Blogs from Central, Cambodia, Asia - page 7

Phnom Penh. Lørdag 4/4 Først en liten epistel om overnattingssteder. I går skrev vi positivt om gjestehuset vi fant (Green Lake Guesthouse). Utover kvelden økte musikknivået (hvis det i det hele tatt kan kalles musikk) til ubehagelige høyder. Det sluttet først kl 03.30. Vi byttet derfor til et nabohotell (Simon's II) med kjempebra standard ($16 natta mot $7 på det første). Riktignok snakket vi med et norsk par som bor her og jobber i Norsk Folkehjelps mineryddingsprogram i dag, og de sa: ”Hva, bor dere i Lake-området!! Det området er fullt av kriminalitet og narkotika og er ikke anbefalt for turister.” Bingo, der traff vi blink, gitt. Hittil har folk bare forsøkt å lure, ikke rane oss, heldigvis. I dag har vi besøkt Killing Fields og museet som Røde Khmer brukte som fengsel (det største i ... read more

heres some photos of ankor whatt... read more

Once I arrived back in Phnom Penh, I checked back into the Okay Guest house where I knew I would be sure to meet some fellow travelers. I checked into my old room and headed down to the common area. Before I was finished my dinner, I had already met a couple of people including Dave from Canada, who I would get to know better over the next few days. I hung about the guest house the following morning contemplating my next move? Dave had mentioned something about hitchhiking to Ban Lung, too see a crater lake, and do some trekking in the jungle. Throughout the day I continue to meet a bunch of others, Malu, Olly, Chelsea, Shannon, and Efrat. Talking around the tables is the best part of the Okay guest house, and Dave ... read more

We set off from Battambang just before 8am. Our goal today was to travel the 100 or so kilometres to Pursat on a norry. A norry is a bamboo train basically consisting of a frame made up of strips of bamboo, two steel wheel axels, and a 2 stroke fanbelt driven motor. Strictly speaking, they are illegal in Cambodia, and there is talk that the government may take measures to eradicate the use of these trains. As well as myself and Chris, there was also a crew of three aboard. You might be asking yourself why does it take three people to drive a bamboo train? Well the problem occurs when you come across another norry traveling the other way. You need to pick up the bamboo frame and take the axels off the tracks to ... read more

Day 5 - Kratie Yesterday, after my lazy morning we went to lunch at an amazing cafe called "Friends"just near the Royal Palace. It was started by someone to help street kids- orphans, prostitutes,etc. It is a classy cafe that would be impressive in Kirribilli or Bronte. Excellent tapas. Friendly service. Behind is a great complex of facilities-rehab, school, life skills workshop, hospitality school with several grades, and craft workshop. Most impressive and inspirational. Poor Cambodia is in a very wretched situation. It is almost as though the whole nation is in a depression of guilt and frustration going back several decades. However, there isan enorous amount of aid coming in from everywhere , as well as foreign investment. A lot of evidence of Korean companies. And the Japanese are building a bridge up to the ... read more