Angelina Jolie, who adopted her son Maddox from Cambodia, will
donate $5 million dollars over the next 15 years to set up a wildlife sanctuary in the region, where she has bought a
home. Dubbed the Maddox Jolie Project, the goal
will be to rehabilitate the eco-system of the Samlaut Multiple Use Area in the Battambang Province. You can read an
account of her visit to the from region several years ago.
(Via Treehugger)
Battambang is Cambodia’s second most populous city, known for its rice mills, Khmer history, French colonial
architecture, plethora of statues, and location along
the Sangker River. Lonely Planet
calls it an “elegant
riverside town” and the Thorn Tree board members who have been there tend to say it is relaxing and not as crowded as
some of the more popular traveler spots in Cambodia. You can get to Siem Reap from Battambang by bus or boat, although
the travel time can vary considerably. The city is also not far from Thailand.
We’ll point you to some spots to start further research on the region: This BootsnAll traveler shares the story of
his 2002 visit to the region, and this
travelogue and
collection of photos both provide great info. Here is a
map of the city and a good list of
resources to get you started on planning a
trip.