A Costa Rican Fairytale: Beauty and the Beach

June 17th, 2006

Costa Rica literally translates into “Rich Coast,” so named by Columbus for the gold necklaces worn by the native people when he arrived in the early 16th century. However misleading the name might have been for gold hunters, it appropriately describes Costa Rica’s copious coastline, which is an endless paradise for surfers, scuba divers and those in need of tranquil relaxation.

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A brief historical introduction to Cambodia

March 3rd, 2006

Brief History of Cambodia

The Kingdom of Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy situated in Southeast Asia and counting a population of more than 13 million people. Most Cambodians are Theravada Buddhists of Khmer extraction, but the country is home also to a substantial number of Cham and small hill tribes.

The country borders Thailand to its west, Laos to its north, Vietnam to its east, and the Gulf of Thailand to its south.From the 9th century to the 15th century, Cambodia represented the center of the Khmer Empire, with Angkor as a capital.

The Angkor Wat, the empire’s main spiritual site, is a symbolic reminder of the time when Cambodia was a major powerrulung most of the Indochinese peninsule, and remains the country’s top tourist attraction.
From 1863 the country was a protectorate of France, which lasted until 1953, when the country received independence.

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