Battambang

Ride a bamboo train – Battambang can be compared with Chiang Mai in Thailand. It boasts colonial charm interlaced with laid back cafes and artsy boutique hotels. The Sangkae River provides the picturesque setting to this provincial town. The lush green countryside is littered with ancient temples. Built in 11th century by King Suryavarman I, the temple of Wat Ek Phnom is considered a predecessor to Angkor Wat. Perched on top of the hill, the ancient temple of Prasat Banan is worth the climb. The arduous climb rewards you with gorgeous panorama of the surrounding rice fields. The most fun part of visiting Battambang is riding on a Bamboo train. It is basically a bamboo board on wheels, which is used to transport people to shorter distances. Take a half hour ride to breeze past the rice fields and small bridges on the rail track. It is quite a spectacle when confronted with another bamboo train approaching from the other side. The train with less number of passengers is dismantled to let the other train pass. It is absolutely hilarious.