Blacksmith/Metal Working Shop
We spent two days in Battambang, heading there between our time in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.Early one morning, our tuk-tuk driver/guide took us on a great tour of the communities just outside Battambang. We buzzed around in the tuk-tuk all morning, visiting a wide variety of places with his informative, humorous, and candid commentary. I think the tour route is pretty standard, but that didn’t make it any less fascinating.
I don’t really think Battambang gets as many visitors as many other places in Cambodia; none of the visits felt stages or commercialized. I feel like we saw much more of the “real” side of Cambodia in Battambang, beyond the hustle and bustle of Siem Reap with visitors crawling everywhere, and the pollution and city feel of Phnom Penh. As the pictures show below, we saw the making of so many things! Battambang Province, I believe, is the leading rice-producer in the entire country.
We made a point to visit Wat Wamrong Knong, which has a very well done carving sequence, called the Well of Shadows, which depicts the horrors of the Khmer Rouge. I’ve included a picture of the dedication below, but I think the wall itself is best seen in person, rather than online.
Our guide did speak to us about the Khmer Rouge–he was a child, and lost nearly all of his family, never to see his mother and father again. It was one of the few conversations we had with Cambodians about their personal experiences during this time. Many would only discuss in the third person, or more generally about what happened. Obviously I will never be able to fully comprehend what occurred under the Khmer Rouge, but I really appreciated our guide’s willingness to provide a very small window of insight into what happened during that period in Cambodia history.While we initially thought we may have had too much time in Battambang (there isn’t that much to see in the city itself), I think we definitely could have filled another day there. There are some beautiful temples we missed, and I know the Bamboo Railway remains a popular attraction (though it didn’t lure us particularly).
We stayed at Battambang Resort, which was amazing! It’s beautifully laid out, with fantastic rooms, great breakfast, fast wifi, and a gorgeous pool. It’s a bit outside of town, but it’s such a wonderful place. The owners are always present and eager to help you find your way around, schedule a tuk-tuk, or talk to you about Cambodia.
If you are looking for somewhere a bit off the beaten path of the Cambodian tourist trail, I think Battambang is absolutely a great place for a visit.
Have you been to Battambang? Do you think it’s worth a detour from Phnom Penh or Siem Reap?
Well of Shadows
Dried Fish Ready to Sell
A Vat Full of Rice Noodles!
Finished Product
Making Rice Wine
Making Rice Paper Wraps (for Eating!)
Brightly Colored Fish Drying in the Sun
