Cambodia – Part Five: Battambang and the Bamboo Train

After a week in Siem Reap I was ready for a change from photographing temples dawn and dusk, I caught the bus to Battambang a sleepy city on the road between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. Initially I couldn’t see much photographic potential but as I explored on foot this town began to reveal its potential. So often when travelling it can be tempting to move on without giving a place any time. My first hour or two wandering through Battambang yielded little but eventually I found the disused Railway station, and then the crumbling facades on the other side of town, and it all started coming together…

Market, Battambang, Battambang Province, Cambodia, Indochina, Asia

Wat Phiphetaram, Battambang, Battambang Province, Cambodia, Indochina, Asia

Chillies drying in sun, Battambang, Battambang Province, Cambodia, Indochina, Asia

Battambang, Battambang Province, Cambodia, Indochina, Asia

Abandoned Railway Station, Battambang, Battambang Province, Cambodia, Indochina, Asia

Battambang, Battambang Province, Cambodia, Indochina, Asia

Battambang, Battambang Province, Cambodia, Indochina, Asia

Wat Damrey Sar, Battambang, Battambang Province, Cambodia, Indochina, Asia

Panning shots of traffic outside Colonial style buildings, Battambang, Battambang Province, Cambodia, Indochina, Asia

Portrait of Man, Battambang, Battambang Province, Cambodia, Indochina, Asia

Market, Battambang, Battambang Province, Cambodia, Indochina, Asia

I’d read about the bamboo train when researching Cambodia and if in this area its a must do! The disadvantage of single track railways is that if trains are coming in opposite directions there is no way for them to pass – so these bamboo trains were invented, whoever had the most cargo got priority and the other guy would pull his train of the tracks. Nowadays it only runs as a tourist attraction (and photo op).