Cambodia

Day 6 : Battambang

Lesson #2. (Bat-tam-bong). Well - didn't we take a amazing little journey today?! There are a few ways to get to Battambang. Drive (takes forever), Speed boat (for grey haired tourists) or the boat that transports goods and locals.  Naturally,  we opted for the slow boat to Battambang from Siem Reap. A 5-12 hour (yes, they said 5-12 hours) journey depending on water levels, breakdowns and how many stops they need to make. The locals use the same boat as a taxi service from one village to the next which are all true floating villages.

Living on the water all year round, everything truly happens in boats. We departed at 7am and began in Lake Tonle Sap to get to a set of waterways that lead up river to the West-  sometimes squeezing through narrow waterways and passing through protected wetlands. You see littke kids boating around instead of riding bikes, swimming off their porches and chicken coops and pigs kept in houses because there is no yard.

Slow boat to Battambang. Just leaving. We chose the rooftop for a little air. HOT hot hot day. Here is OO before he got so burned and AFTER we warned him to put some damn sunscreen on.
Village life on the waters
A typical floating village. They all pretty much look just like this.
A close up of a house. Again they were all very similar to this. Some having tv's but most not.

Did you notice the satellite dish mounted on the house? TV and Internet??? From Rod Sherman, on Nov 25, 2012 at 05:26PM

The 7-11 lady. This little boat was packed to the gills with sodas, chips and anything she could cram into it.
A little boy cruising along in a typical boat. We saw even younger kids all alone in the boats with 3-4 in there just playing and paddling around.

What else are they going to do.....ride their bikes, play in the sand box, etc.? From Paul Sherman, on Dec 5, 2012 at 07:26PM

A pretty temple along the way.

When we arrived in Battambangwe were bombarded by the usual suspects getting off the boats on the docks.  Tuk Tuk and Taxi drivers begging for a fare - Still, much less agreessive then any other country we have been to thus far. Instead of stalking you, it is more like "you need Tuk Tuk? Taxi? Hotel? no? ok - moving on". I hope that laid back attitude doesn't go away as tourism infiltrates deeper and harder here. Our hotel was ok. clean, and Battambang itself was ok as well, nothing to write home about. Simple. Deteriorating colonial buildings that remind you just how much Cambodia has lost due to decades of war and turmoil. We had a nice dinner - 2 glasses of wine and 2 beers wine in a nice place -it felt like home and it was all $30 which is expensive here, but to home standards - a great deal.

In Battambang. Our Hotel, The Luxe. The name speaks for itself.
How is this for a clash of two worlds.....
Battambang market. Mmmmmm eggies. They have everything from chicken to duck, goose to quail....
The scene on the outer perimeter of the market. See what we mean about the massive amounts of motor bikes on the road. Not many cars here in Cambodia.
You name it, this chick has it - as long as its for the kitchen. Offering the finest in kitchen gadgets since Williams Sonoma
Battambang market. No, they aren't dead, they're just sleeping.
Battambang market Lady selling pig - and we mean the whole pig. And now you get to see the PJ thing I was referring to. Stylie.
Battambang market. A food vender stall within the market. No health department here i am guessing.
Pig liver and small intestine..... our delicious lunch. We still aren't sure what is in the middle - its like a combo.

that a girl. dirty street food. From pavone, on Nov 25, 2012 at 04:32AM

That's almost worse than the guinea pigs in Puru!!! 🙁 From Jill Mozer, on Nov 25, 2012 at 05:00PM

Massive squid. That calamari would be soooo delicious!
Battambang market Snails and mini clams smothered on Hot pepper sauce. A streetside snack.
A shout out to Sarah.... OO getting fancy jeans that would fit a 10 year old boy.
You want duck? I have duck. You buy duck.
And this is the stick broom lady - or a cleaning service you be the judge
Now this animal we let him pick up.

Creeeeeepy!!! From Other Cowles, on Nov 25, 2012 at 04:07AM

Totally! From Brian and Marisha Cowles, on Dec 4, 2012 at 08:01AM

 

Brian wants to open a store in the US that only sells these.....
Heading to the Gecko an upstairs cafe downtown - I don't think these will pass code....
B and the delicious mojitos at the Gecko
Hahahaha - see OO...told you! After a 7 hour boat ride in the direct sun with no sunblock he finally tracked down some aloe.
The Gecko - great drinks and a great cause.
a view from he Gecko balcony. To all my electritians....
A shout out to Sunny D

That is a great find! Trip looks awesome guys! Keep the posts coming!!! From Sunny D, on Nov 26, 2012 at 02:11PM

Beautiful pictures. The whole venture sounds so great. You really know how to travel and enjoy the culture. From Rod Sherman, on Nov 25, 2012 at 05:09PM

And lookie lookie ...Husker fans are cool. They travel - says Brian.

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