Food, hotel exhibition to promote Cambodia tourism

A three-day international food and drinks and hotel exhibition opened here on Wednesday in a fresh move of the Cambodian government to promote eco-tourism in the country. The exhibition attracted over 150 companies including those from the United States and Singapore, said Mohamed Mahyunddin Mohd Dahan, chairman of the AMB Events Malaysia, which organized the event. “It is the largest gathering of hospitality industry professionals in Cambodia,” he said. “Over 10,000 trade visitors are expected to attend this event where they can see a showcase of a complete range of equipment, supplies and technology for the hospitality industry.” Cambodia’s Tourism Minister Thong Khon said at the opening of the exhibition that food service was the ample corner for tourism development and identity of culture. “Khmer food is known for its subtle taste, and Cambodian cooks are praised for the fantastic creativeness to meet the satisfaction of national and international tourists,” he said. During the exhibition, the Cambodia Restaurant Association would present competitions including the culinary, bartender, cake decoration, barista and bed making contests. About 2.3 million international tourists visited Cambodia in the first eight months of this year, up 24 percent from a year earlier.

Food, hotel exhibition to promote Cambodia tourism

Tags: Cambodia Tourism

Pythons and floating homes in Cambodia

Travelling through Southeast Asia by bus is a thrilling experience that freshens the mind and helps destroy

Kids carry a python at Tonle Sap lake in Cambodia
misconceptions about different parts of the region.

I recently had the chance to take such a journey with the China-ASEAN International Touring Assembly, which takes delegates through the region every year in support of the China-ASEAN Expo.

Along the way the group explored major urban centres such as Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, but I was less interested in seeing metropolitan areas than in observing life in the countryside.

One member of the tour group, Dr Ling Tung King, echoed my thoughts when he said that “everywhere cities have the same features, with high buildings, flyovers and colourful lights at night”.

But the countryside throughout Southeast Asia is much more diverse and appealing, he said, adding that we were lucky that places like Tonle Sap lake in Cambodia were on our travel itinerary.

“Tonle Sap Lake is a real place where we can see how the people there are living,” he said.

His comments really piqued my interest, and I was looking forward to visiting the lake, which I imagined was far removed from the dreariness of city life.

Located near the town of Siem Reap, Tonle Sap is the biggest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. It is usually reached by taking a boat along a canal that empties into the main body of water.

The lake even boasts a floating village called Chong Kneas, which is similar in some ways to villages on Inle Lake in Myanmar’s Shan State.

But while the houses on Inle Lake are set on wood pilings driven deep into the lake bed, many of the houses at Tonle Sap actually float, so they can be moved from one place to another to compensate for the changing size of the lake between monsoon and dry seasons.

There is even a moveable Roman Catholic Church, which can change locations so it is accessible to all the Catholic believers around the lake.

Another difference is that whereas Inle dwellers make their living from both fishing and tending floating gardens, those at Tonle Sap rely solely on fishing.

Our boat made its way through the canal and then headed across the open water of the lake. As we approached Chong Kneas village, another small boat came alongside. Onboard were three children and their father, who was madly rowing to keep up with our engine-powered vessel.

One of the children had a huge python draped around his neck. He showed off his pet, then asked us for money. Many were quire generous and dropped cash into the smaller boat.

They finally broke away from our boat, but when we reached a floating souvenir shop at the village, we saw several more children carrying pythons around their necks.

They swarmed around us for a few minutes, and then to our amazement they suddenly jumped into their own boats and, in a tempestuous rush, quickly rowed completely out of sight.

A moment later we understood why, when another boat carrying three policemen roared into the turbulent water left behind by the frantic rowing of the kids. The policemen did not appear to be too serious, though, and in fact were all smiling as they motored past our group.

As we enjoyed our tour around Tonle Sap, I told Dr Ling about how I had actually missed visiting Singapore because I had not procured a visa for that country in advance. So, when the rest of the group entered the country, I had to wait across the border in the Malaysian town of Johor Bahru until they returned.

