A Quick Run to Chiang Mai from Siam Reap in Four Days

I think I was possessed. I left Siam Reap heading straight for the border of O’Smach. There was not much to be said about this border crossing since it was just another repeat. 

Exit Cambodia. Customs TIP Surrender on Right Building then Immigration Exit on Left Building

Only new thing was that the new Cambodian Temporary Import Permit for the bike was surrendered to customs and after stamping out Immigration it was then onwards to Thailand side to repeat the same procedure to stamp in and get a new TIP.

The plan was to stay a night near the border in Surin Province. Riding though the city of Surin at early afternoon since the border crossing was way faster than expected, I decided to push on since I still had four hours of sunlight. 

I actually aimed for a small little village near the Mun river under the municipal of Thatum but upon arrival, all the guesthouse was full.

Roi Et Tower Landmark 

Annoyed that there was no place to stay, I continued on and by the time I settle back into a familiar hotel in Roi Et, it was already sunset and I had done a good 500km from Siam Reap + a border crossing on the same day. 

It would probabaly be the fastest distance covering journey I had ever done with a motorbike in SEA. The momentum and pace continued for the next few days since I was in the zone.

Skip hop to Petchabun to camp a night in Phu Thap Buek mountains before riding through Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park and staying in yet another small little village called Pa Daeng Sub District in Phitsanulok.

Camping in Phu Thap Buek 

Staying at Pa Daeng Sub-District 

Riding Through Uttaradit Rice Fields 

One more day and I was in Lampang within a stone throw of Chiang Mai already. It took me only four days to get here to Lampang covering more than 1000km and I did not even feel exhausted. 

It was the 11 April 2024, and Thai New Year which is also known as the Water Festival would start on 13 April 2024 but what I did not realized that the pre new year festival had already started.

Pre-Battle Songkran in Lampang 

Lampang was already in pre-battle mode and I was skirting very close to be bombarded with water shots before I could even reach Chiang Mai. I took a long detour through smaller road to Chaing Mai going north first near Chae Son National Park and managed to stay dry all the way to the hostel in Chiang Mai.

Just in time to see the biggest festival in Thailand in one of the most cultural city in the North.

Are you Ready for Songkran ? 

Traveled on : Apr 2024

Passing Time in Cambodia

I went though Cambodia this time round as a primary Visa run. I had to stay in Cambodia long enaugh so that once I re-entered Thailand, the one month entry would last me all the way to the begining of May.

So once I got to Pailin and stayed the night, it was a day of gambling in the Casino and then a dash to Siam Reap where I booked a room for a few nights and stayed in to escape the heat. 

If I had never mention this before, Pailin is my fav Gambling Border Town in South East Asia. Easy going, chill, currency accepted in Cambodian Riel or Thai Baht, low limit tables, best hospitality and never too crowded. 

Pailin Flamingo Casino 

Pailin Palace Casino

Yep it was blazing hot during the day in Apr and I just stayed inside the air-condition room every day for three nights only surfacing outside for food and water.

New 361 Cafe just outskirts of Siam Reap

Night time was usually spend just drinking and watching the Pub Street crowd and while I would always come back to Cambodia for the easy access to comfort and ammenities, there was not much left for me to explore in this country.

Pub Street at Siam Reap 

Cambodia became a mandatory stop to get some chores done mainly :

1. Withdraw USD currency for emergencies

2. Extend Visa for Thailand

3. Replenish or Deminish my Bank Acc depending on Casino Luck

After time was up in Siam Reap, I rode in a single day to O’smach border and crossed over to Thailand.

Traveled on: Apr 2024

Breezing Through South Thailand to Pailin – Cambodia.

I have ridden the south route five times now I think and there was not much new path for me to explore. East coast or west coast, almost all the route has been done twice now so there was not much point of lingering too long.

From Hatyai I was doing long distance riding nearly everyday making the route fairly fast for my pace but I know to other bikers opinion, the whole thing could be shortened to two days.

