Cambodia

The small Kingdom of Cambodia lies at the heart of South-East Asia to the south of the Gulf of Thailand. Cambodia borders Thailand to the west, Laos to the north and Vietnam to the east. The Mekong River is ever-present, crossing the country from north to south. Tonlé Sap Lake, just outside the township of Siem Reap, home to the famous Angkor temple complexes, is the largest fresh water lake in South-east Asia. During the monsoon season between June and October the Tonlé Sap River reverses its flow and runs in the opposite direction, filling the lake. This is the only river in the world that flows in both directions. The nations capital, Phnom Penh, is a myriad of back streets, market places, temples and pagodas, baring witness to its French colonial legacy through its wide boulevards, street corner cafes and the orderly, if somewhat challenged, architecture. Finally, after decades of abhorent repression and suffering, Cambodia has remerged as one of the most memorable destinations in South-East Asia.