Bokor Hill Station (National Park) situation now?
Replies: 18 - Last Post: Nov 15, 2012 12:35 AM Last Post By: MissKellyMojo
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Bokor Hill Station (National Park) situation now?
Hey - since I found out that the former Hotel/Casino from Bokor Hill Station is featured in one of my fav asian horror movies I want to go there.I am a huge fan of abandoned buildings (just taking pictures and enjoying those places) - however I wonder if the buildings there are still like you will find them in the internet or not because I have heard about some renovations...
I want to go there in January and appreciate your advice.
If it is beeing completly rebuilded or something like that then I might even skip Kampot because that would be the only reason for me to go there.
Thank you :)
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The old casino is under renovation. Being converted into a museum about the history of the area. Your a few months too late. However, there are a few old abandoned buildings up on the top of the mountain. One is an old church. Pretty cool. Don't be put off. Rent a motorbike in Kampot and drive up early one morning to watch the sunrise. Really a great day trip. Bring a jacket. One of the best views in asia overlooking the Cambodia and Vietnam coastlines.City of ghosts was filmed there with Matt Dillon.
In Kep many old ruins of French villas from the 50's. Old cool art deco buildings. Many still abandoned. 30 minute drive from Kampot.
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City of ghosts is certainly worth a watch.The road up to Bokor is great, all new and one of the best in the country currently. The old casino is being converted. The church was full of workers when I went up a few months ago, they didn't seem to want visitors. Worth a visit though. Head down to to Kompot and kep whilst you are there.
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Lots of old villas in Kep, some have been or are being done up, watch out for stray dogs which seem to hang around some of them.5
Just finished different articles about Kompot and Kep - sounds to me like the perfect place for what I am looking for!If you are familiar with that area, are you experienced with the border crossing to Vietnam in that part? Xi Xao or something like that. I do not want to go back to PP just a catch a bus from there if it can be arranged easier.
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Miss Kelly Mojo - if you enjoy lazing around, people-watching and eating Green Pepper Crab with a beer in hand, you will LOVE Kampot. If you crave nightlife and 'happening' places, don't go. Didn't bother going to Bokor Hill Station, as I heard the Chinese had built a huge casino there. Not my idea of a good time. Kampot is a very laid-back town, where you can get a great massage for US$4 for an hour and a wonderful Seafood Amok at Captain Chims for an even cheaper price. Thoroughly recommend this town.7
AND, by the way - Kampot pepper is the best in the world. There are many places in Kampot to buy the genuine article (look for the organic certification) and several pepper plantations just out of Kep (where you MUST go if you like Pepper Crab for just $6). Was there just 3 months ago. Bokor Mountain Lodge is good for flashpackers like myself - right on the river and price varies between $15 and $35, including breakfast. There are many other cheaper places around town, but Kep is a little more expensive and, I found, a little isolated unless all you want is to eat pepper crab. The local market in Kampot is recommended for a unique Cambodia experience. Not many travellers go to this area which, to me is an added bonus.Costs $5 by bus from Phnom Penh to Kampot - takes about 5-6 hours and goes via Kep. If you want a really quick (but pricey) option to return to PP, you can take a private taxi for $20 - takes a couple of hours compared to 6 hours. Cannot comment on the route to Vietnam but suggest you check out the LP guide for further details.Enjoy! I loved this part of Cambodia and am going back that way next March.10
Thanks all - yep. I need to get out, so this sounds great. I was intending to stay in Kampot and Kep - there is an eco village in Kep, more expensive but I would like to experience that.I will already have the vietnamese visa since I am landing in HCMC and then travelling into Cambodia - mainly PP and Siem Reap and after that I need to get away from the stress and will head directly to Kampot, think I will skip Sihanoukville. Although this will be my first time in Cambodia I somehow feel that I will anyway return.
redape - thanks for the travel tip - which operator did you take from PP to Kampot?
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The bus company I used is Phnom Penh Sorya, which leaves from near to the PP Central Market. My guesthouse did the booking for me & arranged for a minivan to pick me up and take me to the bus.There are 2 per day at around 7am or 12.30pm. Take earplugs - like most SE Asian transport, loud music is obligatory! They make one stop on the way for a pee and/or a snack. Re the eco-village, do you mean the Vine Retreat? I visited there, but didn't stay. It's quite a ways from anywhere but looks great and is in the middle of a pepper plantation - the menu looked fantastic! Enjoy......... I'm going back to Cambodia for the 4th time next March.13
Didn't bother going to Bokor Hill Station, as I heard the Chinese had built a huge casino there.The Cambodians have built a huge casino there. If you're interested in abandoned buildings in Cambodia, this site has some excellent photos by a local guy: http://www.lordrobin3k.com/?cat=43
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thanks, Hankor - I actually did not think about looking for urban exploration in Cambodia directly. And I am mostly reading blogs about that topic which never mention real locations... but I will have a look at this one - uhhh, I can already feel the goosepumps of ancient ghosts haunting me while I take a walk through the past!
