Phnom Sampov, a picturesque village nestled in Cambodia’s Battambang province, offers a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and unforgettable experiences. The month that we spent there was a whirlwind of adventure, from exploring ancient temples and encountering fascinating wildlife to navigating the quirky (to us) local customs. (One of these days, we really have to try those roasted eggs they sell on the street.)

Although we enjoyed our time in this quaint little village, we were rather relieved when the time finally came for us to move on.

There were too many things we were ready to move on from, such as the incessantly hot weather, the amplified music from the temples beginning at 5:00 a.m., and the amplified music from parties lasting until midnight.

But there were also plenty of things we enjoyed, such as the bats, the monkeys, the temples, and the people and their charming lifestyle that we encountered on our daily strolls.

Return to the Bat Cave

One of the highlights of our stay was the opportunity to witness the incredible spectacle of thousands of bats emerging from a nearby cave at dusk. It was an inspiring and uplifting sight; with so much confusion and turmoil and uncertainty in the world, it’s somehow reassuring to see that millions of critters, of whatever variety, are capable of coordinating and synchronizing their movements twice a day without arguing about it — and we were fortunate enough to be able to witness it several times.

Sometimes when we went by the bat cave, we’d run into our favorite tuk-tuk driver, Pao. One day we spotted him sitting at an outdoor table having a beer with some of his fellow drivers, waiting for the tourists to be done viewing their bats so they could be hauled back to Battambang. We were invited to join the table and met the other drivers. We hope these drivers exercised moderation before climbing into the driver’s seat again.

It’s not unusual for tuk-tuk drivers to hustle us when they see us out walking somewhere (although being able to find one when you actually need one is another matter), but one day we were hustled by a fellow who was driving… not exactly a tuk-tuk. It was just a motorbike with a wagon attached, with no covering. He seemed to have mistaken us for bales of hay.

Later, while we were eating at the little restaurant around the corner, he came in and invited himself to sit at our table. A local farmer, he was accustomed to hauling all kinds of things in his little side wagon – including, evidently, human beings. Pleasant enough fellow, and he spoke pretty good English. Though we didn’t quite follow the plot when he began relating some kind of episode when – as we understand it – a brick wall fell on him.

Hike to Nowhere

One day we decided to take a hike around to the other side of the mountain, just because it was there. But we didn’t get all that far until we ran into what one might call a dead end. So all we got out of it was a hike.

Students bring Joy

We also were rather fond of the students we taught, even though we were not particularly fond of the teaching methodology the school insisted upon using. On Valentine’s Day, one of the teachers brought us each a surprise of a coconut brownie and a lemon drink supposedly sweetened with honey. They both were not bad.

Finishing up our classes, we said goodbye to our principal, fellow teachers and students – though we had our doubts that most of the students actually understood that we were leaving.

Kimberly’s Kindergarten Letter H Activity

Kimberly who had been working with the youngest students of the school had been focusing on phonics activities. So for the final day she lead an activity, in which the students made and talked about the letter H.

Portraits of Students

We also said goodbye to the ladies at the corner restaurant (mother and daughter, we guess) who had supplied our meals during our stay, and took a photo with them. We appreciate their efforts to think outside the lunchbox in coming up with vegetarian dishes for us, which was clearly something they were unaccustomed to.

The next day, we packed up and said goodbye to our (very) modest living quarters, leaving untouched the old battered guitar we’d inherited we moved in. Then we summoned Pao and had him transport us into Battambang, to the same Airbnb where we’d stayed a couple of weeks earlier.

All of our volunteering gigs on our first global tour were now in the record books.

As we said goodbye to Phnom Sampov, we left with a newfound appreciation for Cambodian culture and a desire to return someday. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or a glimpse into a different way of life, Phnom Sampov is a destination that won’t disappoint.

Phnom Sampov Pagoda

2/11-17/2023