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Dak Dam is the "last village" heading south-east from Sen Monorem into the tip of Cambodia. The original village was at the Vietnamese border, but after the tragic Operation Menu bombings in 1970, the villagers moved to the present site further north-west. Only three houses remain at the original site, about an hour away by road.
The road between the two sites is in moderately good condition, and passes through distinctively different types of forest. Nearest to Dak Dam, the forests on the high ridge are what is now referred to as the Mondulkiri Dry Protected Forest. Further east, almost immediately after this long ridge, the road runs alongside a mixed decduous and evergreen monsoon forest: it is on the ridge and in the valley to the east of the road.
Beyond the original Dak Dam village, the road descends to the Phnom Nam Lyr Wildlife Sanctuary and its evergreen forest. This is very noticeably damper and the ground vegetation is considerably thicker. There is a small band of this forest on the approach to the old Dak Dam site, but there is more to be found on the road to the east.
This is getting into a very remote area with virtually no villages and it is strongly recommended that you are well equipped for the trip. Although the road is good, we saw only one other vehicle all day; it would be best to be in a group of at least three vehicles.
Written Feb 6, 2007
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In a traditional Bunong house in Pu Ralech, is a handicraft centre funded by Refugees International. Here, women of the three villages weave traditional scarves, skirts and blankets. There are usually two to three women sitting in the house (which is unmarked) weaving using the back-strap method. The women are very friendly and will talk about life in the village and the weaving. However, it is essential to use a Bunong interpreter. There is at least one man in the village who speaks quite good English. Ask at the Election Commission Office or at the Commune Office (opposite the school), as he is a nephew (I think) of the Commune Chief. We had our own Bunong interpreters, one of whom is also from Dak Dam, and it makes a big difference to a visit to an indigenous village if you are with one of their trusted own sons!
Written Feb 6, 2007
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To the east of the village, there is an attractive waterfall. I haven't been there, but the villagers were keen for us to go, saying that it was more beautiful than the better known Romonea falls closer to Sen Monorem.
The road to the falls is stated to be in a very poor condition, but it looks from the satellite images as if the road returns to the main Dak Dam ridge track that continues on to the Vietnamese border.
Note, on the ridge immediately after leaving the village, the Pu Ralech burial grounds on the next ridge to the north. The little houses built over the graves are clearly visible.
Written Feb 6, 2007
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To the east of the village, there is an attractive waterfall. I haven't been there, but the villagers were keen for us to go, saying that it was more beautiful...
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High up on the Mondolkiri plateau is the beautiful little village called Dak Dam, set in a small notch in the rolling hills, protected from the howling winds that scour these hills throughout the dry...
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