Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mekong hereabouts has been earmarked for many years as the possible site of a huge
dam and hydroelectric power station. This will be the largest in Cambodia, if it ever
gets built, measuring up to 2km in length and forming a barrier across the entire river,
although the project (along with a second, putative Mekong dam at Stung Treng) has
now been mothballed until at least 2020.
Wat Tasar Moi Roi
For the time being, Sambor's most notable attraction is the modern Wat Tasar Moi Roi
(“Pagoda of One Hundred Columns” - in fact there are actually 116 columns in total),
built in 1986 with the express intention of beating the number of columns at any other
wat in the country, although other pagodas have now surpassed this total. One of the
columns originally belonged to a thatched temple that stood on the site and is believed
to be four hundred years old. The oldest stupa in the grounds is the golden one to the
north, which is claimed to house the ashes of a princess and a royal family; clearer is
the tale associated with the pagoda, depicted in a series of paintings in the pavilion near
the vihara. The story tells how a woman turned herself into a crocodile for fun and
gave a monk a ride - unfortunately an evil fellow-crocodile tipped the monk off her
back and gobbled him up. The woman was eventually caught, in her crocodile form, at
Banlung and brought back to the pagoda as a trophy - or perhaps to warn other monks
against cavorting with crocodiles.
Mekong Turtle Conservation Centre
Behind Wat Tasar Moi Roi • Daily 8.30am-4.30pm • $4 • W mekongturtle.com
Tucked away at the back of Wat Tasar Moi Roi is the Mekong Turtle Conservation
Centre , established by Conservation International with the aim of boosting the local
population of endangered Cantor's softshell turtles ( Pelochelys cantorii ) in the
Mekong. Local hatchlings are collected and kept in tanks here for ten months
before being released back into the river, significantly increasing their chances of
survival. You can also see a couple of adult Cantor's turtles here, along with a few
other species.
4
Wat Preah Gouk
Now clad in concrete, the restored Wat Preah Gouk , about 500m beyond Wat Tasar
Moi Roi, is interesting for the old timber-framed pagoda concealed within. The
magnificent tree in the courtyard, with a trunk nearly 10m in circumference, is said
by locals to be seven hundred years old.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
KRATIE AND AROUND
By bus Getting to Kratie by bus involves a roundabout
journey via Snuol, although a few service taxis take the more
direct route from Kompong Cham via Chhlong. There are
regular buses south to Kompong Cham and Phnom Penh,
MEKONG HOMESTAYS
Cambodian Rural Development Tours ( T 099 834353, W crdt.org.kh) runs a number of
homestay opportunities along the Mekong, offering one- or two-night stays at a trio of
villages up and down the river and allowing visitors a rare chance to experience traditional
Cambodian rural life from the inside.
Koh Pdao Just north of Sambor (and 40km north of
Kratie). One- or two-night homestays on this peaceful
river island, including visits to the nearby turtle
conservation centre, the hundred-pillar pagoda and
the dolphins at Kampie.
Koh Preah Village 35km from Stung Treng. Visits
include cycling along the Mekong, the chance to sample
traditional Khmer village food, a visit to the local
dolphin pool and chats with village elders.
Preah Rumkel North of Stung Treng near the Laos
border.
Visits
include
kayaking,
cycling
and
dolphin-spotting.
 
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