Vacation in Cambodia with Asian Vacations, Inc.

MAPS AND ATTRACTIONS

Cambodia Hotels at up to 75% discount over published rates


Provincial Map of Cambodia	General Map of Cambodia	High Resolution map of Phong Penh	Map of Angkor Temples

BEACHES:

The Beaches of Sihanoukville town are in the center of a small peninsula jutting into the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Several fine white sand beaches, easily accessible from the town, line the coast around the peninsula. Each beach has its own appeal, separated from each other as much by character as the rocky points between. Most of Sokha Beach, Sihanoukville�s most popular beach, has been closed due to a large resort development project. Only a short strip of sandy beach next to the rocky point at the southern end remains open. At low tide the rocks offer some small tide pools where you can see some sea life. Ochheuteal Beach, known as UNTAC Beach in the early 1990s, is long and narrow, with hotels and restaurants at the near end (i.e. nearest to town) and a new development project at the far end. Grass umbrellas, rentable beach chairs and little drink huts line Ochheuteal from one end to the other. This beach seems to appeal to weekenders from Phnom Penh and visitors seeking middle to upper range facilities on the beach. The near end has several nice hotels and a few restaurants within walking distance. At Ochheuteal�s extreme northern end, beyond the MP base, is the recently, unofficially dubbed �Serendipity Beach�. Cut off from the rest of Ochheuteal and harboring a couple of small budget restaurants, Serendipity is a great little budget getaway and offers some of the only bungalows on the beach. Independence Beach gets its name from the deserted hulk of the 7-storey Independence Hotel on the north point. Locals call this beach �otel bram-pul jawn (hotel 7-stories) and on the . It is labeled �7-Chann Beach� on the in-town street sign. Independence has Sokha�s length, but the sandy area is much narrower, making it best when the tide is low. The beach is wider and more touristed toward the northwest end, near a small fresh water lake (which is the source of the town�s fresh water and is rumored to contain crocodiles). At the other end is the beach�s only hotel, Sea Breeze. Grass umbrellas and drink vendors now line the beach from end to end but it is still much less frequented than other beaches. The road up to the old Independence Hotel is often frequented by a small troop of Rhesus monkeys. At over two kilometers , Victory Beach is quite long, and like Independence, the sandy area is narrow, making low tide the best time. Victory is really two beaches divided by a rocky point and a small hill. The southern beach, sometimes referred to as �Hawaii Beach�, �King�s Beach� and �South Channel Beach�, and most recently �Lamherkay Beach�, is home to the Hawaii Seaview Restaurant and Caledonian. Like the other major beaches, southern Victory is now lined with grass umbrellas and little drink huts. There are a few boats on the beach which take tourists out to the nearby islands. Victory beach north of the rocky point is a park at one end and a port at the other. It is a great place to watch sunset and the big ships coming and going. Otres Beach is the next beach south of Ochheuteal. It is the twin sister of Ochheuteal, but is almost completely deserted save a few new houses and walls at the near end. A single road traces the beach�s 3km to a police post at the far end. Ream Beach, near the Ream Navel Base, is more heavily trafficked by fisherman than Otres but is still rather isolated. Behind the beach is a mangrove swamp which attracts a wide variety of tropical birds. The swamp is also home to many fisherman. The beach area is under the auspices of the Ream National Park which has guesthouse facilities near the beach. Depot Beaches lie just off Hun Sen Beach Dr. north of town. Most of the beaches are quite narrow and the water is shallow and can be very warm.

SHOPPING:

