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Waterfalls elephants and a bit of swimming
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Was expecting the worst roads ever with our trip to NE Cambodia to Banlung coz the guidebooks had said it, and no way we believed the bus ticket seller that it took 5-6 hrs. However no probs - guidebooks exagurate - well it was fine on the main road until we hit the turn off to the Ratankiri province. It was muddy dirt road here - I was suprised there was even a proper bus/coach company going down this way - but it wasnt too bad as it hadnt been raining too much, the mud was packed hard. In some parts there was some prime jungle, and in other parts (behind the few rows of trees along the road), it was complete deforestation - just cut tree trunks and broken branches for miles - Think about that next time you buy that 'teak' wardrobe. The place was destroyed and Im sure the rhinos, elephants, gibbons and those 'cute' tigers that USED to live here didnt like the destruction either (though you can be certain the chineese and Koreans got their 'horny' medicines from the body parts first). Theres my rant over!
Banlung - definitely bit of a 'wild east' feel to the town. Red mud track roads, one main street with fruit and veg markets and jeweller shops (gem mines nearby) lining its (rough) edges. It was whacking down rain at arrival adding to the wildness of it all with very little lighting around and potholes (craters) filled with muddy water. Paula was happy to have hot water this time, just to get the grimy mud off.
22nd August
We wanted to head to the nearby national park (virachay) for hiking but it was very difficult to get decent information. Rumour has it, that there are loads of very rare animals and huge waterfalls but you need profesional trekking for 4-5 days to get anywhere decent (Alex - this ones for you and I'll join you). We just didnt have the right gear and there was nowhere to get it - India probably has better organization in this way with its parks! Instead we did a motorbike tour to see some waterfalls, an elephant ride and a trip to a clear water meteor carter shaped lake surrounded by jungle. 2 of the wateralls were lame and the third not bad (but you had to pay to enter all of them). Our second time on an elephant was cool - went through some really overgrown bits and the elephants were trying to eat everything - however the owner would give her a clunk with the back of a hatchet when she disobeyed. The surrounding area is also covered by rubber trees - huge plantations of trees with cuts into their barks and white goo dripping into bags - this is another reason why there is so much destruction of the primary forests. At the end, the swim in the clear lake was good to cool off my now sunburnt legs. We were the only westernerns there and Paula was the only grown up girl there and didnt feel too comfortable with all the bike drivers just sitting around.
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| 74. | Waterfalls elephants and a bit of swimming - Banlung, Cambodia Aug 22, 2007 |
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