Battambang

Monks on a bridge - what more can we say
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We weren't sure what to expect from Battambang, Cambodia's second city with 150,000 people, but we had one of our best days on the whole trip here. After bedding down for the night Michelle spent the morning learning to cook Khmer food at a small restaurant. It started with a trip to the market to buy the ingredients including fish which was so fresh it was still trying to make a bid for freedom by jumping out of the trays.

In the afternoon we put ourselves in the very capable hands of Ho Nhean (pronounced Onion! or near enough for us) and Rassey our motorbike drivers for a tour of the countryside. We set off through paddy fields and fruit plantations and every village or house we passed children and adults alike waved and said hello. Our drivers made excellent guides both speaking excellent English and we really got to know so much more about Cambodia by chatting as we cruised through the beautiful scenery.

Strolling around Battambang
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We visited a small temple on a hill but some of our best memories of the day were created when the heavens opened and it began to rain. It sounds strange but this meant we had to take shelter, first at Ho Nhean's grandparents house, or more specifically under, as the houses in the countryside are built on stilts with the living area underneath. This gave us a great chance to get to know them better. Then when we stopped for shelter in another village we were soon surrounded by four very sweet children. They hadn't seen a digital camera before and were very excited when we took pictures and videos of them- it was great fun.

View of Battambang city from our Hotel rooftop
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We drove alongside the river and saw where they grow peanuts and beans along the banks while the children played and washed in the muddy waters. The final adventure of the day was a ride on the "funny bamboo train". Basically the last remaining train service in Cambodia runs only once a week so the locals have used their considerable initative and fashioned small trains of their own made out of bamboo. Like sitting on a table tennis table as a small engine powers it to speeds of 25 mph just inches from the track. In our case it was even more daring as we did it in the dark with the drivers son holding a small torch to look out for animals ahead - wicked!

Cooking traditional Amok curry with two other tourists
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It was an unforgettable day thanks largely to our driver-guides and by the end of it friends, Ho Nhean and Rassey. When we had to leave town the next day after they had taken us to another orphanage it felt like saying goodbye to two old friends.

If anyones is going to Battambang we recommend contacting the boys by asking for Ho Nhean at the Royal Hotel or emailing nheanho@yahoo.com