Notes From a Scots Girl: A Visit to Bokor National Park

During my stay in Kampot, I visited Bokor National Park on a day trip. I booked the trip through a local travel tour operator and was picked up from my accommodation by the mini van. The actual trip up the mountain takes about just over an hour on the winding road; however that doesn't include the 45 minutes we spent driving around Kampot town picking up water and various food supplies for our picnic lunch... typical Cambodia time; totally laid back and unorganised! But I was used to it by then and luckily the van had the air con. on.

Bokor mountain sets the backdrop for Kampot town; lush green with its distinctive formation, so I was really excited to visit and to see the incredible views I had heard about. I wasn't disappointed with the views: they were indeed incredible. I was however, left slightly disappointed that Bokor National Park has lost some of it's natural beauty and been blighted with a huge, ugly casino hotel, the Thansur Bokor Highland Resort. Granted, I'm sure it has created many jobs for locals, but it's big, bold, out of place and, in my opinion, completely tacky. There's also a massive warehouse building with steel tables and chairs and a small canteen for lunch which has been slapped next to a beautiful waterfall spot on the mountain.

Bokor was still a great day out, but I truly believe in nature's own beauty and for me, Bokor National Park isn't the place for a big ugly hotel and casino.

On the tour we also had the chance to see the old French casino, hill station and catholic church, built by the French. When we climbed to the top of a small summit behind the church there was a religious group worshiping, singing and dancing in a circle with a preacher in the centre; it was the strangest scenario, but an oddly memorable experience to be standing on what felt like the top of the world with their soulful and uplifting gospel songs resounding out. (See the video below!)