Cambodia

Kampong Cham Tour

Susan Neil

15 Feb 2024 — 5 min read

Valentines Day in Kampong Cham

When I wake up I go down for the included breakfast. It is an omelette and bread roll. It is good. I want to have this early so that I do not need to go to the toilet while I am out on the tour. Well not straight away anyway. My tummy has been upset … Marlene had given me an anti diarrhea tablet so hopefully that helps.

Tuk Tuk driver, from our Homestay, kampong cham, Cambodia — Tuk Tuk Driver

We leave at 8.30 am with our homestay father come tuk tuk driver. I took a photo of Marlene and me at the start of the trip.

Marlene and me, kampong Cham, cambodia — Marlene and Me

After a quick stop for bananas in the market we head to Cheung Kok which is a village in the country that has been helped by a French NGO to maintain their traditional style of living and also improve their living standards. It seems that providing them with a permanent water supply was the major thing that they did.

Marlene with her bananas, kampong Cham, cambodia — Marlene with her Bananas

Cheung Kok Village Sign, Kampong Cham — Cheung Kok Village Sign

There are many traditional houses in this village.

Village House, Cheung kok — Village House, Cheung Kok

The children building a platform in the Tree, Cheung kok — The children building a platform in the tree

Street cart in the village — Street Cart in the Village

Village House, Cheung Kok, Kampong Cham — Village House

We found a lady weaving cotton under her house and we asked her if we could look. She was weaving the fabric of the traditional Cambodian scarves, Krama. In the movie, First They Killed My Father, everyone had one of these scarves so I have become interested in them.

Lady Weaving Traditional cotton fabric, cambodia — Lady Weaving Traditional Cotton Fabric

We came across a ceremony in a back yard here where they were giving gifts to monks and praying. The monks were chanting over a loud speaker and this is how we found this … just follow the sound. We sat for a while … it was very interesting and they welcomed us offering us seats.

Map of the village, Cheung lol, cambodia — Map of the Village, Cheung Kok

Cows in the Village, cambodia — Cows in the Village

Boiling sugar cane to make brown sugar, cambodia — Boiling sugar cane to make brown sugar

School where they teach English, cambodia — School where they teach English

Next we went to see a temple.

Temple kampong Cham, cambodia — Temple Kampong Cham

Marlene spies some jackfruit on a tree in the country and wants to take some photos. She really wants to see durian growing and even though we think that we find it durian is evidently not in season.

Jackfruit Tree, cambodia — Jackfruit Tree

This jackfruit tree has so much fruit. Next we visit a rubber plantation. The factory is closed due to Covid evidently. Not sure if this is a new Covid or just the old one but anyway we can not go inside. We spend some time relaxing under the trees where it is a bit cooler. The smell of the latex is prominent in the air. We look at how the trees are scored to allow the latex to drip into the containers. I have learned about this in school but never seen it.

Rubber Plantation, cambodia — Rubber Plantation

Latex running into the cup, cambodia — Latex running into the cup

Homestay father relaxing under the trees, cambodia — Homestay Father relaxing under the trees

We see some fishing boats on the Mekong and want to take a photo. There is a family there doing washing.

Fishing boats on the Mekong, kampong Cham, cambodia — Fishing boats on the Mekong

Family doing washing, Mekong, cambodia — Family doing washing

Bridge to the island, kampong cham, cambodia — Bridge to the Island, Kampong Cham

We have lunch at the Smile Restaurant in the city. This is the most highly rated restaurant here but I was not impressed. Marlene had Rice and Veges and said it was ok. I was a bit more adventurous having a chicken burger … the bread was rock hard and the chicken was inedible.

Smile Restaurant, kampong Cham, cambodia — Smile Restaurant, Kampong Cham

Next we go across the bridge to the island.

We see some temples and interesting street food.

Island Temple, Kampong Cham, cambodia — Island Temple

Monks on cellphones at the temple, kampong Cham, cambodia — Monks on cellphones at the Temple

Children playing at the temple, kampong Cham, cambodia — Children playing at the temple

At the temple, kampong Cham, Cambodia — At the Temple

Street food - fried bugs, Cambodia — Street food - fried bugs

I struggled to even look at the bugs let alone eat one. The Homestay father bought some to take home as a snack … he loves them. For me it is like my worst nightmare.

Our last visit of the day is to see the bamboo bridge.

At the Bamboo Bridge, Kampong Cham, Cambodia — At the Bamboo Bridge

This 3000 ft bridge is the longest bamboo bridge in the world. It is rebuilt annually so that 1000 families who live on the island can connect with their families.