Dedicated to a wonderful Mother Jean Noble 31/5/1929 - 20/8/2007 - may we never take our mothers for granted. - Goodbye Mum
CAMBODIA (KAMPUCHEA) PAGE 1 JANUARY 2009
The picture on the right, is the King of Cambodia,(Kampuchea) King Norodom Sihamoni. It's rich history (Khmer Empire) and gentle people are legendary. The sad period in the latter part of the last century under Pol Pot does not detract from this statement. We again look forward to meeting these people and offering testimony to their exciting history.
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Prices in Aussie/US Dollars |
Sunday
4th January 9
k's south of “Khong Island” ferry point in LAOS to Stung
Treng CAMBODIA.
Approx.
86.38 k's
Average
Speed
14.08 kph
Cycling
time
6 Hr(s)
10 Min. Max
speed.
35 kph
Max
temp
31°C
Terrain:
Undulating Road
Conditions:
Bumpy Overnight
Accom: (US$5.00)
$7.50
Standard,
Excellent
After we completed the immigration procedures. Which can be viewed here. We cycled a further 61 k's to Steung Treng, there are plenty of opportunities to buy water and village food along the way, although it is sparsely populated. There is no accommodation! We saw produce transported – these are “Queen Size” mattresses...
How
they stay on the road is bewildering..... These motorcycles can be
stopped anywhere, they sell all manner of bits and pieces...
The small settlements seemed to have no electricity and no piped water, with water being harvested by some from small ponds and the larger settlements – a communal hand pump. Many of the villagers were showering in their sarongs in the late afternoon sun.
We have lost our “language” advantage, however, English “seems” more widely spoken.
Poverty is very obvious even at this early stage... This is a small village school.... You can see the large blackboard in front of the desks.
Our
hotel is superb value at only US$5.00 (AUD$7.50) per night. It comes
with air con, hot water, cable TV, soft bed, clean sheets, tasteful
furniture and lockable bike storage.
Our first meal in Cambodia cost us only US$1.00 (AUD$1.50) each. I had a “baguette”, salad, tined fish - warmed and spiced. Pickled onions and garlic plus a bowl of “rice soup” with pickles and veggies. Lee had “noodles” (no meat) veggies, pickles, salad and rice soup. The restaurant was clean and nice. Catchya Later....
Monday
5th January Steung
Treng
Approx.
k's
Average
Speed
kph
Cycling
time
Hr(s)
Min. Max
speed.
kph
Max
temp
°C
Terrain:
Undulating Road
Conditions:
Bumpy Overnight
Accom: (US$5.00)
$7.50
Standard,
Excellent
Rest day to get maps and orientate us into the 17th country, which we have cycled into.
The local hospital seemed rather strange to us, it opens onto the street. All the patients can be seen by passers by....
Smaller
medical centres/hospitals were exactly the same – so little
privacy.
The markets were a typical “hustle and bustle” affair, with so much going on – there was much more variety than Laos..
Catchya
Later...
Tuesday
6th January Steung
Treng
Approx.
k's
Average
Speed
kph
Cycling
time
Hr(s)
Min. Max
speed.
kph
Max
temp
°C
Terrain:
Undulating Road
Conditions:
Bumpy Overnight
Accom: (US$5.00)
$7.50
Standard,
Excellent
Wednesday
7th January Steung
Treng to Ou Krieng
Approx.
68.05
k's
Average
Speed
13.15
kph Cycling
time
5
Hr(s) 11 Min. Max
speed.
38
kph Max
temp
39°C
Terrain:
Heavily
Undulating Road
Conditions:
Rough
surface Overnight
Accom: (US$4.00)
$6.00
Standard,
Terrible
After our two days of exploring this fascinating town,
we were ready to move on. We knew it was about 130+ k's to the next guest house however we found out there was a Cambodian one about 70 k's down the road, so we “took a punt” . This town we are at, has no electricity and the guesthouse consists of a wooden bed with a bamboo mat on it.
They were good enough to erect a mossie net for us. We had no choice, so we took it..... It turned out to be an horrendous night! The generator kicked in about 7 pm and as it was near our room, the room filled with noise and exhaust fumes. We had planned an early night and an early start for the long ride, the next day. We had to wait until the generator was turned off about 10 pm for any hope of sleep. Then the dog's started at 2.30 am – two young pup's. They continued an unbelievable tirade of ear splitting noise until 8am. WITHOUT LETUP.
Thursday
8th January Ou
Krieng to Kratie
Approx.
76.67
k's
Average
Speed
13.78
kph Cycling
time
5
Hr(s) 34 Min. Max
speed.
29
kph
Max
temp
37°C
(in the shade)
Terrain:
Lightly Undulating
Road
Conditions:
Rough
surface Overnight
Accom: (US$8.00)
$12.00
Standard,
Good
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY(5th
January)
JADE
LEE
–
My
Grandaughter
Dazed from little sleep, we began our pack up ritual..... Leaving this place around 10am.
We
always have left the room(s) we have stayed, clean and tidy......
Today was to be no exception.
What is even more distressing, the fact that the men women and children also live every day of their lives in these terrible conditions... They sleep in this guesthouse and suffer all the things we did, EVERY SINGLE DAY.
A VERY hard day, exhausted before we began and with a long ride ahead of us, temperatures well into the 40's (on the road, in the Sun). Our water use soared, however, we did not need to carry the extra kilo's as there were plenty of sellers along the road.
It appears non of the villages we passed had running water or electricity and the poverty appeared crushing....
An
ageing sign of help from the people of Australia....
We
met this cyclist from Holland, he is 73 yrs old and has been cycling
for some time, throughout South East Asia... An interesting guy...
Realising
the huge distance between Strung Treng and his start point (our
destination) Kratie... He too is destined to stay in the room we
vacated... We let him know in advance, the conditions, so that he can
consider whatever options he may have..
Friday
9th January Kratie
- rest day
Approx.
k's
Average
Speed
kph
Cycling
time
Hr(s)
Min. Max
speed.
kph
Max
temp
°C
Terrain:
Undulating Road
Conditions:
Bumpy Overnight
Accom: (US$5.00)
$7.50
Standard,
Excellent
Another rest day to explore this sizable regional city. It is literally one massive rubbish tip, even many restaurant floors are littered with garbage. It is VERY difficult to find hygienically prepared food.
We have limited as much as possible our exposure, filling up with fruit that can be peeled. This is purchased in the markets and needs to be washed thoroughly, even before peeling....
It
is terribly sad that people must live like this in the 21st
century.... Unfortunately our pictures only tell a tiny part of the
story... Describing the extent of the rubbish problem is nigh on
impossible..... Catchya Later on page 2
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