We started our day with a ferry ride over the Mekong River in order to continue our journey along Highway 1 to Phnom Penh. We road down the ramp and onto the boat along with people travelling by motorbike, car, truck and even horse drawn cart. It was very misty and we wondered how the captain managed to see anything in front of him but the journey went smoothly and we were back on Highway 1 less than 10 minutes later.
(Boarding the ferry at Neak Loeang)
(Another ferry crosses close by)
(On board the ferry)
The road to Phnom Penh was flat and in good condition, as we'd found the day before. We received lots of "hellos" as we passed by people's homes and as we rode through small towns. We only had to do a distance of 60km and as we were making good time, we pulled into a temple that Tim and Tina had recommended we visit which was about 20km before Phnom Penh.
(The little boy sitting in the middle of this bike shouted "hello, hello, hello" as they approached us from behind)
The temple is called Prasat Vimean Koh Pos and it's a beautiful structure surrounded by lovely, peaceful gardens. Most of Cambodia's temples were destroyed by the Khmer Rouge during the late 1970s so we're unsure if this is a recently built temple or one that miraculously survived. As we arrived at the temple, two monks were being provided with lunch by an elderly woman and it was interesting to watch a little of the ceremony around it.
(The entrance to Prasat Vimean Koh Pos)
(Prasat Vimean Koh Pos)
(Statues in the grounds of Prasat Vimean Koh Pos)
(Statues in the grounds of Prasat Vimean Koh Pos)
(A peak inside the temple which almost looked like more of a bric-a-brac store)
(A man with his wooden cart and regal looking oxen meander past the temple)
Back on the road and feeling flush for time, we pulled into a road side stall for some shade and a couple of coconuts. We were greeted by a bunch of curious young children who preferred to observe us from a distance.
(Nicky trying not to scare away the children)
We had only been sitting for a few minutes when we heard a screech and saw a truck on the other side of the road carrying a load of timber beams veer out of control, throwing all its cargo and the three or four men sitting on top of it up in the air and crashing to the ground. The noise of the crash followed by the eerie silence as the dust settled and then the realisation that there might be people underneath the pile of debris was frightening. No police or ambulance turned up. Instead, a tuk tuk appeared and they lead the one injured man towards it, having pulled him from underneath the wood. He was conscious and able to walk but we wondered about internal injuries and things that would have been considered had there been a paramedic crew there. Seeing it all happen was a pretty strong reminder of just how dangerous the driving can be here, with people often getting behind the wheel of a heavily overloaded vehicle, with little driving experience and even less regard for other road users. We got back on our bikes and took off a bit more cautiously than before.
(The truck and its contents on the other side of the road)
(It's not uncommon here to see people sitting on the roof of a van
that is stuffed with other people and their belongings)
We arrived into Phnom Penh around noon and found our hotel without any trouble. Paul had visited Phnom Penh a few years ago and as we cycled through the city, he started to notice places and streets that looked familiar.
(Sisowath Quay in Phnom Penh)
(Two local women, standing with their goods balanced on their heads)
After cleaning up and a good lunch, where we tried a traditional Cambodian dish called Amok (fish with lemongrass and coconut cooked in a banana leaf), we headed to the Royal Palace. The buildings are beautiful, particularly the lavish interiors, and it was nice to spend the afternoon wandering through the grounds.
(One of the Palace buildings)
(Inside the grounds of the Palace)
(Inside the grounds of the Palace)
(A mural on one of the surrounding walls of the Palace)
(Two monks enjoy the shade near one of the Palace's pagodas)
(Some traditional Khmer music at the Palace. Such a great happy sound)
In the evening we headed out along Sisowath Quay, by the riverfront, where we had a lovely meal followed by drinks at the Foreign Correspondents Club. It was a great evening but we also began to see the darker side of the city as some foreigners along the riverfront negotiated services from local women and people of all ages approached diners at restaurants asking them for money. It's particularly sad to see children begging on the street and it is hard to say no to them but we have been told that they are often sent out by their parents to beg and that giving them money only encourages them to continue that way of life. In response to this, a number of great businesses are offering disadvantaged youths and abused women a fresh start, by providing them with employment and training on the job in cafes, restaurants and the Arts. But with such a large population and an increasing number of young people moving to the city in the hope of making a better life for themselves, it seems that more needs to be done to address these problems.
Tomorrow we'll have a rest day here in Phnom Penh and will explore more of the sites.
(Our view from the FCC)
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