Ao Tho Li View Point of Phang Nga Bay 

The route north I took was :

Hat Yai – Krabi – Phuket (Always visiting Cuz to say Hello) – Laem Son National Park – Hua Hin – Bangkok

Swordfish Sculpture at Krabi 

The famous Patong Beach Nightlife in Phuket 

I could have skipped Krabi – Phuket & Laem Son going stright from Hat Yai to Hua Hin then Bangkok but I guess I was still a little nostalgic to go a slight detour once a while. Bangkok was also unintentional.

Laem Son National Park was a new detour and a simple one. A great place to see the sunset over a the local pier watching some locals sport fishing. This place might become my favarite stop in future going up or down from Malaysia for it was nowhere near the expensive tourist beach and I could use the stop to propel me further without needing to enter Ranong

Laem Son National Park

Laem Son National Park 

I also wanted to skip Bangkok entirely but somehow Bangkok sucked me into the city as my navigation goes haywire with one wrong turn and the redirected route forced me to go through Bangkok traffic. I gave up trying to cross over to Chon Buri within the same day and just stayed in Bangkok for the night.

From Bangkok it was a simple dash to Pailin with only one detour at Chao Lao Beach. In total it took me 8 days to get from Hat Yai to the Cambodian border. It used to take me at least three weeks to reach Cambodia but now I guess I was getting more seasoned to ride longer distance or more stop sleep go cycle.

Chao Lao Beach 

Traveled on: Mar 2024

Border Crossing from Ban Padkad (Thailand) to Phsar Prum (Cambodia) with a Malaysian Registered Motorcycle.

Alright it was time to do a border crossing and as always I was nervous. Cambodia now had a new system compared to when I last tried back in 2018 with Bluey. 

Those days Cambodia did not really have a system in place for a temporary import vehicle so I had to do it the hard way getting a full importation permit.

This border Phsar Prum was one of the border that I had used back in 2018 to exit Cambodia and enter Thailand so this would be actually the first time doing it on the opposite direction. 

I first exit Thailand at Ban Padkad border. Standard process of immigration stamp out and then returning the Temporary Import Permit before moving on to the Cambodian side.

Ban Padkad Border Thailand 

Parked the bike and queue up for an Entry stamp at immigration which was stright forawrd since Malaysian passport did not require a Visa. 

Next I ride around 100m and was stop at a guardpost which just asked for passport to ensure I had the entry stamp before allowing me to proceed.

Left the guard post and I was technically in Cambodia proper already. There was no stops for the bike and I had actually ride nearly 1km onwards trying to find the customs office before decided to turn back to ask the guard post where the customs was.

Immigration 

Customs Building at Cambodia side to get Temporary Import Permit for Bike

Customs Building Entrance at Opposite of Road after entering Cambodia

It almost seams like one could just ride throught without doing the proper paperwork but then maybe the border guard thought I was just a border hopper like all the other Thai registered Vehicle that never leave the border area as they just go in to visit the border Casinos for a short getaway.

Who knows if I might get in trouble without the papers further in Cambodia but I’ll never really know I guess.

Customs Office was apparently on the left side of the main road 20m after the guard post. I rode into the compound and park my bike and went knocking on doors to find the right desk to process Bragge in officially.

The temporary import of Vehicle into Cambodia now goes though electronically via https://tvs.customs.gov.kh/ but it was tricky trying to figure out the registration system. 

The customs officer however offered to do all the online registration on my behalf for a small fee of USD 5. I accepted and he proceeded to create a new account for me, uploading multiple pictures of my motorcycle documents, passport and finally registered the bike for entry.

I was then given a single piece of paper which stated Temporary Import of Vehicle into Cambodia valid for one month. 

With that done, I was good to go roaming around Cambodia. The process was so much more simple now and very similar to Thailand Import system.

