VisitAngkorTemples.com

Peter used to visit Angkor three times. In this entry, he told his last visit and how Angkor’s changing

Angkor Wat

My first visit to Angkor was in 1995. It was the year before the coupe of the two prime ministers but after a long period the Khmer Rouge had controlled the land and had brought the country into a state of chaos, turmoil and fear. I had arrived in Phnom Penh by flight from Bangkok. At the time I was told it was the only safe way to come to Cambodia, although I learned that the overland route from Vietnam was supposedly open too.

Phnom Penh was a surprisingly interesting and relaxed city at the time, especially considering the hectic previous years. I had come at the right moment; it was festival days with dragon boat races at the Mekong.

But I had not come for the dragon boats, this was just the cream on the pie, so to say. I had come to learn more about the recent and not so recent history of Cambodia.

Cambodia has such a history that no one in the world can ignore. The pictures of Angkor Wat had always made a huge impression on me and now it was possible to visit them.

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