Every Journey Begins with a Reason

Every adventure starts with a decision. For me, Phnom Preah has become much more than a place to hike. I have returned here more than seven times, and every journey has given me something different. Sometimes I came alone. Sometimes with friends. Sometimes with people who started as strangers but slowly became part of my life. That is what makes Phnom Preah special to me. It is not only the waterfalls, the ancient sandstone, the grasslands, or the endless mountain views. It is the memories I have created here. Some of them are difficult to explain. Some probably do not belong in a blog at all. But they remain in my mind, and more importantly, in my heart.

A Mountain With More to Explore

At around 1,515 meters above sea level, Phnom Preah is much more than a place for a single hike. The surrounding wilderness offers different destinations and experiences, which means you can choose how deeply you want to explore. You can make a shorter 1 night 2 day trip, or stay much longer, with journeys of up to 5 nights and 6 days, depending on your route, interests, and the places you want to visit. There are different areas to explore, including Khnong Thida Oab, Chrormos Barang, and Khnong Tea Waterfall.

Each destination offers something different. And the longer you stay, the more you begin to understand that Phnom Preah is not just about reaching one particular viewpoint. There is always another trail, another landscape, another part of the forest waiting to be discovered. The experience also changes completely after dark. At night, the forest becomes a different world.

With patience and a little luck, you may encounter wildlife that is rarely seen during the day, including Large Indian Civets and Malayan Porcupines. For me, this is part of what makes Phnom Preah so special.

You can come for the hike, but there is so much more to experience if you give yourself the time to stay.

The Time I Went Alone

One of the most meaningful journeys I have had at Phnom Preah was when I went alone.Solo hiking deep in the wilderness is very different from hiking with other people, there is nobody beside you to encourage you, nobody to ask for help, and nobody to tell you that you can keep going, it is just you and your own thoughts. Being alone gave me a chance to notice something about myself, sometimes I don’t trust myself enough, sometimes I feel like I need somebody else to help me, and sometimes I doubt whether I can really handle something on my own

But that day, I kept walking, step by step, I faced the trail and dealt with the difficult moments, and eventually I realized that I was doing something I once thought I needed someone else to help me with, I could actually do it myself Maybe I am capable of more than I give myself credit for, and that realization may sound small, but it meant a lot to me I didn’t go into the forest that day expecting to find anything about myself, but somehow I did, and that is why I remember that hike differently from the others. It wasn’t just a journey through the mountain, it was a journey back toward myself

Nature Rewards Those Who Slow Down

When you hike often, it is easy to become focused on reaching the destination. How many kilometers are left? How much longer? How much higher? But Phnom Preah has taught me to slow down. Sometimes the most beautiful things are the things you almost miss. A small wild orchid growing quietly beside the trail. A bird moving through the trees. The texture of the forest. The sound of leaves moving in the wind. These moments don’t ask for your attention. You have to choose to notice them. One of the things I love about exploring nature is that it constantly reminds me that beauty does not always have to be dramatic. Sometimes it is very small. You just need to stop long enough to see it.

The People Who Make the Journey

Into the Forest

Every journey begins by leaving the familiar behind, and as we enter the forest, everything slowly changes, the air feels cooler, the trail becomes more challenging, and the sounds of everyday life disappear. When I hike with friends, even the difficult parts become part of the fun, we walk, laugh, help each other through the muddy trails, stop for photos, and share stories along the way.But my favorite moments often come after the hiking, sitting together around the campfire and talking about life, our experiences, dreams, and struggles. Maybe that is what makes these journeys special, we are not only sharing a place, we are sharing time, and sometimes that is the best part of the adventure.

A Meal That Always Tastes Better Outdoors

After hours of hiking, even a simple meal feels special, rice, eggs, grilled meat, fresh fruit, and homemade food somehow taste better when you are tired and surrounded by nature. We sit together, eat, laugh, and share stories, sometimes we are too tired to say much, but those quiet moments feel just as good.

