FLOOD WARNINGS ISSUED

Be prepared to get more than your feet wet as the water level of the Siem Reap River has rapidly increased over the past few days, rising at least half a metre.

River front homes near Phnom Krum Mountain were under water by around 10 millimeters mid-week because that area is lower than the central city. But perhaps the flooding will not be as bad this year, with Apsara apparently riding to the rescuer.  Journalist Kaliyann Thik reported that Bun Narith, general director of the Apsara,  said the authority had recently cooperated with Siem Reap authorities to dig three channels, with a plan to change the direction of water in order to avoid flooding in downtown Siem Reap.

He said, “Normally the water will flow from Phnom Kulen Mountain to the Siem Reap River through Banteay Srie district, but now the authority plans to transmit part of that water to Rolous River, another part to Pouk River, and the remainder of the water will flow into the West Baray, and North Baray.” Here’s hoping the plan works.

Meanwhile, Noun Krisna, director of the Department of Water Resources and Meteorology, said the increased rain is due to a low atmospheric pressure front which will linger until September 23.

HAVE A HEART

More philanthropy from the Station Wine Bar: every Monday night,  30 per cent of takings will go to support Somnang, a three-year-old  who is one of nine kids adopted by a Khmer mum with a heart.

Somnang has a pernicious congenital blood disease, diamond blakfan anemia, which results in a very low red blood cell count (anemia), and a dysfunctional immune system.

There’s no known cure, but with proper treatment sufferers can lead a fairly normal life.  Somnang needs frequent hospital stays and monthly blood tests and medical checkups. So drink up and cough up.

The Station Wine Bar is also looking for monthly medical sponsors,  but the over-riding message is that very dollar and riel counts.

MENTAL TOURISM

Spare a thought for Siem Reap’s neighbouring town,  Sisophon. It lacks the big ticket temple tourist draw cards of Siem Reap, but it does have the Banteay Chhmar temple complex. Other tourist attractions are thin on the ground, but according to WikiTravel it does have a smattering of, “mentally unsound Khmer Rouge survivors, peasants and provincial townsfolk which give those who care to spend any time in Sisophon a glimpse of folk that are not found in the more visited, more urbane cities.”

Oh yes, and apparently there’s also a clutch of “aspiring English speaking students.” All the more reason to head to Sisophon.

NEW FLIGHTS TO BANGKOK

Cambodia Angkor Air will start flights to Bangkok this November from Siem Reap. The service will operate four times weekly, and flights may increase to daily if there’s good response.

The only airline flying the Bangkok-Siem route is Bangkok Airways.

A service between Phnom Penh and Bangkok is being considered.

Next year, the airline plans to start services between Siem Reap and Hanoi, and Phnom Penh and Hanoi. Also scheduled sometime in the not-to-distant future are flights to cities in China and Japan from Siem Reap.