Montreuil on the Mekong, or Siem Reap on the Seine?

The kingdom of Cambodia was a French protectorate at one time in its turbulent history. Cynics might rightfully claim that the rewards of colonialism probably served to benefit French hegemonic interests of the time more than any tangible returns Cambodia was able to secure to its advantage. That said, there are still charming vignettes of French cultural influence in the country, some of which are observed even in a touristy town like Siem Reap. One wonders what modern day Cambodians feel about the country's colonial past-is it a love-hate relationship? In the past, the ancient Khmer were also a territorial empire, having at one point ruled over much of present day Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. In fact, the very name Siem Reap means 'Siam defeated', an allusion to a victory wrought by Cambodian armies against a Siamese army from the distant past.