Kompong Thom

Kompong Thom is the capital of Kampong Thom Province in Cambodia. It's situated about half-way between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and thus most travellers will only rush through on their transfer between these two major attractions.

Nevertheless it is a pleasant and relaxed place and a good starting point for exploring the countryside and the temples of Sambor Prei Kuk.

Get in

Buses, minibuses (~8000 Riel) and shared taxis (~12000 Riel) connect from Phnom Penh. The same selection of transport should be available from Siem Reap.

Current prices (June 2006) for Phnom Penh to Kompong Thom (due to petrol increases) about 25,000 riel for one place in a share taxi, $4 for a bus. Mekong Express buses stop at the Arunras Guest house and tickets can be bought from there.

Current Prices (August 2008)for a share taxi (7 seats) from PP to KT is $5 per seat. If you want the front seat to yourself (2 seats) you pay $10. Highly recommended.

Get around

The town is easily explored by foot. There are motorbike-taxis for hire to take you to more distant sights.

See

There is an interesting fruit bat roost in the grounds of the old governors residence (a nice colonial era building). This is behind the market on the first road off the river. If the gate to the old governors building is open, you may be in luck, the house itself is sometimes left unlocked. All of the original furnishings are missing, but some of the bathroom fixtures remain and the house itself gives off a haunted vibe.

The grasslands and rice-fields surrounding Kompong Thom of an extreme importance for wildlife conservation. These areas hold the largest global population of the endangered Bustard the Bengal Florican as well as occasional large waterbirds from the Tonle Sap floodplain (Adjutants, Pelican, Painted Stork). Other species include large numbers of wintering palearctic passerines (including Dusky Warbler, Yellow-breasted Bunting, Siberian Rubythroat) and the globally vulnerable Manchurian Reed Warbler. In March large numbers of Oriental Plover pass through the area making this possibly the best area in the world to see this species.

The areas also offer a glimpse of everyday life in the Cambodian countryside with many fishermen, ox-carts and small scale farmers. The best way to visit the grasslands is by en-listing the help of a moto-dop driver from in-front of the Arunras guesthouse. A number of these know the area (around Rolous village about 5km towards Phnom Penh) and speak English.

Do

The American VIP School is a small ESL English school in KT town center owned by an American and his Khmer wife. If any native speakers wish to donate 1hr of their time to converse with eager Khmer students it would be appreciated. Normally classes are held 1 hour at night from 5:30 to 6:30pm. If interested please inquire beforehand at the American Restaurant near the Arunras Hotel.

Eat

• Stung Sen, (near the river). The most up-market 'tourist friendly' restaurant in Kompong Thom. Mostlty attracts tour groups. Food not very good.

• In the evening, a small night market pitches stalls just in front of the market hall.

• By far the best khmer restaurant in Kompong Thom is located behind the Arunras Hotel on the corner of the market. Food is excellent and this place is regularly visited by locals however there is no English language menu and the staff only speak Khmer

• A number of large establishments on the road to Phnom Penh (marked by the ostentatious architecture) are frequented by upper-class Khmer but do good Khmer food.
• Bayon, Por Chea Tepatey Road (on the side street down from the Arun Ras Hotel; past American Restaurant, on the corner on the right-hand side) (Out of Arunras hotel, turn right and take your first right. Restaurant is located on the end of the street on the corner on the right-hand side.). Best Khmer food in town, offered at a reasonable price. The beef lok-lak and noodle soup are especially good. Also has a selection of Chinese food. Staff is very friendly and, during the day at least, usually has someone on hand who speaks excellent English. The menu also has a front-page inset with helpful Khmer phrases, including English phonetics, a history of the province and a helpful guide to Cambodian etiquette and social norms. 2-2.50 USD (8,000-10,000 riel).
• Stung Sen Bridge.
• Stung Sen Bridge (On Stung Sen riverbank, near Stung Sen Bridge), Cnr Stung Sen street and National Road 6, ☎ 062 210 508. This place serves as Tourist Information Center and Restaurant, with it's khmer and western food menu.

Drink

Don't bother in Kompong Thom. There is Karaoke on the top of the Arunras Hotel, although as of mid 2011, there were a number of alarmingly young working girls present, care should be taken.

Sleep

• At the bus stop, walk away from the main street along the little side side street for a minute, there are two simple but quiet guesthouses in traditional Khmer houses with reasonable prices.
• Around the bus stop there are several guesthouses which apparently double as brothels in the evening.

The best place to stay is the Arunras Guesthouse ($3 for a single/double room with a fan). It has cable TV (including ESPN for English football) and is clean with friendly (Khmer speaking) staff. However it's very popular, particularly with Khmer government officials, and can be full.

More up-market are the Arunras Hotel next door and the (favoured by tour groups) Stung Sen Garden Hotel. A number of cheap and dirty guesthouses also exist.

Get out

• Sambor Prei Kuk
  Hire a moto-taxi to take you to the complex. It's an approx. 2 hours ride through nice scenery and small villages with friendly inhabitants. The Pre-Angkorian site dates back to the beginning of the 7th century and was the capital of the Chenla-Kingdom. Unlike Angkor, the temples are constructed from brick and sandstone. The complex consists of three main groups: Central Group, South Group, North Group, all covered by shady forest.

Whilst 'talked up' by the guide books Sambor Prei Kuk is a disappointment for people expecting temples that even vaguely vie with some of the other Khmer examples. At $3 for a ticket its just about worth it though most of the temples appear to resemble 19th century European brick kilns. Lots of kids hanging around latch on to any visitors (theres not that many) so the 'peaceful' temple in the jungle experience doesn't really happen. Whilst probably important in an historic context a visitor to Cambodia with little time should probably give this temple a miss (Beang Meala outside DomDek is far better).

• Phat Sanday is a large and remote floating village at the mouth of the Sen River (Stoung Sen). Despite Kompong Thom being the nearest town, it is about 80-90km down the meandering river. A boat leaves Kompong Thom for Phat Sanday everyday at aroud 10:00am. The driver will sit in the boat, beneath the large bridge waiting for customers. On asking, the price was $15 per person. It is unconfirmed where the boat finally ends up - although possibly Kompong Chnang, on the southern side of the Tonle Sap lake.

• Kompong Thom is the starting point for an adventurous tour to the seldom visited jungle plains of northern Cambodia. This 3-4 days motorbike ride to Preah Vihear is offered by some of the moto-taxi drivers, who will propose it to you once they spot you getting off the bus. With you sitting on the back of the bike, your driver will take you through peaceful villages and rice paddies, passing by friendly locals, spending a night with a local family and visiting the temples of Preah Khan Kompong Thom and Koh Ker on your way. A part of the journey leads you along an old Angkorian road and over its ancient bridges. The ride itself is hardship, skidding over sticks and stones, through sand oceans and bamboo forest, sometimes fording small rivers. From Preah Vihear, you will head to Siem Reap via Anlong Veng, the place where Pol Pot is said to have died.

This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!