14.03.2017 - Jordan

 

 

Our stay on Koh Ta Kiev island ending, we crossed the sea towards Sihanoukville. This time, waves are so messed up, the sky is dark. Is a storm coming? A first since we arrived in Cambodia! Fortunately we take a powerful speedboat, which runs on the water without worrying about the height of the waves. HOP, let's go in force! 

 

In Sihanoukville, we take time to rest in the meantime that Alex gets back from Phnom Penh. He went there to say goodbye to Sarah, who goes back to France. On our side, we're getting full of food, cafes and other vegetarian dishes! 

 

Even if the city is ugly, it's pretty funny and nice here. We even have the right to get candlelight dinners: on the two days we stayed, the whole town suffered from long blackouts. It isn't easy for the restaurants and other businesses to work in these conditions. 

SO, wood-fired pizzas! 

 

Night of bus. 

 

Klaxons, 

Emergency braking, 

Acceleration, 

Stop, 

Klaxons, 

Emergency braking, 

Acceleration, 

Arrival. 

 

BATTAMBANG, our exit door to Thailand and last Cambodian city.

 

Battambang is one of the major cities of the country, but surprisingly it gives the feeling of being in a village! The French colonial architecture is pleasant to look at. In fact, the warm side of Battambang is from the many small shops, cafes and restaurants. Also, there is almost no tourists. We are impressed!

 

To discover more, we go on a tour of the neighbourhoods and Buddhist temples. That's how we find ourselves in an odd cemetery. One of the buildings is covered with humanists papers, newspapers, texts and other photos. A nice reflection time. It also allows us to see how the war marked Cambodia and that it is still difficult to recover from it. Such as curious people, we enter a taekwondo building. A young teacher welcomes us there, and show us a short demonstration! It's great to see, but nobody wants to show up by trying the movements he teaches us! 

 

Back in town, we see the many street restaurants and stands. They seem to be cleaner than anywhere else in the country! And since it is the national holidays, everyone comes on the river side to drink beers and eat. Of course we do the same and find something to eat in a delicious ephemeral restaurant! The Chef is a young student who has motivated his whole family to do this little business for the duration of the national holidays. This is the first time we feel so well received! And the Khmer food is amazing: for a small price, we fill our bellies with curries and soups. 

 

The night fell, Cambodians have completely invaded the main streets. Impossible to move! Leaving ourselves going with the flow, we eat some desserts from frying stands. It's nice, the temperature is cool now. Anyway, being in a trip is nice, isn't it?