In some countries, compiling a road atlas is a simple matter—perhaps as simple as sending an e-mail to public works offices across the country to ask for updates on computerized maps.
But this is Cambodia, and the wilderness and rough terrain that make bold people want to jump on big motorcycles and venture down jungle trails also turns such a project into a major, if not unrealistic, task.
Nonetheless, Cambodge Nouveau has published just this month a road atlas that not only contains maps, but also describes the state of Cambodia’s roads and explains what drivers can expect along the way. The text is in French and English, with landmarks on maps written in Khmer script as well as in romanized Khmer. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start, editor in chief Alain Gascuel said.
The atlas—which has nothing to do with the economy and finance newsletter he has been publishing twice a month in French since 1994—came out of Gascuel’s wishing he had a good map when he travels.
“I have a nice, old Jeep that I manage to keep running, in between breakdowns, with which I like to ride around the country,” he explained.
Gascuel, who served as a war correspondent for French newspapers in Vietnam and Cambodia in the early 1970s, thought of two groups of people who would appreciate a road atlas as much as he would: Tourists who want to venture outside of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville during their stay, and expatriates living in Cambodia who want to explore remote areas of the country.
He first contacted the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, where he was given access to maps on file.
“The Road Directorate has a vast collection, which includes military maps from the French administration era, and maps produced by various countries over the last 30 years,” he said. “They are updated on a regular basis by the ministry’s cartographers.”
From these, Gascuel and Stephane Masse, a computer-graphic artist from Art Studio in Phnom Penh, compiled a map. Then, the field work began. Gascuel enrolled friends and colleagues throughout the country to help him check the state of roads.
“They were tested between October and mid-December 2002,” he said.
This led to surprises. For example, on maps National Route 76a clearly extends north of Taveng in Ratanakkiri province. In fact, the road past Taveng “is a cartographer’s wish on paper,” and nothing but jungle in reality, Gascuel said. On the other hand, the road between Koh Kong province and Veal Veng district in Pursat province did not appear on maps, he said. Checking roads at the end of the rainy season led to some inaccuracies, Gascuel said. The atlas describes the road between Siem Reap and Sisophon as being excellent for the first 28 km outside of Siem Reap, but becoming almost impassable in wet season.
This is illustrated with a photo of vehicles stuck in the mud that was taken last October. The atlas says that it can take 10 hours to cover the distance by car and four hours by motorcycle.
The road was repaired toward the end of the year and now takes just two hours to cover the distance, Gascuel said. This is why he intends to publish an updated version next year.
“The road system is changing very fast in the country,” he said.
On the credit page of the atlas, he is asking people to let him know of any changes on new or existing roads.
Since the 45-page book came out, Gascuel has received so many phone calls from people wanting the latest road information that he has started printing updates in Cambodge Nouveau.
The Cambodia Road Atlas 2003 was printed on thick, glossy paper that can sustain dirt and an occasional downpour incurred during a motorcycle ride, he said.