“Singapore is only good for children,” Dr Ling said. “The last time I went there I took my children along. That was enough for me.”

Then he quickly steered the conversation away from cities and back to his appreciation of rural areas, and particularly the rich lake in Cambodia from which he clearly drew such inspiration.

Tags: Cambodia Tour

Direct flight from Frankfurt to Siem Reap province

Tags: Cambodia Travel

The German airline Condor Air launched its first direct flight from Frankfurt to Cambodia’s Siem Reap province famous for its world heritage site on Saturday morning.

Landing at the Siem Reap International Airport, the aircraft was cordially greeted by Cambodian government officials including Mao Havannall, secretary of state for civil aviation, and So Mara, secretary of state for tourism ministry.

According to the Cambodia Airports, the operator of Cambodia’s international airports, Condor Air operated flights between Frankfurt and Siem Reap province with its B767-300 plane, which can be seated by 270 passengers. The plane will operate one flight a week to Siem Reap province.

Siem Reap, located some 315 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh, houses the Angkor Wat temple, one of the world heritage sites; it is the country’s largest tourism destination.

The Cambodia Airports said that besides Condor Air, Qatar Airways is also expected to start flight between Doha and Phnom Penh from February next year with its A330-300 plane, which can be seated by 305 passengers, and Lao Central Airlines is also due to operate daily flights between Vientiane and Phnom Penh with a B737- 400 aircraft, which can be seated by 168 passengers.

Currently, 25 airlines have been operating at the country’s 2 international airports on a scheduled basis, it said.

Cambodia's World Heritage Angkor Wat attracts 2.06 mln foreigners in 2012

From Threeland Travel's Blog - July 2012

Tags: Cambodia Tourism

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Angkor Wat Temple, one of the World Heritage Sites, received 2.06 million foreign visitors last year, up 28 percent compared to 1.61 million in a year earlier, a tourism report said Tuesday.

The top five countries visiting the country's largest cultural site are South Korea, Vietnam, China,Japan and Thailand, showed the report of the Siem Reap provincial tourism department.

The temple greeted 339,530 South Koreans last year, up 23 percent year-on-year; 220,050 Vietnamese, down 13 percent; 184,965 Chinese, up 51 percent; 134,630 Japanese, up 9 percent; and 129, 660 Thais, up 153 percent.

Chhoeuy Chhorn, administration chief of Siem Reap provincial tourism department, attributed the remarkable rise of tourists to the temple to the country's full security and safety, more direct flight connections between Siem Reap City and other countries and broader tourism promotion. "It is expected that foreign visitors to the temple could grow by another 15 percent this year,"he told Xinhua over telephone.

Siem Reap's Angkor archeological park is situated about 315 kilometers northwest of Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.

An entrance fee to see the temple is 20 U.S. dollars a day for a foreigner, 40 U.S. dollars for a three-day visit and 60 U.S. dollars for a weeklong visit.

Tourism is one of the major four pillars supporting the economy. The others are garment industry, agriculture and real estate.

Cambodia Travel Tips

From Threeland Travel's Blog - September 2012

Tags: Cambodia Travel

Airport Tax: There is an airport tax of US$ 20 upon departure. This tax is usually not included in the price of your airticket, so ensure that you have US$20 spare in cash and per person by the end of your trip which is payable at the airport.

Airport Taxi: We advise you to arrange an airport pick up with the hotel where you will be staying, if however you prefer to go local, then a taxi from Pochentong International Airport (Phnom Penh) will take roughly 15 minutes and cost approximately US$ 7, and from Siem Reap Airport to Siem Reap City roughly 10 minutes and approx. US$ 5.

Banking: Banks are generally open from 8am to 4pm weekdays and from 8am to 12pm on Saturdays.

