A happy day in Battambang

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According to our travel guide We had to expect "colonial charm" in Battambang. Sounds good ,
doesn't it ? So we came here with high expectation and were immediately disappointed. There were only very few colonial buildings, which were flamboyant renovated. And what is with the colonial charm ?
I could not find it. But the hotel was great 15 Us$/per night for a big clean room with two windows in a new hotel. As we are slow travelers we did not want to leave after the first night. We arranged a tour to the countryside with a tuk tuk driver, who was recommended to us by another traveler. On a dusty road we went to see Phnom Sampeu, one of of the few mountains here. The landscape is flat like a pancake. On top of this little mountain is a small buddist temple, both the mountain and the temple are not very exciting and are not really worth the long and dusty trip. On top of the mountain we saw the first skulls of Khmer Rouge victims. They killed the people by throwing them down the hill into a cave. It was strange to see the skulls when someone can hear the music from Santana coming from a nearby village. This village offered a lot of opportunities to take photos.
After that we went to see the bamboo train. As the government was not able to keep the train system running, the inhabitants of some villages designed themself a new train, run by the engine of a motorcycle (of course it could not be something else). It got this name because most part are made by bamboo. With this train we went 6 km to the next village and after 15 Min. we came back the same way.
This was enough! It was fun but as the rails are so run down, we could feel every railway tie.
By now it was lunchtime and our tuk tuk driver invited us to have lunch with his family.We were also asked to teach English to the children of his village, one or two hours would be enough he said. We could not resist. We spend two hours with his family, than we had to start with the English lessons. It was very nice to get to know his wife and his beautiful children. It was very interesting talking with them. I don't think that the children improved their English very much by our teaching but it was very funny. What surprised me, was the fact that the pupils at the same age of 10 years were so different in their size.
Let me know, if someone else want to teach English in Battambang. I guess, any help is appreciated.

Before sunset we were back in our Hotel. It was a beautiful day.

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Photos

Battambang
Unfortunately only few houses look like this one

On top of Phnom Sampeu
Countryside close to Battambang: Flat like a pancake, dusty and very hot (felt like 40 degree Celsius)

photo 6,Food seller
On top of Phnom Sampeu, Battambang

photo 7,Food seller
On top of Phnom Sampeu, Battambang

photo 8, How the Khmer Rouge killed people in Battambang
people were killed by throwing them down the hill into a cave,
On top of Phnom Sampeu, Battambang

photo 9, Too many to count
The bones and skulls of Khmer Rouge victims

photo 10
In the Background you see the skulls of Khmer Rouge victims

photo 11: The village close to Phnom Sampeum,Battambang
From somewhere you could hear music from Santana

photo 17,Having lunch
young family

photo 18, Having lunch
Young mother and their child

Bambootrain
The Ladies at the Bamboo train station

Rails of the Bambootrain
It was fun but as the rails are so run down, we could feel every railway tie

Comments

[pilar]

I would've like to experience the bamboo train trip. You two look so romantic on that train!!! The children are so beautiful and happy. It looks like they really enjoyed their English teachers. Thank you for sharing your trip to Batambang with us. Take care, con todo carino, Pilar

[Walter]

A hug or two to S.
Yes the kids are really lovely. We enjoyed being with them. But I recommend the Bamboo train only for a short trip or you will feel your bottom. Walter