So it has been a tough week at CWS. The last four days were spent walking the borders of the sanctuary with our rangers and the rangers from the larger national park Phnom Kulen. We have been GPS mapping of the sanctuary in order to create maps for our use.

Some of the walking was fine, in well used areas. For our most recent however we walked from one corner to the other ‘as the crow flies’. So no keeping to pathways on this occasion. After an early easy stretch our line went deep into the jungle where we had to hack our way through the growth. At times it seemed like there was no way through, then we would hit an open stretch – with only 6 foot high grass. Both the jungle thorns and the grass were quite capable of cutting you so it got a bit tricky.

The ground was always a danger too, with some large holes left by burned out tree roots, or just the vines that tangle your legs every step. It was kinda like doing continuous lunges for a couple of km! Dangers overhead and below makes for very slow and painful progress.

We did get to see an amazing lizard on the walk. Sadly too quick for me to photograph but it was huge. Approx 4 foot long on the body plus another 2 for the tail. Not a thin reptile either with the body thicker than an average persons thigh. Probably 50% bigger than any of the large monitor lizards / reptiles I used to see in Australia. And it could seriously run! No doubt it could do some serious damage to a person, but thankfully I was not the one to disturb it! I am told they are very rare in Cambodia. I wonder if it was a Komodo, though they are not supposed to be here? Sorry no photo folks – one for the memories only for now!

We did have a great lunch about half way when we were joined by some of the local villagers. We had met some of them the previous day and explained what we were doing. They seemed happy to join us as we got closer to where they lived (though perhaps just to keep an eye on the rangers!).

After 6.5hrs we were all very happy to reach the far corner of the sanctuary and get a well earned rest. There is access close by where one of the local villagers was able to collect us with his tractor and trailer. I know what the western readers are picturing, but I will add a photo soon of the local tractors! 20mins sitting on 50×50 angle iron as you bounce across fields leaves a person with hard to explain rear end bruising!!

So bruised and battered I will rest up for the next outing.

You can also catch a short video of how slow we were moving here

Adventurer!