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Whirlwind Cambodia

Phnom Penh was great fun. Brad and I watched the cats win against the hawks and had a few Angkor beers. We tested pig ear, tongue and stomach on the recommendation of a tuk tuk driver wearing a geelong cats cap. We felt much like we were partaking in a survivor food challenge minus Jeff Probst's narration (so of course I loved it).

Elections are soon to be held in Cambodia and there are mobs of teenagers riding around on motorcycles holding flags, playing loud music and yelling their leader's names. Its pretty impressive, you wouldn't see that in Australia!

We spent a couple of days down on the coast at Sihanoukville where there was plenty of deserted beach to play on. It was a good bit of R&R (this travel business is hard work you know...)

Next Brad and I enjoyed a lovely homestay in a little town called Battambang. We visited an old French train line which the locals now run bamboo trains along to transport goods and people - it was great fun but certainly wouldn't pass any OH&S inspections in Aus.

We spent a lot of time there with the locals, eating traditional Khmer food and talking politics. They are so open about everything, including current frustrations with politics and what happened to them and their families during Khmer Rouge rule. Its just so sad and you can see the country is still very much trying to recover.

Our last stop in Cambodia was Siem Reap and the Angkor Wat. What a lovely town! Again its all about the people and they are always smiling and helpful! Of course the Angkor Wat was amazing, we rode there on our bikes and watched the sun rise behind it. Even though there were hundreds of tourists it was still so spectacular and peaceful there. They are enormous and the surrounding grounds are so well kept making our cycle around very pleasant (and shady, thank goodness). We enjoyed dinner and drinks with Jess and Sinead to top the evening off.

We loved Cambodia and wish we had more time there but alas there's a very special wedding in Italy to get to (ahhh life is tough, isn't it?)

We are now in Pakse, Laos. We splurged and flew from Siem Reap (la di da). Lets just say the overnight sleeper buses are losing their charm. Tomorrow we are going on a 3 day hike with zip lines over waterfalls and treehouses in the forest canopy!
Election Campaign, Phnom Penh








Angkor Wat at dawn

Angkor Wat




Go Cats! Phnom Penh
Battambang Homestay
Bamboo Train, Battambang
Bamboo Train

The Local Khmer Curry
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