After yesterday's more challenging ride, we decided to have a rest day today in Kompong Cham. The city is the largest in the north east of Cambodia but it feels like more of a sleepy little town than a bustling hub of activity. It sits on the banks of the Mekong River and is connected to the far side by the Japanese built Kizuna Bridge.
(In the background is the Kizuna Bridge)
After a late start and a slow morning, we gave the dusty bikes a bit of attention and then went to see the small island of Koh Paen. The island is connected to Kompong Cham by a bamboo bridge which is washed away during the wet season and then rebuilt again each year. The bridge itself was pretty amazing and is strong enough to hold a car (thankfully) as we found out from the oncoming traffic while we were cycling across. We rode a little way along the road on the island, some of which is paved and the rest of which is dirt. There seems to be quite a lot of people living on the island and when the bamboo bridge is not there, they would rely on boats to ferry them back and forth during the wet season.
(The bamboo bridge connecting Koh Paen to the mainland)
(Crossing the bamboo bridge)
(The Mekong River)
(Kompong Cham, with the bamboo bridge and the Kizuna Bridge in the background)
(The road around the small island is partially paved)
On our way back from the island, we rode through the city centre where there are still a few old buildings from the days when the area was used by the French as a trading post.
Tomorrow we're heading west to Kompong Thom and from there we will then spend a day exploring some old temple ruins which pre-date Angkor Wat.
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