| Cambodia, a hidden pearl ready to be discovered, lies in Southeast Asia, bordering Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. To the south, hundreds of miles of coastline greet the never-ending surge and swells of the South China Sea, providing a paradise of surf, sand, and sun for the country’s two million visitors. The Kingdom of Cambodia (its official name) is steeped in centuries of religious history, military campaigns, and mystical legend. The country, now 90% Buddhist, is the home to hundreds of architectural wonders, some dating back over 1000 years. The influence of India can be seen in many of these structures, as temples dot the landscape, giving rise to a feeling of awe and devotion. Did you know that there are more than 700 temples in Cambodia, with over 50 in the Angkor Archeological Park. And that Angkor Wat Temple is the largest religious monument in the world. This temple was built in only 35 years, where other lesser wonders took hundreds of years to build. Even more interesting, is that Angkor Wat Temple, is built on a man-made floating island. The huge moat that surrounds Angkor Wat, is almost 200 meters wide, and spans an impressive 1.5km long x 1.3 km wide. The water in this moat, keeps the island permanently floating, and prevents the temple crumbling down as others not built on a mountain. This singular site, is the only place where this technique is used, it is basically Venice, on steroids. Cambodia is a must if you intend on Backpacking SouthEast Asia.
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