Takéo

Takéo is the capital of the homonymous province. A very tiny city, built on the shore of the Roka Khnong Lake, which is mostly known for the silk industry.

The city itself hasn't much to offer, except for a little local market and a nice lakefront.

Takéo is also known for its prawns, which are the biggest (and the most tasteful, standing to what they say) of the whole Cambodia. You will find several fish market right on the promenade.

What is very interesting to see, on the other hand, is the countryside. If you have one day to spend, you can rent a boat ($35-40) and visit the sites of Phnom Da and Angkor Borei. The journey is wonderful: you will pass through canals surrounded by strips of land half swamped, with trees and plants coming out right from the water. 

Otres Beach

If you want to run away from the chaos of Sihanoukville, just a few kilometers away you will find Otres Beach, a small touristic village totally built on the seaside. Guesthouse are the only "buildings" of the areas, if we can call them so. Most of have small bungalows right on the beach, built in wood and bamboos, from where you can enjoy the stunning show of the sun setting behind the sea.

Mainly inhabited by expats, it has actually no main attraction beyond its wonderful beaches made of white sand, its crystal water and its views. So if you are looking for a place to relax and enjoy the sea, this is the place.


Around Otres you won't find much to do, but one thing that I highly recommend is the tour of the small islands in front of it. If you have any bases in sailing, then you can rent a small sailing boat for $30 to $70 for an half day and reach the islands by your own. In alternative, you can just take one of the many motorboat offered by locals. It will take you no longer than an hour to get to the closest, even with bad wind.

When night comes, you can have a barbecue on the beach, drinking fruit jus and tasting the delicious sea food for a very cheap price.

Wat Banan

This small complex of temples is situated around 20 km south from Battambang, and easily reachable by scooter or tuk-tuk by following street #1.

With his five-towers structure, it reminds a bit the site of Angkor Wat, but in a much smaller scale, so if you haven't been there yet it worth the shot.

Once you passed the main entrance, you will face a huge flight of steps that will bring you right up to the top of the 70-mt hill where the temples are. If you are worried about the heat, well, you shouldn't. A young khmer that will be happy to cool you with a fan, telling you something about the temple and hoping for a small tip. The steep steps up to the temple are worth the effort as there are stunning panoramic views from the top on the valley and on its endless paddies, as well as on the site of Phnom Sampeu.

About Wat Banan, we know that it was a Buddhist temple, but uncertain is the date of its built (somewhere around 10th and 13th century).  The five corn-on-the-cob towers have well resisted to time, as well as the detailed stone lintels, whereas several of the carving have lost their heads to vandals (but a few are still in quite good conditions).

Tonlé Bati

Tonlé Bati is a small lake, 30km south of Phnom Penh. It is one of the favorites locations for khmer people, that use to spend their weekends chilling out on the lakeside. You can rent a little hut for less than $1 and have a picnic with your own food on the lake. In alternative, you can order some fresh food at one of the many small restaurant that you will find on the lakeside.

Battambang

Battambang is a small province in the north of Cambodia, capital of the province of Battambang, around 300km north-west away from Phnom Penh.

The city of Battambang merges perfectly two different elements: you will find colonial architecture from the french era, together with typical khmer buildings. Colonnades houses and colonial balconies overlook the riverside, where tons of small local bars are serving meals all day long.

The city center is very small, in an half day you will probably be able to most of the interesting things. Even more if you are willing to rent a bike or a scooter (which is always practical).

A short history

Although many explanation have been given on the origin of its name, the most commune is the one that refers to the legend of Preah Bat Dambang Kranhouhg. Litteraly, it means "to lose the stick". The story tells about a giant that became king and, due to fight an enemy, he throws his stick at him, but miss the target. Impacting the ground, the stick creates a river, called « O Dambang », that gave the name to the city. 

Historically, it has been an agglomerated of houses more than a real town up to the french colonization in 1907. The traces of french passage in the area are clearly identifiable, with all the colonial buildings and road patterns that remind something of the old continent.

What to see

The Central Market (Psar Nat) is a typical example of khmer architecture, with a big cement structure. 

It is obviously way different from way different from the markets of Phnom Penh. Here you won't get harassed by sellers and you can really take your time to chose your items or to take a tour. Early morning hours are definitely the best to see the market, when it wakes up and its sellers bring their products in.

The Governor House, an example of the french influence in matter of architecture, with his columns and garden in perfect colonial style.

The Wat(s) (Damrey Sar, Phiphétaram, Kampheng), pagodas and small neighbors inside the town. I was pretty astonished by some decoration elements outside the Wat Damrey Sar, like a statue of a man with an open stomach with vultures on him, eating its interiors.

The Bamboo Train is one of the "classic" rail journey. Actually, to call it "train" you have to be brave: it consist of a 3 meters wood frame covered by bamboos, leaning on  two barbell bogies. The departure is in O Dambong, 3.5 km south of Battambang's Old Stone Bridge, and it runs southeast for around half an hour along warped, misaligned railways and vertiginous bridges left by the French.

The Phare Ponleu Selpak Circus, is a non-profit Cambodian association working with vulnerable children, young adults and their families through three interweaving fields of intervention: Arts schools, Social support and Educational programs. In Battambang, they perform twice a week and it really worth the show.

Phnom Sampeau

In the countryside of Battambang, about 12 km south, there is a wonderful and magic place called Phnom Sampeau. Two temples of the Angkor period are standing on a hill surrounded by nature. Trees and cliffs have protected the village during the 'old days and preserved the place intact.



To go up, you can chose a paved road - less wearisome but less suggestive as well - or a steep flight of steps. Whichever is your decision, before going take a look to the huge statue of Buddha that is nestled into the rocky base of the hill (due to a lack of founds, only the upper part has been liberated from the stone).





Probably the best time to be there is for the sunset, when sunbeams reflect on the golden temples and the sound of bats increases like a crescendo. Watching the sun setting on the top of the hill is an amazing show, that you definitely have to see. From there, you will have an open view on the valley and on the main hill of the area, the Phnom Krapeu (Crocodile Mountain), an old khmer stronghold.

Beware of the macaques, who will approach you only for food and they can get pretty aggressive if they don't get any from you. But there's nothing to be scared about, just pay attention.

This place is also known (unluckily) for the so-called killing caves, where during the khmer regime people were bludgeoned to death and then tossed into holes.