Phnom Penh - Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s busy capital, sits at the junction of the

Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers. It was a hub for both the Khmer Empire and French
colonialists. On its walkable riverfront, lined with parks, restaurants and bars, are
the ornate Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum, displaying
artifacts from around the country. At the city’s heart is the massive, art deco
Central Market. 
Phnom Penh, along with Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, are significant global and
domestic tourist destinations for Cambodia. Founded in 1372, the city is noted
for its historical architecture and attractions. It became the national capital in 1434
following the fall of Angkor, and remained so until 1497.

Flag of Cambodia

-The colors of the flag of Cambodia hold great significance to the nation. The two
colors represent the bravery of the nation, liberty, cooperation and brotherhood.
The flag also features a depiction of the Angkor Wat, which symbolizes justice,
heritage and integrity.
Red and blue are the traditional colours of Cambodia. The colour blue represents
the King of Cambodia and the colour red represents the people of Cambodia.
Angkor Wat represents Theravada Buddhism, which is the religion of the majority
of Cambodia's population.

Constitutional Monarchy- system of government in which a monarch (see

monarchy) shares power with a constitutionally organized government. The
monarch may be the de facto head of state or a purely ceremonial leader. The
constitution allocates the rest of the government's power to the legislature and
judiciary.
Cambodia become a constitutional monarchy on 24 September 1993. Following its
adoption by the new parliamentary assembly, a new constitution was promulgated
on 24 September 1993, establishing the Kingdom of Cambodia, a constitutional
monarchy with a democratic, multiparty political system.
Khmer- the national language of Cambodia, is a member of the Mon-Khmer family
of languages spoken over vast area of mainland South-East Asia. In marked
contrast to Vietnamese, Thai, Lao, and Burmese, Khmer is not a tonal language.
However, not unlike Thai, Lao, and Burmese, Khmer has been influenced by
Sanskrit and Pali, largely as a result of the spread of Hinduism and Buddhism in
Cambodia.

Theravada Buddhism-The constitution states Buddhism is the state religion, and

it is promoted by the government through holiday observances, religious training,
Buddhist instruction in public schools, and financial support to Buddhist
institutions. Not just any form of the religion, but specifically Theravada Buddhism.
The chief goal of Theravada Buddhism is personal enlightenment, and this is
achieved by a strict practice of meditation and conservative ways of life. Most
young Khmer boys spend part of their lives as monks. Theravada Buddhism
emphasises attaining self-liberation through one's own efforts. Meditation and
concentration are vital elements of the way to enlightenment. The ideal road is to
dedicate oneself to full-time monastic life.

Cambodian riel- The riel is the currency of Cambodia. There have been two
distinct riel, the first issued between 1953 and May 1975. Between 1975 and 1980
the country had no monetary system. A second currency, also named "riel", has
been issued since 20 March 1980.
The official currency in Cambodia, the Cambodian riel, trades at around 4,000 riel
to the US dollar. But there’s a high level of dollarization in the country. What this
means is that you don’t need to be concerned about getting riel when you arrive in
Cambodia. In fact, the visa you get on arrival must be paid for in US dollars. This is
starting to change, and Cambodia is in the middle of a de-dollarization campaign,
and small US notes are being phased out of circulation.

Prime Minister of Cambodia- Hun Sen, he is a cambodian politician and former

military commander who has served as the prime minister of Cambodia since
1985. He is the longest-serving head of government of Cambodia, and one of the
longest-serving leaders in the world. he changed his name to Hun Sen in 1972,
two years after joining the Khmer Rouge as a soldier. He fought for the Khmer
Rouge in the Cambodian civil war and was a Battalion Commander in Democratic
Kampuchea until defecting in 1977 and fighting alongside Vietnamese forces in
 the Cambodian–Vietnamese War. From 1979 to 1986 and again from 1987 to
1990, he served as Cambodia's foreign minister in the Vietnamese occupied
government.[6] At age 26, he was also the world's youngest foreign minister.

Resources- Cambodia's key natural resources include gemstones, gas, oil,

phosphates, manganese, iron ore and timber. In 2010, the country's industrial
mineral sector produced an increasing amount of crushed stone and sand and
gravel.

Cambodia Rank in the world GDP and GNP- Cambodia GDP rank is 103rd
(nominal, 2019) 95th (PPP, 2019) and Cambodia GNP for 2020 was $24.95B,
a 1.03% decline from 2019, Cambodia gnp for 2019 was $25.21B, a 12.25%
increase from 2018, Cambodia gnp for 2018 was $22.46B, a 13.9% increase from
2017, Cambodia gnp for 2017 was $19.72B, a 10.06% increase from 2016.

