About Cambodia, Srok Khmer: Facts, Fun, and Photos: A Guide To Cambodian Culture
79Kingdom of Cambodia
My Personal Interest In Cambodia
Well, to be honest, I knew little about Cambodia until I met my wife a few years ago. My wife moved here when she was 12 and she has told me many stories about how she lived as a refuge before coming to America and her story of growing up here. Well, let's just say that she's "30-Something" now, and I am very lucky to have met her! Although I have never been there, I hope that someday I will be able to travel to Cambodia, and perhaps spend my retirement there along with my wife.
As I befriended my wife, she told me about the land, its people and its beauty. Cambodia has a long and interesting history, including one of the worst atrocities to ever happen to a single country (Khmer Rouge , discussed later.) I will later share some pictures that my wife took on her last trip in 2007.
Pictures My WIfe Took While Visiting Her Homeland
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeAncient Temples
I can only imagine the mystique when you are standing in front of these Ancient Temples. I have to say that I am mostly motivated to take the 23 hour flight to Cambodia, just to see these amazing structures. The photos below are photos of some of the Temples at Angkor Wat that my wife took herself. It is truly breathtaking-and I would venture to say that these Temples are if not better, definitely close to the mysteries of the Ancient Egyptian Pyramids.
There are many things to do in Cambodia. Touring the ancient cities is one of them. There are ancient statues, temples, markets, and so much more. Check out the pictures!
See a Traditional Khmer Wedding in Photos and Video!
- Traditional Cambodian (Khmer) Wedding Ceremonies
This is the story of my traditional Khmer (Cambodian) wedding that took place in the spring of 2008. We combined Khmer traditions with American traditions (and even some Korean ones) and had a wonderful wedding!
Interesting Facts About Cambodia
- Main Language: Khmer
- Main Religion: Buddhism (Theravada)
- Population: 14.8 million (UN, 2005)
- Ethnic group: Khmer, Vietnamese and Chinese minorities
- Monetary unit: 1 riel = 100 sen
- Climate: tropical humid climate: rainy (monsoon) season (May to November) and dry season (December to April)
- Capital: Phnom Penh
- Major Cities: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanouk Ville, Koh Kong
- Independence: 9 November 1953
- GNI per capita: US $380 (World Bank)
- Major Exports: Garments, Fisheries Products, Rubber
- Major Imports: petroleum products, construction materials, vehicles and motorcycles, clothing
- Direct Flight: from Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Vientiane, Kuala Lumpur, and Guangzhou
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1880 CAMBODIA 2 PEI GARUDA Bird SCARCE ISSUE
Current Bid: $29.00
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CAMBODIA 500 RIELS 1973 UNC LARGE BILL
Current Bid: $.99
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CAMBODIA 50,100 RIELS 2001/02 UNC
Current Bid: $.99
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This is a very interesting hub! I enjoyed reading the information and looking at the photos. There are many places that I'd like to travel to if I had the time and the money, but I think that Cambodia would be an especially fascinating place to visit. Maybe I'll be lucky enough to get there one day!
Cambodia...the greatest place to visit. You made me missed srok khmer. When my honey showed me around srok khmer using his webcam, the beauty and nature is beautiful. I want to ride an elephant...and the ox...my fiance mother got kicked by an ox one time and broke her front tooth. LOL...that happen last two years. haha...she complain to me on the phone and I just laugh. I think I should write about it. :)
Beautiful hub about Cambodia! By the way, another recent direct fly by air france from Europe attracts many tourists to Cambodia as well.
Great Hub and the photos are beautiful. I'm sure it can be a great place to go. I hope you don't have to wait till retirement to go with your wife and have a good time and a chance to learn more about the culture and the place where your beautiful wife come from. I'm sure she'll love it. Stop by and check my new hubs. Have a wonderful day.
J.S. one of my friends in the military married a Cambodian woman. He spent time among the Northern people. He also commented on their laid back style of living. He talked me into requesting a station change to Korea which never came though. His thoughts were from Korea it wouldn't be far to other places of interest in that area. Cambodia being one of them. In his mind a person hasn't lived until they have experienced Cambodian culture.
Voted up awesome and SHARING on my facebook fan page.
Thank you for linking to my traditional khmer weddings hub! I really wish you luck in saving up and getting to visit Cambodia. My parents are lucky enough to go every year. I've been there once for only 2 weeks...we jammed our itinerary with seeing the countryside as much as possible. Siem Reap was especially beautiful and I wish we could have stayed there longer. Maybe I'll dig up my pictures and write a hub? :)
Hello, I enjoyed your hub. Did you have to pay a dowry in order to marry your Cambodian wife?
J.S. Matthew,
Thanks much! I appreciate your feedback. I had a Cambodian girlfriend years ago that I really cared for and her request for a dowry was a turn off for me. I also did not fully grasp or understand it. I understand it better now per the internet. The failure of the relationship was mostly my fault--long story. The dowry still turns me off but I would pay it now. I am 43. Then I was in my mid 20s and paying other bills and 10K seemed like a HUGE amount. Is paying a dowry a separate expense from the wedding or is the dowry used to pay for the wedding? I think they are separate but don't know for sure. If separate, and per a traditional Cambodian wedding, who pays for the wedding---(not asking about yours) Thanks!
Thanks J.S.
I really appreciate your information. Yes I had already found that other hub you refer to and have since studied it in detail. Will give you good marks per this hub, etc. Best wishes!

















superwags 13 months ago
I hope you get a chance to get out there soon mate, I was blown away by the place. Never expected it to be half as fun and beautiful as it was. I only left cos my visa expired!
The Ankor temple complex could make for a month's holiday all by itself. I've never been anywhere where the people are so laid back and friendly.