Siem Reap to Phnom Penh

So, thinking that it would be fun to try another type of transportation we booked the postal mail run from Siem Reap to  Phnom Penh. Wait, I should say I booked the mail run. So far it was our least favorite transfer, mainly because of the poor air conditioning for a sold out van. It is also quite a scary ride, no matter what vehicle you are driving. The last hour  it turns into a 4 lane road which was a huge relief to see. Until then the 2 lane road works as 5 lanes. The 2 shoulders are scooters and bikes, then regular traffic beside that, then centre lane becomes the chicken passing lane.  Being in a van it was easy to see everything that was going on, I much preferred sleeper busses that you knew it was bad but couldn't see it.

Our first stop of the day was a basket stop at basket seller section on the road, the driver got out and purchased about 8 baskets. No idea what for, but he seemed happy with his purchase. We did not receive one as a thank you for your business lol.

Lots of other things available for purchase on the side of the road, and usually whatever it was there were many vendors selling the exact same thing for at least 1km. There was the basket section,  Meat drying section, orange seller's, mango sellers and I'm sure I missed some in my heated snoozes. 

At one point some VIP came flying by with police lights on with a few cars driving in the middle of the raid.

Also interesting was how red the soil was in some places, reminded us of PEI at home.

Nearly forgot to mention, cows are not fenced in here, so along with crazy traffic you must also pay attention to cows crossing the road periodically. 

Finally arrived at the Post Office 6 hours later.  We had 2 bathroom breaks and a lunch break on the way,  oh and 1 basket purchase break as well. Whoever said plan on .5 day for moving around in SE Asia is being very generous. 

Tuk-tuk to our hotel, book a private tour for tomorrow,  find an ATM for some needed cash, pick up beer for the room and it is pool time. Perfect timing as it is just after 4 and happy hour, I am not in trouble for not ordering beer.

Since lunch was ice cream time to find some dinner. Twice now I have tried to have pad Thai and for different reasons it didn't work out. Tonight I was determined to find a Thai restaurant,  Google Maps has worked well for us with the stars and dollar signs do we try again. Find one about 20 minutes walk away, I can do that, it is down to 32 degrees now. Get to the restaurant and my first thought is this looks like a chain restaurant.  Yep, a chain restaurant.  Not moving, orders placed, decent meal, but won't be returning. 

Walked back to the hotel one side street off the main street we had walked down earlier, an entirely different environment.  People bringing their food carts home, I'm sure very little rest before food prep starts and they go out again.  Andre goes into a bar to check out buy 6 beer get 3 free, a man running in behind him going sir sir sir. Not exactly sure what was going on there,  maybe a cover charge or maybe I don't want to know what was inside. Tuk tuk drivers parking for the night, families eating on the sidewalk, I'm sure trying to escape the heat of their homes. Seeing all this again really makes we wonder why we barter down that couple of dollars, all for the luck of where and when we were born.

Back to the hotel, looking at the price list that we have seen in many hotels now. Do I want to buy a face cloth, bath mat, bed runner or laundry cloth bag from the hotel, and there are more options! We actually did hear a family checking out earlier in Vietnam that bought the hand towels, who knew this was a thing here.

Off to sleep, I hate shopping so will dream of shopping from my price list card of bedding and towels in our room, Andre maybe the mini bar list.

Todays Pictures:

A nice breakfast buffet

Always a selection of fresh fruits

We enjoy Pho for breakfast

Our place for 4 days plus 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and a kitchen since we got an upgrade

Pool at the hotel

Flowers by the pool

The post van for the 6 hour drive to Phnom Penh

I went looking for water and took a walk along the canal since we had 30 minutes to kill.

Lots of preparation for New Year next weekend

Where you get your laundry done, not sure what they do with the under stuff

Selling stuff for New Year

Lotus flower at a traffic circle

When you see someone selling something, there probably at least 20 more selling the same thing within 1 KM

to put outside store and temples and possibly as tombstones

Driver says I will take 6

Sun dried meat at reststop, I saw how it was made earlier, I will skip]

The earth is red

Cows that crossed in front of the van, they roam where they want

At least 20 more oranges sellers coming up

Drying rice

Only 10 of these place together

Saw many temples like this

20 mango sellers coming up

Lotus Flower lakes/ponds

I am going where is he going

First police check I have seem

Traffic circle

Our tuk-tuk driver from the bus station. May be an original for 30 years ago

Love the last line, this is what I ordered, see next picture, Very Very Spicy

Wendy had Soft Shell Crab Pad Thai, very good

Was lucky at the restaurant that they took credit card as I forgot my wallet with the cash in it. Most places take only cash so we used Wendy's credit card. Save myself a good KM walk.

Not so lucky at the Ice Cream place, Cash only