Today we left Battambang for Pailin, a small town 20km from the border of Thailand. While most of the 86km journey was flat, the road wound it’s way through some hillier parts for the final 30km.
(Monks collecting alms)
The view was obscured for much of the way by the smoke from fires that farmers had started in order to clear land to plant cassava, corn and other crops. The charred, sunburnt surroundings looked dry and lifeless.
(Dry, burnt surroundings)
As we approached Pailin, we began to see signs warning us of unexploded mines in the area. MAG, the Mines Advisory Group, operate here, attempting to remove the mines so as to make it safe for families to live and work on the land. The mines were planted here by the Khmer Rouge when they retreated to the forests to fight a guerrilla war against the Viet Cong in 1979. Incredible that people are still suffering the effects of that war to this day.
(One of many MAG signs that we passed)
(A dragonfly has a little rest)
We arrived into Pailin early afternoon and checked into a busy guesthouse on the main street. Later, we headed to the market for an early dinner. We like to see what’s in the "mystery pots" and select a couple of dishes to try. You get a good taste of Cambodian home-cooking for $2. As we were walking around the town after dinner, a man on a motorbike slowly approached us before stopping and saying “remember me?” Yes we did - it was Soon, the man who drove us to and from the circus in Battambang. He had taken a tourist on an overnight tour of the area and they were also staying at the same guesthouse as us. We chatted with him for a little while and wished each other luck as we said goodbye. It’s always nice to see a familiar friendly face.
(Mystery pots at the market)
Tomorrow we will cross back into Thailand and begin the final little arc that will close the loop on our four month tour of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. We both really enjoyed our time in Thailand back in October and while we’re sad to say goodbye to Cambodia so soon after having arrived, we’re looking forward to exploring more of Thailand and to see it with with more experienced eyes.
Dearest Nicky and Paul. Finally I have stopped to write a post on your blog. What an amazing journey you have had and well done for travelling so many, many kilometres. The world must have passed you by very slowly and serenely compared to a car and you must have absorbed so much detail to digest and think about as you rode. Your writing is great Nicky and you should consider making a living as a travel writer. Your posts have brought back many memories of my travels to Laos and Thailand 15 years ago now. All the sights, smells, markets, interesting people, monks beside the road, temples, hot soups for breakfast and smelly loos. It is such an incredible area and the people are so beautiful and such magnificent smiles. Life in Oz is going well although missing you two. We have moved to Harcourt and only just settled in. Over Summer it was 45+ degrees and so we had to escape to the beach for quite some time. The girls are great and proving to be smarter than their parents already.How many more kilometres do you have to go on your bike journey? And at the end will you be heading to Sweden and the snow? Wishing you both lots of energy and super-strong legs (and bums) for the last leg. And well done with the bikes...they still have wheels and move forward...I'm impressed!! Hugs from Alix and the Fredquist gang xxx
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