Cambodia,The land of smiles
On a gorgeous, sunny afternoon, we traveled from Vietnam across the border by speedboat and landed in Cambodia. After learning a little bit about the history of the nation by visiting some of Phnom Penh’s attractions, we traveled to Siem Reap.The main reason we like Cambodia so much was the kind and hospitable people who, despite their lack of wealth, make an effort to greet visitors with a smile and show them gratitude.
Situated in Southeast Asia’s southern Indochinese Peninsula, Cambodia, officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, occupies an area of 181,035 square kilometers (69,898 square miles). Its borders are shared by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of the Kingdom of Thailand to the southwest. Phnom Penh is the capital and biggest city.
The population of the independent nation of Cambodia is more than 17 million. Over 97% of people practice Buddhism, which is recognized as the official national religion under the constitution. The minority populations of Cambodia comprise 30 hill tribes, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Cham people. With two distinct seasons and a central floodplain encircling the Tonlé Sap lake and Mekong Delta, Cambodia is a country sandwiched between mountainous regions and characterized by a tropical monsoon climate.
The political, economic, and cultural hub of Cambodia is Phnom Penh, the country’s capital and largest city. The head of state of the elective constitutional monarchy is currently Norodom Sihamoni, who was chosen by the Royal Council of the Throne. The head of state is the prime minister, who has been in office since 1985 and is presently Hun Sen, the longest-serving non-royal leader in Southeast Asia.
Cambodia is classified as a least developed nation by the UN. The United Nations, ASEAN, RCEP, East Asia Summit, WTO, Non-Aligned Movement, and La Francophonie are among the organizations that Cambodia is a member of. Although Cambodia’s per capita income is still lower than that of most of its neighbors, it boasts one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies.
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The main economic sector is still agriculture, although there has been significant expansion in the textile, building, apparel, and tourist industries as well as increased foreign investment and global trade. Cambodia is one of the most climate change susceptible countries, with a high rate of deforestation despite its rich biodiversity and seasonal tropical forests.
Like most of Southeast Asia, Cambodia experiences monsoons, which are referred to as tropical wet and dry due to their pronounced seasonal variations.
The temperature range in Cambodia is 21–35 °C (70–95 °F), with tropical monsoons occurring there. From May to October, the southwest monsoons bring winds full of moisture from the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Thailand inland. The dry season, which runs from November to April, is ushered in by the northeast monsoon. The country receives the most precipitation from September to October, while January and February are the driest months.
Along with the Philippines, Cambodia is regarded as Southeast Asia’s most vulnerable nation to the consequences of climate change, according to the International Development Research Center and The United Nations. Climate change is affecting almost every province in Cambodia. People living in rural coasts are especially vulnerable. The Cambodia Climate Change Alliance lists severe flooding, mudslides, shortages of clean water, rising sea levels, and potentially catastrophic storms as major concerns. A sizable section of Cambodia’s population depends on agriculture and food security, and in recent years, climate change has had a significant impact on the Tonlé Sap’s ecosystem, productivity, and water levels.
