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

Outskirts of Phnom Penh – Neak Loeung & Preah Vihear Chan

Exploring the surrounding of Phnom Penh became a quest since now I had Bluey and no longer bound within tuk tuk range. Day tour options did not give me much insight on the sights to see around Phnom Penh hence I had to rely mostly on local recommendation to find the little things to see.

Naek Leong Bridge - Tsubasa Bridge 

Neak Loeung - South of Phnom Penh

Phanny was the main source of information .... one of the very very few tinder matches that was willing to indulge in all my questions. Digging for rare gems like unexplored by tourist, local sights was a bit tad hard to extract from locals as usual ... Phanny kept thinking there was nothing of value to enjoy sightseeing. Constant question was the key and even a teeny glimpse of hope that it would be worth visiting and I was off with Bluey to explore.

So onto Naek Leong, somewhere south of Phnom Penh there was a small little town that had a beautiful suspended bridge spanning across the mighty Mekong river. The town itself was small with some ornamental statue from the war probably. I took a ride around and within an hour it was time to head to the next point.

Naek Leong Bridge 

View of Naek Leong Town & the Mekong River 

The Soldier Monument of Naek Leong Town

Preah Vihear Chan Temple

A little temple on top a small hill. Quite a nice place for those having too much time in hand. The temple was cooling in the hot midday shaded well and hidden within the hill but still allowed a great view of countryside Cambodia. A flat plateau hence I could appreciate why these little mounds were scared and temples on top of small hills become a nice place to visit with love ones.

I did not take photos of people as it was rude, but truly Cambodia local sights, temples are dating ground as I watch couples after couples lounging around at every little corner in their own world.

Base of Preah Vihear Chan Temple 

Preah Vihear Chan Temple 

Traveled on : Mar 2019

Route Info – Cambodia Part 2 – The drift along the wind

This post is part of the Route-Info series continuoation from :

1. Route Info – Road Trip Southern Thailand from Hat Yai to Arayanprathet 
2. Route Info – Road Trip Cambodia 
3. Route Info – Thailand Part 2 Going from Central to Northern Thailand 
4. Route Info – Northern Laos
5. Route Info - Thailand Part 3 Exploring Isaan

Riding Route in Cambodia Part 2 

From Thailand last stop at Chong Chom, I enter into Cambodia to Siam Reap and from there on I practically just chilled most of my time in Cambodia. A small country that is not much developed for tourism makes it hard to explore beyond the banana pancake route. Even the locals rarely go around it seams.

Since I had did most of the exploring the last time ... this slow journey back was mainly to burn time ... relax and drift along with the wind.

(Entry From Thailand) Chong Chom -> O’Smach -> Siam Reap -> Phnom Penh -> Naek Leong -> Krong Kracheh -> Phnom Penh -> Battambang -> Pailin -> Chantaburi (Exit into Thailand)

Things of Interest along the route :

Naek Leong Bridge & Little Town

I heard there was a grand bridge crossing the Mekong river ... in fact most of the grand bridge crossing the Mekong river was usuallly a border crossing bridge which motorbike are banned from going over. So this was one of the few beautiful bridge crossing the Mekong River. A stop at the peak of the bridge gives a wonderful view of serene Cambodia countryside town

The Outer Area of Phnom Penh

Naturally after going to Phnom Penh so many times ... it was time to use Bluey to go beyond the city tuk tuk fringe ... needless today it was quite interesting such as day trip to the Island in the center of Mekong River Koh Dach, or the Oudong Temple on top Traop Mountain

Krong Kracheh (Kratie & the Mekong Dolphins)

The freshwater dolphin of Mekong River .... it was a nice town as well for wasting time and watching the sun set. Also a discovery of a dirt bike trail requiring a wooden boat crossing with Bluey across the Mekong river was just a nice mini adventure 

Pailin – the Gemstone and Casino town

This unknown Gem of Pailin ... so quiet ... peaceful and yet filled with numerous casino frequented only by the regulars from across the border that almost everyone in the casino knows each other.

Traveled On : Mar 2019
#overlandingcambodia #motorbikingcambodia #routeinfo #cambodia #motorpackerasia #blurtravels

Route Info – Thailand Part 3 – Exploring Isaan

This post is part of the Route-Info series continuoation from :

1. Route Info – Road Trip Southern Thailand from Hat Yai to Arayanprathet 
2. Route Info – Road Trip Cambodia 
3. Route Info – Thailand Part 2 Going from Central to Northern Thailand 
4. Route Info – Northern Laos

From Laos last stop at Vientiane, I enter into Thailand, Nong Khai and from there on this is the riding route I took going south through the north eastern parts of Thailand or better known as Isaan before exiting at Chong Chom and re-entering Cambodia for a second time.

(Entry From Laos) Vientiane -> Nong Khai -> Chiang Khan -> Loei -> Udon Thani -> Sakon Nakhon -> Nakhon Phanom -> Mukdahan -> Roi Et - > Kalasin -> Khon Kean -> Maha Sarakham -> Buriram -> Surin -> Ubon Ratchathani -> Two – Coloured River -> Amnat Charoen -> Yashothon -> Phimai -> Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) -> Surin -> Chong Chom (Exit into O’Smach Cambodia) 

Motorbiking Route in Isaan

Things of Interest along the route :

Nong Khai, Chiang Khan Loei

The chill part and beautiful scenery all the way. Going along the Mekong river, the scenery is beautiful and there are also lots of unique local tourist spot like bamboo floating house along lakes, antique wooden houses on stilts along the Mekong river and slightly mountainous terrain which is rare for Isaan once I finally rode around

Udon Thani, Roi Et, Kalasin, Khon Kean

The cities and dinosaur I would say. All very near each other and also very modern city (Except Kalasin) and all accessible to the great wonders of the dinosaurs of Isaan.

Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan

The gateway to southeren Laos. Surprisingly I found more historical and cultural event along this stretch of the Mekong river which I did not expected.

Buriram, Surin, Ubon Ratchatani, Phimai, Korat

This historical part of Isaan with many ancient temples, museum, monuments and yet within all that a bustling city.

Traveled On : Feb 2019
#overlandingisaan #motorbikingisaan #routeinfo #isaan #northeastern thailand #motorpackerasia #blurtravels