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Sangkar River Landscapes

Landscapes of the Sangkar River on our boat journey from Siem Reap to Battambang, western Cambodia on our Cambodia Overland tour

We’ll round up our Cambodia boat journey series on this highly picturesque river with a selection of typical Sangkar River landscapes. We do feel that photos, or at least our photos, don’t really do the scenery justice though. It’s not like trying to capture a beach, mountain or say a sunset – these are such broad vistas and 360-degree landscapes with marshes and waterscapes stretching off to the horizon in every direction. Even the skies seem bigger here!

A wide angle helps!
A wide-angle helps!

Anyway here are some of our efforts but ideally, you should check it out for yourselves!?

Arriving in Prek Toal floating village
Arriving in Prek Toal floating village

Check our post on the fascinating Saray water hyacinth weaving project in Prek Toal floating village which seeks to provide alternative employment and revenue for local families who are otherwise limited to fishing, fishing and more fishing.

One of Prek Toal's 'leafy suburbs'
One of Prek Toal’s ‘leafy suburbs’

Traditionally the floating houses are constructed with plaited bamboo or reed walls, palm leaf roofs and with thick bamboo sections forming the raft bases. Today tin replaces the palm roofs, plaster-board the bamboo walls and large plastic barrels are used to increase the rafts’s buoyancy. Not quite so picturesque perhaps but a lot easier to build and maintain.

The main 'street' in another floating village
The main ‘street’ in another floating village

Etiquette obliges boats to slow down when passing through these villages  – primarily to cut down on wash but with the side benefit of facilitating photography.

Our route through the marshlands
Our route through the marshlands

 

Landscapes of the Sangkar River. Reaching the first dry land after Bak Preah village
Reaching the first dry land after Bak Preah village

 

Landscapes of the Sangkar River. Farmland approaching Battambang Town
Farmland approaching Battambang Town

The appearance of dry land signals our approach to Battambang.

Landscapes of the Sangkar River. Late afternoon light as we near our destination
Late afternoon light as we near our destination

 

And an iconic shot of Cambodia's unoffical national plant - the distinctive sugar palm
And an iconic shot of Cambodia’s unofficial national plant – the distinctive sugar palm

That’s all for our Sangkar River landscapes post and you can find details of, and links to, all our trips that feature the superb river boat journey at this Cambodia tours link.

Cheers!