Slavedog's Grand Tour of Cambodia, 2020.
Preah Vihear city is pretty disappointing but I loved the ride up from Kompong Thom on 62, pretty empty roads and open landscapes. I found the temples less interesting then the trenches dug beside it.
None but ourselves can free our mind.
How are you travelling? Motorbike/own car/share taxis/bus/bicycle? Or?
How much time do you want to take?
Might you have any ability to find humour and enjoyment sipping a beer, perhaps just cooled with ice cubes, while watching local life unfold in a small, dusty market?
Not being alone is more fun, particularly if your Khmer is near non-existent. Companions? Khmer skills?
If you have your own wheels, are dust/small town tolerant, and have a friend and/or language skills, I'd try bumping along the borders, as well as following the good "desination" advice already given.
Personally, I'd like to check out that new military road Northeast of Siempang, Ratnakari, (tip- cruise past open checkpoints at nap time, and don't mention any logging noticed when, smiling broadly, you have to talk your way back out late in the day. Carry insect repellent. If you drink with armed soldiers, know when to say goodbye.) The area SE of Attapeu, Laos was cool and quite "out there" in the early naughts, and I'd love to see it from Cambodia. The headwaters of that fine river are great too.
Kong Falls near Kompong Sralao, across from Lao backpacker islands of Don Det, and etc, are a nice place for a lunch time walk around or some SERIOUS whitewater kayaking. I enjoyed staying a few days at Kompong Sralao 2 one Khmer New Year. Spend Kip, speak Lao, and share the big bottles of Beer Lao!
At points further west, past the Mekong R, assorted border uniform types occasionally flexible for short visits across to Lao and/or Thailand. Just be a friendly curiosity, if you meet someone half intelligent working there, they are often very bored. Someone had a plan for the 3 border meeting point, but not much followthrough. West past there, the border is along the ridge with no...
Sorry, got to go. Maybe more later
How much time do you want to take?
Might you have any ability to find humour and enjoyment sipping a beer, perhaps just cooled with ice cubes, while watching local life unfold in a small, dusty market?
Not being alone is more fun, particularly if your Khmer is near non-existent. Companions? Khmer skills?
If you have your own wheels, are dust/small town tolerant, and have a friend and/or language skills, I'd try bumping along the borders, as well as following the good "desination" advice already given.
Personally, I'd like to check out that new military road Northeast of Siempang, Ratnakari, (tip- cruise past open checkpoints at nap time, and don't mention any logging noticed when, smiling broadly, you have to talk your way back out late in the day. Carry insect repellent. If you drink with armed soldiers, know when to say goodbye.) The area SE of Attapeu, Laos was cool and quite "out there" in the early naughts, and I'd love to see it from Cambodia. The headwaters of that fine river are great too.
Kong Falls near Kompong Sralao, across from Lao backpacker islands of Don Det, and etc, are a nice place for a lunch time walk around or some SERIOUS whitewater kayaking. I enjoyed staying a few days at Kompong Sralao 2 one Khmer New Year. Spend Kip, speak Lao, and share the big bottles of Beer Lao!
At points further west, past the Mekong R, assorted border uniform types occasionally flexible for short visits across to Lao and/or Thailand. Just be a friendly curiosity, if you meet someone half intelligent working there, they are often very bored. Someone had a plan for the 3 border meeting point, but not much followthrough. West past there, the border is along the ridge with no...
Sorry, got to go. Maybe more later
+Sorry, got to go. Maybe more later+
laos borders are closed have been for months
laos borders are closed have been for months
The batcave outside Battambang is amazing. Definitely worth a visit. I'd post a pic but you really need a video to get a sense of what the experience is like.
Battambangitself is pleasant but most stuff was shut down due to Covid when I was there last month.
Battambangitself is pleasant but most stuff was shut down due to Covid when I was there last month.
Hmmmm, last time I was there, the "bat caves" were highly commercialized, the Cambodian style. No bat to be seen. Asking where the bats were, reply: "Bats come back at night, when tourists go home, to sleep", yeah.
Good idea, slavers.
I might try and coincide with you on one of your stops, with permission.
I might try and coincide with you on one of your stops, with permission.
there were thousands of them. we must have been there an hour and they were still coming out when we left.
Thanks for the ideas. Travelling by private car, but have two kids so can't be going too far off the beaten track.Seen_a_bit wrote: ↑Tue Jun 16, 2020 3:43 amHow are you travelling? Motorbike/own car/share taxis/bus/bicycle? Or?
How much time do you want to take?
Might you have any ability to find humour and enjoyment sipping a beer, perhaps just cooled with ice cubes, while watching local life unfold in a small, dusty market?
Probably had enough of dirty fly-blown markets, but I'm sure I'll drink plenty of ice cold beer.
TheGrimReaper wrote: ↑Mon Sep 02, 2019 1:45 pmSlavedog, you do not belong on this forum as you talk too much sense.
I have been to the bat caves a couple of times. It's a good half-day out, combined with a trip up the hill to the temple and perhaps the lake. I will probably do it again as not much else to do.
The bats leave the caves at dusk and it is quite a spectacle. I suppose they return at dawn.
TheGrimReaper wrote: ↑Mon Sep 02, 2019 1:45 pmSlavedog, you do not belong on this forum as you talk too much sense.
By all means! Will let you know when we have some dates.
TheGrimReaper wrote: ↑Mon Sep 02, 2019 1:45 pmSlavedog, you do not belong on this forum as you talk too much sense.
By the way, I would hardly call a few shacks selling snacks and beers highly commercialised.slavedog wrote: ↑Wed Jun 17, 2020 9:56 amI have been to the bat caves a couple of times. It's a good half-day out, combined with a trip up the hill to the temple and perhaps the lake. I will probably do it again as not much else to do.
The bats leave the caves at dusk and it is quite a spectacle. I suppose they return at dawn.
TheGrimReaper wrote: ↑Mon Sep 02, 2019 1:45 pmSlavedog, you do not belong on this forum as you talk too much sense.
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Every time i had been was late afternoon, after a visit to the lake, they seem to mass and fly off at sunset
Kor Ker is fantastic
The falls around Banlung are impressive, but only in the rainy season.
"We are turning into a nation of whimpering slaves to Fear—fear of war, fear of poverty, fear of random terrorism, or suddenly getting locked up in a military detention camp on vague charges of being a Terrorist sympathizer." HST
PBR they used in That Top Gear spinoff?tarariverboat wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 1:43 pmif you come to Siem Reap look me up,i take you out for a stay on the Queen Tara Riverboat(have new cabins almost finished) and we can head out fishing on me PBR (gun) boat
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