Cambodia Books

Cambodia (Country Guide)

Nick Ray

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 21 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Still the essential guide for traveling in Cambodia... 5 out of 5 stars.
29 of 30 people found this review helpful.

I've been to Cambodia several times now and this is the guide I will continue to buy. It's important to have an up to date guide to Cambodia as the country has and is changing so rapidly (5 years ago you couldn't walk 20 metres without coming across someone with a gun in Phnom Penh and most of the roads weren't sealed). I would still buy each new edition that came out simply for the knowledge of the important basic things that change like transport routes and times etc. that are constantly changing.

Cambodia is now well and truly open for tourists. I know from speaking with locals that the author, Nick, spends a lot of time in Cambodia and has great local knowledge (I'm kind of cheesed a little since he's included many of my previously unknown haunts and now they get filled up well in advance).

I do have some criticism of the guide, and I guess how people use it. First, people mostly tend to go to restaurants and guesthouses recommended in the book. I've found many places that I've enjoyed staying that are not in the book and in many cases are better than places in the guidebook (and cheaper, many places, particularly in SEA put their prices up after getting an LP inclusion). The towns are generally small enough that you can look around and also ask people who live there for their recommendations. (Most times you can `feel' when someone has no agenda in recommending a places versus someone who'd take you someone who gains to get a commission out of you going there - and the commission system is well and truly alive in Cambodia - they're not huge in $ terms but you don't want to stay in a dump when better alternatives are available and also there's the consideration that price you pay in Cambodia is not always related to the quality you get).

The other thing is often Lonely Planet uses text from previous editions (which is particularly worrying for guesthouse inclusions) and so some descriptions are a little (or a lot) out of date. While there are definitely some good places recommended there, you will often find them full of other backpackers and tourists so either you can't get a booking or there will indeed just be tones of people there which will likely detract from your experience. Restaurant and guest house recommendations, particularly in the two major cities need to be used with discretion. It's also good to spread your money around.

Some of the benefits of the book - it does clue you in to things that are very important that you otherwise would have a hard time finding out - e.g. if you take the bus from Thailand, they do slow that bus down and make the trip long and tiring as you're pre-sold for a commission to the (rotating) guesthouse they drop you off at (so you're deliberately) exhausted late at night; another useful tip was the dangerous Malaysian boats that do the Siem Reap - Phnom Penh route. You need impartial and insider advice for these kind of things because you wont necessarily get it from an average local (unless you really have their confidence and then they might tell you about stuff that sometimes doesn't get into the guidebooks - e.g. how many travelers have been killed or injured using certain types of transport like their outdated planes and some boats and other local knowledge you simply cant get from this guidebook).

For the tourist just doing the major sites, the book has extensive maps and guides to the Angkor temples and their history and layout and also Phnom Penh (which is unfortunately where most people may end their trip). The brief guide to the local language in the back will most definately help you connect with the already friendly locals. Even if you only learn please, hello and thank you, people will greatly appreciate your efforts.

The guide to some of the lesser known places is less comprehensive (eg. North, and east and some parts of the south like Campot and Kep). My friends and I were in fits of laughter at the description of Sen Monorom being like something like Switzerland! It's a LONG trip and the end result is very baron, and, unfortunately, losing lots of trees due to extensive and damaging logging. Nonetheless, I found the trips to the outlying places to be extremely rewarding. There's practically no tourists (you can have amazing trips and have entire beach to yourself for a day for less than $20) and some of the food, sights, sunsets and other experiences are simply stunning. You may however want to pass on those black delicacies they seem to enjoy tucking into on the bus... they're fried bush spiders! Cambodia does though have some of the nicest sugar cane juice I've tasted anywhere in South East Asia.

BTW if they're still using the 4 people for 3 seats in the car, just pay for the extra seat if you're doing more than 3 hours or you will find yourself in excruciating pain. Also, because it changes so often the guidebook will not be useful if you're taking an internal flight (other than the standard Phnom Penh-Siem Reap route which uses brand new planes), as some of the planes are VERY old, tires are sometimes bald, flights full (which can be a problem if you want to get back), and there have been accidents which they wont tell you about. Do your own research.

For people traveling on their own or as a backpacker I'd strongly recommend befriending a local or two as a guide. I always take some time to 'feel' the authenticity of the person approaching me and as they talk to me and that pay's huge rewards in a country where there is a hidden commission system. I've met two that I'd just take with me over the entire country next time as guides because they have extensive insider knowledge and can be invaluable if you get into trouble, especially if they relate well to other people.

