Cambodia - Cultural Temples

I am so happy and proud to be born as Khmer and live in my beloved country Cambodia which is well known about its Angkor Wat Temple and natural resources. Every Cambodian people have lived under the sake of Angkor Wat Temple where was built in 1112 – 1152 by Suryavarman II. Beside this temple, Cambodia also has many cultural temples such as Angkor Thom, Ta Prom, Bayon, Bonteay Srey, Phreah Vihea, and many more. I do love my country.

Situated on the Indochinese peninsula, Cambodia is bordered by Thailand and Laos on the north and Vietnam on the east and south. The Gulf of Thailand is off the western coast. The country primarily consists of a large alluvial plain ringed by mountains with the Mekong River to the east. The plain is centered around Lake Tonle Sap, which is a natural storage basin of the Mekong.

Depend on these natural resources and the cultural temples; tourism is the main income for Cambodia. Cambodian tourism has developed during the global economic recovery. For the first semester of 2010, international tourists to Cambodia reach 1,221,156, an increase of 12.39% compared to the same period in 2009. This projection confirms the trend of rapid recovery for tourism sector in Cambodia. A preliminary study predicts that Cambodia will receive around 2.4 million tourist arrivals in 2010, an increase of approximately 12%.

Moreover, Siem Reap and the surrounding areas are not only full of temples with cultural tourism resources but also rich of natural resources and biodiversities along Tonle Sap Lake in Kompong Khlaing and Kompong Pluk where there are plentiful attractive tourist potentials and fantastic tourism products such as fishery village, jungles, fishing means, way of life of local people, and it is also inherited with mystery of aquatic and underground resources, and potentials of tangible and intangible heritages around Tonle Sap Lake and its peri-zone.

Most Cambodians (95%) today are Theravada Buddhists. This austere version of Buddhism became prevalent in Cambodia in the thirteenth century, displacing the combination of Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism that was practiced previously. Modern Cambodia also has Muslim citizens (3%) and Christians (2%). Some people practice traditions derived from animism as well, alongside their primary faith.

Anyways, I just wish to change a few things to develop my country. Cambodia is still lacking of accessing to education, gender equality, and living poverty. Most people who live in rural areas and some parts in the cities in Cambodia are facing those issues – they might be sold to the brothel or cheated to other countries such as Thai, Vietnam, Malaysia or Korea because they are uneducated. They are then likely to be trafficked into sex industry or forced to make this choice when no alternatives are available. Poverty, illiteracy, family problems, and gender discrimination create a fertile breeding ground for trafficking, exploitation, rape, and abuse.

The pressures of a fast-growing population also contribute to poverty. Because of lacking of education and skills training, people have inadequate employment opportunities and low capabilities. They are insecure, excluded and vulnerable because they have limited access to natural resources. The cycle of poverty, ill health and high health care expenditure cripples poor Cambodian families economically.

Moreover, rural poverty and lack of opportunity in rural areas have contributed to the spread of HIV AIDS, as young women migrate to urban factories and become sex workers in neighboring countries. Although HIV prevalence rates have shown a decrease, the impact of the infection continues to be strong.

Illiteracy is the main focus for me since Cambodia is still a developing country, many poor people cannot get education due to lacking of financial to support their study and living condition. Education is so important to develop a community, country and ourselves. Moreover, when they live in poverty and illiterate – it is a cause that might lead them to become a robber or do something wrong just to help their daily lives.

I wish my country full of peace – gender equality, poor families have enough food to eat and live in a peaceful life like a rich people also.