Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE VULTURE RESTAURANT
In the depths of Preah Vihear province,
Chhep Protected Forest
is home to three critically
endangered species of vulture
- red-headed, slender-billed and white-rumped. Trips can be
arranged through the Sam Veasna Centre (see p.145), and involve camping overnight in the
forest, followed by a morning watching the vultures breakfast on a dead cow. The project is
run by the Wildlife Conservation Society (
W
wcs.org) and some of the fees collected go
towards supporting livelihoods in the community.
From Kompong Thom
The quickest approach is currently
via Tbeng Meanchey (around 2hr 30min-3hr by car). TTAK
(see p.202) in Kompong Thom can sort out transport here
(perhaps in combination with Sambor Prei Kuk and/or other
temples), as can various operators in Siem Reap.
Admission
$5 (if there's anyone in the ticket o
ce).
Tbeng Meanchey and around
Ongoing road improvements are steadily improving access to the formerly remote
provincial capital of
TBENG MEANCHEY
, around 150km north of Kompong Thom
along NR64 and 100km south of Preah Vihear temple (note that Tbeng Meanchey
itself is sometimes confusingly referred to as Preah Vihear or Preah Vihear City, and the
temple itself as Prasat Preah Vihear). There's not much to the town itself, which sprawls
north for more than 2km from the tra
c circle at its southern end, with wide, straight
red-dirt roads laid out on a simple grid, although it makes a useful place for an
overnight stop en route to Preah Vihear.
3
Weaves of Cambodia
250m east of the hospital • Mon-Sat mornings •
T
012 610719,
W
weavescambodia.com
Originally a rehabilitation centre for local disabled people, the
Weaves of Cambodia
silk-weaving co-operative is now a prosperous concern, producing high-quality silk for
overseas markets. Visitors are welcome to tour the sericulture chambers and the
spinning and weaving workshops, and there's a selection of silk goods to buy.
Tmatboey
30km north of Tbeng Meanchey • Visits and homestays can be arranged through Sam Veasna Centre in Siem Reap (see p.145)
Of major interest to twitchers,
Tmatboey
, one of only two nesting sites of the
giant ibis
in Asia, is 30km north of Tbeng Meanchey off the Preah Vihear road. White-
shouldered ibis, greater adjutants and sarus cranes also frequent the area.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
TBENG MEANCHEY AND AROUND
By shared taxi
Shared taxis from Kompong Thom (5 daily;
3hr) arrive at and depart from Tbeng Meanchey's transport
stop, about 1km north and two blocks west of the tra
c circle.
By bus
There are currently two buses daily to Tbeng Meanchey
from Phnom Penh (7hr) via Kompong Thom (3hr), one with
Phnom Penh Sorya, the other with Paramount Angkor.
Money
There's an ATM at the
Acleda Bank, 200m south of
the market (Visa only).
GETTING AROUND
Motos
Motos congregate around the transport stop -
which is the best place to find someone who can speak a
little English. Be prepared to haggle hard if you want to go
to Koh Ker, Preah Khan (Kompong Thom) or Preah Vihear, as
prices can be outrageous.
ACCOMMODATION
27 May Guesthouse
Crossroads west of the transport
stop, near the market
T
011 905472.
Central and very
cheap - albeit pretty basic - guesthouse near the market
(so expect some noise). Tiny rooms with shared
