Phnom Kulen National Park
I’d read the reviews and seen the photos – looks like an idylic spot.
Our brochure suggests a 1.5km walk to the Waterfall and carvings.
Not a problem – I walk way more than double that every morning down to, around and back from the dog park. Then I notice the fine print – it says ‘hike’. Then somewhere in the conversation the ugly word ‘trek’ rears its head. Then 1.5km there means another 1.5km back, and I think some bugger measured it as the crow flies.
First indications are positive – a sign highlights the wildlife we are likely to see, and the path looks easy enough.
Not long after that, the path starts to deteriorate.
First, and ultimately last, bit of wildlife – a tarantula, fortunately a dead one. Off in the trees the invisible birds are singing mockingly. Losing touch with the front-runners already. Even Tanya’s voice is fading off in to the distance.
Flat walk they said – so what are the flights of wooden stairs for?
Reality is kicking in. This is the middle of the day, this is the jungle – it is bloody hot and humid. Even the views from the vantage points are not refreshing. The path itself is just that – a path through the encroaching jungle!!!
Then to add insult to injury – the Real Housewives of Cambodia. Who in their god-forsaken mind decides to sweep a jungle path. Thoughts of homicide cross my mind.
Even out in the jungle you can’t avoid them. CV posing for photos.
Any casual inspection will determine that this path with overhanging vines and roots is not really meant for human locomotion – where are the tuk-tuks when you need them?
Finally the waterfall. I know there are supposed to be impressive carvings somewhere nearby, but bugger that! Enough for this little black duck. This sure doesn’t look like the the waterfall in the promotional material. (Best comment I heard – ‘Seen better water features in a garden centre’
Time to head back – hot, sweating like a pig, and needing something better than warm water to drink. Not long before I am overtaken by the showoffs who made it to the carvings
Get back to a set of stairs – what else would I expect but trees blocking the bottom of the stairs.
Finally back at the start, and time for a cold beer. 20 mins later, shirt sodden, and still sweating. Give in the pestering lady from shop 5 (which was actually shop 6) and buy a fresh shirt. Bargain down from $30 to $6, only to be disdainfully told by better half that she had rejected it at $3 – still it was better than the sodden one.