Cambodia

Cambodia is a remarkable country only recently lifting the veil and allowing world travelers to experience the sights and culture with its wats, palaces and bustling markets. Wander around on foot, admiring the architecture in Phnom Penh, once the “Pearl of Asia” under French colonization. Journey back over eight centuries and pay homage to the largest religious monument in the world at the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat. Constructed as a Hindu Temple and later a center for Buddhism, this well-preserved UNESCO-listed treasure is a veritable forest of spire-like prangs, temples, mausoleums and colonettes all carved with elaborate detail.  Return to the present in Siem Reap with its neon-lit pub streets. Ride in one of the ubiquitous tuk-tuks pulled by motorbikes (if you dare!) and spend a pleasant evening dining on creamy Fish amok and watching a traditional Apsara dance. Explore the endless plains and green rice paddies along the Mekong River and don’t miss the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve with its lakefront communities and diversity of birds and wildlife.