Contemporary foreign and economic policy- The Kingdom of Cambodia

pursues a foreign policy that protects and promotes its national interests, by
undertaking the following five main tasks:

 Protect national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and neutrality;

maintain peace, security, stability, order, and social unity
 Foster more friendship abroad based on the spirit of national independence
 Promote economic diplomacy
 Continue to support and strengthen multilateralism
 Enhance the quality, efficiency and capacity of Cambodian diplomats.

In Cambodia, fiscal policy has been a key tool for promoting economic growth,
reducing poverty, and providing short-term demand stimulus in the context of
highly dollarized economy.

-Upon knowing the economy of Cambodia, I discovery that it is one of the poorest
nation's in the world and poorer than Philippines. However, I think we should apply the
economic strategies of Cambodia like promoting international trade, attracting foreign
direct investment, promoting cultural exchange and many more. On the other hand, one
of the reason why Cambodia remains one of the poorest countries is the deep-rooted
corruption, limited human resources and high- income inequality. These factors
hindered the economic development of the said country and we should not apply these
in our country Philippines.
-If I were given a chance to talk to our leaders, my advice or recommendations to boost
our economy is that first, they should prioritize job creation by the private sectors, to
reduce unemployment and underemployment. Second, promote economic growth
through innovations like what other countries do. Third, support entrepreneurial
activities since it stimulate economic development. By implementing these, the
Philippines will achieve economic stability and reduce poverty.

1. Angkor Wat (Angkor Archaeological Park)

-This temple city is Cambodia's number one drawcard. Accessed from the town of
Siem Reap, the temples of the Angkorian period are so ambitious in scale and in
the majesty of their construction, that Angkor Wat is rated as one of the world's
must-see ancient sites.
Built between AD 802 and 1432, this was the largest city in the world during the
medieval age and the vast powerhouse of the Khmer kings who endeavored to
outbid their predecessors in the beauty of their construction. As the city's wooden
dwellings were encroached and then decayed by the surrounding jungle, what
remains today, are just those mighty temples.

2. Phnom Penh
-Cambodia's capital is the frenetic heartbeat of the nation; a city of chaotic streets
abuzz with motorbikes and car horns that can frazzle at first glance. Deserted
completely during the Khmer Rouge madness and left to wither and decay, Phnom
Penh has bounced back to become one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic cities.

The National Museum is home to a swag of Khmer sculpture that traces the

nation's history from the pre-Angkorian age right through to the phenomenal
majesty of the god-Kings of Angkor. The Royal Palace provides gorgeous
examples of traditional artistry, while Tuol Sleng Museum and the killing fields
of Choeung Ek speak of the horror and brutality the people of this country suffered
under Khmer Rouge rule.

3. Sihanoukville Beaches

-In Kompong Som Province, Sihanoukville is a tale of two halves, with a bustling
but drab central district and its shoreline area home to a vibrant beach resort. The
beaches here are Cambodia's top destination for sand and sun holidays and are
popular with both local and foreign tourists.
Brash Ochheuteal Beach and the Serendipity Beach area are the most popular
sandy strips and in recent years have emerged as one of Southeast Asia's
backpacker party areas.
4. Prasat Preah Vihear

-The temples of Angkor Wat may gain all the glory, but Prasat Preah Vihear wins the
prize for the most dramatic location. Sitting atop the Dangrek Mountains, on an
escarpment with dizzying views across the Cambodian floodplains, Prasat Preah Vihear
is a monumental temple complex of intricately carved pavilions linked by long
causeways, built originally to honor the god Shiva.
The temple is snug against the border with Thailand and has historically been a point of
contention between the two nations, who both claim it as their own. The International
Court of Justice ruled in Cambodia's favor in 2013, which led to border disputes flaring
up between 2008 and 2011.

5 Banteay Chhmar

-For a touch of Indiana Jones-style temple exploring, you can't beat Banteay Chhmar.
This mammoth temple complex sits consumed by surrounding jungle in Cambodia's
lonely northwest, providing the perfect opportunity to discover the highlights without the
crowds.
It was built by the 12th-century Angkorian king Jayavarman VII, and the remarkable
stone reliefs along its walls are some of the most intricately detailed you'll see in the
country. In particular, the spectacular bas reliefs depicting Avalokiteśvara on the south
wall and the dizzying array of battle scenes depicted on the eastern walls are prime
examples of the Angkorian era's artistry.