Battambang

Mon 23.12.19 - Tue 24.12.19

8am today we board a private minibus (so lots of room) and head to Battambang (220 miles away). First stop at 9.30am was the spider market at Skun, lots of fried bugs of all kinds and tarantulas. None of us were brave enough to try any. Lots of young children walking around with live tarantulas - apparently teeth removed! The road was rough and bumpy due to about 50-75km of road widening work. Interesting sights on the way motorbike pulling a hay wagon with kids on top, motorbikes carrying incredibly large loads, homemade trucks, weddings with big marquees on the roadside and the usual assortment of stalls selling all sorts. Second stop at 1.30pm for an hour for lunch before we continued onto Battambang eventually arriving at 4pm. Lovely Christmas Eve cocktails at Bric-à-Brac a craft shop and bar run by two lovely guys.

The following day we went for a ride on the bamboo train, just outside Battambang. I hadn't checked on the internet beforehand so was surprised when it was a flatbed covered in bamboo with scatter cushions (see photos). It reminded me of old western cowboy films. Fee was hanging onto me tightly as it raced along the tracks. We rattled along the straight single track until another "train" came in the opposite direction. All stop....the "train" was dismantled and put back together further along the track. We stopped after about 20mins, of course retail therapy opportunity whilst the passengers waited for the return journey. Fee was less concerned on the way back. We then went for a traditional khmer wine tasting.....red was revolting, brandy like firewater, ginger and grape juice ok but very sweet. In the afternoon we did the architectural heritage walk taking in French colonial buildings, the art deco market and a temple, dined at the White Rose....not a great meal.