Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Hotel California 2

Al outside our Phnom Penh accomodation - The Hotel California 2.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Mr. Thai's Tuktuk

Mr. Thai's (his real name) tuktuk. He told us it is the only real Thai tuktuk in Cambodia

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The Royal Palace.

The Royal Palace.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Foriegn Correspondants Club.

The Foreign Correspondants Club (FCC). A nice bar and restaurant with lots of tuktuks outside.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

S21 Prison

The rather grim S21 prison used during the Khmer Rouge regime. Before that it was a school.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

S21 Prisoners Photographs.

Many thousands of people were imprisoned and tortured here before being sent to the killing fields. Only 7 are thought to have survived.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

S21 Prison Rules.

The rules for prisoners translated into English give an idea of the harsh conditions.

The Killing Fields, Cambodia

Skulls at the Killing Fields

Just a few of the remains preserved in the monument at the Killing Fields - a very sad place.

Kampot, Cambodia

Kampot Tuktuk

Cambodia nowadays is much more pleasant - here we are getting fuel for a countryside tour in a tuktuk.

Kampot, Cambodia

Cambodian Road.

Only the major roads are tarmac. Some are like this and many are a lot worse.

Kampot, Cambodia

Mine Clearance Sign

Mines have been cleared from most areas but we were careful not to stray from the paths.

Kampot, Cambodia

Rikitikitavi Hotel.

The Rikitikitavi hotel. We stayed here because Al liked the name - a very nice place.

Battambang, Cambodia

Statue in Battambang.

An interesting statue.

Battambang, Cambodia

Man sawing ice.

Ice delivery - would you like one lump or two?

Battambang, Cambodia

Bamboo railway station.

The Bamboo Railway station - run by the locals on a disused railway track.

Battambang, Cambodia

Nige and Al on the Bamboo Railway.

The "train" is a bamboo platform resting on the axles. It is powered by a small engine and rubber belt.

Battambang, Cambodia

Trains pass on the Bamboo Railway.

Train coming the other way? 
No problem. Dismantle one and let the other past - takes about a minute!

Battambang, Cambodia

Al in local Cafe.

Al enjoying a lemonade in a local cafe.

Stung Sangker River, Cambodia

River Boat.

We travelled by river boat from Battambang to Siem Reap. Our boat was a bit bigger than this one.

Stung Sangker River, Cambodia

River boat repairs.

Unfortunately it was not very reliable. Here the water pump is being attended to - the first of five breakdowns during the day!

Stung Sangker River, Cambodia

River blocked with weed.

Parts of the river were also clogged by floating weed. Our boat managed to forge a path through eventually.

Stung Sangker River, Cambodia

River dwellers.

The riverside dwellers are practically hemmed in by the floating weed and find it hard to battle through it in their small boats.

Stung Sangker River, Cambodia

River Dweller.

A young girl watches from her floating home as we make our way slowly down river.

Stung Sangker River, Cambodia

Riverside dwelling.

If you do not want to float on the river you should build your house on sticks to avoid being washed away during floods.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkor Thom gate.

The main tourist attractions in Cambodia are Angkor Wat and the other nearby temples. This is a gate to Angkor Thom.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkor Thom carvings

The stone carving is amazing - this wall is covered with Apsara dancing girls.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Neang with Al in Tuktuk.

We spent three days touring the temples Here is Al with our tuktuk driver Neang.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkor Thom reflection.

Angkor Thom with reflection in the moat. You have to visit during the rainy season to get this photo.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Silk factory.

A day off from the temples at a silk farm. Here the silk thread is being unwound from the silk worm cocoons.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Silk weaving.

The tie died thread is woven into patterned cloth. They can weave about 1.5m per day.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Tree growing on temple.

Ta Prohm temple - much of the jungle growth has been left in place.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Temple ruins.

Some of the temples are in ruins but still worth visiting.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Monk in tuktuk.

This monk had a long way to walk to the next temple so we offered him a lift. See if you can spot the gold teeth!

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Temple gate.

Another temple gate - these things are all over the place.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Banteay Srei temple.

Another temple - but this one has monkey statues.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Tuktuk factory.

Neang wanted to stop off at the tuktuk factory. This is his new tuktuk which should be ready in a few days.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Al visiting a temple.

Here is Al wandering around another temple.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Cambodian landscape.

A typical Cambodian landscape - rice paddys and palm trees.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Al buying palm sugar sweets.

Al and Neang buying palm sugar sweets after a hard day templing.

Langkawi, Malaysia

Strummer in boatyard

After Cambodia we spent eight days working in the boatyard. Strummer is now looking very smart with new anti-fouling.
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