All we're missing here is tumbleweed...
Trip Start
Jul 22, 2009
1
28
29
Trip End
Dec 24, 2009
Battambang, Cambodia
Friday, December 4, 2009
We took the boat from Siem Reap to Battambang which took twice as long as the bus and cost us four times the price. Why - you might ask? Well, I had been told many times about the amazing boat trip through Tonle Sap lake and river between these two towns and we had to try it.
Our pick up arrived at 6.30am and squashed us onto an already over crowded truck. We bumped down the road holding onto our bags to the port 15kms away. We climbed aboard our wooden boat whilst being bombarded by fruit and bread sellers. The lady who sold us the ticket explained that we all has seats inside the boat, but could sit upstairs to take photos. As the first to climb aboard it didn't seem to bad and we safely secured our bags underneath our wooden seats. Then the tourists just kept coming. Inside the boat there was room for 40 people but the carried on boarding people onto the roof. By the time we set off there were atleast 80 people on the boat and above our heads I counted twenty life jackets. I laughed with the guy behind me about the survival rate, especially as these are crocodile waters, and secretly kept my fingers crossed.
Our four hour trip ended up taking seven and although the journey was long it was beautifully picturesque. Floating villages on stilts surrounded the lake and children stood on the decks to wave at us. We stopped half way and a restaurant and the toilet was literally a hole into the river below. We avoided looking at the 'stuff' floating by as we left!
Once in Battambang we were jumped on by tuktuk drivers advertising hotels. We went to the first cheapest option and were not impressed. So we went to look at the Royal Hotel - which for $8 gave you a big, clean double room with en suite. No hot water though - brrrrr!
We discussed with the Moto Boys a day trip around the countryside and they asked for $10 per bike (not including entrance fees to temples, caves and bamboo train). We had read it would be cheaper and after an expensive week in Siem Reap we decided to turn down their offer.
We spent the next two days wondering around Battambang, lots of Internet and t.v. time, plus as always, lots of eating.
We did wonder around the Battambang museum and watch a funeral procession, but that was about it!
