SouthEast Asia 2010

Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Despite its reputation as a 'rough' city, Phnom Penh is easy to get around and is a great introduction to Cambodia. For Western visitors, even those who have visited other Asian cities, Phnom Penh can be a bit of a shock. It can be very hot and its infrastructure is lacking. But things are changing. Development is on the rise and infrastructure is improving rapidly. Beautiful wide boulevards, fine colonial architecture and a park-like riverfront with cafés and restaurants make Phnom Penh a worthwhile destination.

Sisowath Quay is a boulevard that runs along the banks of the Mekong and Tonle Sap. It is home to cafés and shops and the better class of bar, and is  popular with tourists and ex-pat Westerners. The Royal Palace and its two magnificent pagodas in the Palace Grounds are worth seeing. 

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum was a school converted into Cambodia's most important prison in 1975. The museum is easily accessible and a must-see for everyone interested in Cambodia's recent past.

The Kingdom of Cambodia, formerly known as Kampuchea, is a Southeast Asian nation bordered by Vietnam to the east, Laos to the north, Thailand to the northwest and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest. Cambodia is the successor state of the once powerful Hindu and Buddhist Khmer Empire, which ruled most of the Indochinese Peninsula between the 11th and 14th centuries.

Increasing numbers of visitors are now rediscovering Cambodia's striking temples and beaches. Siem Reap, the gateway to Angkor, now sports luxury hotels, chic nightspots, ATMs, and an airport fielding flights from all over the region. Other tourist hot spots include Sihanoukville in the southeast, which has several popular beaches, and the nearby area around Kampot, including the Bokor Hill Station. Travel beyond the most popular tourist destinations is still an adventure.

Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Despite its reputation as a 'rough' city, Phnom Penh is easy to get around and is a great introduction to Cambodia. For Western visitors, even those who have visited other Asian cities, Phnom Penh can be a bit of a shock. It can be very hot and its infrastructure is lacking. But things are changing. Development is on the rise and infrastructure is improving rapidly. Beautiful wide boulevards, fine colonial architecture and a park-like riverfront with cafés and restaurants make Phnom Penh a worthwhile destination.

Sisowath Quay is a boulevard that runs along the banks of the Mekong and Tonle Sap. It is home to cafés and shops and the better class of bar, and is  popular with tourists and ex-pat Westerners. The Royal Palace and its two magnificent pagodas in the Palace Grounds are worth seeing. 

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum was a school converted into Cambodia's most important prison in 1975. The museum is easily accessible and a must-see for everyone interested in Cambodia's recent past.

Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Despite its reputation as a 'rough' city, Phnom Penh is easy to get around and is a great introduction to Cambodia. For Western visitors, even those who have visited other Asian cities, Phnom Penh can be a bit of a shock. It can be very hot and its infrastructure is lacking. But things are changing. Development is on the rise and infrastructure is improving rapidly. Beautiful wide boulevards, fine colonial architecture and a park-like riverfront with cafés and restaurants make Phnom Penh a worthwhile destination.

Sisowath Quay is a boulevard that runs along the banks of the Mekong and Tonle Sap. It is home to cafés and shops and the better class of bar, and is  popular with tourists and ex-pat Westerners. The Royal Palace and its two magnificent pagodas in the Palace Grounds are worth seeing. 

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum was a school converted into Cambodia's most important prison in 1975. The museum is easily accessible and a must-see for everyone interested in Cambodia's recent past.

Laos, formally the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), is one of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia, but also is one of the most beautiful. A mountainous and landlocked country, Laos shares borders with Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, Thailand to the west and Myanmar and China to the north.

The Lao National Tourism Administration uses the epithet “Jewel of the Mekong” to describe the country and its landscape of thick forests and rugged mountains, which draws many backpackers, spelunkers and ecotourists. Laos is also home to some of the most spectacular animal species in the world, most notably the Indochinese tiger, the giant gaur and the Asiatic elephant.

Laos boasts a few grand attractions, especially around the capital Vientiane and its former French colonial capital Luang Prubang in the north, as well as some surreal attractions, like the enigmatic Plain of Jars in Xiang Kong province. However, many traveleres are simply drawn by the laid-back lifestyle and the opportunity to knock back a few cold Beerlao while watching the sunsets on the Mekong. These visitors explain the country’s appeal by revealing that the true meaning of “Lao PDR” is Lao—Please Don’t Rush.

Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia, located partly on a peninsula of the Asian mainland and partly on the northern third of the island of Borneo. West (Peninsular) Malaysia shares a border with Thailand, is connected by a causeway and a bridge (the “second link”) to the island state of Singapore, and has coastlines on the South China Sea and the Straits of Malacca. East Malaysia (Borneo) shares borders with Brunei and Indonesia.

The capital, Kuala Lumpur, is a bustling metropolis home to the world’s tallest twin buildings, the Petronas Twin Towers. Penang, an island off the northwest corner of the country, is a great place to see the blend of cultures that comprises Malaysia—Malay, Chinese, Indian. The newly popular Langkawi is north of the island. Malacca in the south still has several reminders of its Portugese colonial past. Malaysia also has lush interiors (Cameron Highlands) and beautiful tropical islands, especially on off the east coast, which are great for scuba diving. The other half of Borneo, Sarawak, is famous for its jungles and national parks.

Malaysian food is a top contender for best in the Southeast Asian region, with inspiration from Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Indian, Indonesian and Portugese cuisines.

Singapore, often called the “Switzerland of Asia,” is an island-state in Southeast Asia. What was once a fishing village in the 1800s is now a popular business and tourist destination.

Strolling along the skyscrapers scattered throughout downtown, you get a sense of the modern architecture and mix of historical landmarks, such as the luxurious Fullerton Hotel in the former colonial post office, and old Chinese shophouses now converted into bustling boutiques, hotels and restaurants. Dining in Singapore is top notch and varied, with nearly every kind of ethnic cuisine represented, especially in the city’s many quality food courts, which are several steps above those found elsewhere around the world.

For an evening expedition through the city’s tropical habitats, you can admire animals from the Southeast Asian rain forest, African savanna or Burmese jungle on a tour through the popular Night Safari. To purchase some Singapore souvenirs, visit the multi-story shopping centers located in the Orchard Road district. Stop by one of the many ethnic neighborhoods in Singapore including Chinatown, Little India and Arab Street, for a look into Singapore’s diverse cultural history. You can plan a day trip to one of the city’s museums including the Changi Museum or a family picnic at one of the approximately 400 public parks that are in downtown Singapore and along the Singapore River.