Traveled on: Mar 2024

Route Info – From Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) to Laos (Boten)

This time round there was not much motivation for me to explore in Malaysia even though I had started the journey. I went straight for Cameron Highlands looking for cool weather retreat a few days and checked into a cosy hostel to run some routes and planning check again.

For some reason, I make plans and decision best on the road in unfamiliar hostel. I had always love Cameron Highlands for some reason. The mountains has a special call to me that just being there makes the soul smile. Beach are nice but mountains are nicer.

After a few days just lazing around going from one tea place to another it was time to move on. I packed up and went straight to the Thailand border. 

This time around I would cross into Betong a new part of Thailand which I had yet to explore which makes it a great starting and warm up breaking the monotonous ride up north through mostly places that I had visited before.

The route I took this time round was almost 70% a repeat of the previous journey in 2018 with Bluey but there were some new spots along the way.

Route Info - Malaysia to Thailand to Cambodia to Thailand to Laos to China 

Betong to Yala to Hatyai
- A New Route on the most southern part of Thailand

Hatyai to Krabi to Phuket
- A repeated route always to visit cuz in Phuket

Phuket to Laem Son National Park to Hua Hin
- A new National Park to explore but mostly a mad dash covering crazy distance all the way to Hua Hin

Hua Hin
- Usual pit stop to service bike on the way up

Hua Hin to Bangkok
- A repeated route along the coast and salt farms

Bangkok to Chantaburi (Chao Lao Beach)
- Going Through more simple uninteresting roads to skip Chon Buri & Rayong

Chao Lao Beach to Pailin (Cambodia)
- Another mindless dash to the Border so I can Gamble at the Border Casino for a few days

Pailin to Siam Reap to O’Smach
- A repeated route chilling and passing time in Cambodia

O’Smach to Roi Et to Phetchabun
- New Road but Repeated Destination

Phetchabun to Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park to Pa Daeng Sub District
- New Route through remote nature.

Pa Daeng Sub District to Lamphang to Chaing Mai
- New Route & New Destination and for the purpose of celebrating Thailand New Year (Songkran) in Chaing Mai

Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son Loop (Salawin River Detour + Ban Rak Thai Detour )
- Another run at Mae Hong Son Loop but this time through the north burning season which was horrible

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong
- A repeated route with familiar destination revisiting same tourist sights.

Chiang Khong to Huay Xai to Luang Namtha to Boten
- A regular route to China

Border Crossing – From Cambodia Pailin–Phsar Prum to Thailand Chantaburi – Banpuggard with a Malaysian Registered Motorbike

The border crossing from Cambodia (Pailin – Phsar Prum) to Thailand (Chantaburi – Banpuggard) went without any troubles but at the Thai side it was unusual compared to all my other entries..

Rode in the morning from Pailin town to the border town of Phsar Prum and park Bluey right in front of the Immigration and Customs. Best to be obvious but also ignorant I assumed so with Bluey fully in sight I proceeded to immigration stamping out and ignored customs.

Immigration & Customs at Phsar Prum - Cambodia 

No guards at the gates really so after immigration was done I packed up and rode Bluey very slowly to the Thai side wondering when will someone blow the whistle and pull me back to the Cambodian side but it never happen so I was out of Cambodia.

This was interesting for the previous time I was in Cambodia, running though the proper paperwork cost me USD 12.5 export fee and at least an hour waiting for the customs officer to figure out their paperwork but just being ignorant and riding through hoping no one notice cost me a free exit from Cambodia. This also allowed me to keep the original “temporary customs permit” which I got at the Cambodia entrance border of Chong Chom as a souvenir.

The Thailand side border Banpuggard made me run a wild goose chase which makes me feel like each of the counters did not trust each other. First up was counter 9 which was to get the immigration white card and TM2 form but the lady would not give me the TM2 form and ask me to go to immigration first at counter 4 then customs then back to her at counter 9.

So I got to counter 4, and mention motorbike crossing to the officer just in case since the TM2 form was missing. The officer checked with his buddy which refered to another list on a paper and finally asking where is Bluey registered. Apparently on their list was four countries that was allowed entry of vehicle into Thailand.

