cambodia and laos

[...]...INTRODUCING CAMBODIA AND LAOS DISCOVERING CAMBODIA 10–11 DISCOVERING LAOS 12–13 PUTTING CAMBODIA AND LAOS ON THE MAP 14–15 A PORTRAIT OF CAMBODIA AND LAOS 16–27 10 I N T R O D U C I N G C A M B O D I A A N D L A O S DISCOVERING CAMBODIA C ambodia is a compact the Tonlé Sap Lake and flooding it country, sharing borders during the monsoon To the with Thailand, Laos, south, the 277-mile (443-km) and Vietnam... Landscape and Wildlife With some of the best-preserved rain forests in Asia, Cambodia and Laos are home to rich biological diversity Laos s mountainous and rugged landscape is typified by soaring outcrops of karst limestone, Common red fecund river valleys, and emerald-green hibiscus paddy fields Much of central Cambodia is flat, with the terrain defined by the fertile influence of the Tonlé Sap and. .. dilapidated and in desperate need of repair CAMBODIA AREA BY AREA A PORTRAIT OF CAMBODIA 30–31 CAMBODIA THROUGH THE YEAR 32–35 THE HISTORY OF CAMBODIA 36–41 CAMBODIA AT A GLANCE 42–43 PHNOM PENH 44–61 ANGKOR 62–85 NORTHERN CAMBODIA 86–101 SOUTHERN CAMBODIA 102–119 30 C A M B O D I A A R E A B Y A R E A A PORTRAIT OF CAMBODIA E merald paddy fields, a rich diversity of wildlife, powder-fine beaches, and the... religions practiced in Cambodia and Laos There is a substantial, and expanding, Christian population in both countries, along with small numbers of followers of the Baha’i and Confucian faiths Evangelical and Mormon churches are active in Cambodia, but proselytizing was officially banned in 2007, after missionary groups were accused of trying to convert people by offering free food and clothing Confucianism... since 1556 There are around 120,000 Christians in Laos and around 20,000 in Cambodia Laos officially recognizes three churches – Roman Catholic, Lao Evangelical, and Seventh-Day Adventist – but there are several other denominations as well 22 I N T R O D U C I N G C A M B O D I A A N D L A O S Buddhism in Cambodia and Laos For many centuries, both Buddhism and Hinduism coexisted in this region While the... other activities dragon-like figure representing wisdom and a protective force for the Buddha 24 I N T R O D U C I N G C A M B O D I A A N D L A O S Architecture of Cambodia and Laos Over the centuries, architectural styles in Laos and Cambodia have been shaped by myriad influences, most notably Buddhist and Hindu temple-building traditions and French Colonial construction techniques In urban areas,... conferences and performances of traditional music and dance 26 I N T R O D U C I N G C A M B O D I A A N D L A O S The French Legacy Until the mid-19th century, Colonial interest in Cambodia and Laos was minimal, mainly consisting of sporadic forays by Catholic missionaries in search of conversions Éclair and However, continued aggression by profiterole Thailand and Vietnam caused King Norodom of Cambodia. .. vegetables from his boat ETHNIC CHINESE Cambodians of Chinese or mixed Chinese and Cambodian descent are known as the Khmer Chen The Chinese controlled businesses and economic interests in Cambodia before the 1975 revolution, but the community was brutally persecuted by the Khmer Rouge, and thousands emigrated Today, half a million Khmer Chen live in Cambodia and they continue to dominate commerce in... Asian elephant and the tiger New species such as the antelope-like saola and the kha nyou are also found here The region’s rain forests, however, are being steadily depleted by illegal and state-sanctioned logging RAIN FOREST PRESERVES Covering thousands of square miles, the rain forests of the two countries include outstanding national parks such as Nam Ha in Laos and Botum Sakor in Cambodia These... Otres and Occheuteal, among others The nearby islands of Koh Rong Samloem and Koh Ta Kiev (see pp108–9) are delightfully quiet, if basic, and offer great diving and jungle treks respectively Covering an area of 58 sq miles (150 sq km), the relatively unexplored Ream National Park (see p108) is home to endangered birds of prey and butterflies, and is a great place for organized jungle treks Inland, within . INTRODUCING CAMBODIA AND LAOS DISCOVERING CAMBODIA 10–11 DISCOVERING LAOS 12–13 PUTTING CAMBODIA AND LAOS ON THE MAP 14–15 A PORTRAIT OF CAMBODIA AND LAOS 16–27 INTRODUCING CAMBODIA AND LAOS1 0 C ambodia. flowers, Cambodia CONTENTS HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE 6 INTRODUCING CAMBODIA AND LAOS DISCOVERING CAMBODIA 10 DISCOVERING LAOS 12 PUTTING CAMBODIA AND LAOS ON THE MAP 14 A PORTRAIT OF CAMBODIA AND. shows where Cambodia and Laos are in relation to other Southeast Asian countries. PUTTING CAMBODIA AND LAOS ON THE MAP The orientation map shows the location of Cambodia and Laos in relation