Where is the Tonle Sap and the Sangke River?

Floating Community Centre

The Tonlé Sap is the vast lake in Cambodia and The Tonle Sap is the largest lake in southeast Asia. In Cambodian its name means “Large Fresh Water River,” but it is more commonly translated as “Great Lake”) It is a combined lake and river system of huge importance to Cambodia. Julie Wilson writes of her trip to this region in Cambodia.

One of my favourite days was travelling up the Sangke River into the Tonle Sap Lake on our way to Siam Reap (the town near the Angkor Wat temple complex). We started our river journey from Battenbang. Our long boat was just one of many watercraft on river – all long and narrow and paddled or with tiny motors.

Floating Pig Pen

Our boat followed the Sangke as it meandered north for hours – the riverbank always dotted with interesting small settlements of two or three houses on either side along its length. After around 4 hours of serene travelling the river widened out, and then began to widened out again and again until it became a vast delta. And imperceptibly the delta became a vast and beautiful lake – the Tonle Sap Lake. Now dotted with waterlilies and low long pieces of ground almost level with the water and covered with lush green vegetation and even small trees.

We passed whole villages of four to eight houses either on tall silts of five or six meters high or, even more fascinating, floating on bamboo rafts. The floating settlements of houses all on rafts were so picturesque. Each house was floating on each own bamboo raft. And not only houses but small sheds, vegetable patches, chicken coups and pig pens – each on its own bamboo raft base and linked by a rope to a house.

As our long narrow boat travelled on up into the great lake we went through small floating towns – shops, community halls, schools, and school playgrounds were all floating on their own raft. Truly a beautiful and amazing sight.

So if you get the chance, I highly highly recommend that you include the river journey on the Sangke from Battenbang to Siam Reap as a travel destination to Cambodia. I loved it! For me it was, with the temples, the highlight of the trip and such a relaxing and enchanting way to travel too.

Cambodia (Country Guide)

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TravelTipsPlus Google Map of the Sangke River

One Great Reason to Visit the Sanke River and Tonle Sap Lake

One great reason to visit this travel destination is to view the communities living upon the water. Houses on stilts or floating out on the water on bamboo rafts. Fascinating!

Tonle Sap, Cambodia

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My Custom Designed Tour to Senegal and Mali

Gap Adventures is currently running a competition to design your own dream adventure. There are a number of requirements to be met and as I’m all for the adventure, dream, travel destinations, I set to work to create my custom design tour. The tour I have created takes in Senegal and Mali in the heart of West Africa, an area I’ve been longing to visit for many years, especially the amazing Djenne Mosque.

“Enjoy the sounds, colours and aromas of exotic Dakar, the home to the famous ‘Dakar Car Rally’. Take in Dakar’s markets, nearby ocean beaches and tropical rainforests. Enjoy a Senegal drumming class. Visit the first French settlement of Saint Louis, and like Île de Gorée, both were fortified collection points for slaves bound for the Americas…” – PLEASE READ MORE & VOTE

Where is Ipiales?

Las Lajas Cathedral

Colombia probably has more inspiring highlights than Ipiales but this town found close to the border with Ecuador certainly has a prize not to be missed if arriving from Ecuador.

The magnificent, neo-gothic cathedral of Santuario de Las Lajas is located 7km from the town centre and was built early to mid last century. It was built in a deep river gorge and incorporates a bridge spanning the river, making it quite a spectacular travel destination.

Each year Las Lajas attracts pilgrims from all over Colombia and from abroad. Thanksgiving plaques and mementos are left along the pathway to the fairy-tale like cathedral.

Colombia – A Country Guide

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TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Ipiales

One Great Reason to Visit Ipiales

One great reason to visit this travel destination is to see the Las Lajas Cathedral that has been built over a bridge spanning a steep, river ravine.

Las Lajas Cathedral, Ipiales, Colombia

Las Lajas / Ipiales, Colombia from Jnp on Vimeo.

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Where is Los Llanos?

Los Llanos Anaconda

Los Llanos, meaning ‘flat plains’ describes the flat, savannah plains of central and south-western Venezuela of the Orinoco Delta. It is a haven for bird and wildlife. There is really only two distinct seasons in this region being the ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ seasons.

The dry season provides excellent bird-watching opportunities. Other wildlife you can expect to see amongst the various ecosystems include the anaconda (the largest snake in the world), crocodiles, capybaras, giant ant-eaters, piranhas and the pink river dolphin.

Explore Los Llanos and Venezuela with a ‘Lonely Planet’ Travel Guide

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TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Los Llanos

One Great Reason to Visit Los Llanos

One great reason to visit Los Llanos is for the safari’s available to view the bird and wildlife in their natural habitats.

Los Llanos

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