Last night we got persuaded into a day tour of Battambang and surrounding area. It turned into the best day tour I have ever had which took us completely off surprise. The tuk tuk driver was a very laid back nice guy with really good English.
We cruised around in the tuk tuk all day visiting the bamboo train, chilli farms, rice fields, several monasteries, killing caves, and even a winery.
The history of this poverty stricken country is unbelievable. I really felt like we got another culture shock learning about the very recent Khmer rouge rule under Pol pot and the tough time Cambodians have had.
Breakfast cambodian style with noodle soup and fruit shakes.
Cambodian wedding outside our hotel
This war statue was made up of parts of guns during the war. They wanted to do this so they could no longer use them as weapons if the guns were all dismantled.
Statue of grandfather Battambong in the middle of a roundabout on the main road
We had a ride on the bamboo train. They take you through rice fields to a small village where you can have a look around before coming back
The trains can go really fast so you gotta hang on tight
There was only one track so when you meet another train they had to take it off the tracks to let the other train go by.
This little fulla showed us their village and rice mill and made us a grasshopper out of flax.
A small wat (monastery) in the countryside of Battambang.
Our driver took a short cut across this walking bridge.
We stopped at a chilling farm where they were drying chillis.
Our tuk tuk driver had a chilli eating competition
Ladies in the field sorting the chillis
We visited a temple. Theses kids followed us up the steps waying fans in our face. When we stopped to rest so did they.
We had a great view from the top of the surrounding countryside
Top of the temple
Bats in the trees
People just throw rubbish everywhere. This rubbish on the edge of the river was half a metre high with chickens feeding in it
We were able to squeeze five of us on the tuk tuk
We walked to the killing caves used during the Pol Pot reguime where people were tortured then thrown to their death into this cave.
We watched sunset at the monastery on the hill. There were monkeys hanging out.
Our ride
Battambang is famous for its weekly not to be missed circus show which we came especially for. It was more like a performing arts show, really thought out and entertaining.
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