Battambang

Travelling west in Cambodia we arrived in Battambang after a 4 hour bus journey. We were received by our very own welcoming party, a very rowdy group of tuk-tuk/motorbike drivers all banging on the bus window plying their wares and 'cheap cheap' hotel rooms. Dave was feeling tough and didn't even crack a smile as we pushed our way through the melee, where as I can't resist these lovely Cambodian grins and spoke to a couple of them. I was in trouble though as it did result in us being stalked around town for the next 2 days. We found ourselves a gorgeous hotel for a ridiculously low sum of money and then set off for a quick exploration of our new surroundings.

Sightseeing outside of the town was put on hold by my unfortunate relapse the next day to whatever horrible bug struck me down in Siem Reap, not nice! Feeling 100% better the next day we employed the most persistent tuk-tuk driver, whose 'English' name also happened to be David to take us for a tour of the various attractions in the local area.

Our first stop was at the Bamboo train, now used mainly as a tourist attraction, but originally set up by innovative locals who found themselves transport-less when the train service was stopped on this line. Their 'train' now exists of a bamboo platform and 2 detached axles with wheels, powered with a lawn mower engine.

The warped railway tracks make for a bumpy ride and on meeting another 'train' coming the opposite way the whole train is lifted off the tracks to let them pass by. We travelled around 6 kilometres to a small village where we had a quick look around the brick factory and then turned the train around for our journey back.

Obstruction on the track!

Any tour in Cambodia wouldn't be complete without the obligatory temple so it was back into the tuk tuk to make our way to Phnom Banan. Driver David showed us some of the local sights along the way including the 'Dancing Bridge' which only does the cha cha cha now rather than the salsa due to some government improvements making it more sturdy and a colony of fruit bats hanging from the trees.

We arrived at the temple steps and were immediately accompanied by 2 boys, one of whom fanned me all the way up to the top! The hot steep climb was well worth it for the views of the surrounding countryside and their cute little faces!

Lunch was followed by a moto ride up to the killing caves where we got our first glimpse into the cruelness of the Khymer Rouge. Victims of the regime were bought up here, beaten to death and then pushed through the hole in the cave roof. Some of the remains have now been collected and assembled into a grisly memorial in the cave. We returned to the town for dinner and set off the next day for the Cambodian Capital of Phnom Penh.