I wanted to explore some of the remote areas of Cambodia, so picked a point on the map miles to the west & headed there.
First I had to cross the Tonle Sap lake then head up the river for 5 hours. Unfortunately the boat I took had a slight problem with water - Called Sinking!
There was a electric pump & two young boys employed to keep it floating, but you could tell it was filing up as the rocking motion when the water sloshed form side to side got quite pronounced, if they got slow on the bailing!
I even repacked my sensitive gear into drybags I was that worried it would actually sink & I would have to swim to the shore.
We did make it to the river entrance, which was a relief, but then there was still 5 hours up the river!
Actually 8 hours later the driver just rammed it into the river bank & we were all told to get off. He had had enough, & had arranged with a friend at the last stop for transport to take us the rest of the way - Oh Good.
Actually not that good, as two pickup trucks were waiting a few hundred metres away - there were 38 of us!
So, 19 people a vehicle it was - plus luggage. Dont worry we were told, its only a few hours away, crossing dried river beds, endless fields & nothing much else.
We had to get out 4 times to push the truck out of bogs, & some 6 hours later when we arrived in Batambang we all looked like we had been towed through the fields as we were so dusty.
When I found a hotel, I actually got in the shower in my clothes to wash them, followed by my rucksack too.
Now thats Adventure!
Wandering Bear
