Just Go Places Magazine Cambodia Cambodia | Page 54

p hoto: http s : //fl i c. k r / p/ dju q WB

O

OUTSTANDING CUISINE
Cambodian cuisine is rightly regarded as some of the world’s
best for flavour and variety. The mainstays of the cuisine are
fish and rice. Cambodia’s national dish is Amok which is fish cooked in a
banana leaf with lemongrass, coconut milk and spices. Yes, you will find
insects in some Cambodian dishes – check out the red tree ants that are
stir-fried with beef and basil. It has chilies but not very much so that you
can taste the sourness of the ants. Kampot is the pepper capitol of the
world. Hang out in this charming town and try fresh pepper on fish!
When you have had your fill, check out the lost grandeur of nearby Bokor
Hill Station which is set in Bokor National Park. Bokor Palace, a grand
hotel that opened in 1925, is being renovated for tourism.

pho t o : exi li s m

P

REMEMBERING THE PAST
The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is located on the site of the
former Security Prison S-21. This high school in Phnom Penh was
converted by the Khmer Rouge into a torture and interrogation centre
for thousands of people some of whose faces stare out from the photos
lining the walls.
These unfortunate people were transferred to places like Choeung Ek,
a former orchard south of Phnom Penh, which was one of the infamous
killing fields for the regime. In this field 129 mass graves containing
thousands of people were discovered. Today Choeung Ek is a museum
and a memorial stupa.

If you would like to try your hand at Cambodian cooking, Battambang
which is known as the rice bowl of Cambodia, has quite a few cookery
schools. Among the most popular are Smokin’ Pot, Cambodia
Cookery Classes, and Nary Kitchen

pho t o : Mi g
pho
uelt o
Vi: cente
avi va ra
Mai rtí
chels
nezo n

Q

photo: savong voeuk

R

REST AND RELAXATION
Cambodia has quite a few options for spas, many of them in Siem
Reap such as Navutu Dreams Resort & Spa and the Amansara.

For something really special though, the Song Saa resort can not be beat.
This resort was opened in 2012 and is set on two private islands in the
Koh Rang archipelago. Song Saa means “the sweethearts” in Khmer
which references the two islands connected by a walkway. There are 27
one and two bedroom villas, some of which are set over the water and
others on the sand or in a jungle clearing. Each villa has a private plunge
pool. The eco-luxe interiors of the resort are created with local or recycled
materials such as driftwood. There are two restaurants – the pool side
restaurant serves dishes inspired by Cambodian street food and the
second restaurant focuses on international fusion dishes.

QUICK FACTS
Currency: Riel
Weather: Dry period from November to April
Tipping: 10% for good service
Language: Khmer, French, English
Time: GMT+7
Religion: Thervada Buddhism
Population: Approximately 13 million
Visa: Tourist visas required for most visitors

The spa runs healing practices based around Buddhist philosophies.
The practices include reiki, guided meditation, yoga and ayurveda.

Let's take a closer
look at some
of Angkor Wat's
architecture?
✤ Most of what we know about
Khmer architecture comes from their
temples because their houses were
made of wood and destroyed in the
intervening years. For example, in
many cases mortar wasn’t used and
the buildings were held together by
the weight of the stone and the
precision of the masonry!
p hoto: s av o n g v o e u k

S