Today's modern Cambodia defies its turbulent history of civil war and genocide wrought by the Khmer Rouge, outshone now by the wonderful warmth of the Cambodian people.
It's low-lying plains, sun-kissed beaches, colourful culture and renowned street food, combine with its ancient cities and more recent French history when Phnom Penh, Cambodia's enchanting capital, was the "pearl of Asia" in the French-colonial days.
Famed for the Temples Angkor Wat, near Siem Reap, the picturesque ruins are now nestled amidst forests and farmlands, a far cry from the time between the 9th and 15th centuries when it was the Khmer Empire's flourishing capital city.
These days Cambodia is on the move as it welcomes visitors from around the world to explore its ancient ruins, wildlife sanctuaries, vibrant street markets, remote fishing villages and the mighty Mekong River through green landscapes and farmland.
