Vietnamese allies. While the Vietnamese and the Americans signed the Paris Peace agreement in 1973, the Khmer Rouge continued to make gains on the battlefields of Cambodia. Soon the territory held by the weak Republic was reduced to little more than a handful of enclaves around the major cities.

On the same day that Lon Nol fled the country the Khmer Rouge marched into Phnom Penh. Pol Pot's goal was to transform Cambodia in a completely self-sufficient agrarian communist state. The revolution justified everything; human life was expendable. Until 1979 the Khmer Rouge terrorized the country and more than a million people were killed during their reign. The Khmer Rouge have therefore been accused of genocide - holding an unchallenged record in percentage of the population killed by a revolutionary movement. On Christmas Day 1978, an invasion force of 90,000 Vietnamese and 18,000 dissident Cambodians poured across the border into Cambodia. The defense of Pol Pot's regime was confronted by a much better-equipped, brilliantly led invasion force. Within a few days the Vietnamese had captured Phnom Penh. The battered remnants of the Khmer Rouge retreated into the mountains and jungles along the Thai border.

A different kind of war began: the Khmer Rouge stepped up guerrilla attacks against the Vietnamese. As the months passed the Vietnamese consolidated their hold on Cambodia and soon a new Cambodian government was formed under Vietnamese supervision. In June 1988 the Vietnamese announced plans to begin a gradual troop withdrawal. In early 1990 the negotiating process continued. A formal ceasefire was finally adopted in May 1991. On 23 October 1991 a peace agreement was at least signed and formally accepted by all sides.
After the free elections of 1993 Cambodia had a parliamentary system, Sihanouk's nephew, Prince Ranariddh and Hun Sen were appointed deputy premiers under the leadership of Sihanouk. A new constitution was adopted and in 1993, King Norodom Sihanouk resumed the throne, 52 years after first being crowned king. In July 1997, Hun Sen and the Cambodian People’s Party ousted Prince Ranariddh and took full control of the government. Since then, Cambodia has joined ASEAN, entering the new millennium as an internationally recognized constitutional monarchy.

Cambodia Timeline

• AD100 - AD600: The Kingdom of Funan that rules over a vast land of Indo China and part of  now South East Asia covers part of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and the whole Cambodia.
• AD600 - AD800: The Kingdom of Chenla still rules part of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and the whole Cambodia.
• AD800 - AD 1400: The Kingdom and Khmer Empire.  The Kingdom starts to crumble thereafter AD 800.  The peripheral areas of the Kingdom falls into the hands of the Thais invading  from the West and the North and the Vietnamese from the East.
• AD1400 - 1860: The erosion of the Khmer Empire.  More and more peripheral lands are occupied by the Thais and the Vietnamese.
• 1860 - 1953: The French colonize Indochina and rule Cambodia as protectorate.
• 1953: Cambodia gains independence from France.
• 1975: Cambodia falls into Communism ruled by Khmer Rouge supported by China
• 1979: Cambodia is invaded by Vietnamese that in turn drive Khmer Rouge regime out of power.
• 1991: Cambodia holds a democratic election administered by the United Nations.

 The Rise and the Fall of Angkor

• AD900 - AD1200: The development of the City of Angkor
• AD1200 - AD1400: The Decline of Angkor and Khmer Empire
• AD1400 - 1860: The Khmer Empire is in disarray.  The peripheral land of the empire is lost to the invading Thais from the West and the Vietnamese from the East.

Angkor Wat Temple:Built in 12th century during the reign of King Suryavarman II (1112-1150), dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu.  Angkor Wat temple is the main feature of Cambodia tourism, the all-time visited temple among hundreds of Khmer temple ruins.

Angkor, the capital of Khmer empire from 9th to 13th century, ruled a vast territory that is now Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos.  During these periods, the Khmers build hundreds of temples and Buddhist monasteries through out Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.  Despite of Angkor temples are seen sprawling over the hundreds of historical sites in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, the main temples featuring Angkor civilization and political culture involving administration and power are located in Siem reap Province. These temple ruins converge in an area of 400 square kilometer just north of Siem reap Town and Tole sap lake.

The Deline of Khmer Kinddom power

Angkor began in 819 A.D. when King Jayavarman II (802-850) moved a Khmer settlement to Siem Reap province and the settlement became an administrative centre of Khmer empire.  During the reign of King Suryavarman II (1113-1150), in which Angkor Wat temple was built, the Chams from Champa from the East (now Vietnam) began armed incursions and sacked Angkor.  Following the death of King Suryavarman II and the Cham invasion, Angkor is invaded and ransacked by the Thais, based in western part of the Khmer Empire.  These Thai army forces had been employed by the Khmer King to repel the Cham invaders.  Thereafter, again and again, the Chams and the Thais invaded and ransacked Angkor.

King Jayavarman VII (1181-1215) who built Angkor Thom fought and repelled the invading Chams and the Thais.  The glory of Khmers and Angkor was again restored but the it was short lived.  The Empire began to crumble after the death of King Jayavarman VII.  The Thais from the west and the invaders from the East, this time the Vietnamese, frequently carried out armed incursions and invaded Angkor and the Khmer Empire's peripheral territory was gradually lost.  After the capture of Angkor by the Thais in 1431, Khmers moved their capital from Angkor to Phnom Penh leaving Angkor unoccupied to the mercy of the jungles.  From the early 15th century until the late 19th century, the Buddhist monks lived in Angkor and made Angkor the largest religious pilgrimage site in South East Asia.

The Angkor Restoration

The loss of Khmer territory continued until 1863 when France established a colonial regime that ruled Cambodia until 1953.  Angkor ruins were discovered by a French researcher in 1920 and thereafter a comprehensive program of Angkor restoration and archeological research sponsored by the French government began.  The restoration program was halted in late 1960's during a political upheaval and civil war in Cambodia.  During the war, Angkor suffered heavy damages and wide-spread lootings.  TheTemple, artifacts, statues and other sculptures were either broken or stolen.

The civil war eventually ended in early 1990's and the restoration program of Angkor re-started.  This time, the program is sponsored by an international agency UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization).  Angkor is again opened to the world.  Now streams of visitors from around the world are irresistibly drawn to this great city of Angkor ruins to marvel its breathtaking beauty.

Reigns of Khmer Kings : 8th century to early 14 century

(King   &  Reign)

Jayavarman II ( 802-850)

Jayavarman III ( 850-877)

Indravarman I (877-889)

Yasovarman I (889-910)

Harshvarman I (910-923)

Isanavarman II (923-928 )

Jayavarman IV (928-942)

Harshavarman II (942-944)

Rejendravarman (944-968)

Jayavarman V  (968-1001)

Udayadityavarman (1001-1002)

SuryavarmanI (1002-1050)

Udayadityavar I (1050-1066)

Harshavarman III (1066-1080)

Jayavarman VI (1080-1108)

Dharanindravarman I (1180-1112)

Suryavarman II (1112-1150)

DharanindravarmenII  (1150-1181)

Jayavarman VII (1180-1220)

Indarvarman II (1220-1243)

Jayavarmand VIII (1243-1295)

Indravarman (1295-1308)