The ASEAN Guide 2017

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One can never complete the Cambodian journey
without visiting Kampong Phluk and savour the scene
of rural Cambodia. This sweet spot, which is about
5-hour ride from Siem Reap, is a village built on stilts
on Tonle Sap, a seasonally inundated freshwater
lake. Kampong Phluk or “Harbor of the Tusks”, is still
untouched by tourism.
HOW TO GET THERE
The best way to go there is
travelling by boat from Siem
Reap where boats of all sizes
and colours are waiting to
take passengers to Kampong
Phluk. Visitors can enjoy the
calm waters of Tonlé Sap lake
as the journey takes through
mangroves, herds of cattle
feeding on the grass, crabeating
macaques and rice
plantations along the shore.
WHAT TO DO
Almost all of Kampong
Phluk villagers are in
fishing, primarily in shrimp
harvesting. Visitors can see
what life is like over water
where locals go about their
daily duties like washing
clothes, cooking or fishing on
top of their wooden boats.
Do check with local guide
when visiting Kampong Phluk
during dry season, which is
in December or January as
the lake is low and the stilts
will be exposed by the lack of
water.
WHERE TO STAY
Since the journey to
Kampong Phluk take about
5-hours from Siem Reap, it
would be wise to spend a
night in the city. An authentic
Cambodia living experience
is at Sala Lodges, a traditional
wooden house resort. Inns
and motels are also aplenty
for budget travellers.
WHAT TO EAT
Kampong Phluk has a few
local restaurants floating
along the way to Tonle
Sap lake. Kampong Phluk
Riverside Restaurant is place
to look out for. There is
also a nice restaurant called
Riverside Coffee for visitors
to taste some local flavours.
{ Asean Guide 2017 } GOASIAPLUS
Facts
Cambodia is a small, compact
country that has mostly flat
and forested land. Subsistence
farming employs 75 percent of
the workforce. However, tourism
is making a big impact to the
country’s revenue, especially the
ones are focused on Angkor Wat,
the largest temple at Angkor.
Cambodia has a population of
16,076,370 as of this year, with
Khmer being the official language,
and other dialects. Buddhism is the
main religion in the country.
Cambodia has an estimated
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
of US$20.9 billion contributed by
agriculture industries and services
sector.
The garment and textile industry
represents the largest portion
of Cambodia’s manufacturing
sector, accounting for 80% of the
country’s exports. The country also
exports timber, rubber, rice, fish,
tobacco and footwear.
While the Riel is the official
Cambodian currency, the US Dollar
is the de facto currency in the
country and is widely accepted
everywhere.
Cambodian Broadcasting Service
(CBS) operates 4 stations CTN,
MYTV, CNC and CTN International
which delivers international and
locally produced programming.
Other stations are TV3 (Cambodia)
TV3 Asia, TV5 Cambodia and TVK.
Cambodia government is
represented with a constitutional
monarchy with parliamentary
representative democracy.
The Rumdul (Mitrella mesnyi) is
Cambodia’s national flower and are
present in almost all the streets of
Cambodia. Interestingly, it was also
used during the ancient Khmer
times to produce lip waxes for
women, thanks to its fragrant and
attractive smell.
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