There’s all the time a threat visiting a vacation spot you’ve longed to see for years – can someplace as iconic as Angkor Wat actually reside as much as its status? Particularly once you go to with a five-year-old! However as I found, Cambodia was all I’d hoped for and much more.
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With so many issues to do in Cambodia with children, from its fascinating historic websites to the lovely surroundings of mountains and seaside, the heat of the welcome which greeted us each (my daughter particularly) and the daring colors of on a regular basis life, Cambodia gave us motive after motive to fall in love with the nation.
Given my daughter’s highest accolade – a “very enjoyable journey” – it’s good for households too. Nicely, what child doesn’t like a little bit of journey with loads of seaside? Right here’s the way it bewitched me – my 13 causes to go to Cambodia with children.
The folks
The grins have been by no means removed from the floor – in a rustic which has endured conflict and tragedy, the folks we met have been unfailingly pleasant, pleased with their lovely nation and blissful to share it.
I misplaced observe of the variety of time folks thanked us for visiting, of the waves my daughter acquired. Historical monuments would possibly draw folks to Cambodia nevertheless it’s the Cambodians themselves who win your coronary heart.
The temples
Angkor Wat, the glory of the Khmer empire; Bayon with its serenely smiling faces; ‘Tomb Raider’ temple Ta Prohm, its entwined timber extra pretty than any mere movie look – and that’s solely the beginning.
Some historic, some newer, some collapsing into heaps and virtually swallowed by the timber, others perched on the highest of a mountain.
Angkor and the temples of Siem Reap are as intricately spectacular as you would possibly hope, the detailed carving enduring throughout the centuries, the whisper of a protracted misplaced empire echoing by means of the stone.
However the much less well-known temples aren’t any much less memorable, their towers stretching to the sky, tentacled tree roots wrapped round statues and fully sudden animals adorning pillars alongside the tales of delusion and legend – assured to fascinate when you’re visiting Cambodia with children.
Incense sticks nonetheless burn, monks nonetheless seem on the summmons of a gong, reminding us that that is nonetheless a part of on a regular basis life – even when some valuable and bejewelled choices as soon as left within the capital’s temples have now turn out to be displays in their very own proper.
The journey
Even essentially the most intrepid explorer, listening to tales of way back battles between gods and demons or venturing into jungle-clad ruins, wants a break from temples sometimes. However these have been solely the beginning of our adventures.
Dashing alongside the slender gauge observe which as soon as ran from Battambang to Phnom Penh on the well-known Bamboo prepare, simply dismantled when you met one other group coming the opposite approach. [EDIT: The original line has since been replaced by a purpose build section of trip to mimic the experience]
Or gazing out throughout rice paddies from the regular plod of an ox cart, the spiked horns of the water buffalo seeming totally at odds with their placid tempo.
Heading into the mountains to kayak within the mirror nonetheless waters of a mangrove, startling birds from the treetops and maintaining an eye fixed out for monkeys (and imaginary crocodiles) earlier than a mini hike to a waterfall, the spray from the moist season’s rains crashing previous in a cascade of white froth.
The seashores
Pale sand, sun-warmed seas and a selection of seashores to get pleasure from it – we fitted in two seaside stops alongside Cambodia’s south coast throughout our two weeks in Cambodia.
First at Otres Seashore close to Sihanoukville, completely designed for stress-free, after which on to Kep, close to the border with Vietnam.
As soon as the favoured weekend escape of Cambodia’s elite, its well-known Modernist buildings could also be crumbling nevertheless it’s as beguiling as ever.
Butterflies flit within the nationwide park, crabs are nonetheless the speciality in the marketplace menu – a cheery waving statue welcomes guests to Kep with one raised claw – and the baguettes within the bakeries may very well be straight from Paris, a tempting legacy of French colonial rule.
The meals
With Thai and Indian influences, and a willingness to cook dinner virtually something, you want barely eat the identical meal twice in Cambodia – though for five-year-olds who would like simplicity, there are many Western and plain dishes round when you’re frightened about discovering one thing to eat in Cambodia with children.
The spiced coconut of fish amok and the contemporary tang of ginger and lemongrass, noodles, stir fries and mango salads with a kick have been solely the start.
I by no means did see tarantula on a menu, however tried beef with crimson ants, Kampot pepper crab, frogs legs, supersized snails and even deep-fried frangipani flowers, washed down with contemporary coconut or sugar cane juice, and hand-poured cocktails at sundown.
The colors
Molten golds and deep reds, the colourful orange of a monk’s gown towards the blue sky – brilliant, daring, these are only some of the on a regular basis colors of Cambodia.