Malaysia

Singapore

Laos

Cambodia

Got stamped in at Immigration and I had to jump a fence to go to customs which was on the road drive through. Immigration was on the pedestrian walk path. Customs asked for all the standard documents and a new requirement of a photocopy of my passport with the entrance stamp into Thailand. This I could not prepare in advance since I just got the stamp a minute ago so I was directed to a nearby photocopy booth and got the papers for 3 baht. Bluey was also brought into the Customs holding area instead of parking in the no man zone.

Border Checkpoint - Banpuggard

As the Customs processed the Temporary Import Permit (TIP) form he asked where was I going.

Home ... back to Malaysia.

15 Days ok ? Enough to go home to Malaysia ?

NO ! Cannot ! Give me 30 Days.

This was the first time I had to bargain to get a 30 days permit. I guess I had enter once too many time into Thailand and it is showing in their system.

15 Days enough to reach Malaysia.

NO ! ... I go Bangkok Songkran (Thailand New Year Festival) ... 15 days not enough ... I want to see Songkran then go back to Malaysia.

Songkran was a week later so effectively after Songkran I would have 2 weeks to get home hence the argument was sound. If I don't get 30 days, there was no way I could hang out in Bangkok for Songkran.

The Customs officer was convinced and he laughed when I mention Songkran giving me the thumbs up and said OK ... for you 30 days.

Phew.

Customs done I went back to counter 9 hoping to get the final TM2 form. The lady filled up the form and now I had to go back to counter 5 for the immigration stamp on the TM2 form. Mind that I was lining up again and again for all this counter behind new people so this whole process really took up time.

Immigration looked at me and the TM2 forms and asked me to bring Bluey into the immigration compound. Jump the fence again to Customs and somehow explained that I needed to ride Bluey into the pedestrian only section to show immigration the bike. I went round and round looking for a way in and the guards started blowing whistle stopping me like I was crazy trying to jail brake the customs holding area.

Somehow I manage to convey the message and the guards showed me a gate which they opened for my entry into the Immigration holding area. Immigration Officer checked the bike chassis number, double check all the paper works again, requested for my driving license and was very pleased with the international driving license.

Immigration finally stamped the TM2 form and with that I was now good to go into Thailand. The whole process took me 2 hours at the border and since this was a very remote border luckily there was not much people in queue else I would have been stuck for a long long time.

The last leg ... the road back home ...

Back in Thailand - Chantaburi Region

Traveled on : Apr 2019

Sleepy town Pailin & Gambling at the Border Psar Prum

The time I spend in Pailin was literary inside the casino. First day I reach Pailin and after checking in the hotel and got a shower it was hitting the road again to go 20km to the border town of Psar Prum where all the casino was.

Initially I thought there was only one casino at this border town as shown in the map but once I approach the border, mushrooms of casino lined the sides like honorary guards all the way to the border post.

Pailin Town

Pailin was not really a touristy town and lack the usual tourist gawking around that usually follows the banana trail along Cambodia. A plain surrounded by mountains, which was a rare sight in Cambodia, streets were well paved and housed and shops clean cut showing the leftover of the gemstone riches of old days.

On one mountain sat the must see Pagoda on the hill temple of Pailin. Phanom Yat Pagoda overlooking Pailin main town and mountain was gilded with gold and was a hot dating spot for young couples.

Sleepy Town of Pailin 

Phanom Yat Pagoda - Pailin

At the foot of the hills is Granma Yat Statue, A shrine that looked similar to the local lore in Malaysia of Datok Kong, I presume this was the local land god but alas ... I had no one to tell me the tale.

Granma Yat Statue - Pailin

Gambling in the Border Psar Prum

Checked out all the casino I could see and mostly catered to online gaming with cameras to live dealers plus massive baccarats tables as usual. The Flamingo Casino was the only one that had a little variety of games and I ended up three days always there gambling.

