Kampong Cham, Cambodia

After Marlene left I spent time with a French man who lives in Turkey. His English was quite good and he talked on many different topics.

Francois had actually checked in the same day as Marlene and I but because I was out with her I did not spend much time with him.

Francois and I rented a tuk tuk and went into town in the late afternoon. We had a good look around and did some shopping. Our tuk tuk driver went over and above going around town looking for Diet Coke for me.

After shopping we had some beers at the Homestay. In the evenings the Homestay father sits and has beer with the guests. He doesn’t drink much but is sociable.

The menu here at our Homestay is cheap but very limited so I am craving something to eat that is not rice or noodles.

I can not face rice or noodles again tonight so I go to bed without dinner … I am full from beer anyway.

The next day Francois is leaving so I go with him in his tuk tuk to do some exploring in the city.

I bought some pastries for lunch just for a change. Chicken and pepper … they are good. I had problems getting back to my homestay. A driver picks me up and assures me that he can take me home. Half an hour later he is dropping me off where he picked me up … I tipped him anyway. Another driver picks me up and takes me home no problems.

I had planned to rent a scooter while in Cambodia and added it as an extra to my insurance. I have been a bit scared to do this but today with only 2 days left here I decide to do it. My plan is to get some confidence so that when I go to Siem Reap I can visit Angkor Wat with a scooter.

So I tell my Homestay mother that I want one and within 15 minutes it is here. I figure that it is very quiet around here and a good place to practise. The rental cost is $10 for one and a half days.

They lady renting me the scooter seemed a bit concerned when I was unsure what side of the road to drive on. I do know … I just needed reassurance. She started giving me instructions like, use your mirrors, look both ways before pulling out … all in pigeon English of course.

I told her not to worry and that I had driven on the road many times … just not on the right hand side.

I started off shakily exploring the roads locally. I don’t have wifi so I was lost a number of times and also worried at one stage about being home before dark. I am only going 20 to 30 kmph … people on bicycles are passing me.

Anyway enough is enough and I need to relax and have vodka after this. I will give the scooter driving another go tomorrow.

I order noodles with vegetables and fried eggs for dinner but after a couple of mouthfuls I feed it to the chickens ... I must find some different food on my travels tomorrow.

So today I go exploring again. I look at the map to see where I went yesterday and also where I went wrong with getting lost.

I manage to make it into the city and travel with heavy traffic and also get more confident with the roundabouts. The rule with the roundabouts seems to be that the larger the vehicle has the right of way. So on a scooter I give way to everything. I learned that the hard way when I thought I had right of way but realised that the car is not stopping.

Also cars just pull out in front of you … lesson learned today … give cars and trucks more respect … they are the boss on the roads.

Anyway I made it unscathed and before I stopped riding today I bought myself a whole roast duck dinner … waiting for me in the fridge and also some bread and bananas ... just so I can have some different food.

I am actually looking forward to being in the tourist town of Siem Reap where I will have some food variety. Maybe I can get an ice cold smoothie or something similar.

I have a problem with the wet markets. Here the markets spill out onto the streets. I was stuck in a traffic jam today in the wet market … trying not to throw up. I have a problem with the strong smells of off fish, pork, chicken.

Needs to be completed