The Cambodian government announced the completion of over 1,082 kilometers of road in the year 2009. The fragile infrastructure improvement came thanks to Chinese and South Korean investments. The road from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville remains the showpeice for internal travel, however the important connection between Siem reap and the Thailand border is a national disgrace. Plans for its surfacing have long been delayed by bribes Bangkok Air to local transportation officials. The Thai airlines fears a dramatic drop in revenue should this dirt road becomes a regular highway connecting Bangkok-Phnom Penh-Saigon. Siem Reap and the ruins at Angkor War are a prime destination monopolized by the airline.
I’ve traveled on the road between Siem reap and the border. 4 hours of bone-rattling ruts and holes large enough to shallow any car driven without extreme care and there’s really nothing to see on this trip. Flat ladnscapes of dusty rice fields withering under the sun.
Of course the 4 hour trip becomes 10 hours with a little rain.
A hellish journey at the best of times, as the Cambodian PM says, “When there is road, there is hope.”
Hopeless this road, although still cheaper and only two hours slower than the plane.
Nik Reiter said of our journey, “The beer was cold.”
And that says it all.