The bus to Banlung was 30 minutes late and there were only 10 people on board. The journey is supposed to take 4.5 hours - at least that's what the ticket seller told me. 2 hours later we got turfed off the bus at Stung Treng because they said the bus had broken down! It was perfectly all right and I couldn't work out why we were in Stung Treng anyway as it's the long way round. I reckon they didn't want to run the bus at a loss to Banlung with only 10 people. 2 hours later we were told to get on another bus companies bus and we set for Banlung - this takes over 4 hours! All of this is typical of bus travel in Cambodia but infinitely preferable to travel by minibus ... read more

Ever had the feeling you've been conned? I've just parted with $80 and I still don't know what I've paid for - it's supposed to be for a trip around the area including a couple of boat fares but the story keeps changing every time I try and clarify what is included and paid for already. I decide to go with the flow and jump into the waiting TutTut and off we head North out of Kratie. The Khmers seem to prefer building their houses alongside roads in a linear fashion and here is no exception - the difference here is that ALL the houses are the traditional wooden houses on stilts with the underneath of the house used as a general storage area. Most of the houses have chickens and ducks running about esepecially in ... read more

Was up at the crack of a sparrows fart this morning packed and off to catch the 07:00 bus to Kratie in Central Cambodia. I've been told it takes 7 hours but suspect it's less - it is! We did it in 5 hours exactly but that could have been down to our maniac driver and his demonic use of the horn to intimidate all other traffic into getting out of our way! I still managed a catnap despite the horn going every 10 seconds. My stomach was ok for once - have been eating western food for last 2 days which has definitely helped. Kratie (pronounced Krat-cheh) is lovely - te hotel is right on the River front - the sunsets here on the Mekong are supposed to be awesome. I'm here for 2 reasons ... read more

Off on the tutTut to the same boat at 08:30 and this time there are 9 of us including the dutch couple from yesterday. It should only take 1.5 hours to get there but after 45 minutes we lose one of the props again due to a hessian cement sack wrapping around the shaft - this is a common occurrence says Mark, our guide again. He and Jason who owns Oasis are both from Southampton and have founded the CSSC - Cambodian Saints Supporters Club - they are staunch Southampton fans and I reminisce with them about the times when we had Shearer, Barry horne, Rod Wallace, Jimmy Case, tim Flowers, Jason Dodd, Glen Cockerill, Jeff Kenna etc etc - a great attacking side in those days. Anyway we are slowed up by only having one ... read more

Oasis has a vacancy - they have 5 bungalows which they let out. The English guy says it's quiet enough but nowhere near as good as getting up into the Cardamom mountains. Dave has already warned me about the mountains though. In the mid Cardamoms the police have recently found several crystal meth labs indicating drugs gangs operating in the area and further north towards the Blue mountains around Pylea the area ha only been stable for about 5 years - this was the last stronghold of the Khmer Rouge amd the plave where Pol Pot finally died. It's not been developed for tourism yet and Dave advises me against going there. Anyway, today I'm going to mooch around town and I may even have a beer or two as a treat. I know this is ... read more