Just arrived in Cambodia.(see border crossing in background)
On the Vietnam/Cambodia border, carrying more on a motor bike than you would fit into a large station wagon.
Gaye receiving a friendly wave on the highway not long after crossing from Vietnam into Cambodia
Yes..that motor bike is going to tow that trailer. Also frequently seen as taxi's carrying large numbers of people by trailer.
Ride with a view
Young monks we visited giving Gaye language lessons (note the phrase book in hand). Some spoke good English but had never spoken to a native English speaker before. They invited us to stay but unfortunately it was early in the day and we had some kilometres to do.
Cycling into Cambodia the sudden plunge in standard of living is immediately obvious. Despite the poverty it is a country bursting with life and colour. As we pedal along we are overwhelmed by the sights and sounds all around.
A bit boney but these majestic beasts and ancient wagons provided an exotic sight as we travelled through Cambodia
People are packed like sardines into sagging minivans, they overflow onto the roof where a further dozen or so perch amongst a load of baggage at least as high again as the van itself. These vans lurch along the potholed road, swerving violently amongst a chaotic rabble of vehicles, motorbikes, bicycles and oxcarts going in all directions.
Old women wearing the traditional checkered headscarf grin toothlessly at us with mouthes stained red with betelnut juice. It is now stinking hot by 9am each day and we are grateful for the roadside sugarcane juice stalls, where delicious freshly wrung juice is served with crushed ice for just a few cents.
A memorial at the Killing Fields near Phnom Penh. A grim reminder of Cambodia's recent past. It's hard to imagine how deep the scars must run in this country
Temple in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We were amazed at how beautiful structures such as this survived the scourge of the Khymer Rouge when much of the country was laid to waste.
We had a break in Phnom Penh for a few days, spending much of this time struggling to come to terms with the legacy of the Khmer Rouge regime. At the Tuol Sleng Museum, a centre of torture and imprisonment under the Khmer Rouge, a palpable sense of unease permeates the buildings. Out at the 'Killing Fields of Choeung Ek' where many victims of the regime were killed and buried in mass graves, it is surprisingly peaceful. The raw horror of what happened here is softened by the beauty of the surroundings and the prayers of visitors burning incense at the memorial stupa.
We cycled out of the city amidst a sea of traffic, which soon eased as we headed for our next major stop - Siem Reap and the world renowned Angkor Temples. It was good to notice large numbers of local visitors amongst the crowds of international tourists, and to see their obvious pride in these magnificient structures.
The busy highway on the road to Siem Reap. Note travellers on the roof of a taxi. No vehicle is ever considered too full in Cambodia.
A beautiful temple near Phnom Penh
We spent several days exploring the many different sites by bike, awed by incredible feats of construction completely beyond our comprehension. Equally awesome were the efforts of Mother Nature to destroy these man-made wonders as huge tree root systems slowly strangle and engulf the ruins. It is a wonderous place and we left somewhat reluctantly.
Gaye riding through a town nearing Siem Reap
Still a bit more room on top
Our thoughts now turn towards home as we begin the run across Thailand and south down the Thai-Malaysian Peninsula. With winter awaiting us back in Anglesea we will definitely take some time out to sit in the sun on the beach along the way .....
A big industry in Cambodia is rock carving. Buddhas, Elephants, Lions you name it
Newsletter 11
Speeding SouthThailand, Malaysia, Singapore
Hi everyone,Once we arrived in Singapore we just could not wait to jump on the plane to Darwin. Our timing was spot on ….. , somehow, we had managed to book a flight that was scheduled to arrive in Darwin at exactly the same time as Cyclone Monica. We called Richard and Leonie in Darwin to reserve some space in their bathtub, just in case we happened to show up before the cyclone hit. Our flight ended up being cancelled, so we had a couple of extra days in Singapore before we finally took to the sky and arrived safely in Darwin.The weeks since our visit to Angkor Wat seem to have flown past.
Crowded Taxi
Impressive carved archway near Ankor Wat
One of the temples left unrestored showing how the jungle had taken over when the temples were abandoned. Most of the temples have been reclaimed from the jungle.
Smaller building adjacent to the Ankor Wat Temple
Normal live pig transport method
Various images from Ankor Wat and surrounding temples
A demining team looking for landmines along the side of the main highway west of Siem Reap. We didn't camp in Cambodia or stray of the beaten track. The possible consequences of hammering a tent peg into the ground were only too obvious.
A small open fronted sewing shop in a small town
Busy street scene in one of the many small towns along the main highway west of Siem Reap
Ankor Wat
