History of Thmor Orn Det, Chi Phat Eco Tourism site, Tmar Bang district, Koh Kong province

(Written by Ty Theavy, edited by www.ecoadventurecambodia.com)

"Thmor Orn Det" or the Floating Rock: This is the altar in the Prek Piphot River that you pass by on the boat from Andong Teuk to Chi Phat.  Cambodians believe that the river has its own spirit, and the boats passing by may offer something such as chicken, fruit, and so on to appease the river spirit.  If no one offers any food, the spirit will become angry and make traveling along the river difficult.

Local legend also says that this altar was once the house of a local bride.  Ta Norng and Ta Oum were villagers who made a match for their daughter and son.  One day a great march took place to celebrate the matches with many men and women joining.  There were elephants and buffaloes, fine clothes, silk garments, ornaments, and perfume.  Festive traditional music accompanied the march.  Suddenly heavy rain began to pour down, and the whole march was forced to stop. The procession could not move forward nor could it move back.

Here is the original script:

This is the altar place for the river passengers; you can see it from the boat from An Dong Teuk to Chi Phat. The boats passing by always offer something such as chicken, fruit and so on to the river spirit here. In Cambodian culture, people always believe that the river must own its spirit.

So if no one offers food to the spirit, the spirit will be angry and traveling will not be peaceful and harmonious. Legend tells us that this altar was once the house of a local bride.

Ta Norng and Ta Oum were veteran villagers who made a dowry match for their daughter and son.  So one day a great march took place to celebrate. There were many men and women, elephants and buffalos; there were fine clothes, silk garments, ornaments, and perfume. All along the march traditional music was played. Suddenly heavy rain began to pour down and the whole march stopped. It couldn’t move forward, nor could it move back.

The rainstorm was so heavy that the elephant and buffalo got stuck in the mud. Ever since that day they have been stone figures. During this great storm

the bride’s house was swept away. However, it stayed on the top of the water like a floating rock. The special rock is now used as the altar to the river spirit.