3 Reasons You Will Fall In Love With Cambodia

Cambodia is one of those places you’ve heard so much about but might not have considered visiting. You definitely should, though. This Southeast Asian country will excite you from the moment you set foot on its soil. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to stay! Below are three reasons you’ll fall so in love with the country that you feel like tearing up that return flight ticket.

The history and culture

You can’t get away from Cambodia’s history and the country works hard to honour the memory of those who died during the harsh days of the infamous Khmer Rouge. Around Cambodia you’ll see monuments that remind locals and visitors alike of those dark days as the country gradually rebuilds itself.

Then there are more pleasant elements of the culture, such as the Angkor Wat and all the other religious sites and temples around the country. Cambodians are immensely proud of this site and their culture in general. They are keen to share elements such as traditional music, dances and dishes with visitors to the country.

It’s more than affordable

Once you arrive you’ll find that it’s incredibly cheap here. Food, drink, accommodation – the lot. A beer can cost as little as 50 cents, which the Cambodians would actually consider expensive. Prices may increase slightly depending on where you go, but you’ll hardly notice the impact on your holiday budget. The affordability of everything in Cambodia makes it easy for visitors to get around and explore. Thailand and Vietnam, which share borders with Cambodia, will seem expensive by comparison. There are plenty of tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis around or you can just walk. If you decide to catch a bus, however, you could end up waiting a long time to reach your destination. Some buses wait until they’re full before departing.

The varied cuisine

Cambodia hasn’t attracted as much attention for its cuisine as Thailand or Vietnam have, but that’s part of the beauty. The cuisine is unique and varied, staying true to itself, and offering a range of textures and flavours. Cambodians especially love using herbs and spices in their cooking and are big on changing them in line with the seasons. Rice is a big part of Cambodian cooking as well and you’ll find it in many dishes.

If you’re a foodie or an extremely adventurous eater, you’ll love Cambodia. A bug or an insect might seem a disgusting thing to eat in Western culture, but here it’s perfectly okay. You’ll come across restaurants and food carts that happily fry worms, spiders, crickets and other insects and offer them up as grub. The Secret Traveller over at 1cover has picked out Cambodian Tarantulas as one of the world’s most challenging foods, so they’re not for the fainthearted!

Cambodia is a fantastic place. It’s full of history and culture to immerse yourself in and fine food to eat while you’re there. Soak up as much of it as you can for a really superb visit.