It's a holiday in Cambodia!

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Cambodian Rain

Cambodian Rain Finally, leaving the land of Nguyens, Quocs and Dungs and into the land of Khmers. The boat trip to the border was enjoyable enough with lunch served on board and plenty to see on the banks of the Mekong, although my fellow passangers didn't seem to have much interest. The border crossing itself looks tiny, until you remember that it's more to control the river traffic than the motorbikes that pass through on the red dirt road.
A short wait and then on to a smaller vessel, a few curt formalities and stamps, $20 handed over and we were chugging up the river towards Phnom Penh. THe difference along the banks of the river were immediately noticeable - first of all no people. Vietnam has a population of nearly 80 million, but Cambodia is only 14 million and Pol Pot didn't help any either. On the vietnamese side there had been dwelling after dwelling lining both sides of the river, but now in Cambodia there was nothing except the odd cow. When a village did appear then it looked very impoverished with the huts made of bamboo and other natural materials. We chugged happily along for a few hours, maybe everyone astonished like me to be on holiday in Cambodia. The atmosphere inside the small boat became hot and oppressive as a huge storm gathered behind us. I cooled myself down with a couple cans of my first cambodian beer, gladly handed over from the ice-box by our smiling captain for a nominal fee. The storm grew closer and the heavens opened just as were to disembark the boat. We trudged up the hill through the mud and downpour to where our minibus awaited us to bring us to the capital.

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Photos

On board the boat
As usual, travellers get bored of the river scenery quickly enough and read and sleep.

First glimpse of Cambodia
The border crossing ...

The last of my Dong
That's Uncle Ho - The Bringer of Light - staring out.

Waiting for our boat
Travelling involves a lot of waiting, but at least this was in the shade.