Curves, monks, and Fritz the frog

The third day of the Fundriding tour takes the group to one of the most impressive landscapes in Southeast Asia: Bokor Mountain National Park. Just a few kilometers outside Kampot, the mighty massif rises up, its summit accessible via a spectacular, well-maintained road—a route that offers enjoyment, challenge, and a nature experience all at once.

From Kampot up into the mountains

Not far from Kampot lies the large entrance gate to the national park. From there, the road winds its way up the mountain for around 32 kilometers in countless curves—a panoramic route through dense rainforest, past rock faces, open views, and repeated wafts of mist drifting across the road.

For some Fundriders, this climb is pure riding pleasure, for others it is an exercise in concentration and equanimity. That's why the group splits up on this day:

  • The "Knieschleifer Group" led by Roland Debschütz, former motorcycle racer

  • and the "flower pickers group" with guide Rolf Externbrink, himself a former motorcycle scout – and therefore well suited for a somewhat more relaxed ride.

Both groups enjoy the route in their own way. Bokor Mountain is a place that leaves no one indifferent.

Rainforest, views, and curious monkeys

The journey takes us through dense greenery and impressive rock formations, interrupted by sweeping views across the plain to the sea.
On the road, we repeatedly encounter rhesus macaques, which live here in small groups. Some calmly clear the way, while others sit in the middle of the road and watch the passing scooters with stoic calm.

Stopover at the Lok Yeay Mao Monument

Halfway to the summit is a striking viewpoint dominated by a massive Buddha statue over 20 meters high: the Lok Yeay Mao Monument.

Lok Yeay Mao is a protective goddess from Cambodian folklore—the guardian of travelers, hunters, fishermen, and the Kampot region.
The statue is a place of pilgrimage, a place of prayer, and a place with one of the most beautiful views of the day: on a clear day, you can see the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc on the horizon, seemingly floating in the sea.

The Bokor Palace – a hotel with an eventful history

Further up, the group reaches the famous, weathered Bokor Palace Hotel & Casino.
Built in 1925 by the French colonial administration, the building has had an eventful history:

  • Resort for the French colonial elite

  • later casino

  • During the Khmer Rouge era, it was temporarily used as a prison and strategic base.

  • Renovated and reopened in the 2010s after decades of decay

  • Today—just a few years later—once again in a state reminiscent of a movie set

It is a place where history becomes tangible, without words.

A small picnic is set up in the parking lot—a welcome break between mountains and clouds.

A special meeting: Buddhist monks and Fritz the Frog

While the Fundriders are eating, the group encounters a group of Buddhist monks.
And here comes someone who has become a secret star of the tour: Fritz the Frog.

Fritz is the class mascot of the Frog Class (Class F) at Rösrath Community Elementary School.
Fundrider Anja Knigge, who works at the school, took him along on the adventure—as a connection to the class, a travel companion, and a symbol.

And Fritz works:
With his help, not only is an unusual group photo taken with the monks, but the Fundriders even receive a small blessing. A moment that shows how encounters sometimes succeed through the detour of a stuffed animal.

More about Fritz and his role on this tour will follow in one of the next posts.

Small waterfall, long break – and back to Kampot

On the way back, the Fundriders make a short stop at a small waterfall. Nothing spectacular, no tourist hotspot—but a quiet, pleasant place to briefly wind down after the ride.

The evening ends once again in Kampot, where the group winds down the day in the city's alleys, by the river, or in its small cafés.
Tomorrow, the stage toSihanoukville awaits.

A long day lies ahead—and another step on this extraordinary journey through Cambodia.