An easy half-day trip outside of Phnom Penh is to hire a car, or go as a motorcycle taxi ';motodub'; pillion passenger - not recommended for those who are of large build or tall - to Phnom Chisor (please see my earlier post for more details on Phnom Chisor) and on the way back to visit the ruins of the 12th. C. Temple of Ta Phrom,(not to be confused with a far larger and very important temple of the same name at Angkor) built by Jayavarman 7th. The temple was built mostly of laterite blocks but still has some well carved sandstone lintels and Apsara. It is a quiet and peaceful location. The small children are appealing and will ';adopt'; you if you show any interest in them. Just be aware of a Khmer custom though, as most tourists are ignorant of it and sometimes cause offense. The Khmer/Cambodian custom is that if you accept something as a ';gift';, no matter how small, you are expected to give a small/token ';present'; back to the giver. This is where the little girls come in to the order of things. They will usually present you with a magnolia, frangipani or other flower blossom. You are, of course, expected to give a little something in return. The most useful ';little something'; is a 500 Riel Cambodian note. Or if you have taken photos of the child/children etc be a little bit more generous - but do not over do it.
It is close to a 70 Km round trip.
Not mentioned in my earlier posting on Phnom Chisor is the fact that there are a number of local silk weavers operating in close proximity to the foot of the temple mountain. Have your driver speak to the locals and have him take you to visit several of them. The silk and silk/cotton blends woven here are of very average everyday quality and mostly for local use. You can buy directly from the weavers, (always a good practice as it directly supports the family and cuts out the middle men and market stall holders and their respective mark-ups), if you are looking for a skirt length of about 2.5 metres if you wish to wear it in the Khmer style.
There is a small admission charge $ to the Ta Phrom temple/Tonle (lake) Bati site. The ticket price, at time of my most recent visit, includes a free can of soft drink at the lake-side kiosk. Clean toilets at the kiosk but sadly, on my 2008 visit at least, still all of the asian squat variety. The experiences traveller carries a few sheets of toilet paper when away from their Hotel/Guesthouse.
Take a few pieces of fresh fruit or a picnic lunch with you and relax at the top of Phnom Chisor, enjoying the views of the plain below, or lakeside at Ta Phrom/Tonle Bati.
If having your hotel or guesthouse arrange the transport hire, please have them write down the agreed hire price US$ before agreeing/contracting to use the hired vehicle/motorcycle. This can avoid potential problems and any ';misunderstandings'; at the end of the day.
It is a pleasnt trip and in to the real countryside.
Please enjoy. All best regards. Angkorlad.
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