Battambang, my hometown, located at the western part of Cambodia, is the second most visited place in the country. Battambang (BB) is well-known for its French colonial architechures, historical ancient temples, marvelous natural landscape, diversified ethnic groups and variety of the most delicious food and fruit. Thus, there must be many places to visit, many activities to do, and many restaurants to go to. You might need several days to spend in BB town to experience all its beauty and specialties. However, if you have limited time, let’s say one day; you have to assure that you spend that time effectively. Here are some tips on how to spend a perfect day in BB town. Firstly, early in the morning, you can enjoy a beautiful sun rise along Sangke river, a river flow from a mountainous area used to be well-known for geme stones. In order to be able to view this, you probably have to scarify some of your sleep to get up before 6 am. There is a cute park along, Sangke river which serves as one of the most beautiful plot in town for exercise. Thus, besides enjoying seeing the sun rise, you can also enjoy seeing people exercise along the river; or you might want to exercise with them as well. Next, after having a cool bath, there are many restaurants serves variety of food for breakfast. You can choose from rice soup chicken, rice noodle with Khmer or curry source or French sandwhich, or Chinese noodle. It can take me a day to describe just half of what breakfast you can have in town. Nevertheless, I would recommend you to try rice noodle with Khmer sources, one of the typical breakfast of Khmer and what is more special is that in BB there is some more sweetie and spices sources adding on top of the dish. Oh, I cannot stop my mind of dreaming of having it again. Secondly, after the wonderful breakfast, you might be interested to walk in town for a while to view the French colonial architectures. Thirdly, when it is still not yet very hot, you can ride a moto dup (moto taxi) to Bannon, a temple on top of mountain built thousands years ago, which is 4km from the town. About 1km from Bannon there is another mountain named Sampov mountain which you cannot miss a chance to see it. People always think of Sampov mountain when they talk about BB. Sampov mountain is famous for its extraordinary caves and the origin of it has a strong association to our history. Further than Sampov, there is a damp named Kampingpouy built during Pol Pot regime (genocide regime 1975-1979). At Kampingpouy you can enjoy swimming in a very clear water coming from the mountain. Besides its water, Kampinpouy is a place where you can find typical local food like fish barbecue with salt and lemongrass. Those three places Bannon, Sampov and Kampingpouy can take you about one day already. Next is how and where to spend a happy night in town? The best to spend your evening is at a park along river side, you might find many boys and girls with a basket selling some snacke. Last, there is a little special restaurant serving special soup which can energized your strength and sooth your sense of taste after a long tired trip during the day. The name of the restaurant is “Soun Yuvan” (means Youth park in English). There is one thing that you have to do before leaving BB that is you have to buy orange. No one will leave this town without buying oranges (so called “Kroach Porsat”). I can guarantee that you cannot find more delicious orange any where else. I bet you will have a PERFECT day in my wonderful home town, “Battambang”.
***BB, I miss you!!!
Posted by chouly 
