Cambodia :FREE Travel Magazine E-zine: Dream or Plan your week-end trips or international travel adventures here

International Magazine

Flag of Cambodia

Welcome to Water World

After a short journey, I arrive at Ream National Park. My companions - two young Irish women - and I are sleepy-eyed as we climb out of the mini bus. As I breathe in the fresh, morning air, I suddenly get my first glimpse of Ream National Park, and I feel my drowsiness drift away.

We have a few minutes to wait whilst our guides prepare the boat. I sit on the porch and watch two cute children trying to catch fish. They are using a small net attached to a long pole, which reminds me of a fishing net I had as a child.

Finally, we are ready to go. We set sail in a small motorboat down the Prek Tuk Sap River. The sun beats down, but we are sheltered beneath a canvass roof. The scenery is spectacular. The banks of the river are lined with mangrove forests. Occasionally, we spot beautiful green kingfishers are purple jellyfish whilst monkeys hoot in the trees.

Ream National Park is the most established National Park in Cambodia. Located 18 km from Sihanoukville, the park has been open since 1993. Ream covers 21,000 hectares; 15,000 hectares of land and 6,000 hectares of river and sea. Here you will find secluded beaches, tropical jungles and wide rivers. Over 155 species of bird call Ream home, as well as Sun Bears, the endangered elongated tortoise, eagles and even dolphins.

As we lazily glide along the river, we pass people digging in the river bed for shellfish and fishing from small boats. The friendly Khmers smile and wave as we slide past them.

After a couple of hours, we arrive at Koh Som Poch Beach. Once on the sand, our guide tells us that we have an hour to swim or sunbathe whilst he and his helper prepare lunch. The two Irish women immediately plunge into the sea. I, however, sprawl out on the sand, listening to the waves on the beach and the wind in the trees.

I am roused from my doze by the promise of lunch. Before long, we are all enjoying a delicious barracuda barbecue on the beach.

Once we have fed and rested, it is time to go trekking. We walk for about an hour through tropical jungle rich with plant life. The buzz of cicada beetles is loud and exotic and beautiful butterflies flutter through the forest.

Just as I am beginning to get tired, we arrive at the Thmor Thom fishing village. A Khmer woman greets us warmly and presents us with coconuts to drink from. The water is slightly sour, but very refreshing.

After a short rest, we wade through the impossibly hot water to the waiting boat. On the way, we stop to admire a sunbathing hermit crab.

The journey back to the boat station is very relaxing, and both of my Irish companions drift off to sleep. I am enchanted by the hornbills, which occasionally fly close to our boat. Our guide's assistant skillfully crafts grasshoppers and birds from palm fronds as presents for us.

Before long, we arrive back at the bus station. We have a few minutes to wait for our mini bus to arrive. I sit talking to Ment, one of the park rangers. He is a man in a dilemma. “I love my work,” he tells me. “But I cannot afford to work here, my wages are too low. I want to drive a cyclo in Phnom Penh. That way, I can earn enough money and talk to tourists every day.” Poor Ment cannot even afford the taxi fare back to his home in Sihanoukville. Luckily, our driver agrees to give him a lift.

On the way back to Sihanoukville, Ment tells me that Ream's population has doubled in the last eight years. This means that resources such as wood, herbs, fish and fruit are seriously over-used. There is also the problem of illegal logging and poaching to deal with.

The Cambodian Ministry of Environment is responsible for the protection of National Parks. Unfortunately, they receive no international funding and there is not enough money to help combat these problems. “Or pay the rangers properly,” Ment adds bitterly.

Fortunately, with the revenue from tourism coming in, Ream's future finally seems bright. Logging and fishing have been curbed. The depleted forests are regenerating, providing much needed habitat for many birds and animals.

As with many tourist attractions, Ream has to maintain a delicate balancing act between man and nature. Fortunately, Ream finally seems to be winning the war.

Information:

Tours to Ream National park can be booked all over Sihanoukville. The tour costs $12 including transport, breakfast, lunch and entrance fee. Alternatively, you can choose to go on one of the park's Eco Tours. The $25 fee includes a two-hour trek to Meditation Mountain. This place of worship offers great views of the park.

