19 interesting facts about Cambodia

19 interesting facts about Cambodia

We were in Cambodia for the first time in 2011 and it immediately became one of our favorite countries. Kia returned this year and fell in love again.

This time she made a Mekong cruise and saw the country passing from a different perspective. She also visited the iconic sites of Angkor Wat and the S21 prison, two travel destinations, which emphasize two deeply opposing past: one of fame and opulence, the other of humiliation and cruelty.

In the following I add a mixture of interesting facts about Cambodia that reflect both the good and the bad from the country's extraordinary history.

interesting facts about Cambodia

1. The largest religious building that has ever been built is Angkor Wat (city temple) in Cambodia. The terrain measures huge 1,626,000 m2 (162.6 hectares) and was built by Khmer-König Suryavaran II from 1113 to 1150 in honor of the Hindu God Vishnu. (Source: Guinness World Records)

2. The Cambodian flag shows the main building of Angkor Wat. Together with the flag of Afghanistan, it is one of only two state flags with a building. (Source: Britannica)

Alt = “Interesting-Facts-Uber-Kambodscha-3 ″> Atlas & Boots The Cambodian flag

1. Angkor Wat was also the main play for the film Tomb Raider (2001) with Angelina Jolie. (Source: IMDB)

2. In the vicinity of Angkor Wat, there are several medieval cities that have not yet been documented under the tropical forest floor, which are between 900 and 1,400 years old. Some of these undiscovered cities are the size of Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh. The discoveries were made with laser technology in June this year. (Source: Guardian)

3. sampeah is the Cambodian way of greeting people and saying goodbye to them. There are five different ways to show someone who uses Sampeah respect, depending on their age, relationship with them and social status. (Source: Visit Angkor)

Alt = “Interesting Facts-Uber-Kambodscha-2 ″> Calliopejen/Creative Commons In all five sampeah, the palm trees are put together like a soldering flower.

1. The king of Cambodia is a trained ballet dancer. King Sihamoni was sworn in as a monarch on October 29, 2004 after his father left for health reasons. (Source: BBC)

2. A toilet that estimated up to $ 40,000 was built for the personal use of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn from Thailand when she visited Cambodia at the beginning of the year. (Source: Guardian)

3. Cambodia was a colony of France from 1863 to 1953 for 90 years. Under King Sihanouk it became an independent country called the kingdom of Cambodia. It was occupied by Japan during the Second World War from 1941 to 1945. (Source: BBC)

4. river dolphins can be found in the upper Mekong in Cambodia. Around 70-100 individuals live in a 190 km long section of the Mekong. (Source: WWF)

5. The USA secretly bombed Cambodia from 1969 because the country offered protection on its ground during the Vietnam War North Vietnamese armed forces. (Source: BBC)

6. in Cambodia is rude to point to someone with the sole of the foot. In addition, it would be completely unacceptable to point your feet on something holy, such as a Buddha picture. (Source: Lonely Planet)

7. Between 1975 and 1979 Pol Pots Guerillas were responsible for the death of up to two million Cambodians of the Red Khmer and their brutal form of radical communism. (Source: Cia World Fact Book)

Alt = “Interesting-Facts-Uber-Kambodscha mass grave-1 ″> G-adventure The location of a mass grave in Cambodia

The location of a trade fair in Cambodia (picture: G Adventures)

1. During this whole time, city dwellers were driven to the country, money became worthless, fundamental freedoms were curtailed and religion was banned. The red Khmer shaped the expression "Year Zero" to present a return to "better times". Hundreds of thousands of educated were tortured and executed in special centers. Others starved or died of illness or exhaustion. (Source: Britannica)

2. Today, the brutal time is commemorated on the day of commemoration, which was previously called the national day of hatred. The day is celebrated every year on May 20. (Source: BBC)

3. decades of war have called for a severe tribute of Cambodia. The country has over 40,000 amputated: one of 290 Cambodians, which is one of the highest rates in the world. It is also one of the most suspected countries in the world. (Source: Huffington Post)

4. Vider spiders are eaten as a snack in Cambodia. During the reign of Pol Pot, the Cambodian ate locally found tarantulas, since others were often scarce. Many Cambodians have developed a preference for the huge arachnids and they are still often consumed today. Apparently the "legs are pleasantly crisp". (Source: Telegraph)

Alt = “Interesting-Facts-Uber-Kambodscha-1 ″> Mat Connolley/Creative Commons Bird spiders are often sold by road dealers

1. Tiger were declared "functionally extinct" in Cambodia this year. The last tiger was spotted in 2007 in the eastern province of Mondulkiri. Indochinese tigers used to live in the forests of Cambodia, but the intensive poaching of tigers and their prey results in devastating numbers. (Source: Guardian)

2. The deforestation rate in Cambodia is one of the highest in the world; Around 2,000 square kilometers (494,210 acres) are lost every year. In the 1990s, wooden concessions were granted by the government, and a rapid deforestation followed - so strongly that the country had the third highest level of deforestation in the world in 2005. (Source: BBC)

3. One of the more bizarre facts about Cambodia is the “special relationship” of the country to North Korea. The totalitarian regime recently opened the $ 30 million Angkor Panorama Museum in Siem Reap as a "gift" of Cambodia. (Source: Independent)

LONELY PLANET CAMBODIA is a comprehensive travel guide for the country, ideal for those who want to explore the most important sights as well as take less roads.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

 .