Cambodia:
There's supposed to be peace in Cambodia now, but this country has such a long, convoluted history of war and oppression, it's still dangerous. In 1999, two Khmer Rouge commanders came in from the jungle and surrendered. The United Nations is currently negotiating with the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen over the details of a tribunal for the surviving leaders of the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime of 1975-79. This regime was responsible for the deaths of 1.7 million people. Hun Sen does not want the U.N. involved. The U.N. insists on being involved.
If you decide to go to Cambodia, you will no doubt travel to Angkor Wat, the largest Buddhist monument in the world. In January 2000, Hun Sen signed an order to allow flights to Angkor Wat directly from Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Hong Kong.
The countryside is green and forested, but although logging was banned in 1992, no-one seems to be paying much attention to that law, and the trees are quickly getting cut down. There are some isolated beaches and islands to check out, and the Cambodian people are charming. Beware that most people who go to Cambodia get dysentery. Take antibiotics. Also, there are a lot of land mines in the ground.
Books: Gecko Tales: A journey through Cambodia., by Carol Livingston, 1996
This page last updated February 20, 2000.