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FILM REVIEW
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On the Beach - are a pristine tropical paradise. On boat trips off the coast one can explore the numerous little islands, scupa dive on the coral reefs or visit the mangrove swamps in the nearby Ream National Park. |
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"The Heart
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 Detail from the Banteay Srei temple |
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The following is an edited letter from one of the
participants in the first Viktors Farmor group We signed up for the tour after having read the program which we thought looked exiting. The famous Angkor temples were one of the highlights of the tour but also cruising on the Mekong and visiting the small villages as well as the adventures awaiting us up in Ratanakiri. And what did we get? We got a tour that was beyond all our expectations and for which our tour leader Thomas must be given a very big part of the credit. It was like visiting a friend who was looking forward to show us his “other” country in a way that allowed us to see and hear more than we could otherwise have expected.
The days in Siem Reap were so exiting and full of events that one more day would not have been too much. But we did see the “treasures” and did not “choke” on temples. The temples and their story were simply magnificent! Then there was the boat trip to Phnom Penh which some have suggested should be replaced with a flight. I agree, but, Thomas, it was quite an adventure we had before we all got together and could set out for Phnom Penh. The days in Phnom Penh were great. All the things that we saw, and the trip to the island including swimming in the Mekong. Dining on the boat while slowly sailing back as the sun was setting - that is life! Then we moved on and had a wonderful bus ride to Kampong Cham with fine sightseeings on the way. The next day our cruising trip on the Mekong river began. It was a very good experience. I find that sailing on a river in a foreign country is a very special event. You sense the country in a different manner and your soul is able to catch up with you.
Our first day was spent in the company of the locals going up river. The next day we had the boat all by ourselves and were able to lie on the deck getting a sun tan (some too much) or taking a nap on deck or below - in short doing what we liked. It was a lovely trip cruising in and out between all the little islands until we reached Stung Treng. Here the boat journey ended according to the official program. But thanks to you, Thomas, who listened to us and wanted the best for us, we got the extra excitement of racing all the way up to Laos. First in speedboats and the last part of the way in very small boats. I know that some in the group were not too happy about the last trip in the small boats. But I wouldn’t have missed the final leg of the journey ending by the little waterfalls. One solution might be to have a lunch picnic at the border. A short one for those who want to go all the way up to the waterfalls, and a longer one for those who prefer to enjoy the scenery from where they are. And then there were all our experiences in and around Ban Lung. We have all given you our comments - most of them positive and all well meant. So enough about that. But I would like to add that I wouldn’t have wanted to miss any part of it. Even the long trips out to the small almost dried up waterfalls where we were tossed around and covered with dust on the bad roads. We enjoyed each others company while bumping up and down on the top of the first truck. We got a refreshingly different experience of the surrounding nature to those sitting inside the truck. Visits to the tribal villages, the walks and swims in the volcanic lakes are all strong memories. And the final days in Sihanoukville were simply perfect. Even if the tour is later changed into a more “comfortable” one I am glad to have been on the first “expedition” with all its special excitements. So thank you to Viktors Farmor, Thomas, and the local guides who were also perfect. Best regards, Bertil Ax dated March 16 2004. The ”Heart of Cambodia” tours combine all the
greatest cultural features of the country with an adventurous eco-tourism
spirit – and a final touch of leisure at the seaside – into a unique blend
which is specially designed In February-March 2004 I arrange a 3 weeks group
tour from Denmark in cooperation with: Thomas Weber Carlsen
Tour 99 On a cruise with Australian tourists in Ream National Park near Sihanoukville. | top of page | |
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Thomas Weber Carlsen
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Rydevaenget 113, 3. tv.
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8210 Aarhus V. |
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