Kingdom of Wonder (Cambodia) & Kingdom of Million Elephants (Laos)

Cambodia and Laos are known as the countries that have a long history in Southeast Asia. They share the same religion and similar culture in some ways. Being known as the former parts of Indochina countries during the French colonial, these two countries have become the interesting tourist sites of the region and the world in this modern era. Therefore, are there any attractive places which are worth to visit while staying in each countries?  

Let’s start from Cambodia. Cambodia is considered as one of the popular tourist sites and it is called Kingdom of Wonder, based on the plenty of cultures and the fabulous temples located all over the country. Tourists can plan their trip to Cambodia by thinking of visiting the gorgeous temples in Angkor area as well as the highlighted temples of Angkor. What’s more, they should not miss the chance to see the remote temples which are located far away from the town and Angkor area.

Besides Angkor area, there also have villages in the countryside surrounding the town that tourists are able to get another unique experience by exploring the daily life of Khmer people living there and seeing the differences between life in countryside and town. Visiting the countryside, they will have an opportunity to join and learn how to do farming with local farming family as well. By leaving from the land of cultures, our tourists can extend their destinations to visit Phnom Penh, the modern capital city of Cambodia and continue to have beach break at the Southwest part of the country.

Getting back to Laos. Laos is one of the three countries that share the border with Cambodia besides Thailand and Vietnam, and it is also called the Kingdom of Million Elephants, the land that has abundant of elephants living. This country also have many interesting places to see such as temples, natural water fall, and rivers, so on and so forth; the tourists can reach these sites by visiting some provinces and city of Laos – Luang Prabang, Vientiane, and Pakse.

They will have chance to see the building built to dedicate for religion such as Wat Sisaket, Wat Prakeo, and Wat Xiengthong. Also, they are able to visit Pak Ou Cave, Kuangsi waterfall, National Museum, the plain of jars, and so on. Our tourist can travel from Laos to Cambodia back and forth easily due to the fact that these two countries have a good relationship with each other so that tourists can reach each countries by land (crossing the border) or flight, so this can be known as the gateway to Laos and Cambodia for those who would like to have trip for Cambodia and Laos tour. 

TRIP MESSAGE: Tour to Cambodia and Laos Packages are brought to you by TRAILTOAngkortours and Travel. Our company is the local tour operator based in Siem Reap, Cambodia established by Khmer local people. With the team that have experience in this tourism industry for more than 12 years, we put all our efforts and commitments to arrange and provide all our value customers an unforgettable trip. Customer services and flexibility are our top principles to work in this business. “Satisfaction and enjoyment of our customers are also ours, so we will serve them in the level best from our heart and passion”, President of TRAILTOAngkortours and Travel.  

Interested in our packages? Reach us @ www.trailtoangkortours.com. Our team will respond to you shortly.

See you in Cambodia! 

Steven Lor, Sales Manager - TRAILTOAngkortours and Travel  

   

Khmer Circus, one of the best things to see in Cambodia

We all may know already about circus show or circus performance from Western culture that we learn it from books or the show on television. On the other hand, Khmer circus performance is a kind of art that has existed in Cambodian culture for centuries. There are some evidences of this art on some temples in Cambodia, especially the carving of circus performance on Bayon temple which is well shown that Khmer circus already appeared since Angkor period, which was last around 600 years.

The carving depicts the different forms of circus performance such as acrobats, contortionists, magicians, jugglers, dancers, clowns, and even animals such as snakes and monkeys. After having war for years, the circus performance was dropped off for a while and it started to be resumed when the country got peace and independence during the Songkumreasniyum era led by the late king, his majesty Norodom Sihanouk. Then, this activity was abandoned once again during the Khmer Rouge regime as it did not happen only on Khmer circus but also other forms of Khmer arts. 

After the fall of Khmer rouge, everything was reborn and so was Khmer circus. In the meantime, there is an organization, called Phare Ponleu Selpak, that help children who suffered from poverty, abuse, and hurt by giving them social support, education, and art classes. Currently, tourists are able to see Phare, the Cambodian Circus show both in Siem Reap and Battambang province and this activity has become the popular thing to do that is highly recommended in Cambodia tour or itineraries for visiting Cambodia. 

This circus performance not only helps to earn fund to support the children in the organization but it also helps to preserve this kind of Khmer art. 

Interested in this activity? Reach us @ www.trailtoangkortours.com and our team will respond to you shortly.

See you in Cambodia! `

Steven Lor - TRAILTOAngkortours and Travel  

Calendar of Event in Cambodia

CAMBODIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
March 4-9

Six consecutive days celebrating the work of filmmakers sees thousands of locals, especially youngsters, as well as many foreigners gather in Phnom Penh theaters. The program highlights movie made in or about Cambodia, but there is also a selection of films sourced from around the world. These come in a variety of formats, such as short and long fictions, documentaries, and animation. Screenings Major Cineplex, the French Institute and Bophana Center, as well as at an outdoor venue on Diamond Island (Koh Pich)

SIHANOUKVILLE HALF MARATHON 
March 5

This running race around one of the “Most Beautiful Bays in the World” was founded in 2012, with the purpose of promoting environmental conservation and supporting local charity work. Funds raised go towards the activities of the Cambodia Red Cross, as well as NGO projects for the victims of natural disasters, the education of disadvantaged children in Sihanoukville, and training program for lifeguards along the beach. Organizers welcome all runners from across the world to participate in the sixth edition of the half marathon (21kilometres) this year, or attend as spectators.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 
March 8 
International Women’s Day is an official holiday in Cambodia. Around the country, people will honor their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues and such, with flowers and small gifts. The international theme this year is #BeBoldforchange, with organizations and individuals showing their commitment to the campaign to help women and girls achieve their ambitions, challenge conscious and unconscious bias, call for gender-balanced leadership, value women and men’s contributions equally, and create inclusive flexible cultures.

