When faced with two choices- a three-hour bus ride or a 6 hour boat ride, which would you choose?

We decided to take the boat from Siem Reap to Battambang, as we were recommended it and wanted to see the “real Cambodia”.

Well... Where do I start!
We are meant to be picked up at 6.30am for a departure time of 7am but forgetting we are in Asia and nothing runs on time we waited until 7.30am before we were told to walk to the end of the road and wait on the street corner with the other passengers.

We finally embarked the boat and set off at 8.45. With no seats left on board when we arrived we had no choice but to sit on the roof with no shade from the sun. We were informed that the boat should take approx. 6 hours but they missed off that the boat ride can vary greatly, and it depends on when you take the trip.

It is currently dry season in Cambodia, therefore on a number of occasions our boat got stuck due to the low water levels. This meant that we had to get out and help push! But I suppose this is part of the fun!!
To top the day off Bobbi's iPod decided to go for a swim never to be seen again.

The best part about taking the boat is watching the scenery, passing the floating villages and seeing how the locals live. Like so many places in Cambodia, the poverty here is overwhelming. What makes it harder is the knowledge that this life is a vicious cycle, and without an education the kids have no chance of escaping.

We finally arrived in Battembang ridiculously sunburnt at 6.30pm taking 10hours - so the answer to the question, next time I would take the bus!