Battambang

Introduction

battambang market

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Battambang is a rural town with a lively market that people from all around come to visit to stock up on food. The main attraction seems to be going for a ride on the traditional bamboo train and let the country rhythm of life win you over. Contrary to what you may expect, the bamboo train is nothing more than a bamboo raft, carriage and a small engine. Just stand by the side of the rails and hop on board; it's as easy as that. Battambang also makes a nice stop-off point to break up the journey between Cambodia and Thailand.

The town is also full of elegant colonial architecture and has a very relaxed, chilled-out feel. Grab an ice-cold beer and relax beside the Sanker River.

Sights and Activities

• Bamboo Train.
• Battambang museum.
• Phare Ponleu Selpak Multi-Arts Centre is a centre that helps out disadvantaged children by giving wonderful circus shows and dances.

Weather

Like much of Cambodia, the weather is hot and humid year round. Temperatures are usually between 30 and 35 degrees Celsius during the day but can rise up to 40 in and around April. Nights are warm, over 20 degrees Celsius mostly. The dry season is from November to March, while July to September are the wettest months.

Getting There

By Bus

From Phnom Penh you can travel very easily to Battambang by bus (and vice versa), which takes about six hours along well maintained roads.
It's also very easy to get from Battambang to the Pailin border. The best way is by join-in transfer.

By Boat

You can also take the more scenic boat trip between Siem Reap and Battambang. This involves travelling through narrow canals and over a portion of Tonle Sap Lake on your way to Battambang. Along the way you'll pass floating villages and vast fields.

Sleep

Keep Connected

Internet

Internet bars are starting to appear in most major towns in Cambodia. Connection speeds vary as does the quality of the computers. The best places to go online definately are Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and outside of these centers it's generally also more expensive. In general prices are not much more than US1-2 an hour. Remember to take off your shoes when you enter as a sign of respect and to watch out for small shrines that are on the ground.

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

The country code of Cambodia is 855. To call out of Cambodia, dial 001 followed by the country code and telephone number of the other party. Many of the internet bars also have international calling options and you can also arrange calls at post offices. Services are usually run by the governmental telecommunication network Camintel. You can find telephone cards in many shops, starting from serveral US dollars to around US$50. Samart, Mobitel and Shinawrata are the main mobile phone providers, with Mobitel offering the best and most widespread services, although calling from outside towns (countryside) is still tricky.

Post

Cambodia's national postal service offers a wide range of services, though in general things go slowly and are not always very reliable. That said, things have been getting better over the years, and you can expect for your postcard or letter to finally arrive after 5-10, depending from where you send it (avoid small towns) and to where you send it. Prices are around 2000-2,500 Riel to countries in Europe, Asia, Australia and North America, and it's slightly more expensive sending it from more remote places in the provinces. Post offices in Cambodia generally are open from around 8:00am to 5:00pm, with some regional variations. Sendings parcels is only possible from the capital Phnom Penh and it's very expensive as well. You might be better to send it from Thailand, or otherwise check private companies like DHL, TNT or UPS, which are more reliable and might even be cheaper!