RIVER FESTIVAL 

March 24-26 

Following on from successful editions held in Kratie in 2015 and Kampong Cham last year, the northern province of Stung Treng is to host the 2017 River Festival. Organized by the Ministry of Tourism under a campaign slogan of “Clean City, Clean Resort, Good Service, Best Hospitality”, the event aims to educating the general public in the helping to protect the environment and maintain public sanitation, especially along the rivers such as the Mekong, which runs through Stung Treng province. This helps ensure the area remains attractive for local and foreign tourists for years to come.

ANGKOR SANKRAN FESTIVAL 

April 14-16

This huge, open-air event, held inside the Angkor temple complex and at select locations across Siem Reap town, is marking its fifth edition this year. It features three full days of programs coinciding with the three official days of Khmer New Year on April 14-16. The free festival aims to educate young Cambodians and foreign visitors in the carious customs and traditions of the Kingdom, as well as entertaining them with classic Khmer art forms and fun group games, and keeping them nicely stuffed with a multitude of locally-produced treats.

KHMER NEW YEAR 
APRIL 14-16

Cambodia New Year – or Choul Chhnam Thmey in the Khmer language, literally “Enter New Year”- is the name of the Cambodia  holiday that celebrates the New Year. The holidays lasts for three days beginning on New Year’s Day, which usually falls on April 13th or 14th , marking the end of harvesting season, when farmers enjoy the fruits of their labour before the rainy season begins. Cambodians also use the Buddhist Era to count the year based on the Buddhist calendar, it is 2560 BE.

Interested? Please reach us @ http://trailtoangkortours.com/contact-us.html, we will respond your shortly 

See you around!

TRAILTOAngkortours & Travel - Kingdom of Angkor

Kuy Teav The Authentic Cambodia Breakfast

The Authentic Cambodia Breakfast

Walk around capital in the early morning and you shouldn't fail to notice some frenetic activity at street stalls and shop-house restaurants. While Cambodia boasts a wide array of breakfast options, many of the customers that flock to these establishments do so in search of one particular dish: Kuy Teav, or Cambodia ride noodle soup.

Kuy Teav is one of the most popular meals to wake up with in the Kingdom, a distinction shared with other classical local morning dishes such as Bai Sach Chrouk ( Pork and Rice), Borbor (Rice Porridge), and Nom Banh Chok (Khmer Rice Noodles).

Kuy Teav is not a dish Cambodians like to cook at home, though. They rather eat it in the street or in a restaurant, where they can sit in the company of friends and acquaintances, and discuss the latest gossip or news over some steaming soup bowls.

This tasty dish is prepared with rice noodles , which are cooked by quickly immersing them in boiling water. The noodles are then strained, placed into a bowl, and lightly coated with nutty, caramelized garlic oil. After dressing with a type of oyster sauce, soy sauce and a pinch of sugar, the bowl is then filled with a clear broth made from pork or beef bones. Then the meat toppings are added, which may include pork loaf, minced pork, and pork belly, among others.

However, the garnished and condiments are what truly make this dish different from any other noodle soup eaten in the region. Its flavour profile is defined by the triumvirate of garlic, lime juice and black pepper, three ingredients that are as essential to  Cambodia cuisine as Kuy Tiev itself. The dish is also always served with the requisite garnishes of a few lettuce leaves, bean sprouts, and fresh herbs. 

With a purposely subtle broth, the customer must customize the dish to their liking, a task that Cambodians have perfected over the years. Different types of chilli and chilli sauces are normally available at the table, to either and into the broth or to be used as a dipping sauce for the meat toppings, as well as soy sauce, fish sauce and sugar. To boost their enjoyment of Kuy Tiev, locals opt to eat it with deep fried breadsticks.

Various versions of this dish exist. Kuy Teav many be presented with all the ingredients in the soup, or with the soup on the side; the ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ versions, respectively, However, no variant tops the one that hails from the capital. Kuy Teav Phnom Penh contains the most ingredients and embellishments – mirroring the city’s own cultural and historical grandeur and diversity – taking the dish to the next level by adding giant Mekong prawns and beef offal to the mix.

Due to the presence of large ethnic Khmer populations, this dish is also popular in neighboring Thailand and Vietnam. The Phnom Penh version of Kuy Teav (Called Hu Tieu Nam Vang ing Vietnamese) in hugely popular in southern Vietnam, having been introduced to the country some time during the 1960s. As Cambodian restaurants in France, the United Stated and Australian, Kuy Teav is considered as staple. 

If you can’t conceive the idea of exploring a place without experiencing its flavours and aromas, then sampling a bowl of Kuy Teav must be high up on your list. But before you dive in with your chopsticks, ask a local toshow you the exact proportionss of chilli sauce, condiments and other garnishes to add. It will give your dish the true local (and spicy) flavour that you are seeking.

Interested? Please reach us @ http://trailtoangkortours.com/contact-us.html, we will respond your shortly 

See you around!

TRAILTOAngkortours and Travel - Kingdom of Angkor