The food may be simple, but the memory stays, because it is not really about what we ate, it is about where we were and who we shared it with,

A Journey With My Top Fans

One of the journeys to Phnom Preah that means a lot to me was the time I went with two of my top fans. 

They had been following my journey and supporting my work for a long time, but meeting them in person and sharing the trail together felt completely different. That day, we walked, talked, laughed, took photos, and enjoyed the mountain together, there was no feeling of being a creator and fans anymore, we were simply three people sharing an experience.

What started as a trip with two people who supported my work slowly became something more meaningful, I got to know them beyond the screen, and our connection became much closer. Looking back, I never expected that a hiking trip could bring people into my life in this way.

Sometimes I travel somewhere to see a new place, but along the way, I meet people who become part of my story.

Chasing the Sunset

As the sun began to set, we stood together watching the sky change from gold to orange, slowly fading behind the mountains.

Standing there with my two fans, who had now become close friends, made the moment feel even more special, we didn’t need to say much, we were simply enjoying the view and being present together.

Sometimes travelling is not about capturing the perfect photo or reaching another destination, it is about the people beside you and the memories you create together.

Morning Above the Valleys

After a night in the mountains, waking up to the first light touching the mountain ridges feels completely different. The clouds slowly move through the valleys, and from above, the landscape looks almost unreal.

Flying the drone gives me a different perspective, after spending so much time walking through the forest, I can finally see how vast the mountains and wilderness really are. Looking at it from above reminds me how small I am compared to nature, and somehow, that feeling brings me peace.

A Place That Always Feels New

People sometimes ask me why I keep going back to Phnom Preah after hiking there more than seven times. I think part of the reason is that every time I return, I experience it with different people and create different memories together.

We have hiked through the forest as a group, shared meals, helped each other along the trail, laughed through the difficult parts, and spent time together around the campfire. The mountain may be the same, but every group brings a different energy and a different story. Sometimes we come back tired, sometimes with new photographs, and sometimes with memories that stay with us much longer than the journey itself.

Maybe that is why Phnom Preah never feels exactly the same. It is not only the mountain that makes each journey different, it is the people we share it with and the memories we create together.

Planning Your Visit

If you are planning to explore Phnom Preah, be ready for a real wilderness experience, not just a simple hike. Depending on your route, you can spend anywhere from 1 night and 2 days to 5 nights and 6 days, with places such as Khnong Thida Oab, Chrormos Barang, and Khnong Tea, Phnom Preah Waterfall to explore along the way.

Bring enough water and food, proper hiking shoes, camping equipment, and warm clothing, especially if you are staying overnight, as temperatures can drop below 10°C.If you hope to see wildlife at night, be patient and keep your distance, never chase or disturb the animals, and give them space to move naturally.

Most importantly, respect the forest, take your rubbish with you, and leave the place as you found it. You don’t need to rush to see everything, sometimes the best way to experience Phnom Preah is simply to stay longer, slow down, and enjoy the journey.

Final Thoughts

After more than seven journeys to Phnom Preah, I know I am not going back simply to hike.I go back for the memories, the people, the quiet moments, and the feeling of being surrounded by nature, and sometimes, I go back to find myself again.

One journey taught me that I can be alone and still keep going.

Another gave me nights around the campfire with friends, sharing stories and experiences that I will always remember

Another brought two of my top fans into my life, who eventually became close friends

There have been cold nights, long trails, tired legs, wildlife encounters, sunsets, morning clouds, meals shared outdoors, and so many little moments that I could never fit into one blog. Maybe that is why Phnom Preah means so much to me. I don’t need to describe every memory, because some memories are meant to stay with you.

For me, Phnom Preah is no longer simply a place I go to hike. It is a place where parts of my life have happened, where I have challenged myself, connected with people, slowed down, and discovered that sometimes I am stronger than I think and after all these journeys, I know there will always be another reason to return!!!

More than a hike.

More than a mountain.

A place where my memories live. 🌿