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Published: February 15th 2007
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My Fave Pic
3 kids waving away and one white hand waving back In the build up to me travelling in asai I already had a basic plan mapped out.One of which was when leaving Siem Reap was to take the boat to Battebang which the lonley planet describes as the "most scenic boat journey in Cambodia".Everyone I spoke to In Siem Reap though seemed to be getting the bus straight to the capital, Phnom Phen.I advised a few friends of mine who were heading off a day earlier to do this trip and I would meet them later on little did I know what an adventure it would be.
I got picked up from my guesthouse at around 6.30 am with the usually standing around wondering why id been told to be here an hour ago.Time doest really exist in Asia I think.I was hoarded onto the back of a pick up truck at sunrise and took out to the port to catch the Boat.Again out into the beautiful countysideBut this time youd head through a village of maybe 10 houses,dirt poor again,people just basically naked doing the sweeping up etc.The closer to the port it got the poorer it got,people really living of nothing,clambering over the truck asking for a dollar.When
we had to get off it was like a rockstar getting of a tour bus juts FAR less glamorous.People hanging off your limbs asking to by this and that and asking for money,the place stunk ,was rubbish everywhere and the van got off without even saying where to get the boat,but i found it eventually and sat waiting for the supposed "3 to 4 hour journey" As we headed off we went A floating village complete with floating school,kids paddling boats to school etc.Even a floating basketball court!! Out onto what a think was the head of the Tonle sap river.Slowly we made our way through close litle rivers and canals surrounded by green fields etc until wed stop in one of many floating villages.All and i mean ALL the children would run out to say "hello!!!!" or "bye bye" It was crazy,these house had nothing just living on the riverside NO money etc but the children where so happy to see you.Sometimes someone would float out to teh boat and jump on to go to their destiation.We passed through many villages like this and you start to think ok theyre obviously really poor,but they know nothing else so maybe
in a way theyre kind of content in a way.I dont see this many people smile at home ever.Afer a few hours of this it really did touch your soul,every village people running out to wave and be so happy if you waved back.At the same time you where looking right into there 1 room floating house seeing how they lived with nothing.No picture that anyone took could show you.You HAVE to experience it.Looking back at the photos it just looks like a worn out hut on a river bed.One village we went through ther was an ox and a water buffalo in the water bathing off wth 3 children playing ,sliding down the buffalos backs into the water.....amazing.Again through this trip you where hit with shots of guilt maybe for being such a miserable bastard when you actually have so much in comparison.At the time I was thinking this is one of teh best things ive ever done.When after maybe 5 hours on top of the boat we started to burn in the cambodian sun,it was real harsh,everyone tring to cover up execpt me and 3 other fat enlish guys with the beer guts out.We started to head through
some estuaries adn canals with harldly any water,because its coming to the dry season,the boat got stuck on many occasions and the guy would have to dive in and untangle the weeds ect or get in and push the boat around.As we turned corners you could see the floor bed as the water went from side to side.Until eventually maybe 6 hours late we come to a halt "are we there???" we all jumped out to find four pick up trucks waiting whhich we clamered onto,maybe 20 peole per truck!! I typically got on the roof like an idiot,and eventually we all headed off through the barren countryside ,no roads,trucks bouncing all over the place I held on for dear life with one puny arm in the window underneath but not for long....10 mins in we got a flat tyre!! So we all get off and ran for shade,maybe half hour later were off again down the ditches over the rocs until 10 mins later.....we get stuck in a ditch.By now people wher getting pissed off "how can they sell this shit!!??" some yank was going on "your joking arent ya!!?? id pay double for this" I was loving itA
true adventure.We got going again for another 20 mins,By now we hadnt had a dring in 7 hours ,my water was hoter than coal.So we stopped for a drink at a little village shop to teh disgust of the driver.And the....you guessed it......couldnt get the truck to start!! He headed off on a bike and returned wth some tools and water and were off again.Brilliant
So after 9 and a half hours we actually got to Battambang,i just jumped at the firls hotel covered in an orange dust I just wanted a nice...cold shower. I am so glad I the trip though it was almost like 10 hours of soul searching a true adventure and definately one of teh best things ive ever done....saying that I dont know if id be ready to do it again anytime soon!!
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