Cambodia offers trips that you simply cannot do in the same way in other countries in the region because there are so many tourists, laws and other limiting factors. If you've found a great concierge (who is connected to what's happening at the ground level) or a good guide you're going to get access to trips and really deep and rich experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime. And, these are not in the guidebook, which, IMHO, is a great thing because you'll enjoy a totally unique experience and you'll get out of it in proportion to what you put in and not some off the shelf, generic and standardized `you can take your photos now' tourist experience. Sadly, in a few years time you may not be able to do this in much of South East Asia.

So grab this guide, go beyond the majors of Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville and enjoy one of the most beautiful countries in South East Asia, Cambodia. Treat your Lonely Planet as a guide and not a bible and you'll have the time of your life.

I hope you enjoy your time in Cambodia as much as I have.

Editorial Review:

Angkor Wat is just the beginning. If you want to dig deeper into the real Cambodia, this guide is your key. Unlock the mysteries of the sacred temples, share the Mekong with endangered dolphins, and eat with pythons and cobras by your side. With Lonely Planet, you'll have the adventure you always dreamed of.

• EXPERT RESIDENT AUTHOR - providing the best insider tips and tricks

• UNBEATABLE ACCURACY - updated on the road, in person

• THE WORLD'S BEST TRAVEL MAPS

• NO GUESSWORK - opinionated reviews and inspiring highlight sections

• LISTINGS FOR ALL BUDGETS - from pinching pennies to living large

Swimming to Cambodia

Spalding Gray

Amazon Price: $11.66 List Price: $12.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Theatre Communications Group Amazon Marketplace: 50 new & used starting at $3.07

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

"It took courage to do what Spalding did-courage to make theatre so naked and unadorned, to expose himself in this way and fight the demons in public. In doing so, he entered our hearts-my heart-because he made his struggle my struggle. His life became my life."-Eric Bogosian

"Virtuosic. A master writer, reporter, comic and playwright. Spalding Gray is a sit-down monologist with the soul of a stand-up comedian. A contemporary Gulliver, he travels the globe in search of experience and finds the ridiculous."-The New York Times

In 2004, we mourned the loss of one of America's true theatrical innovators. Spalding Gray took his own life by jumping from the Staten Island ferry into the waters of New York Harbor, finally succumbing to the impossible notion that he could in fact swim to Cambodia. At a memorial gathering for family, friends and fans at Lincoln Center in New York, his widow expressed the need to honor Gray's legacy as an artist and writer for his children, as well as for future generations of fans and readers. Originally published in 1985, Swimming to Cambodia is reissued here 20 years later in a new edition as a tribute to Gray's singular artistry.

Writer, actor and performer, Spalding Gray is the author of Sex and Death to the Age 14; Monster in a Box; It's a Slippery Slope; Gray's Anatomy and Morning, Noon and Night, among other works. His appearance in The Killing Fields was the inspiration for his Swimming to Cambodia, which was also filmed by Jonathan Demme.

Vietnam Cambodia Laos & the Greater Mekong (Multi Country Guide)

Nick Ray

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 2.0 of 5

Decent guidebook for the region 3 out of 5 stars.
17 of 28 people found this review helpful.

I am not a big fan of Lonely Planet guidebooks as I find they are really lacking in detail but this was the newest guidebook on the region I was visiting so I purchased it. It was decent but definitely lacking. Hopefully one of the other guidebooks will print a new edition for the Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos countries.

Editorial Review:

Discover Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & the Greater Mekong

Take a slow boat down the mighty Mekong past remote jungles, ancient temples and intriguing hill-tribe villages, p.23
Get up close and personal with wild elephants in Laos, p.285
Trek to secluded waterfalls through Khao Yai National Park in Thailand, p.156
Explore magnificent Angkorian temples without the crowds in Cambodia's Preah Vihear Province, p.223

In This Guide:

Full-color chapter on the region's ancient wonders, from majestic Angkor Wat to World Heritage-listed Lijiang.
Border crossings chapter to help plan your adventure, with info on which borders are open and a map with marked crossings.
Visit lonelyplanet.com for up-to-the-minute reviews, updates and traveler insights.

