In preparation for launch, I have decided that as I do my research on the countries I will be traveling to, I want you all to learn about them too! I am going to do them by region to make it easier for y’all.
So, second up is Southeast Asia! While in Southeast Asia, I will be going to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar. Two of these counties are “closed countries,” meaning it is illegal to spread the Word of God openly to the people there. During my time in those two countries, I will have my blogs password protected! Head on over to my Facebook or Instagram (@thats___so___regan) for the password. I’ll be using the same password for both of the countries, so it will always be the same!
So, next up for Southeast Asia is Cambodia!
MAP OF CAMBODIA IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
MAP OF CAMBODIA
Summary
- Cambodia is home to the famous Angkor Wat, a Hindu temple that later became a Buddhist monastery. Hidden fro centuries under dense jungle, today Angkor Was is one of the most photographed places in the world.
- Cambodia itself is struggling to heal from one of the worst genocides in modern history. In the 1970’s, the Khmer Rouge killed over 1.5 million men, women, and children.
- Faced with inconceivable poverty and desperation, Cambodia became a source, transit point, and destination for human trafficking.
Area
- 181,035 sq km (Cambodia is about 4 times smaller than Texas)
Culture
- The majority of Cambodians follow Theravada Buddhism. Originating in India, the religion teaches that life and death in this world are intertwined through the concept of reincarnation. Every person lives a life as a worldly being and depending on their behavior will come back in their next life as a higher or lower being.
- Because of the religion, there is a sense of hierarchy within society.
- Cambodia is a collective society – individuals take second to the group whether this is the family, neighborhood, or company.
What I am going to do there?
- I don’t know yet, but will be finding out soon! Also a note on this: I Squad will be going through team changes at the beginning of month 5, so be prepared for some new faces!
Climate
- Cambodia has a tropical climate with warm temperatures throughout the year.
- There are two seasons in Cambodia. The northeast monsoon seasons runs from December through April, bringing sunny, dry weather especially in January and February. The rains come when the winds shift into the southwest monsoon from May to November, with the most precipitation in the months of September and October.
Language
- The official language of Cambodia is Khmer.
Fun Facts
- Fried tarantulas are a delicacy in Cambodia. They are said to be reminiscent of soft-shell crab.
- The Tonle Sap (which translates to ‘Great Lake’) is Southeast Asia’s largest saltwater lake. It’s attached to the Mekong River and the Tonle Sap River, with the combined lake and river expanding to more than 24,000 sq km in the wet season.
- The biologically diverse jungles of Cambodia are home to 212 species of mammal, including Asian elephants, tiger cats, sun bears, gibbons and deer, amongst others. Eighteen species are either endangered or critically endangered, making conservation in Cambodia all the more important.
- The Cambodian flag depicts the main building of Angkor Wat. Together with the flag of Afghanistan, it holds the distinction of being one of only two state flags to feature a building.
- The King of Cambodia is a trained ballet dancer. King Sihamoni was sworn in as monarch on 29th October 2004 after his father abdicated due to poor health.
Is it safe?
- Yes!
If you want to read other blogs in the Where in the World series, click on the country below!
As always, I invite you to make my journey, your journey. Here are three simple ways:
- The most important, PRAY.
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Also, if you are feeling called to support the World Race in a financial way, a couple of my teammates are still in need of help. Click on their names below if you would like to know more about them!