Flamingo Casino - The Oldest, Largest and most Table Games in Psar Prum

In short, I payed the learning fee for how to play Asian Poker or Pai Gao Poker as the locals call it. The casino was very chill with only locals and Thai local tourist frequenting it regularly so a foreigner like me was quite a sight for the people there. The casino staff seam to came from all over hence some of the pit supervisors from the Philiphines who could speak English keep chatting me up.

Initially some curious players tried to asked me questions in the minimal english they could muster. Apparently nearly all the players here were regulars and knew each other one way or another like a big morning market that seams to know the neighbourhood customers. New faces were rare and forigen tourist riding bikes all the way from Malaysia was extremely rare.

After the first few hours in the casino the new players whom just join the table would be introduce to me by the current players as a foreigner from Malaysia. All these was in Thai languege and I guess it was amusing to them. Eventually one of them could speak good English and once he knew I was riding around south east asia with Bluey it became the table conversation. Questions were passed from players to him to relate to me and so forth and they all chatted with big smiles on their faces. Many times the games was like on pause while we all chatted like some new friends just met a the Bar.

The Single Street of Psar Prum, Lines with Casino on both sides 

Gambling was not the main motive for most coming to the casino, enjoying company and entertainment was the main goal.

Players and dealers all offered me free food from the casino but I only knew how to order fried rice since there was no menu. One dealer even offered me a free room in the casino to stay and as tempted I was to feel like a VIP player, I turn it down knowing the danger of staying too close to a Casino. Still 20km distance ride everyday still did not deter me from playing. Every day ... 20 km to the casino and after a loss ... a sad 20km back to the hotel.

Traveled on: Apr 2021

A Treasure Map in Kratie – The Mekong Discovery Trail

The first thing I notice when I arrived Kratie in le Tonle Guesthouse was the cute little drawn map of the sights and things to do around here.

A treasure map !

The Mekong Discovery Trial - Kratie to Sambor loop around the Mekong River

The Mekong discovery trail that makes a loop from Kratie as a base point and involves two ferry crossings. I was ecstatic for I knew this trail is a must do since I had Bluey with me. I mean why waste a absolutely amazing ride trail for free when every other tourist would have to rent a bike to do this gig.

The trail was about 80km in total making a full loop. I started at 10am in the morning going north from Kratie town passing village life on the road which was what this trail was all about. Discovering the life of normal people along the Mekong river.

The start of the Mekong Discovery Trail. 

I have to say, the tourism idea was splendid for there was not one effort done into making this trail a tourist trap so all along this ride north was normal people chilling out and minding their own business. I reach the 100 column pagoda which was a grand temple but ordinary after seeing so many temples in the region.

Wat - 100 Column Pagoda at Sambor 

The most interesting part of the Mekong discovery trail was the ferry boat crossing in the north. Google maps was a very small marker saying local boat crossing and some comments said only for peoples and no vehicles. I took my chance and rode down to the river banks and saw little bikes inside the boats.

Parked Bluey nicely and identified the boatman and pointed to Bluey and across the wide Mekong river. A nod of the head and I knew this ride was well on its way to becoming legendary.

How much ? I asked ....

2000 riel for Bike, 2000 riel for you

Bluey's Boat ride across the Mekong River 

Just another day Crossing the Mekong River - Sambor

So a total of USD 1 and I will get a boat crossing shipping me and Bluey across the Mekong river. I could not help smiling and admiring as they load up Bluey into the small boat but at the same time felt nervous every time the boat lean one way or another threatening to capsize. All aboard and we were off to the other side.

I paid USD 2 as a gesture of thanks to the boatman once he unloaded Bluey safely and it was off to hit the second part of the trail. Riding on the opposite side of the Mekong river going back south was dirt road all the way.

Many a times I had to cross wooden bridges that looked so battered it was borderline falling apart. Each bridge I would stop, and eyeing carefully, picked out the planks I would ride across on and once committed on the bridge never stop regardless of the sounds the bridge seam to make.

