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By
: Chin Veth, Picture by : Toan Sophie.
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Ka Chanh Waterfall
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Rattanak
Kiri may not be an obvious destination for
most visitors to Cambodia, but this tucked-away
province in the country's far north-eastern
corner has got a lot to offer the more adventurous
tourist.
The province's lush jungles and forests make
it an ideal destination for the ecologically-minded
traveler: you can trek the highlands on elephant-back
or take a guide and beat a track on foot;
visit local hill-tribe villages and be pampered
by their hospitality; watch miners dig up
glittering gemstones from the ground; explore
waterfalls and take a dip in a crystal clear
lake. Rattanak Kiri is bordered by Laos to
the north and Vietnam to the east. People
traveling from Phnom Penh can fly straight
to the provincial capital, Banlung - although
those who think getting there is all part
of the adventure may prefer to travel up the
Mekong River by boat. The boat stops in the
neighboring province of Stung Treng, where
taxis and pick-up trucks are available for
the drive to Banlung. The stretch of road
from Stung Treng to Banlung can be hair-raising,
but the scenery along the road should be enough
to take your mind off |
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the bumps. The
hill-tribe people living in the area are already quite
urbanized and most are very friendly towards foreigners.
Some of the minority Tompoun, Kreung and Charay tribes-people
have moved to Banlung, the small town they share with
the local Khmer people.
Banlung is in fact the name of the district: the town's
original name is actually Labansiek. But nowadays it is
popularly referred to as Banlung, so Banlung it is. Its
people are generally very helpful and friendly - they've
welcomed enough tourists in recent years to know that
foreigners mean business and income. Hotel accommodation
is relatively inexpensive, ranging from US$5 to US$15
a night. Banlung also has several good restaurants with
extensive menus.
Getting around in Rattanak Kiri is easy. There are motorbikes
available for rent and if you are in a group, you can
also rent a jeep or hire two elephants to take you around
for the day. The motodop drivers will happily drive tourists
around and double as a guide |
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What better way to track the
jungle of Rattanak Kiri than to ride high on an
elephant’s back and let the giant creature
bash the way.
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for about
US$8 per day - this is often the best option, since
these guides know the local places of interest like
the back of their hands: you can just sit back and
enjoy the ride.
To the north of Banlung is Kansen Lake, which is
said to have several magic properties. Its water
levels are never affected by the seasons, regardless
of whether it's the wet or dry period, and townsfolk
will tell you stories about an amazing island in
its waters which is said to mysteriously shift from
north to south. The stunning Yeak Loam volcanic
lake also has a |
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Elephants hired to take tourists
around.
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| lot to offer.
Surrounded by lush jungle, the environment here
is one of total peace and tranquility. The clarity
of the lake's water is incredible; just watching
fish swim about in its blue-tinged, lightly rippled
depths is magical. Relaxing beside this lake is
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Scene at Rattanak Kiri airport.
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a wonderfully
therapeutic change for any stressed-out urban being.
Veal Thmor Rom Phlong is a popular open field about
3 km from the Ochom power station, where local people
go to see and be seen in the evenings. The air is
constantly cool here - it feels a little like being
in a huge open-air auditorium. The The sound of
the wind in the surrounding trees adds to this feeling:
It sounds just like a crowd cheering at a ball game.
The list of interesting places in Rattanak Kiri
can go on and on. Much really depends on individual
preference and the |
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Long boat takes tourists
along the Tonle Sre Pok.
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| length of
time one can afford to spend touring. This mountain
of treasures, as the name suggests in the Khmer
language, certainly has a lot more to be explored
than just the aforementioned. |
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Next Article
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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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