Phnom Tamao Zoo and Mountain

 

 

 

The next weekend we decided to try again to go see the Phnom Tamao Zoo. I was not sure what to expect from the Zoo. I had heard many times that it is the "best zoo in Cambodia", however that phrase did not convince me that it was worth seeing.

 

The zoo was a pleasant surprise. While the animals enclosures were not the most impressive, they had enough food and a nice selection of animals. The zoo is a bear preserve to protect the local bears from being sold for their "bile." The bear bile is used in traditional medicine throughout Asia.

 

In the zoo they had several otters, five elephants, a lion, tiger and a ton of bears...among other animals. It was worth visiting the zoo, even though I am not a big fan of seeing animals in small cages.

 

While in the zoo Meizel built up enough courage to drive my moto. The animals in the zoo are on either side of a winding, and dusty road. She got on the moto and then drove off, quickly around a corner and out of sight. I realized quickly that this may have been bad place because we are not familiar with the area and I don't know if we will find each other. I ran up to the next curve only to see another curve and no Meizel. I decided just to sit down and hope that she returns. About five minutes later (but what seemed to me to be much longer) she returned full of adrenaline, and exhausted. I was happy she survived her first (brief) solo adventure on the moto.

 

The wat on Phnom Tamao Mountain





After the zoo Meizel convinced me to hike up Phnom Tamao Mountain to see the wat and view from the top. The hike was easy enough despite, as always, being hot as shit. On top of the mountain we saw some wats and met some young monks.

Meizel and some young monk on the mountain

 

Heading down the mountain

 

 



 



A faw away view of the little girl driving the boy and large jug on the moto

 

On the way down from the mountain we saw a girl, around seven years old driving a moto with a boy and a 20 litre jug on the back. Meizel and I were both amazed at how young the girl was. Meizel was instantly motivated to become a proficient moto driver. "If that little girl can do it, than so can I!" she declared confidently.

On second attempt and first successful visit to Phnom Tamao Zoo and Mountain was memorable and fun. We then got back on the moto and as always, enjoyed the crazy ride home.