Dirt Road riding - Mekong Discovery Trail

Wooden Bridges Crossing - Mekong Discovery Trail

Local Houses along the Mekong Discovery Trail

Houses after houses just seeing the locals all chilling under the houses in groups either chatting or playing games, I rode slowly all the way back south. It was really the boring non-interesting ride it could ever be but doing it without having to worry about time made it relaxing and enjoyable to see what is, as it is.

The second ferry crossing in the south was more normal and only cost 2000 riel for both me and Bluey and once across it was a short ride back to Kratie.

The Normal Ferry back across to Kratie 

Traveled on: Mar 2021  

Kratie & The Mekong Dolphins

Kratie was a long detour I decided to make while waiting out the time in Cambodia to before doing the last leg through Thailand back to Malaysia. In a way I had to burn time ... waste it in a way so that when I finally crossed into Thailand, it would be near the April Songkran Festival.

* Thinking back to those days travelling without a care in the world while writing this piece in my room in Singapore in 2021 after a year of COVID-19 just feels so unreal .... somehow the invisible chain has set in ... and I wonder when could we do these types of cross cultural soul searching in future.

Kratie was a nice little quiet town unlike any I have seen in Cambodia. Most towns I rode through along Cambodia was either very small and dusty while the slightly more bigger one would be very noisy and cluttered. Kratie was different, it was quiet and somehow peaceful. Seeing sunset along the Mekong river and just watching it flow was the most natural thing to do every evening.

Kratie - Sunset

A Fishing Boat at Kratie - Mekong River

The Mekong Dolphins,

Of course I had to go see the Mekong Dolphins ... or as they call it ... the Irrawaddy dolphins. It was a tourist trap in a way but still the experience was worth the trip. I mean we got on a boat, either sharing or alone with the boat guide which was relatively affordable and controlled price by the tourism industry board of Cambodia.

They propel out with the motor engine and near a certain spot they would kill the engine and slowly peddle manually ever so slowly closer towards the dolphins. Apparently the dolphins just hang around these parts of the Mekong all year round. Its their home and in a way, would not be able to go very far upstream or downstream as the Mekong river becomes shallow or narrow.

Irrawaddy Dolphins Viewing Spot in Kratie 

Looking for Break-line in the Water for Irrawaddy Dolphins - Kratie 

One could only see every so much a moment, slight tip of the top fin of a bunch of dolphins ... usually 2 or 3 in a group and then they would dive and we would hunt the waterline waiting for a break to catch another glimpse of the top fins of Irrawaddy dolphins. Photos was of course near impossible to catch with all these brief moments and after a while looking at some boats with DSLR franticly trying to snap photos of the dolphins when they are spotted felt ridiculous. I decided to just sit, look out and enjoy the breeze and occasionally smile at the passing breakwater tip of an Irrawaddy dolphin swimming closely

Kampi Resort

Nearby Kratie was the Kampi Resort. I decided to stop since it looked like a tourist souvenir trap but found out it was like a day resort retreat. Floating huts on top the Mekong river where one could dip in to the cold and fast flowing rapids of the Mekong river on a hot afternoon was really an ingenious idea. Coupled with hammocks and food service, if only it was not that expensive. Thinking back ... it was not really expensive when compared to Malaysia or Singapore ... but I had normalized to local value of money.

Kampi Resort -  Kratie 

Swimming In the Mekong River at Kampi Resort - Kratie 

Traveled on: Mar 2019

A Folk Tale of the Dolphin (Irrawady Dolphins in Kratie-Kampi)

Local Lore Stories in South East Asia is always intriguing. ^^ ... 

***

Once upon a time, there lived a Theveda (A male Angel) on a huge scared tree and a girl in a nearby village.

The Thevada fall in love with the girl when he saw her bringing food to the spiritual tree to pray for happiness in her family and her community.

This was because he was her husband in their past lives.

