Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Some say he died from a heart attack, although it's also been claimed that he was
murdered by his Khmer Rouge comrades. All that's known for certain is that Pol Pot
was cremated on a pile of furniture and old tyres close to his house before anyone could
verify the details. The
sites
on which the hut was located and where the hasty
cremation took place are signed, though there are only a few blackened rocks to see.
Ta Mok's house
Turn left at the tra
c circle and then right after a couple of hundred metres • $2
In the village itself, the late
Ta M ok
, one of the most notorious Khmer Rouge cadres,
left behind a house when he died in 2006 (signed “Ta Mok House”). He is well
regarded locally for creating fishing ponds and endowing a local school, but better
known in the world at large as “The Butcher” for his role in ordering the murders of
thousands of his compatriots. For years there were efforts to have Ta Mok stand trial for
the murders, but like so many Khmer Rouge-era killers he died a natural death while
Cambodia procrastinated.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
3
ANLONG VENG
From Siem Reap
It's around a 2hr drive to Anlong Veng
from Siem Reap along a good surfaced road. A couple of
bus companies (GST and Paramount Angkor) run this route
once daily. Otherwise, you can pick up a shared taxi from
the NR6 near the transport stop in Siem Reap.
From Thailand
You can also get to Anlong Veng from
Thailand using either the border crossing point Chong Jom
to O'Smach, or the closer Chong Sa Ngam to Anlong Veng.
The most convenient way to travel between the border and
Anlong Veng, or vice versa, is to take a place in a taxi; these
run throughout the day in both directions taking around
30min to make the 30km trip. Both Cambodian and Thai
visas are available when you arrive at the border.
To Preah Vihear
Occasional shared taxis run to the
temple at Preah Vihear
(1hr 30min); or you may be able to
find a car for hire (around $40 return).
ACCOMMODATION
Bot Ouddom Guesthouse
T
011 500507.
One of the
most upmarket places in town, this sizeable establishment
(more hotel than guesthouse) ha
s cle
an and spacious
rooms (all a/c, but cold water only).
$15
Monorom
300m west of the tra
c circle
T
011 884736.
Smart, modern guesthouse with bright clean rooms, kitsch
furniture and a passable restaura
nt;
mor
e exp
ensive rooms
come with a/c and hot water. Fan
$8
; a/c
$15
Phnom Dankrek Guesthouse
T
012 444067.
Basic
guesthouse with a mix of rooms including concrete box-
style lodgings downstairs with shared b
ath
room, or
slightly nicer en-suite rooms ($2 extra) above.
$3
Kompong Thom
KOMPONG THOM
, 145km from Siem Reap (and slightly further from Phnom Penh),
straggles along NR6 and the Stung Sen River. The town used to be known as
kompong
pos thom
, “place of the big snake” - apparently because the locals used to take offerings
to a large snake that lived in a cave on the river, but this may be yet another
Cambodian myth as no one now has a clue where the cave is. Most visitors stop over to
visit the temples at
Sambor Prei Kuk
, 30km northeast, and the attractive
Phnom Santuk
religious complex; a couple of hours is quite enough to have a look around the town
itself. Kompong Thom is also a possible jumping-off point for the remote
Preah Vihear
,
two days' journey to the north, though access is now easier from Siem Reap via Sra Em
(see p.196). Closer, but even more of an adventure to reach, is the massive
Preah Khan
(Kompong Thom)
- go now before the tour groups do.
Central Kompong Thom
There's not a lot to central Kompong Thom, lined up along the NR6 and centred on
the landmark
Arunras Hotel
, just south of the market. A pair of rattling old bridges
