We started the day on fast dirt tracks for the first 20km with the wind behind us, mainly down hill and made good progress, before our first fruit and drink stop. On route we came across a line of monks, dressed in their bright orange robes walking peacefully along the dirt track, we stopped and talked to them for a while, before heading on our way. After another 10km we met a Doctor on his bike, who gladly showed us his medicine bag, full of pills and potions!
We have been teaching our guide Peir jokes along the way. ''Doctor, Doctor, I feel like a pair of curtains'', ''dont worry'' said the Doctor, ''pull yourself together !!!!
We soon joined up with a sealed tarmac road for the remaining 50km, in to a strong headwind, cycling through Banana and Rubber plantations. The landscape and people have changed a lot, since we started off last week. We are now in the north west part of Cambodia, moving away from the Vietnam border, heading towards Thailand.
Tuesday 18th Jan -(Rest Day)
Woke up early again, before setting off at 7am, heading towards Siam Reip (which means defeat of Thailand, imagine calling Birmingham, Germany defeated!). After checking in at our hotel, we headed off for a boat trip to the Floating Market on Lake Tonie Sap, the biggest lake in Asia, spanning 30 miles wide, by 100 miles long. We had all been warned to hang on to our bags, at which point a small child jumped aboard from a fast moving boat that came along side of us, offering cool drinks for sale. We just said no and he went on his way. A few moments later we were being pursued by two further boats offering a large python, which was wrapped round the young boys neck, in which Kate shot forward towards the end of our boat, nearly landing on Andrew's lap! We shooed them away and off they went.
We were then taken to a floating restaurant for lunch, where we found more snakes and at least 50 crocodiles on board, much to Kate's horror!! As we approached the restaurant, we were aware of Vietnamese boat people approaching us, begging for dollars. Two children managed to squeeze themselves in between our motor boat and our mooring, who were in huge tin cooking pots, paddling towards us with pythons aboard. Need we say any more!
After lunch, we headed for the floating school to meet the children. We were mobbed again by them and had as many as six children hanging off of us at one time. While we were there an American lady had returned with pens, books and food for the children. We all felt very moved by the whole experience. There are 80,000 Vietnamese people living on the lake, earning on average $500 a year. 12% of children don't live beyond 5yrs.
Poor Kate all those scaly skinned animals.... perhaps it will work as therapy and she will overcome her fears.
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of a floating school - perhaps I could set one up in the Estuary.
Love to you all
Kirsty
No I still hate the things!!! We had a great time on the trip and have just finished for today.XX School on Estuary good idea maybe they can stay for good!!xx
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