French Watchtower

Every morning and evening and many times during the day I see the watchtower on the other side of the river but 11 months in to my stay here and I still had not been over to explore - I do have the excuse that for the first 6 months you couldn't reach it as the land around it gets flooded in the rainy season.

To get to the top you need a head for heights as an incredibly steep staircase runs up the interior of the tower. But if you make it to the top you can enjoy the view.
I went over the other Saturday with Paola as we had a few hours to spare and had a cycle around the local villages along the river bank as well.

Renovated in mid-2005 and sitting on the far bank of the Mekong opposite Kompong Cham, this tower was built in the early 20th century by the French to serve as a defensive watchtower. The Kompong Cham Governor's house has a direct line of site to the watchtower and when a warning was needed a large fire would be lit in the tower announcing the pending danger.

The view from the top is pretty impressive - you can see for miles and miles.

There is Kampong Cham - my home for the last year.

I live above Smile Restaurant which is the fifth in from the right of the photo - at the top of the road is the Provincial Hall which I cycle past 4 times a day at least on my way to and back from work. In the rainy season the water comes right up to road level.

Paola wisely decided to stay firmly on terra firma.

Me at the top

Everything on this low side of the river are on stilts because the flooding is so bad - the water last year came up and over into the mosque below - everyone gets around in their canoes during rainy season.

 Tabacco drying house - Tabacco and rubber are huge business in this area of Cambodia.

 This man is just preparing and mending his boat ready as the water level is rising already.

 Local barbers

This road is under water for 6 months of the year.