The Thevada attempted to meet her again, but he could only go to her house during the night and had to transform himself into a python

The girl was frighten when she saw the snake for the first time, so Thevada decided to show her his real appearance and told her about their connections in the previous lives.

The Thevada python visit the girl every night until the girls parents discovered them together.

The Thevada described his story to them and guided them to a treasure location

The family found the treasure and became a rich household in the village.

The story of a girl getting married to a python and becoming rich spread rapidly to other village.

In another remote village, there was an envious couple with a daughter which heard the rumour and intended to replicate it.

Therefore, they decided to marry their daughter to a python too.

The father went to the forest and found a starving wild python.

He excitedly brought it home.

A wedding of the daughter and the snake groom was celebrated and attended by many relatives and friends of the family.

However, many guest were surprised at this wedding.

When night came, the bride was left alone with the hungry snake.

The python started swallowing's it’s prey, the girl.

She shockingly shouted out for help, but she was ignored by her parents

After a while, the parents became suspected when they no longer heard the voice of their daughter.

They immediately found only the snake with its enlarged body in the room.

They cut open the python to save their daughter.

Luckily, the girl was still alive, but sadly her body was contaminated with fishy smell remained.

She was so embarrassed and upset.

Hopelessly, she decided to kill herself by throwing herself into the river.

Suddenly her body turned into a dolphin and begin swimming in the river.

It was believed that the dolphin has existed since then.

***

The local Lore of Irrawady Dolphins 

Outskirts of Phnom Penh – Koh Dach & Oudong Temple

Just slightly north of Phnom Penh, barely 20km away there is three little island in the center of Mekong River and the largest Koh Dach was the destination for the day trip. Navigating purely using GPS, hit highway No.6 and somewhere along the way, look out for the small little narrow alley turn to get to Kdei Chas Ferry Dock. Heck even with GPS we still could not find it and had to ask around some locals for directions. Good thing Phanny was there to do all the translation.

Koh Dach on top Right & Oudong Temple on Far top Left

The ferry takes cars as well as bikes ... but honestly, there aren't much places a car can go on the island as the roads are quite narrow. Disembarking to Koh Dach felt and it was a stark different from Phnom Penh. This place feels like it will survive the test of time. One day when Cambodia is fully develop into a bustling country and not just the city of Phnom Penh, I feel that Koh Dach will withstand the test of time, and retain its rustic ways of live.

Ferry Ride Over to Koh Dach

Locals going over to Koh Dach

Riding around Koh Dach Island

The main attraction at Koh Dach was the community silk farm as Koh Dach also had another name, silk island. A little guide on silk farm works, some real life silk worm cocoons and treatment, some handicraft and finally great food. To be honest I would go there again just to relax by the Mekong River and have food in a hammock.

Koh Dach Community Silk Island 

Silk Worms Cocoons 

Silk Weaving 

Lunch the Cambodian Way - At Silk Farm Restaurant

Lunch with Hammock on the Mekong River - Koh Dach

Oudong Temple

The trip to Oudong Temple was a different day from Koh Dach, I just had to put this two post together as Cambodia has really nothing much to write about since I was slacking most of the time. Hit highway No.5 from Phnom Penh and somewhere along the way one can see from far far away a temple on top a mountain. Quite hard to miss really but to be save I still used the GPS as my local guide was always lost in direction for some reason.

The climb was doable and comparable to Batu Caves in KL Malaysia but heck I have gotten so used to the Cambodian flat plateau that this was tiring. At the top was a beautiful view of modern white marbled pagoda temple which was a rare sight in Cambodia when all the temples were usually in ruins. A living temple Phanny called it, as in the temple was still in use and not an ancient relic for sightseeing.

The view from the Phreah Reach Traop Mountain (which is where the temple is situated) was beautiful. Inside the temple was many carefully carved stone Buddha made out of precious stones.

Oudong Marble Pagoda 

View from top of Traop Mountain

Buddha Stone Carvings inside Oudong Temple 

Traveled on : Mar 2019