Pillar field crimson stripes and saffron yellows adorned the boats reducing by means of the milk chocolate waters of the tributaries resulting in Tonle Sap lake.
A splash of turquoise coated one home, purples and orange brightened a restaurant, whereas piles of silk scarves blended extra shades than a rainbow. Within the wet season, even the fields appeared an super-saturated emerald.
The chilled-out ambiance
There’s nothing like travelling with children to make you decelerate – however wherever we discovered ourselves, whether or not metropolis, countryside or coast, there have been pockets of tranquillity.
Rivers lapped quietly beneath the clouds, solely the ripples of boats venturing to disturb the peace.
Water lilies floated silently on ponds, Buddha statues smiled, timelessly serene; my daughter even fell asleep on a solar lounger.
The heritage
The shadow of the previous lies throughout a lot of Cambodia. 20 years after the nation’s lengthy civil conflict ended, one other two for the reason that worst terror of the Khmer Rouge, it’s nonetheless felt in numerous on a regular basis methods.
However horrifyingly darkish although these years have been – a lot so, that I couldn’t even think about taking my daughter to Tuol Sleng or the Killing Fields – the nation is a lot greater than its current tragedies.
Artwork, craft and tradition are in all places; temples and shrines dot the roads, superb palaces shine whereas others patiently await renovation.
Monks settle for alms earlier than snapping images on their mobiles and Buddha heads emerge from the cliffside till extra funds can launch their our bodies from the rock, whereas gloriously dressed characters from the Ramayana pose with guests at Angkor Wat.
The traditions
In so some ways, the traditions of Cambodia proceed in each day life, whether or not that’s the dishes on menus or the properties constructed with room beneath for hammocks and animals to shelter.
Maybe essentially the most fascinating glimpse we had was the stilt homes constructed by the shores of Tonle Sap lake – teetering excessive above the water stage, even part-way by means of the wet season.
Small boats have been moored on the backside of the spindly steps whereas on the water, fishermen netted their catches.
The inns
No two inns have been fairly alike – some blended Khmer influences with their modcons, others providing cool boutique serenity, however all have been good when you’re visiting Cambodia with children.
Better of all, maybe, have been the floating tents we stayed in at Koh Kong within the Cardamom Mountains – luxurious safari tents set on a pontoon on the Tatai River, 4 Rivers Floating Lodge was as a lot an expertise as lodging.
And for my daughter? A sequence of fabulous swimming pools, together with considered one of buoyantly heat saltwater, to refresh after a busy day’s adventuring.
The wildlife
Head to Cambodia’s far east area and also you’ll discover elephants – however though we didn’t enterprise fairly that far, we had some extra compact creatures to find.
Monkeys sat idly by the roadside in Angkor, plucking fruit from the timber at Kep and climbing rebelliously over the royal palace roof in Phnom Penhh.
The buttery yellow butterflies which flitted by means of the temples of Siem Reap have been joined by intricately patterned cousins in Kep, their wings flashing like jewels within the daylight.
And close to Battambang, as nightfall fell, hundreds of thousands of bats flooded from three caves within the rock face as if triggered by an inaudible sign, gorging on bugs till it was time to return simply earlier than the daybreak.
Mekong River Cruise
There’s nothing fairly like exploring a rustic by water, particularly once you’re cruising alongside the river that’s on the coronary heart of this nook of South East Asia.
A Mekong river cruise with children provides you an opportunity to find a few of Cambodia’s heritage and historical past, plus the wildlife which lives close to the banks, as you journey alongside the twelfth longest river on the planet.
And with family-friendly departures, together with all the things from kayaking to guided bike rides, in addition to an opportunity to find extra about on a regular basis life, it’s additionally one of many best methods to discover Cambodia with youngsters.
This epic journey can take you not simply by means of Cambodian however onwards to Vietnam too. Travelling from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh, by way of Tonle Sap lake – and to My Tho close to Ho Chi Minh Metropolis in Vietnam, when you’re planning an extended journey, is unforgettable.
The range
Few nations have such selection as Cambodia, the sensation that every cease had one thing totally new to find.
In spite of everything, the place else are you able to pack all this right into a fortnight, particularly with a small lady in tow?
First printed 2017, up to date 2022
PIN FOR LATER: REASONS TO VISIT CAMBODIA WITH KIDS
Disclosure: Our journey was courtesy of Cussed Mule. All opinions and enthusiastic smiles are my very own. This submit accommodates paid collaboration with Aqua Expeditions and a few affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Photos copyright MummyTravels
