Bokor National Park

Trip Start Jan 31, 2005

Trip End Ongoing

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Flag of Cambodia Kampot, Cambodia
Saturday, July 16, 2005

Trent and I (the aussie guy I met in Sihanoukville) took a taxi to Kampot, about a 3 hour drive. We each paid $3 for the ride, but they packed 7 of us (including the driver) into the tiny four door car. For 3 hours I was smushed between the window and a Cambodian with bad bo. It was a bit uncomfortable, but I never have high expectations about traveling in this country anyways so it wasn't too bad. The roads were partially paved but a bit muddy at some points.

We arrived in Kampot a few hours later. Kampot is a small town east of Sihanoukville. I took a bicycle out that afternoon and road through the small town and along the river. The roads were a bit flooded and I had to avoid the cows wandering through the streets but other than that it was easy enough to see the town.

Saturday I took a tour up to Bokor National Park

A view of Bokor from the Casino

. Bokor is an abandoned town up about 3000 ft on a hill over looking the coastline. It was a long trip up there. It was me, a guy from Belgium, and an English guy in a 4 door small car. It took us a few hours to drive there because the road is in horrible condition. Up on top there is a bunch of abandoned buildings. It was once a thriving town for the French in the 1920s but the Japanese took it over during WWII. In the 1970's the Khmer Rouge were stationed up there but since they lost power, it has been completely abandoned. It really has a ghost town feel with the clouds hanging over the town.

We first stopped at a black palace and then continued up the mountain to the church and the abandoned Casino, which was really impressive. There was a lake and water tower and a few more abandoned and beat up buildings.

The trip down the mountain was quite the adventure and took more than 3 hours. It was pouring down rain and at one point we got a flat tire. The road was basically became a river but we made it back finally.

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