Blogs from North, Cambodia, Asia - page 12

Not having to meet Chim until late afternoon I spent the vast majority of the day lazing around Battambang. I grabbed another gorgeous breakfast at Madison’s Pub and then wandered over to the internet café and its video game playing youths. Then since this was a holiday after all, it was back to the hotel for swims and naps. By the time late afternoon rolled around I was refreshed and ready to go. To my surprise it was actually Chim who arrived and not some substitute driver that he had come in his place. I decided he liked these shorter tours as opposed to the all day drives he was used to. This tour would not only include watching the bats fly out of the mountainside at Phnom Sampeau, but a trip to the killing caves ... read more

The loud noises arising from the central market below reminded me that yes, I was in Asia. It was barely 8am, and since I had been out late the night before I had planned to have an easygoing lazy day. But still there was no way I was going to be able to sleep through all that racket. Feeling rough the way I was, I decided that the simple hotel breakfast was not going to be nearly enough for me, so I headed to Madison’s Pub for something more substantial. When I arrived the only people there were the French owner counting last night’s receipts and a friendly Khmer waitress. When the waitress laid my breakfast out before me, I knew I had come to the right place. The highlight was this huge fresh baguette. I ... read more

The tours were a great way to meet people and make sure that I didn’t allow myself to be a sightseeing slacker. There was one more tour that sparked my interest, a sunset tour of the Grand Circuit. While they call it the Grand Circuit it actually encompasses a bunch of the smaller temples. Preah Khan, Ta Som, Neak Pean, East Mebon, and then finishing with a sunset viewing from Pre Rup. At 12:30pm a random assortment of strangers from the hostel piled into the van and away we went. The guide didn’t speak as much English as Curly, the guide from my Angkor Wat tour. I guess they save their best guides for the big one. The people on the tour were a little less outgoing then on my previous two tours. Also, there were ... read more

Leisurely day today, no deadlines. We wake early but linger in our room, going down to breakfast at 0900 for our eagerly anticipated Eggs Benedict and Eggs Florantine. Never happened. After around 20 minutes and a whole pot of tea later, the waitress eventually came to our table to explain, "Sorry they are finished" presuming it must be due to a lack of ingredients, we say OK, just Poached eggs. 20 minutes go by, other guests arrive, order and are served. We have kept our patience splendidly and are rewarded with honesty. The waitress explains, "Sorry Sir and Madam, nbr 2 Chef try, cannot poach Eggs" suggests we try something else. Hiding our mirth, we say scrambled with bacon would be fine. Finally it arrives and it is very nice ,supplemented with the Buffet additions that ... read more

Wake up this morning quite excited. Breakfasted around 8am, the best we have experienced during our Cambodia travels so far. Eggs Benedict, delicious. By 9amwe are Tuk Tukking along and looking forward to our Big temple tour, today's driver having very passable English. Battling through the hectic Sunday Morning Market and all of it's madness, we soon find ourselves on quiet rural roads and sit back and enjoy observing local village life, complete with happy children, lazy dogs, even lazier cattle, roadside stalls selling silk scarves, coconut juice, palm sugar in jars and exquisite basket ware. First stop this morning is after roughly 40 km drive, taking one hour, through very flat but rural landscape to Banteay Srei. This temple is famous for its pink sandstone engrav... read more