Traveling is definitely one of the activities we miss most after this period of social distancing. While we recognise the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, with schools and businesses have slowly resumed operations and the government has eased down on travel restrictions, we cannot wait to get back on the road and explore traveling destinations closer to home. Coupled with the 5-days holiday that comes with the Pchum Ben Festivals too, Team Raintree cannot pack our bag soon enough. To discover the best-of traveling destinations and recommendations, we spoke with no other than our nomadic friend Sovanpong.
ជួបសុវណ្ណពង្ស @ Raintree
Sovanpong is one of the founding partners of RunAway រត់ចោលស្រុក, one of the most followed travel Facebook page in Cambodia. With a passion for exploration and photography, coupled with a strong desire to support Cambodia's tourism industry, he and his team have been traveling to the lesser known destinations in Cambodia and documenting them since 2017. With over 100+ trips in his bag, he shares with us his best tips and practices for traveling as follows.
Q: If you could share with us your 3 tips for safer traveling during this time, what would they be?
A: Honestly, there are only 2 things to bear in mind. First, get your basics covered. Masks and hand sanitisers are your friends. Second, strategise how you may best limit interactions, looking at transportation, accommodation, and food. I've been keeping my travel crew tight and consistent, no more than 8 of the same people. For transportation, I'd rent a minivan as opposed to using public transportation for now. In terms of food and accommodation, I search for places that appear to practice reasonable preventative measures. My personal preference is to go with Airbnb (BONUS: Book a stay with a kitchenette then you can cook and pack food for some serious picnic. Who said we have to compromise on fun!?)
Q: So many places to discover, so little time! What are your 3 must-go travel destinations in Cambodia?
A: Hear me out, I know these are mainstream locations but there are more to them. My 3 must-go have got to be: Siem Reap, Kampot and Battambong. Beyond temple visits at Siem Reap - which are amazing and I really believe everyone should visit at least once - there are other exciting activities to explore such as ziplining and riding the hot air balloon over Angkor sunset. There's also the ទឹកធ្លាក់សំឡូតចាស់ waterfall for those who want to go for a swim and immerse in nature.
For friends who are looking for more adventurous trips, be sure to give Battambong a visit. From experiencing the action-packed art of Kun Khmer kickboxing at Ek Phnom Kun Khmer, to visiting the crocodile farm, there are plenty to do. If you want to take a small break afterwards, you can sip some freshly made wine, chill and stroll around the vineyard at Phnom Banan Winery.
For Kampot, get ready to feast on delicious food and drinks that are a fraction of the price in Phnom Penh. Go on a cruise to see some fireflies in the evening or visit the famous Kampot pepper farm La Plantation - you simply won’t be able to take your eyes of the stunning setting which surrounded by green hills along with magnificent river. It is a genuine peaceful place where you can drop your massive burden from work.
Q: If we had 3 days and $50 to spend, where in Cambodia would you recommend we go?
A: Although traveling in Cambodia is generally affordable, I'd say Kampot is the place to be if we're on a budget. Our team had so much fun hiking Bokor National Park and trekking at the secluded national forest ទឹកធ្លាក់អន្លង់ខៀវ before going for a boat ride nearby. We also visited the Sampov Pram Pagoda (fun fact: this was built under the leadership of King Monivong Sisowat!). All this for $50 per person - what a bargain! Check out our travel plan >> here.
Q: What are some learnings you’ve gotten from traveling for the past 3 years?
A: Beyond technical learnings such as how to work with sponsors, plan itinerary from start to finish and shoot quality photos, through traveling, I have been able to connect - not only with myself, but also with my friends and my country as a whole too. I learn to think on my feet and respond when things fall through - by the way, something always falls through, no matter how careful you plan it. Through producing content for our page, I learn to work in sync with my teams – all of whom have different skill sets. I think about how to play to our strength to produce a piece of content that we could all be proud of. Through tuk tuk rides at different places, we listen to history narratives from the locals and they allowed me to connect and feel proud of my country. All these motivate me to continue spend countless hours curating content covering traveling destinations in Cambodia in hope to rally and inspire others to visit the amazing destinations in the Kingdom.
Q: What inspires you to travel and document your journey on the page?
A: Originally, our intentions were only to go on explorations and have fun shooting photos and videos - nothing more. We have these experiences documented because we knew first-hand that it could be challenging to find traveling destinations sometimes. Now it becomes a passion project that not only allows us to showcase our travel destinations and experiences to over 70 thousand people, but also one that brings more customers and visibility to what would have been lesser known local businesses in Cambodia.
I remember receiving a phone call from an uncle who owns this motorbike rental shop that appears in our content once. He called to thank us for the coverage because that was how many people got to know his business, and it allowed him to have more consistent revenue. It warmed me up. Traveling is super fun but these types of experiences are what motivate our team to continue to consistently produce content. It reminds us that what we do matters in some small and big ways, and that real people are experiencing real impacts that we make.
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We hope this article helps you plan your trip for the holiday. Have a safe and blessed Pchum Ben from all of us at Raintree!