A Loop in the North
Mar 9, 2009 11:05:37 GMT
Post by hwinpp on Mar 9, 2009 11:05:37 GMT
Did this 'expedition' at the end of February.
We started in Phnom Penh. Stops were Sambor Prey Kuk, Prasat Krapum Chouk, Tbeng Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Anlong Veng and Siem Reap (where I had two refreshingly cold Anchors with two good friends).
The stretch from Kampong Thom to SPK took just over half an hour. In the rainy season 2007 it was still nearly 2 hours. About half way to Tbeng Meanchey we veered off the road to visit a small ruin called Prasat Krapum Chouk, I doubt I'd find it again without local help. There was a sign on the main road but it was in Khmer only. We spent the night in Tbeng Meanchey, there are at least 3 guest houses there, we stayed in the best one. Lots of restaurants. Otherwise a very sleepy little place. We'd originally wanted to go for a walk along the Stung Sen but dropped that idea because it was getting dark.
The next morning we drove to Preah Vihear village, at the bottom of the escarpment on which PV is built. There's a very basic guest house here and several coffee shops cum restaurant. You will have to go up by moto or 4- wheel drive with manual transmission. No automatics allowed on the road up. In any case we couldn't ascend to the temple anyway, the Thais had 'accidentally' lobbed over 8- 11 shells at a place further west the day before and the soldiers were still a bit jittery.
So after lunch we continued the trip, negotiating the 100 odd km to Anlong Veng. It looked like most of the bridges were complete, so I guess the trip (by moto) will be muddy but possible in the rainy season.
Anlong Veng has also changed quite a bit since the last time I visited (slightly drunk, posted a report on that with some pics here, so do a search to compare). Quite a few new buildings were up and the guest house situation has vastly improved. Go up to see the Thai border, the markets, Ta Mok's house, his last bodyguard (and house caretaker, only speaks Khmer), Pol Pot's grave (further away, we didn't go) and what's left of the courtroom where Pol Pot was tried.
The road between the Thai border and Siem Reap is now surfaced, plain sailing all the way.
It's a good trip, doable in 3 days. I'd recommend doing it in 4 though, maybe spend an extra night in Kampong Thom if based in SR or in SR if coming from PP.
First stop, Sambor Prey Kuk
Pre Angkorean temples at Sambor Prey Kuk
Old wall at SPK
Tbeng Meanchey, provincial capital
The road between Preah Vihear and Anlong Veng
Anlong Veng, on the escarpment (what exactly does it mean?)
Anlong Veng, on the Thai border
Anlong Veng, Ta Mok's house
Anlong Veng, night market on the border
Anlong Veng, what's left of Pol Pot's courtroom
The road to Siem Reap
My photostream on flickr:
www.flickr.com/photos/hwinsiemreap/page2/
We started in Phnom Penh. Stops were Sambor Prey Kuk, Prasat Krapum Chouk, Tbeng Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Anlong Veng and Siem Reap (where I had two refreshingly cold Anchors with two good friends).
The stretch from Kampong Thom to SPK took just over half an hour. In the rainy season 2007 it was still nearly 2 hours. About half way to Tbeng Meanchey we veered off the road to visit a small ruin called Prasat Krapum Chouk, I doubt I'd find it again without local help. There was a sign on the main road but it was in Khmer only. We spent the night in Tbeng Meanchey, there are at least 3 guest houses there, we stayed in the best one. Lots of restaurants. Otherwise a very sleepy little place. We'd originally wanted to go for a walk along the Stung Sen but dropped that idea because it was getting dark.
The next morning we drove to Preah Vihear village, at the bottom of the escarpment on which PV is built. There's a very basic guest house here and several coffee shops cum restaurant. You will have to go up by moto or 4- wheel drive with manual transmission. No automatics allowed on the road up. In any case we couldn't ascend to the temple anyway, the Thais had 'accidentally' lobbed over 8- 11 shells at a place further west the day before and the soldiers were still a bit jittery.
So after lunch we continued the trip, negotiating the 100 odd km to Anlong Veng. It looked like most of the bridges were complete, so I guess the trip (by moto) will be muddy but possible in the rainy season.
Anlong Veng has also changed quite a bit since the last time I visited (slightly drunk, posted a report on that with some pics here, so do a search to compare). Quite a few new buildings were up and the guest house situation has vastly improved. Go up to see the Thai border, the markets, Ta Mok's house, his last bodyguard (and house caretaker, only speaks Khmer), Pol Pot's grave (further away, we didn't go) and what's left of the courtroom where Pol Pot was tried.
The road between the Thai border and Siem Reap is now surfaced, plain sailing all the way.
It's a good trip, doable in 3 days. I'd recommend doing it in 4 though, maybe spend an extra night in Kampong Thom if based in SR or in SR if coming from PP.
First stop, Sambor Prey Kuk
Pre Angkorean temples at Sambor Prey Kuk
Old wall at SPK
Tbeng Meanchey, provincial capital
The road between Preah Vihear and Anlong Veng
Anlong Veng, on the escarpment (what exactly does it mean?)
Anlong Veng, on the Thai border
Anlong Veng, Ta Mok's house
Anlong Veng, night market on the border
Anlong Veng, what's left of Pol Pot's courtroom
The road to Siem Reap
My photostream on flickr:
www.flickr.com/photos/hwinsiemreap/page2/