Angkor: Cambodia's Wondrous Khmer Temples, Fifth Edition (Odyssey Illustrated Guide)

Dawn Rooney, Peter Danford

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The great legacy of the ancient Khmer civilization, the temples of Angkor, cover an area of over 77 square miles in north west Cambodia. These monuments, built between the ninth and 15th centuries—the classic period of Khmer art—are unrivaled in architectural greatness. They are, undoubtedly, one of the wonders of the world, astounding in their splendor and evoking a real sense of awe.

Contains background information on Khmer history, religious beliefs and legends depicted on the bas-reliefs, as well as descriptions of the decorations and architectural features. Detailed, monument-by-monument guide to the sites, including detailed maps and plans, plus four newly accessible temple-complexes accessible by helicopter!

• Phnom Penh section profiles the National Museum, and highlights of Cambodia's capital
• Tongle Sap essay on flora and fauna around the great lake
• Comprehensive background information on Khmer art, religion and cultural traditions
• Detailed architectural descriptions and extensive accounts of all the temples as well as several pre-Angkor sites
• Written by an art historian steeped in the region's art and culture
• 92 color photographs
• 30 maps and plans

Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos, 2nd: Tread Your Own Path (Footprint - Travel Guides)

Claire Boobbyer, Andrew Spooner, Jock O'Tailan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos, 2nd: Tread Your Own Path (Footprint - Travel Guides 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I find this book easier to follow and better than lonely planets.
I like the book. Very helpful

Editorial Review:

From the Mekong Delta to the Chinese border in Northern Laos, here is the first guide of its kind to these three southeast Asian countries. Experience Angkor Wat, the strangeness of the Plain of Jars, travel on a bamboo train and visit the Perfume Pagoda. Includes detailed coverage of Bangkok, the main transportation hub for the region.

Colloquial Cambodian: The Complete Course for Beginners (Colloquial Series)

David Smyth

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

A good introduction to learning Khmai. 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

The Good:
*Comes with cassettes and CD's that records about 95% of what should've been recorded.
*Easy to understand explanations on grammar and vocabulary(but hey, khmai is easy anyways, yes?)
*Covers several different topics of conversation
*Hmmm...they speak Khmai with educated and sophisticated vocab!
*Has good, effective lessons for learning to read and write the language.

The Bad:
*It's just so not smart that they do not tell you what the names of the consanants, vowels, and subscripts are!(Which means you won't be able to 'spell' outloud or understand when people are 'spelling')Thus, you'll only know what sounds they make.
*Too many boring passages that aren't even conversations between people. (For example: "Hello, my name is Frank and I am from Berlin, Germany. I fought during WWII and blah, blah, blah,.... and so after the war was over, Germany was divided between east and west".)
*Two passages have not been recorded.
*The Khmai is often a little too 'proper'. I'm not saying they should teach you you to speak bad Khmai, it's just that the style of language is like that of a robot or machine somewhat(so yeah, it can be a little too 'sophisticated' and not always 'colloquial')
*The writing lessons at the end feel a bit rushed. (I also think that there could have been more writing lessons.)
*The conversations recorded leave some more to be desired, even for a mere beginner's course because they're too simple and short. They should've added more conversations too instead of so many passages.

The neutral:
*The cover isn't good. It's just a picture of some kind of fabric or something!
*Due to the book relatively short length of the book, it allows you to be able to finish the book sooner than a long one. So that means you can feel like you accomplished something in a relatively short amount of time.(the learning material is 160 pages and remaining 100 or so is just grammar summary and the glossary.

I know it seems the bad part is more than the good part, but this book is really ok. Seriously. AND GET IT WITH THE TAPES/CD'S OR ELSE YOU'LL LEARN NOTHING!

Good luck!

The Lady Getter

Editorial Review:

These cassettes are recorded by native Cambodian speakers and can be used on their own or to accompany the book, helping you with pronunciation and listening skills.

These audio cassettes in the Colloquial Language Learning Series are available individually or as part of a pack. To purchase the cassettes and the book, please refer to the cassette pack listing for this language.

Angkor: Celestial Temples of the Khmer

Jon Ortner, Ian W. Mabbett, James Goodman, Ian Mabbett, Eleanor Mannikka, John Sanday

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

An exquisitely illustrated history and exploration of Angkor, the world's most astonishing architectural treasure.

