Exploring Koh Dach (Silk Island), #Cambodia

The dry season does not scream: “explore Cambodia,” but there’s only a month and change for me left to go about and see the sights, so I’ve been particularly motivated to get to places I’ve been keeping on the back burner. Silk Island, traditionally a place where silk fabric has been made, is one such place. It’s only about a 20 minute drive plus 10 minute ferry ride away from the center of Phnom Penh (by moto), which makes it a great half-day trip. Once you take the ferry over, the roads are quite nice: very easy to explore with some concrete and some dirt. There are plenty of plantations and farms, including rice fields, and the livestock roam free. The most remarkable spot on this island is the beach on the northern tip, where there are shacks you can rent (for only 10,000 riel or less) that sit in the water. While this point in the river sits above all the sewage of the city, local Cambodians profusely litter and so it was hardly appealing to go into the water even though it was extremely hot. I visited the island with my friend and coworker Nary. First, we start with the trip out of the city:

Crossing the Japanese friendship bridge:

The upcoming Korean mall (the weirdest building in Phnom Penh?):

The earth is a bright red-brown color:

The great desert of Cambodia (future development location):

Biding time while we wait for the ferry:

Hanging out with my power animal, the tiger:

Nary’s animal is the rabbit:

Crossing the Mekong:

On the island:

Looking for ice cream:

At the beach:

As Nary says, “Ohio, Cambodia”:

Going back to the main land:

Another look at the weird future mall:

The most “wooden” building in Cambodia?