- Information
- Traveler Advice
- Forums
48HourVisit.com
Planning a short visit? Check out 48HourVisit.com, your online guide for short stays and weekend getaways. Ad
The Glossary
Defeat of Siam
This is what the name of this popular Cambodian city means. This was born out of a centuries-long feud with neighbor Thailand, then known as Siam, that resulted in much bloodshed. One of the Cambodia's tourist magnets, it enjoyed its heyday back in the 1960s. It played host to a steady stream of visitors, including some of the world's rich and famous at the time like the comedian Charlie Chaplin and US first lady Jackie Kennedy.
Its progress was however stunted by the Pol Pot regime, and for decades lay forgotten and in disrepair. Since the past few years, Siem Reap has officially woken up from its long slumber, slowly regaining its former standing-some 1.2 million tourists visited it in the first half of 2009 alone.
"Great Gate to Angkor"
If there's anything that the city is most known for, it is being the primary gateway to the historic Angkor region. No other city in the country permits as easy an access to the thousand or so temples there than Siem Reap, especially the world-famous Angkor Wat. The region was the capital of the Khmer Empire between the 9th and 10th centuries, during which the Angkorian architects constructed the period's beliefs and culture in stone.
Sitting in a prime real estate, Siem Reap seems to always have been fated to become a tourism hotspot. A majority of its visitors, though, fail to realize that the city is an attraction all by itself, with its wealth of colonial architecture in the Old French Quarter, rice-paddy countryside, and the slow-flowing Tonle Sap River.
Beyond Angkor, and Modernization
Siem Reap has become increasingly modern over the years, a product of its rising economy fueled by tourist dollars and an influx of foreign influences. Not merely as a place for cultural sightseeing, it has reinvented itself as a pulsating tourist hub complete with high-end accommodations, world-class restaurants, and a buzzing nightlife.
While there are some who lament its newfound industrialization, it certainly is good news to the local Khmers who had worked hard for this transformation. It has also been able to retain much of its cultural charm, evident in sights like the Wat Thmei and the Kampong Phluck Floating Village.
Siem Reap Landmarks:
User blogs:
Cheaper galactic spaceliner unveiled
News from http://news.ph.msn.com/top-stories/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3737940 Richard Branson unveiled Monday a commercial spaceliner offering tourists a cheaper chance to experience the thrill of weightlessness and view the splendor of the Earth from space. The British billionaire hopes to offer tickets aboard his spacecraft at a cost of 200,000 dollars each, giving adventurous ... Read full Blog post
An Aerial fiesta in Clark Pampanga
Its a party in the sky as multi colored hot air balloons piloted ny different pilots from various partso of the world participated in this annual gathering. As early as 5am, the 2,500 hectare aviation complex at Clar Economic Zone in Pampanga was already crammedi with excitement. Clusters of hot air balloon participants busily prepare their own balloons for liftoff as they need to take advantage of ... Read full Blog post
Moving to Manila
It was about a year ago, when I received phone call from my hubby asking me what do I think about Manila. I wasn't sure, I said I've been there before, memories rush to the surface of my mind. Crowded roads of jeepneys, the smell of exhaust, constant horning, traffic jams, YMCA's hotel, people selling food from small carts....I stayed only a day in Manila before heading down to Boracay about 12 years ... Read full Blog post
In our Magazine
Summer Destination to Avoid: Gulf of Mexico
EPA is failing to do their job monitoring the air and reporting factual data. The people need to be made aware that their lives and long term livelihood are at stake because of the air quality in Gulf of Mexico.
How to Avoid Traveling Troubles
Traveling to a certain destination might not become memorable if there are too many troubles along the way. Remember that even the best trips are usually not trouble-free. Follow these tips that help lessen the hassles.
Unique Toys from Japan
Japan is known for its fascinating, and sometimes, eccentric culture. From anime, karaoke, to advanced technology, the Land of the Rising Sun always has something unique to offer.
