Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Within the temple grounds is the
Mekong Turtle Conservation Centre
( 012 712071;
national
(
www.conservation.org
)
, it is home to several species of turtle, including the rare Can-
tor's giant softshell, which was only rediscovered along this stretch of the Mekong in
2007. One of the largest fresh-water turtles, it can grow to nearly 2m in length. Hatchlings
are nurtured here for 10 months before being released in the wild. Tourists can participate
in the release on select weeks, usually in September and May/June. Check the website for
the exact dates.
To get to Sambor, follow the Kampi road north to Sandan, before veering left along a
reasonable 10km stretch of road - it's about 35km in total.
Chhlong
Chhlong is a somnolent riverside town 31km south of Kratie. The main attraction is the
old governor's residence
, a gorgeous, yellow-and-white French-colonial mansion near the
river. Once a top-end boutique hotel, it is now shuttered up and falling into disrepair. Ar-
chitecture buffs might also drop in at the
house of a hundred pillars
(1884), about 500m
north of Le Relais. According to the owner, the Khmer Rouge removed many of the pil-
lars and today only 56 remain. A few more decrepit French-colonial buildings line the
river.
Chhlong is worth a wander if you are driving through with your own transport, but is
probably not worth a special trip from Kratie. Keen cyclists might like to follow the old
river road between Kratie and Chhlong, as it passes through some traditional Cham
minority villages along the way.
