Cambodia

Imagine you are standing under a very warm sun, feeling its gentle heat on your skin. All around you, bright green rice fields stretch out like a giant, soft blanket. You can hear the gentle swishing sound of a huge river, the mighty Mekong, as it flows nearby. It whispers ancient stories as it travels through the land. If you look closely, peeking through the lush green jungle, you might see the pointy tops of old stone towers reaching for the sky. They look like they are playing hide-and-seek with the leaves and vines. What is this magical place. It is me. I am the Kingdom of Cambodia, a land full of ancient wonders and warm, friendly smiles. I have been here for a very, very long time, and I love when visitors come to hear my stories.

My greatest story began a long, long time ago, when I was home to the powerful Khmer Empire. My golden age started in the year 802 with a very brave king named Jayavarman II. He was a great leader who brought all the different groups of people together and said, “Let's be one strong kingdom.”. And so we were. This was a time of amazing building. My kings and queens wanted to create something magnificent to honor the gods and show the world our strength. The most wonderful of all my treasures was built many years later, in the early 12th century. A wise king named Suryavarman II had a grand idea. He said, “Let's build a temple that looks like a mountain made of stone, a home for the gods on Earth.”. And so his people built Angkor Wat. It is so big it feels like a whole city. Its five tall towers were shaped to look like the buds of a lotus flower, reaching up to the heavens. Talented artists spent years carving beautiful pictures into my stone walls. They carved stories of brave warriors, graceful dancers with fancy crowns, powerful gods, and even scenes from everyday life, like people going to the market. For hundreds of years, my city of Angkor was the heart of the kingdom. But around the year 1431, my people moved the capital to a new place. I became very quiet then. The jungle slowly crept back, wrapping my temples in a gentle, green blanket of trees and vines, keeping them safe and secret for a long time.

The jungle kept my secrets safe for centuries. But my story didn't end there. My heart kept beating, and my people are strong. After many years, on November 9th, 1953, I became an independent country once again, ready to write a new chapter. I have had some very difficult and sad times in my past, which makes my people’s smiles today even brighter. The people of Cambodia, the Khmer people, are full of hope and have worked hard to rebuild and share our joy with the world. If you visit my capital city, Phnom Penh, today, you will see a lively place full of energy. Tuk-tuks zip through the streets, markets are filled with colorful fruits and beautiful silks, and the delicious smell of noodle soup fills the air. People from all over the world now come to visit my ancient temples. They walk through the stone hallways of Angkor Wat and listen to the stories I have to tell. My story is one of beauty, strength, and a welcoming smile that never fades. I hope one day you will come and let me share my magic with you.