Cambodia - week one

We've had some beach time, small town time and time in the capitol Phnom Penh.  Have travelled by jammed minibuses, tuk tuks and private car services.   

This is a country with a very sad and distressing past which is impossible to ignore. The evil regime of Pol Pot effectively wiped out a generation.   I sense a reservedness in the people and feel it has to do with the not so distant past- why would they trust anyone given what they have been through.    We took in the genocide museum in Phnom Penh which was very sensitively done but unlike most tourists did not go to the killing fields as had witnessed enough horrible history.  Enough sad commentary- there is still lots to see and recommend about Cambodia.  

Our first tuk tuk ride - one of many!  

Can you tell this is my coolest top - seems I have it on in every picture.   Thankfully it is easy to wash out!  We packed fairly light but could have cut out a few more things.  

Otres Beach near Sihanoukville - thank god we ended up here as some of the other beach areas were downright seedy.  This was described as quiet and clean with no nightlife which suited us.  

The warm, beautiful waters of The Gulf of Thailand. 

There was always a shady tree available on this quiet beach. 

Enough of the beach - off to Kampot -  a small rural town four hours from Phnom Penh reputed to have the best pepper in the world and for salt production.  The guest house we stayed at had bikes available and we had a lovely ride to a nearby salt field area and saw our first Cambodian temple. 

Salt is stored in barn like buildings that dot the area.  

Phnom Penh

Like Ho Chi Minh City you either love it or hate it.  We quite liked it and found the large boulevards, low three story colonial style buildings, temples and palaces created an interesting atmosphere.  There was a definite feel of French influence here.  

Grand Palace

The Cambodians take honouring their departed very seriousily and every temple has people lining up to buy incense, flowers, fruit and even live birds, which they set free. 

The sellers turn these....

Into these beauties with a few quick flicks of the knife. 

The little baskets are used for fruit and or money offerings. 

From Phnom Penh to Battambang we opted for a private car service (quickly and easily arranged by the hotel) as 6 hours in a minibus with dodgy AC didn't sound fun.  For forty dollars more we got there quicker and in comfort.  We were feeling quite chuffed when the car arrived at the hotel and it was a Lexus SUV. The driver said something about fish and pointed to the back.  No problem for us as we were riding in style.   Thought he might have a cooler of fish somewhere.  

On the outskirts of Phnom Penh he pulls into a small fish farm (they are a common sight in the country) and the next thing we know many people were furiously filling bags with water and fish, tying them off and loading them into the back of the SUV.   There was a faint smell of eau de poisson initially but nothing the AC couldn't mask. Four hours later he had a rendezvous with a tuk tuk on the side of the road and they were quickly unloaded. Glad he could make a little extra money while driving us.  

Next stop Battambang - a small city east of Siem Reap. 

Typical country homes on stilts on the outskirts of town - often there are hammocks slung below for taking in the shade - or the livestock hangs out there.  Smart. 

Pit stop - the tuk tuk driver stopped for gas.  These little stands with litre bottles of gas are everywhere. 

Sarong display in market at Battambang. 

The one I picked getting the seams finished off by the merchant. Cost $3 US.  Unfortunately US currency is the money of choice here - even the ATM's dispense it.  You might get small change in Cambodian riels but not often. 

There's no shortage of fruit and wonderful fresh juice concoctions are available on every corner.  My favourite so far has been an apple cooler with ginger, lime, cucumber and soda.  Very freshing!  

Next stop is Siem Reap and Angkor Wat.