The picturesque beach was almost abandoned for a long time. It features a shaky wooden bridge that leads to a bamboo hut sitting amid the sea waters and adds to the idyllic vibe of the place.
The owner of the beach is a Cambodian national who used to live in France and after his return to the motherland was consistently nicknamed 'Bong barang' (French brother), 'Pu barang' (French uncle), 'Oum barang' (French older uncle) and now, when his is in his late 60s, 'Ta barang'. He bought this piece of land in 1997 after retiring from Royal Air Cambodge to build a house and to lead a quiet life with his wife. But almost two decades later the beach suddenly became a hit on Facebook attracting hordes of tourists.
The beach owes its sudden popularity to a group of motorbike riders who were visiting from Prei Nub. Occasionally, there were other visitors coming to the beach, too, but it managed to retain its peace and quiet for quite a long time. After the visit of the motorbike riders who interviewed the owner and posted pictures of the beach on Facebook, many visitors rushed to see Ta Barang.
While tranquil vibe of the beach may be ruined by growing numbers of visitors, the owner does not despair. He has already built several bungalows close to the wooden bridge to accommodate new guests. The place does feel rather rustic and charmingly old-fashioned at the moment and is visited mostly by locals. Should be a nice destination for those who love off-the-beaten-track experiences.
Photo @phnompenhpost.com
Pics of Private, Lonely Beach in Cambodia Go Viral on FB, Attract Visitors
News in Asia
Once deserted, a private long white sand beach in Keo Phos (Sihanoukville province), with an evocative name 'Ta Barang' (what translates as 'A French Grandpa'), has become a new beach-lovers hotspot overnight.