Bus to Siem Reap

At the next shop stop, a little boy collects payment for use of the toilet (a hole in the ground). The assistant to the bus driver splashes down the steaming radiator and shy smiles & glances from the outdoor kiosk girls towards Marc go unnoticed as he sings and shuffles along to his ipod.

Bus to Siem Reap

Both fellas can't speak english and I can't speak Khmer (yet!), but fortunately a young woman sitting behind us breaks the ice by translating our small talk. She tells me she works for the US embassy but that what she does there is top secret. Her companion is an older woman who converses in French. I can understand her but find it difficult to converse. All the same we learn that her son has set up a hospitality school in Siem Reap and that we should take a visit.

Bus to Siem Reap

I meet a couple of very shy young men, sitting across from me, curious about this visual diary. I invite them to contribute to it's pages and am rewarded with this country scene.

Bus to Siem Reap

The Bus is very comfortable even though we're sitting on the back wheels and part motor. I'm surprised at the comfy seats, air con! and no smoking (in fact I've seen few people smoking but we've only been here one day). All aboard, we head off passed the Olympic soccer stadium and Royal Palace, over the Mekong River, dilapidated stilt houses crowding it's muddy banks and into the countryside; rice paddies & palm trees, water buffalo & mangy dogs, hammocks & buddhist temples. When we eventually stop for lunch, little girls implore us to buy bags of juicy mango or pineapple served with red tangy condiment (salt, chilli & MSG!)

Bus to Siem Reap

Bus to Siem Reap

Took tuk-tuk with Jai & Marc to Capitol Guest House.