Cross border Camb-Thai (Tonle Sap, Battambang- Poipet)

13-9-2007

There are a few routes from Siam Reap to Poipet (border of Cambodia and Thailand).

Since it is the monsoon season now, we choose to go to Battambang through Tonle Sap, and take Pickup truck to Poipet.

The trip to Tonle Sap takes 6 hours, the day is sunny. The lake smell sour. Lying on top of the boat is a great relaxation in a secluded area in the world.

Boat Siam Reap --> Battambang (Tonle Sap) US$14 per person

Pick-Up Truck Battambang-->Poipet US$3 per person

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The Tonlé Sap (meaning Large Fresh Water River is a combined lake and river system. It is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia and is an ecological hotspot

For most of the year the lake is fairly small, around one meter deep and with an area of 2,700 square km. During the monsoon season, however, the Tonle Sap river which connects the lake with the Mekong river reverses its flow. Water is pushed up from the Mekong into the lake, increasing its area to 16,000 square km and its depth to up to nine meters, flooding nearby fields and forests. The floodplain provides a perfect breeding ground for fish.

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Writing personal feeling while enjoying cool breeze

Photography the precious moment.
Floating Village is one of the splendid sight here!!!

Along the ways there are many trees blocking the water path. Some are clear path but the driver have to takes the blocked path according to his compass. Although the whole journey may be tough, but eventually we will reach the destination.

In real life. A goal in life is like the compass. Some path may looked glamarous, and some path looked full of difficulty, but the goal will guide you to achieve your target.

The kids here are playing in the yellowish water here, they grin with neat white rows of teeth welcoming us. Some even send kisses to us!! This is a great contrast compare to our Malaysian kids who are having many tuition classes and endless school work to be completed. Behind the naive smile, they need to pay a big price for that. What about their future undertaking without education? The nostalgia of the poor community..

How many people can FIT into a pick-up truck like this ???

30 over
Imagine we are crammed in the pick-up truck like this:

The whole journey on the dusty road caused our clothes to be covered in yellow sand. We are responsible to our safety depending on our grip on the side of the truck. Hazardous.

When we reached Poipet, the local even cheated us that the border had closed at 6pm. But we continued our journey knowing that the risk of getting rob is higher if we stay in Poipet a second longer.Crossing border from POIPET to Aranyapratet