From Phnom Penh we made our way east to Kompong Cham. On the way, we stopped at a famous road side eatery, Skuol, were they serve deep fried spiders, crickets and bugs. There was a tour group on the bus with us, and some sampled the eight legged delicacies. Not I sir. No chance.

Spent a few days in Kompong Cham on the bank of the Mekong. Was a lovely place, very peaceful until 5am when it seems everyone wanted to say something whilst driving bikes and building things. Also, at around 6pm everyone lines up on the bank to start aerobics to pumping disco music. It’s quite a sight. The local kids also use this as a kind of ride-in open air afterschool club. It’s the place to be in town.

We took a couple of push bikes across to an island in the river (which is massive) on the local ferry for a days cycling and exploring. It was a beautiful place inhabited by rice farmers and monks.

Then it was onto the deep east of Mondulkiri Province and Sen Monorom – the village-sized capital. Here we stayed at the amazing Nature Lodge for what ended up being 4 days. This place is incredible and is run by the loveliest bunch of folks you’d ever like to meet. Our room was basically a tree house in a field. The place is set on a hillside, with the main building at the top made from wood and incorporating a few huge trees. The photos will say more when i can get them up. Amazing 4 days.

Whilst we were there we took a 1 day elephant trek from a local community out into the forest to a waterfall and back again. It was an incredible day – sitting on an elephant whilst it makes a path through trees is something we will never forget. The experience was made all the more thrilling by yet another mildly terrifying experience: on the way out to the forest along the dirt road we saw another elephant coming towards us with his mahout onboard. As soon as this young male saw our placid female, his ears shot out to the sides and his trunk went up. So began the charge of the elephant. When you’re on top of a beast this size and another one is pegging it in your direction 2 things go through your mind. “There’s no where to go” and “So i am to die here then, ah well, here goes”. He stopped just in time right next to our elephant when he proceeded to roar and then trumpet before turning and running off. His and our Mahout found this hilarious. We’ve never lost a tan so fast…

Oh and when an elephant farts it sounds like a tiger roaring. Fact.

posted: Saturday, November 28th, 2009 at 05:09
under: travels.
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