Saturday 13th June 2009

Today we got the bus from Siam Reap to Battambang, we arrived in Battambang mid afternoon and we were surrounded by men trying to get us to stay in there hotel straight away as soon as we stepped off the bus very intimidating!! We eventually decided to look at one we'd seen in the lonely planet (we were not impressed) so moved on the look at another one which was much nicer The Royal Hotel. We decided on a triple room as Lisa was with us who we met in Siam reap, after checking in we went for some much needed lunch at Star coffee shop who did proper mugs of coffee a real treat here!! and there BLT weren't bad either.

After lunch we went back to the hotel and booked a motorbike tour for Sunday and after enquiring about going to an orphanage we decided to visit this that afternoon with the motorbike drivers. We stopped on the way to buy presents for the children (Books, crayons and sweets). On arrival at the orphanage we were greeted by the children, and then taken to sit down so we could be told about the orphanage. The orphanage is run by Buddhist monks and was set up in 1997 they have 72 children living there ranging from 4-19 years old. After the talk we then gave the children the presents and sat with them while they drew pictures which they gave to us as presents. After the drawing we played some games with them inside and outside all the children were lovely and very cute. There were two children particularly that I could have quite easily have taken home a little boy who was 4 and was so gorgeous and a little girl who was seven also very cute (Suzie wouldn't let me though). Although we haven't got anything to compare it with we all thought it was a good orphanage and all the children seemed relatively happy and clean and they get to go to school. A lot of the children are there as there families can't afford to feed them, as Cambodian families usually have about 10 children. We spent a couple of hours at the orphanage and they were taken back to the hotel armed with pictures and flowers that the children had pick us.

Back at the hotel we got talking to a Dutch girl called Merit so all four of us decided to have a explore of Battambang (not a very inspiring place) and then we all went for dinner. My Thai soup was very good but unfortunately the dish Suzie ordered Chicken Amok which we have had previously and it has been mild turned out to be mega spicy in this particular restaurant needless to say she had to order something else and I couldn't even swap with her as mine equally as spicy. We then got an early night due to an early start in the morning.

Sunday 14th June 2009

The four of us started are motorbike tour at 8am this morning, the drivers found it very strange that we all wanted helmets they said "You don't need helmets only the drivers have to wear helmets by law" are response was "We do need helmets we like are brains too much". We drove into the countryside stopping at rice fields along the way, the roads were so dusty red dust at that, they call it Cambodian snow here when we eventually stopped for breakfast we all looked like we had a really bad fake tan. After breakfast we went to visit Phnom Sampeau (A very hard climb up in the heat with many steps) which contains the killing caves which were used as slaughter chambers by the Khmer Rouge and they still contain the skeletal remains of its victims it was very eerie especially when we were shown the human remains. Also here was a giant Buddha not as impressive as the one in Hong Kong though!!

From Phnom Sampeau we were then taken to Wat Banan which locals claim was the inspiration for Angkor Wat (we couldn't quite see it ourselves it looked very unsteady like if there was a gust of wind it would fall down immediately) there where 359 steps to climb up to get to the temple but stunning views when we reached they top (The lonely planet was correct when they printed 359 steps to the top as I counted them on the way down and there was indeed 359 steps isn't it good when you get correct information!!). We then had lunch in a local restaurant which was very nice and then used the most unusual toilet. It was described as a natural toilet and they weren't wrong, it was two planks of wood that you stood on while you did you business which then ran onto to there plants and trees I suppose its good fertilizer!!

After lunch we then taken to the highlight of the day the Bamboo train which is basically a little wooden platform on wheels powered by a portable motor, but it sure flies great fun until you meet something coming the other way!! When you meet something coming the other way who ever has the biggest load get to stay on the track, the person with the smallest loads has to remove there goods or people in are case off the track including the wooden platform so the other person can get past, it is then all put back together again and you all get back on and off you go again. The track actually runs to Phnom Penh but with a journey time of 20 hrs, not a journey we fancied.

From the Bamboo train we were taken back to the hotel for a much needed shower we felt so dirty from all the dust. We then used the internet rang mum and Rachel and then went for dinner with the girls. We then had another early night as we had another early start in the morning to catch the bus back to Phnom Penh so we can get to the other side of Cambodia (The only way to get to the other side of the country is to go from Phnom Penh).