Built between the ninth and the thirteenth centuries by a succession of twelve Khmer kings, Angkor spreads over 120 square miles in Southeast Asia and includes scores of major architectural sites. In 802, when construction began on Angkor Wat, with wealth from rice and trade, Jayavarman ll took the throne, initiating an unparalleled period of artistic and architectural achievement, exemplified in the fabled ruins of Angkor, center of the ancient empire. Among the amazing pyramid and mandala shaped shrines preserved in the jungles of Cambodia, is Angkor Wat, the world's largest temple, an extraordinarily complex structure filled with iconographic detail and religious symbolism. Perhaps because of the decline of agricultural productivity and the expansion of the Thai Empire, Angkor was abandoned in the fifteenth century and left to the ravages of time. Today, many countries continue efforts to conserve and restore the temples, which have been inaccessible until recently. Now that the civil war has ended, Angkor is being reborn and is an increasingly popular tourist destination.

Undaunted by the difficulties of traveling through Cambodia and eastern Thailand, Jon Ortner, accompanied by his wife Martha, has photographed fifty of the most important and unique monuments of the Khmer Empire. His images include spectacular views from the rooftops of its temples, glorious landscapes, and details of inscriptions and art that few have ever seen.

The text by a team of distinguished experts provides historical, architectural, and religious analyses of Angkor and the Khmer civilization. The Appendix offers a glossary, a chronology of construction, and a chart of the kings and their accomplishments. Black-and-white floor plans and historic watercolors complete this breathtaking tribute.

Other details: 240 illustrations, 225 in full color

The Indochina Chronicles: Travels in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam

Phil Karber

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Reading this book is like sailing down the Mekong yourself 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

Indochina Chronicles is simply a wonderful travel book--you can practically taste the food Phil Karber eats and smell the smells. Everything is vividly described, so that you feel as if you're making the trip yourself. The book is really three books in one--part travelogue, part voyage of self-discovery, and also a series of fascinating anecdotes and stories explaining the people and the history of Indochina in an unforgettable way. It was a real pleasure to read.

Editorial Review:

In this insightful travelogue, American war veteran Phil Karber takes you on a journey down the roads, rivers and rails of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. He writes insightfully about the political effect of the Vietnam War on the people and places, adding a whole new perspective on the region's history and culture. Accompanied by a friend, London artist Simon Redington, they follow the Mekong River from China to Saigon, to the infamous Tiger Cages on Con Son Island, and to the city sidewalks of Hanoi, where the author lived for five years. Along the way, the stories will capture your imagination and transport you to a beautiful region, undaunted by war and poverty. Indeed, this book brings to life the harsh realities of the region's history, culture, politics and people. Together with its unforgettable images of locals, veterans and expatriates, this transcends normal expectations of travel literature.

To Asia with Love: A Connoisseurs' Guide to Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

Kim Fay

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Imagine that on the eve of your upcoming trip to Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, you are invited to a party. At this party are fifty guests, all of whom live in or have traveled extensively through these countries. Among this eclectic and well-versed group of connoisseurs are authors of acclaimed guidebooks, popular newspaper columnists and pioneering adventurers. As the evening passes, they tell you tales from their lives in these exotic places. They whisper the names of their favorite shops and restaurants; they divulge the secret hideaways where they sneak off to for an afternoon (or a weekend) to unwind. Some make you laugh out loud, and others mesmerize you with their poetry and lyricism. Some are intent on educating, while others just want to entertain. Their attitudes are as unique as their personalities, but they are united in one thing … their love of the region. If you can envision being welcomed at such a party, then you can envision the experience that this guidebook aspires to give you.

Fodor's Thailand, 10th Edition: With Side Trips to Cambodia & Laos (Fodor's Gold Guides)

Fodor's

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Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Float down the Pa Sak River at sunset, travel by elephant to an ancient Buddhist temple, gamble on a Muay-Thai bout at Lumhini Stadium, or lounge in an after-hours club in Bangkok while sipping a lemongrass-and-chili martini - Fodor's Thailand, 10th Edition offers all these experiences and more! Our local writers have traveled throughout the country to find the best hotels, restaurants, attractions and activities to prepare you for a journey of stunning variety. Before you leave for your trip be sure to pack your Fodor's guide to ensure you don't miss a thing.

The San Francisco Chronicle sums it up best –"Fodor's guides are saturated with information."

- We frequently update our guide to Thailand, and we make every effort to bring you the most accurate and thorough book. Plus we provide timely updates about the area at Fodors.com.
- Unlike other travel books, Fodor's guides rely heavily on local experts who know the territory best–so you know you're seeing the real Thailand.
- We give you the planning tools you need to tailor your trip. We give options for all budgets. You make the choices.