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The kingdom of Cambodia is one of three nations within Indochina. A fertile country with a friendly population that appears to have forgotten its recent dramatic history that comprised French colonial times, Vietnamese occupation and the cruel rule of the Khmer Rouge. The former palaces of the gods have now been transformed into tourist attractions and regal splendor and shining pagodas indicate that a new era has begun. Phnom Penh is the reawakened capital of Cambodia and former Land of the Khmer. It is a wonderful city with all the charm of a bygone age. During the second half of the 19th century, Phnom Penh became a French colonial town with wide streets, shops, government buildings, hotels and villas all in colonial style. Within its park-like surroundings, the Temple of the Blooming Lotus Blossom features perfect harmony with nature. The Temples of Angkor are the remains of various religious buildings that were built by more than ten kings of the Khmer realm between the 7th and 16th centuries A.D. The Ta Prohm Monastery was built in 1186 in honor of the king’s mother and was the centre of the health care for the entire country. Twenty kilometers northeast of Angkor Thom are the remains of the ancient sanctuary of Bantey Srei, also known as, The Women’s Citadel. To many visitors to Cambodia, this unique and atmospheric temple site is the most impressive of all the country’s historic monuments. Cambodia is a country that is slowly awakening with a population that is willing to forget its past and look optimistically into a bright new future. After 30 years of strife and deprivation, this south Asian jungle realm is today, a fine tourist destination that is friendly, natural and unspoiled.
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2009 DVD Releases
Africa
