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Cambodia Weather Forecast
Here you find detailed weather forecasts for 18 cities, towns and other locations in Cambodia. You'll get the forecast for the next 48 hours in a nicely detailed meteograph for your chosen location, as well as detailed (hour-by-hour) forecasts for the next four days and a long term weather forecast.
Modern History of Cambodia
Unlike Vietnam, Cambodian nationalism was politically quiet at the beginning of the 20th century.
This was probably so because of the reigning monarch and the way the French handled the monarchy. Khmer villages who were used to abuse of power believed that if the monarch was on the throne, Cambodia was fine as it was.
At the same time, low literacy rates in Cambodia, which the French were reluctant to improve, stopped nationalist currents to spread.
Early History of Cambodia
Little is known about prehistoric Cambodia and the origin of the Khmers. Probably they came from the north, down the Mekong river. They migrated into Southeast Asia, being pushed down by invading Sino-Tibetans from the north.
In a Cambodian legend, the naga were a reptilian race of beings who possessed a large kingdom in the Pacific Ocean. The Naga King's daughter married an Indian Brahmana named Kaundinya, and from their union sprang the Cambodian people.
Therefore still Cambodians say that they are "Born from the Naga".
Economy of Cambodia
The Cambodian economy grew at a rate of 10% between 2004 and 2007. This was mainly driven by industries such as garment, tourism construction and agriculture. Due to the global economic crisis GDP dropped to below 7% growth in 2008, and stayed just in the positive in 2009, 0.1 percent, while the growth in 2010 is expected to be around 5 percent.
Clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, and footwear are the main exports; petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials, machinery, motor vehicles, and pharmaceuticals are the main imports. The chief trade partners are the United States, Hong Kong, China, and France.
Climate and Weather in Cambodia
Cambodia has a tropical climate which, like the rest of Southeast Asia, is dominated by monsoons, bringing in dry or wet weather.
In summer, the southwest monsoon is drawn landward from the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Thailand. These winds bring the rainy season from mid May to mid October.
During the rest of the year (Winter and Spring) the northeast monsoon brings drier and cooler air. Just before the rainy season starts (April and early May) temperatures and humidity are high.
Cambodian Currency
The official currency of Cambodia is the riel. However, US dollars are widely used and accepted. In Battambang and other areas near the Thai border, the Thai baht is also accepted.
The exchange rate is roughly 4000 riel to one dollar, although the last couple of months the rate has gone up a bit, reaching 4200 riel to the dollar. Many businesses still use the 4000 riel exchange rate, as it's easier.
Hotels, guesthouses, and other larger businesses will quote their prices in dollars. Smaller shops and market stalls quote prices in riel.
Kingdom of Wonder
Cambodia is promoting itself as The Kingdom of Wonder using different logo's.
The one to the left is for promoting the Angkor Temples. There are also logo's targeting other attractions of Cambodia: beaches, cuisine, culture, ecotourism, nature, and wildlife.
Several promotion spots have been made, to be honest some better than others.
Video: Cambodia's Water Festival
The annual Water Festival in Phnom Penh is coming up. It will be held from Saturday November 20th to Monday November 22nd, but expect festivities starting already on Friday Night.
More than 400 boats, propelled by precision-trained oarsmen, take part in the boat races and the city takes on a carnival air during this period.
Open-air live concerts are held, make-shift food stalls selling a variety of local fare are set up in parks and children as well as adults take rides on ferris wheels.
Video: The Spirit of Cambodia
So there is this guy on Vimeo, called properniceinnit, who spend two weeks in Cambodia and made an amazing video.
He says this about the country: I was fortunate enough to spend 2 weeks in Cambodia, if you haven't yet been, go. I had an amazing time and would highly recommend visiting.
Yes, of course Angkor Wat features in this 5 minute video, but like Cambodia is much more than it's temples, properniceinnit has succeeded in capturing the spirit of the country. He himself gave his video the simple title Cambodia, but I think it should be renamed in The Spirit of Cambodia.
Tranquility in Cambodia
A video made by a traveler from Malaysia.
This video starts with shots (some blurred) on the Tonle Sap with the camera just above the water.
It then goes on with shots of Angkor Wat and other temples capturing their beauty and mystery.
Cambodia as we love it!
More Articles...
- Video: Honoring the Ancestors
- The Stones Cry Out: A Cambodian Childhood, 1975-1980
- Off the Rails in Phnom Penh: Into the Dark Heart of Guns, Girls, and Ganja
- Video: Cambodian SUV drivers are bastards
- Carrying Cambodia
- The Rough Guide to Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia Map 1 (Rough Guide Country/Region Map)
- Lonely Planet Cycling Vietnam: Laos & Cambodia (Lonely Planet Cycling Guides)
- Troubled Relations: The United States and Cambodia Since 1870
- To Cambodia with Love (To Asia with Love)
- Sculpture of Angkor and Ancient Cambodia: Millennium of Glory
- Sacred Angkor: The Carved Reliefs of Angkor Wat
- Lonely Planet Cambodia: Temples of Angkor
- Laos and Cambodia Insight Guide (Insight Guides)
- Flying Tigers over Cambodia: An American Pilot's Memoir of the 1975 Phnom Penh Airlift Reviews
- Travels in the Central Parts of Indo-China (Siam), Cambodia, and Laos, during the Years 1858, 1859, and 1860: Volume 2
- Waterproof Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia MAp by ITMB (English and French Edition)
- Phnom Penh: A Cultural History Reviews
- Love and Dread in Cambodia: Weddings, Births, and Ritual Harm Under the Khmer Rouge Reviews
- How to Behave: Buddhism and Modernity in Colonial Cambodia, 1860-1930 (Southeast Asia: Politics, Meaning, and Memory)
- Ancient Angkor (River Book Guides)
Subcategories
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History & Politics
Cambodia has an interesting history, dating back to prehistoric times. From a vassal state of Java it rose to great power and influence in the region, later declining into a vassal state again.
It's only because of the French that Cambodia still exists.
Read here all about the rich history and modern politics of Cambodia.
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Climate / Weather
What’s the Cambodian weather like, when is the rainy season, when the dry season?
Find here all you want to know about the climate and weather in Cambodia: temperatures, rainfall, when is it the hottest, when the coolest and more.
Plus actual and reliable weather conditions and forecasts for Phnom Penh and 18 other places in Cambodia.
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Video
As Cambodia attracts more visitors every year, pictures and video's of this amazing country pop up everywhere on the internet. In this section we bring together links to video's about Cambodia: the country, the people, food and more.
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Books
Are you interested in Cambodia and want to learn more about this fascinating country in South East Asia? Here is a list of books on ambodia: the country, the people, the culture, the history, travel guide books and travel tales.