Encouraged by the government and aid organizations, local people are rediscovering their natural talent as weavers and craftsmen. A number of rehabilitation programs have sprung up since the eighties, such as the gift shop at Wat Thanh in Phnom Penh, a co-op that trains Cambodians disabled by land mines in making attractive items out of silk and cotton fabrics, rattan, bamboo, wood and clays. The result is a pleasing selection of purses and handbags, clothing, furnishings, paintings and many other items. Designed by a French architect, the bustling art-deco style Central Market opened in 1937 and is a famous city landmark offering a wide range of goods, including souvenirs, jewelry, silks, electronic goods, stationery, second hand clothes, and bric-a-brac. The Russian Market is good for souvenirs such as objects d'art, trinkets, coins, miniature Buddhas, etc. The Olympic Market is a three story covered market near the Olympic Stadium which was upgraded and reopened in 1994 and now specializes in wholesale items. The best bargains include:
Weaving - Silk in Cambodia is still handmade using traditional methods with the pattern dyed into the threads before the silk is woven, thus the task of dying and weaving a single piece can take several weeks. Older silk pieces (pre-1970) are increasingly prized. Weavers can be seen in action at the historic silk centre of Koh Dach outside Phnom Penh. Some nice handiwork comes from Kompong Cham, Takeo and Kandal provinces. Silver - Silver was prized in the 11th century for religious and ceremonial purposes. With tourism expanding, numerous silver shops have sprung up in Phnom Penh, selling carved decorative and practical items. Other outlets are in village centers such as Tul Mau, roughly 30 km north of the city. The normal working material is an alloy containing 70-80 percent of pure silver, and prices are based on a combination of weight and artistry, which puts bargaining skills to a good test. Basket weaving - Carried out mainly by women, many of whom cultivate and harvest the reeds by themselves. It is also an important aspect of rehabilitation programs for victims of landmines and the dexterity of the local people is beautifully reflected in products of all kinds, including baskets, bowls, plates, and many other useful items. Antiques - The sale and export of registered antique pieces is strictly forbidden. This, alas, has not prevented thousands of priceless artifacts from Angkor being stolen over the years, and sold overseas. You are however unlikely to come across genuine antiques openly on sale in Cambodia. Sculptured Reproductions - There are excellent reproductions and copies available at reasonable prices. The intrinsic skill of craftsmen - using the same locally mined stone used to build the ancient temples - produces sculptures of such quality that, with artificially induced weathering, have even fooled some experts. There are also bronze copies of small statues, Buddha figures, heads and apsaras for sale. These can be exported freely, but if you pass through Thailand on the way home, remember that the export of Buddha figures from that country is not allowed. Wood Carving - A traditional, if sometimes hefty, addition to your baggage allowance are carved wooden apsaras, and a variety of other attractive and decorative wooden items, including furniture, which can be shipped home. Since the quality and maturity of the wood dictates its value as much as the handiwork, care in selection is needed, especially for more expensive items, and it pays to shop around. Custom Made Tailoring - Following the lead of Bangkok's ubiquitous and often over-persuasive purveyors of made-to-measure clothes, ready in a day or even less, there are now many tailor shops opening in Phnom Penh. Tailors will happily copy from a photo or from a sample in your suitcase. Betel nut boxes - These cute containers once reflected the status of their user according to its size, design and the material from which it was made . Mostly of silver, many carry ornate designs, and are often crafted into animal shapes. Originals usually contain a higher quantity of silver, but the newly manufactured varieties are still handmade, and a careful choice can provide you with attractive souvenirs or thoughtful lightweight gifts. Gold and Gems - 24-carat gold is used for most pieces in the Chinese tradition with prices fluctuating with the daily market value. Jewelry tends to be simple and unsophisticated, and although locally mined precious stones - especially rubies, sapphires and emeralds - can make excellent buys, beware of increasing numbers of fakes. Lacquerware - Most pieces originate in Vietnam, or are made locally by expatriate Vietnamese craftsmen. Local markets normally have a good supply, and the prices are often more competitive (with suitable bargaining) than in the markets of Vietnam. Rice paper prints ("Temple Rubbings") - A lightweight, decorative, inexpensive and attractive buy, made by placing rice paper over a mould taken from a bas-relief carving from one of the Angkor temples and lightly rubbing over it with soft charcoal. When framed and suitably illuminated, they can look superb. Cotton T-shirts - Some very cheap and amusing designs are available, which make excellent small gifts or souvenirs. The Krama - The typical locally worn chequered scarf. Uniquely Khmer, inexpensive, and practical.

TREKKING:
Unexploded ordnance means trekking is limited. Some marked routes are available around Ratanakiri, but professional local advice is essential.

WATER SPORTS:

Sihanoukville has a range of water sports.

WILDLIFE:
Mekong and Tonle Sap river trips offer the opportunity of seeing Cambodia's famous freshwater dolphins near Krati�. A full day Tonle Sap Cruise out of Phnom Penh sails twice a month from November to February (the 8th and 14th days of the waxing moon), and offers fine views of migrating birds and floating villages. A number of endangered species which are elsewhere extinct are thought to be hidden in the more remote habitats, including elephants, tigers, leopards, rhinos, gibbons, bats and crocodiles. The most commonly found fauna are varieties of butterflies, snakes and birds such as cormorants, cranes and ducks. Endemic animals include the concolor gibbon, snub-nosed langur, lesser panda and raccoon dog. Exotic species found in neighboring countries are usually found in Cambodia and include the Javan mongoose, Siamese hare, leopard cat, tiger, Irrawaddy dolphin, and a few Javan rhinos thought to survive. There are 17 recently-opened Biodiversity Conservation Areas scattered throughout the country. The ko prey (jungle cow) was name Cambodia's national animal by Prince Sihanouk in 1963. Once of the most endangered species in the world, it is believed to exist in the northeast, although sightings of the ko prey are rare. Cambodia is abundant in wild animals including monkeys, deer, rhinoceros, crocodiles, and tigers.

EATING AND DRINKING:

Cambodian cuisine is similar to but not as spicy as Thai and Lao cuisine. Sweet and sour combinations, curries, stir-fries, rice, noodles and soups predominate, flavored with coriander, lemongrass and mint. Locally caught fish is also plentiful. Dishes worthy of note include Khao Phoun (rice noodles in a coconut sauce), Somla Chapek (ginger-flavored pork soup), Somla Machou Bangkang (spicy prawn soup), Trey Aing (grilled fish), Char Marteis (beef with green chilies) and Trey Chean Neung Spey (fish fried with vegetables). Tek Tnot made with the juice from sugar palm trees makes a refreshing drink. Tea, beer or water is taken with meals. Angkor, the local beer, is made and bottled in Sihanoukville.