Page 38 - Experience Thailand and More

BATTAMBANG

Cambodia’s Rice Basket

After crossing the border from Thailand into Cambodia at Ban Pakard,
you’ll soon arrive at quickly developing Pailin, once the capital of the
Khmer Rouge after they were forced out of Phnom Penh by the invading
Vietnamese. Further along the road on the right, you’ll see a limestone
outcrop, with a Buddhist temple complex at the top and the infamous
Killing Caves halfway up. Now, a site for pilgrimage, during the heinous
rule of the Khmer Rouge, these caves were execution sites. Next to a
serene reclining Buddha, a glass case holds the skulls and bones of
some of those who were bludgeoned by the cadres. Back on the road,
the vista turns into verdant green and gold of rice paddies, considered
the finest of Cambodia if not the world. A second phase began maybe ten years later with the construction of
the train station to serve the railway running between Battambang and
Battambang city, set along the Sangkae River, feels more like a Phnom Penh and later Battambang and Poipet on the Cambodian-Thai
welcoming, tranquil village than Cambodia’s largest provincial capital border. After falling into disrepair, a new railway has been built once more
after Phnom Penh. First settled in the 11th century, during the reign of between Battambang and the capital. In the not to distant future, it will
Ankor, Battambang and much of the northwest, including Seam Reap, again connect Thailand to Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville on the Gulf
fell under the domination of Siam (Thailand) for over 100 years, 1795- coast. In the past, certain stretches operated as the Bamboo Railway
1907. Then, this region known as Inner Cambodia was incorporated into with villagers riding upon norries, improvised bamboo-strip platforms
French Indochina, and the city of Battambang underwent its first wave of on wheels powered by engines running along the old tracks. Some say
colonial urban development. Two stone bridges still span the river at the these will run again parallel to the new railway so visitors can experience
north and south ends of town. a little of what rural Battambang life was like not so long ago.
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