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| By
: Moul Jetr. |
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At Wat Phnom
there is a congenial and ancient mode of transportation
guaranteed to make any tourist feel majestic. An
elephant ride around the picturesque Wat Phnom,
far above the madness of speeding cars and motorbikes
can be quite an experience.
Sambo, the friendly female elephant has been taking
'passengers' around the popular tourist spot for
a good many years. A picture of health, her rewards
come in the form of bananas, watermelons and sugarcane
fed to her by her Satisfied Customers. "Many
locals and foreign tourists have ridden on her.
I think they have all enjoyed a feeling of going
back in time, rocking back and forth on the back
of this big animal," said her mahout, Mai Vanny.
His uncle, Mr. Sin San, owns the animal.
"Sambo turns 40 this year. She is 15 years
older than me and she weighs five tonnes,"
Vanny, originally from Kandal Province, explained.
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"She
and a sister, Sok Chea, originally came from Aural
Mountain in Kompong Speu. My uncle first came across
them in 1962 when they were still babies. After
the war, they were reunited and came to work with
my uncle at Wat Phnom in 1990. In 1993 her sister
was sold to a hotel owner in Siem Reap but Sambo
stayed behind and has been working here ever since."
Vanny himself only began working with Sambo five
months ago. He says over the years, their business
has had its ups and downs, but since he has been
working with Sambo, he has noticed the number of
visitors who come to see her increasing week by
week.
"The first three weeks of April during the
festivity of the Khmer New Year, Sambo had hardly
any time to relax as the Park was always crowded
with visitors but the freak weather in later part
of month had driven almost everybody away. Sometimes,
not even a single visitor comes to visit Sambo,
but I think the cooler months ahead will be busy
for both of us," he said. |
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| A ride around Wat
Phnom cost US$5 for foreigners (not more than two persons
at a time are allowed) and 10,000 Riels for Cambodians
(not more than three persons at a time). The owner says
this is because Cambodians are usually of a smaller build.
Sambo the elephant gives an average of 10 rides per day,
usually in the mornings and late afternoon hours when
the temperature is cooler. The tariff has not changed
for many years and the good news is that the owner has
no intention to increase the price. Hawkers around the
vicinity of the elephant 'depot' agree that Sambo has
been doing a good job bringing joy to those who visit
her. |
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It is said
that she understands many words in Khmer and is
very intelligent. Sometimes people just stop to
have their picture taken with Sambo, rewarding her
with her favorite foods. Sambo is used to posing
for the cameras. It is as if she knows the exact
poses to please her guests. From within that gigantic
body of hers exudes a sweet, quiet nature that warms
the hearts of everybody who stops for a ride or
to pose for a photograph with her.
Her owner feeds Sambo well. Everyday she receives
two cyclo-loads of sugar cane as her staple, happily
gobbling her food down, oblivious to the spectacle
she creates in the process. Her excrement is cleaned
away daily after the dark by cleaners employed by
the Wat Phnom Park authorities and used to fertilize
the plants around the park.
After her chores, she ambles down the Tonle Bassac
at night to rest on the vacant piece of land near
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Cambodiana Resort
in the Samdech Hun Sen Park. Such has been her routine
for many years. However, her owner soon will have to find
her an alternative 'bedroom' as development on the plot
of land where she now rests is scheduled to begin in the
very near future.
Sambo's owner is reportedly now trying to raise US$10,000
to find Sambo a mate from Takeo Province. We wish them
luck and perhaps the next time you visit, there may be
two elephants instead of just one amusing visitors at
popular Wat Phnom Park. |
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Suite
B8, Regency Square, InterContinental Hotel, 294 Mao Tse Toung
Boulevard,
Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia.
Tel: (855) 23 213 133 Fax: (855) 23 213 033
E-mail:
editor@leisurecambodia.com |
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