Sisophon

Sisophon (unofficial name) is known as Serey Sophorn which is the official name of this town.

It is only a few hours away from the Thai border town of Aranyaprathet.

Serey Sophone is the provincial town capital of Banteay Meanchey province.
Before 1986, it used to be a district in Battambang province before being elevated into a provincial capital of a new founded province.

Like most northwestern provinces, Banteay Meanchey province is fairly a rural area which is not quite developed as Phnom Penh or Siem Reap.

Sisophon is derived from Sri Sophon which is in Thai language despite being a Cambodian provincial capital town. It used to be captured and governed by the Siamese/Thai many times during 1800s to 1900s, then 1940-1945 before returning to Cambodia again and again.

In Wat Phnom which is located in Phnom Penh, there is a monument depicting the return of Battambang, Siem Reap and Sisophon provinces when the French (protectorate of Cambodia) successfully negotiated with the Siamese during the early 1900s.


You can notice the Treaty on the left side of the Late King Sisowath who ruled Cambodia from early 1900s to his death in 1927.
















The treaty is in French language and is translated as Treaty between French and Siam on 15 March 1907 and it lists the three provinces that was returned to Cambodia from Siam, former name of Thailand.

The picture of the three ladies are on the right wall. They represent the returned provinces.
They give presents to the King Sisowath to show respect and also to rejoin the country again.

The left lady represent Siem Reap province as she wears the typical ancient Khmer style worn by royalties in Angkor Wat time, and she present the gift of Angkor Wat.

The middle lady represent Sisophon province. She give the king a present of Sisophon's flower symbolising beauty and graceness and the temple of Banteay Chmar (Not very sure). Her dressing looks a bit Siamese though it's probably result from being under the rule of Siam for many hundred years.

The right lady represent Battambang province. She present the king the powerful stick of Preah Kronhuong Dombong. In Khmer, the stick symbolise power and authority. Preah Kronhuong Dombong statue can be found in Battambang city of Battambang province.


There are many ways to get to Sisophon. One can travel to Sisophon via Poipet by crossing the Thai border from Aranyaprathet a.k.a Aran of Sra Kaew province. One can travel to Sisophon from Battambang province or even as far as Phnom Penh using National Road 5. One also can travel to Sisophon from Siem Reap province using National Road 6.
Thus Sisophon can be described as a hub, connecting three places together (Battambang, Siemreap, Aran/Poipet) . It's not uncommon to see goods and products coming out from Thailand via Poipet and her Thai sister town Aran to arrive in Sisophon and also to go to Phnom Penh, Battambang or Siem Reap.

The pictures below shows what Sisophon looks like.

You know you have arrived in Sisophon when you see the statue of Neang Srey Sisophon.


















A random street.





















Some areas are typically undeveloped and dusty. Life is very laidback in Sisophon.


















The pictures honors the current His Majesty the King Norodom Sihamoni and pay respect to the ex king His Majesty King Norodom Sihanook who is the father of our new King.












Another picture showing respect to the Royal Family of Cambodia.

















Another major statue in Sisophon.













A close up picture of the statue Preah Noreay, otherwise known as Preah Pisnu or Visnu.


































A spanning shot of the town.










One of the markets in Sisophon, they sell anything from fresh vegetables to fruits and whatnot.

















Another vendor sells fried crickets with some herbs, chilli and some sauce in Sisophon.















A vendor seller sells sticky rice in bamboo shoots, a delicacy and a fast food on the go.

















Monks can be seen strolling around like in any other places in Cambodia.
















A shop in Long Beach, California state in America.
The shop owners are probably from Sisophon.



















Disclaimer: All of these pictures are founded from Google Images and are not the pictures of the blog or the author's. Credits go out to whoever took this pictures.