Business Hours: Generally speaking the official business hours are from 8am to 12 pm and 2pm to 5:30pm Monday to Friday, some businesses are open Saturdays for a half day from 8am to 12pm. Opening times of Government offices are different and they are open 7:30am to 11:30am and 2pm to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Country Calling Code : 855

Credit Cards: Some but not all banks in Cambodia accept major credit cards as do some of the hotels. Westrongly advise you to check with the hotel where you will be staying at to see if they accept your preferred credit card or not and call your local credit card company for more information.

Currency: Local currency is Cambodia Riels. Denominations are 100,000; 50,000; 20,000; 10,000; 5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500; 200; 100. The US$ are widely used and accepted and it is advisable to bring some with you. Foreign currencies (but we advise you to bring some US$ with you no matter where you are travelling from) can be changed at hotels, airports or markets. Commission is generally not charged at the market moneychangers so they tend to be cheaper, than the alternatives.

Electricity: Voltage in Cambodia is 220 volts AC, 50HZ.

Language: Khmer is the first language, and English the second, French seems to be fading fast as a language within Cambodia.

Photography: Photography in airports, railway stations and near any military installations is forbidden and discretion should be used when photographing people, especially monks.

Religion: The official religion is Theravada Buddhism, and roughly ninety percent of Khmers follow this religion.

Social Greetings: Cambodians greet each other with a slight bow and a prayer like gesture called a Sompeah, with the younger or lower ranked person normally initiating the gesture. For foreigners and business handshakes are acceptable.

Visa: Applications for visas can be done on arrival (passport sized photos will be required). The visa on arrival is valid for a thirty day stay and issued to tourists at a cost of US$ 20 and for business visitors at US$ 25 at the Pochentong International Airport, Siem Reap Airport and also International border check points. Visas can also be obtained from certain Royal Cambodian Embassies or Consulates around the world.

Water: Do not drink tap water, only drink bottled water

Weather: Cambodia has a warm / hot tropical climate that is relatively calm and consistent throughout the year. The average temperature is 27 degrees centigrade. There are two seasons, the humid and rainy monsoon season which spans from June to October and the dry season which is from November to May. The coolest period tends to be from December to January.

Angkor Wat: Trip of a Lifetime

Tags: Cambodia Tours

The masterpiece of Angkor Wat is Cambodia’s most beloved and best preserved temple. The 500-acre site is one of the largest religious monuments in the world and represents the architectural pinnacle of the Khmer Empire. Originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, it has remained a place of worship since its founding in the 12th century. Thought to be a miniature replica of the universe, its composition of towers, moats and concentric walls reveals an architectural sophistication, and the bas-reliefs with their plump figures and triumphal battle scenes reflect a robust, healthy and wealthy period of history.

This majestic structure lies at the heart of the Angkor Archaeological Park, which covers 154 square miles and contains scores of other Khmer temples dating from between the ninth and 15th centuries. Each has its own allure. Banteay Srei has intricate carvings of sensuous celestial dancers wearing bangles, beaded anklets and sheer drop-waist skirts. The pleats are still folded beautifully in the sandstone, 1,000 years on.

Ta Prohm is one of the most photographed temples, deliberately left mostly unrestored, and tangled and strangled by undergrowth. The perennial favourite, at Angkor Thom, is the Bayon temple, the towers of which are etched with enlightened bodhisattva faces and where enchanting bas-reliefs depict ordinary Khmer life rather than Hindu gods.

The Bayon temple at Angkor Thom

With the epic sweep of the Bayeux Tapestry and the humanity of The Canterbury Tales, it shows families preparing dinner, men getting drunk, some playing board games; there are tightrope walkers and circus acts; one woman helps another in labour; monkeys peek out between the spokes of cartwheels. After the landmark temples there are smaller but equally moving sites such as Ta Nei, Ta Som and Banteay Samre. Indeed, there are few places in the world with such an astonishing concentration of significant archaeological sites.

By Michelle Jana Chan