Sihanoukville is a three-hour bus journey from Phnom Penh.

Where to stay:

There is a wide range of accommodation in Sihanoukville. Most travelers choose to stay at Serendipity Beach. Serendipity Guesthouse is a good option. You can stay in a log house right on the beach for $5.

Occheuteal Beach is very beautiful. There are several more up-market hotels here.

Cobra Hotel offers comfortable bungalows with air-con, TV, a fridge and private bathroom for $8. It is very close to the beach.

Tel: 034 933643

At the top end of the scale, Peak Hotel offers very plush rooms for $20-30. Not only is there all the usual mod-cons, but you will find a swimming pool, tennis courts, a luxurious restaurant and bar.

Tel: 034 320301

BOOK REVIEWS

Complete Article List

Travel News

Send this Page to a Friend

<|Add to Bookmarks

Get Published Here! Contact Us!

Hotel Search Sydney Paris Madrid

EXCITING NEWS!

CLICK HERE TO HEAR US LIVE

on Destination Worldview

11:30 A.M. (NY time) some Wednesdays

Every Wednesday get Latest Travel Tips and views while you work on your computer

Streaming Internet broadcast on WWW.TTRN.COM

Talking Travel with Roy Lowey and Friends

Every Wednesday

11 A.M. (New York Time)

Peace for Everyone

Subscribers:So that your free subscription is not mistaken for spam, please copy and paste our E-mail address

into your address book:

mail@realtraveladventures.com

It's that simple!

Free Monthly Subscriptions

Real Travel Adventures International Magazine

Adventure Travels in your Free Ezine

Monthly Subscriptions

If any links don't work

PLEASE NOTIFY US

Home Next Page Previous Page

Thanks for visiting us!

Real Travel Adventures International Magazine

Real and Armchair Travelers: Enjoy best trip reviews, travel features, and excellent travel photos in RealTravelAdventures.com, your FREE on-line international magazine. Send your funny or outrageous travel experiences & photos and get published!

Visit or dream of fascintating places with Real Travel Adventures e-zine! This site offers travel humor, photos, stories, helpful guidebooks, and more. Visit for fun or to seek tips for your next travel adventure...and then share your own stories with us here at

realtraveladventures.com, your free online travel magazine, where you'll find great book reviews, international travel adventures magazine, airline tickets, real travel adventures, camping, RV travel, RV's, Cruises, restaurant reviews, RVing, FamilyTrips, traveling with kids and children, Nature and eco trips, ecology, international travel, Ski Trips, Spas, Spiritual Retreats, interviews with Special People, Travel Humor, Travel News, Unbelievable, WeddingTrips, restaurant reviews and advisor, traveling adventures, adventure travels, travel, virtual and armchair travel, Back Roads, off the beaten path, where to go Camping and enjoy RV trips, where to Dine and Sleep, fun Family Trips, our Favorite Finds, Arts and Crafts, cruises and cruise vacations, romantic trips, traveling tips, travel stories, audio book reviews for your travels, books reviews, good books for a trip, wedding trip planner, wedding Trips, Honeymoons, Unbelievable adventures, Travel News, humorous travel stories, spas and retreats, spiritual retreats, meditation retreats, ski trips, week-end trips Near You, nature's Best places, ecology trips, travel guide books, traveling with children, e-zines, FREE Ezines, Free travel magazines, magazine, free online magazines, internet magazines, free magazine subscriptions, web magazines, true stories, humorous articles, funny features, human interest features, nature photos, environment photographs, photos, adventurous stories, real true stories, true adventrues, camping gear, vacation, holidays, safaris, Caribbean vacations, cheap hotels, great places to go, nature hikes, nature photography, family vacations, family holidays, trip planner, great trips, scenic photos, holiday vacations, holidays, holiday stories, foreign destinations, International travel trips. And you can Get published here too! Send us your travel stories and pictures.

If you wish to use our features or photos you must first contact us