Cambodia - Beyond Siem Reap
After a wonderful (but intense) 2 weeks of exploration in Siem Reap, climbing on Angkorian temples, it was time to see what else Cambodia had to offer. Our travel planner (aka Alex) mapped out a plan to see three distinct and differing areas. First, a bus hop down to the capital and mega-city, Phnom Penh, then a dramatic shift south to Cambodia’s southern coast with a visit to the Kep Province for some R&R. Finally, making our way back north to the historic city of Battambang and a good departure point back to Thailand. As you will see below, we had a great time everywhere (perhaps with our first two stops getting a few more stars).
Phnom Penh - Cambodia's Mega-City
Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s busy capital, sits at the junction of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers. it became the capital (after Siem Reap/Angor Wat) in 1865. It is a booming city with 2.65m people and climbing. Alex had not seen the city for 30 years and it was a startling reintroduction. Borderline slums slam up against high-end shops and condos. Bars and entertainment abound. We just touched the surface of this place in our 6-day visit with highlights being a spectacular sunset cruise and a somber visit to the Genocide Center.
Kep - Exploring Cambodia's Southern Coastal Region
Compared to Thailand, Cambodia’s southern coast is pretty humble, but we wanted to see what it had to offer. Kep is a coastal province in southern Cambodia, known for its seafood and tropical islands. The relaxed provincial capital of Kep, or Krong Kaeb, has wide streets with crumbling villas that recall its former glory as a French colonial resort town. A local crab and seafood market (with accompanying restaurants) was just a 4 minute walk from our place. The beaches and water in Kep are not exactly stellar, but the vibe is very chill. Surrounded by water and numerous islands, a mountainous region sits in the middle and includes a beautiful national park.
To the north is the “big city” of Kampot. With a winding river, cafes, and lots of French influence, this city was quite interesting and a place where we would have liked to have spent more time….someday!
Interestingly, salt and pepper are major products of Kep. Salt fields allow sea water in and then evaporation leaves the product for collection. Gourment pepper is a booming market world wide and massive fields are scattered across Kep. The process is very manual, but the products are quite delicious.
Battambang - Welcoming in 2025 with Style!
Battambang is not far from Siem Reap, but the cities differ greatly. Battambangy was founded in the 11th century and saw much development during the French colonization, leaving behind a distinct architectural footprint. The city does not have the resources of Siem Reap nor certainly Phnom Pehn – depending primarily on farming – and it shows. However, there are a variety of charities and training programs to support locals to build necessary skills to earn a living. This included many restaurants and massage businesses in the area. Also, this is where the training school for the Phare Circus, which we enjoyed in Siem Reap, is located. Many ex-pats choose Battambang as their second home and those who love the city will shout its praises.
We didn’t really explore the city as much – probably just a result of the previous month of constant activity in Cambodia. We were there for what was a memorial New Year’s Eve celebration where the Battambangians (?) put on quite a party.
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Quite a party in Battambang. Or should I say a quiet party.
Can’t believed they kicked us out before midnight, incase we woke the guests!
Great videos, thanks for sharing your journey, very interesting.
Nice Christmas Tree in Kep. Looks like the Cambodians wear western style clothing, not ao dai, in Cambodia. The jungle looks thick and very hot and very rainy at times. I was wondering what that old building was at the peak of your hike, looks like a church.
Happy New Year and looking forward to seeing more video, photos from Vietnam.