We were glad we took the chance as it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip especially for the boys. It was about an hour's drive out of the city and then eventually off along a bumpy dirt road with people climbing out of the undergrowth along the road to beg as we passed by. Seemed an odd middle of nowhere place to do this but it is known for it, so much so it's described in the lonely planet.
The park was a cross between an open plain zoo and a safari park. It's set in some protected forest and we seemed to have the place to our selves. As soon as we arrived we were 'invited' to buy loaded plates of bananas and sweet potato to feed the animals as we wandered around. Seemed like a reasonable plan until we started strolling and the troops of hungry monkeys decended upon us and made it pretty clear what they expected - ALL of our edible goodies!
Personally I couldn't get rid of my bananas quick enough. They were kind of cute in a menacing sort of way.....They weren't so keen on the sweet potato so we managed to hang onto a few of them for the rest of the animals. The park rescues a lot of illegally traded animals, poached animals, endangered species being kept for ill gotten gain that get reported. They had Elephants (1 missing a foot ? landmine injury), lots of bears that had been rescued, massive snakes, these goat/antelope things that were actually quite beautiful, siamese crocs, several tigers, a pair of lions that I wasnt clear on how they had arrived there, lots of gibbons and birds and interesting other things most of which are Cambodian animals that wouldn't otherwise be able to be seen because they are almost all gone with destruction and plundering of their natural habitats - sadly. I hope they can rein it all in some how. In any case this reserve was really inspiring and hopeful and we all really enjoyed it - even Buntanh our guide and the driver (who's name now escapes me).
On the way back we stopped at the Killing Fields and Pete & Josh went through to learn a bit more about the horror that these people have had to put up with - not pleasant but an important inclusion. Josh and I had been to the Genocide Museum the day before in Phnom Penh (while the others explore the Russian market) where unknow but huge numbers of people were put through hell.
Later that night we caught up with Carola again for a great meal at Romdeng restaurant sitting outside beside a pool. The restaurant is one of a few in town that operate to provide opportunities for young people to learn hospitality skills and to sell some things they make to earn a living - a delicious and ethical meal, always a great combo.
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