John Saboe's Far East Travels

Phnom Penh has been the capital of Cambodia since French colonization. It is the country’s largest city with a population of over 2 million. It’s the center of commerce, the arts, cultural heritage and diplomacy. Once called “the pearl of Asia” it was one of the most beautiful French built cities in Southeast Asia. It’s riverside stretches along the Mekong River converging with the Tonle Sap. Phnom Penh has had several terms throughout the centuries as the capital of Cambodia.  Depending on which king was in power the center of control shifted to various cities but became the permanent capital under King Norodom l’s reign from 1866, where the royal palace was built and is still located today. The monarchy operates in the same manner as the United Kingdom,  in Cambodia a king that reigns but does not rule. The current King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni reportedly spends most of his time living in France.During the Vietnam war Cambodia was used as a base by the North Vietnamese and Vietcong. As a result many ref