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D Eric | profile | all galleries >> Eric's Trip to South East Asia -2008 >> Southern Cambodia and Thailand tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Southern Cambodia and Thailand

After Nepal I returned to Cambodia to rejoin my Kiwi touring friend Femke, and we rode through southern Cambodia and eastern Thailand through monsoon rains, the beaches of Cambodia, and the island of Koh Chang in Thailand. Luckily it didn't rain the whole time, and the countryside and beaches were amazing. We finally reached paradise at the the farthest end of Koh Chang Island after a long hard ride... it was difficult to leave knowing that it was back to Bangkok, home, and the real world.
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Back in Phnom Penh, and enjoying the excellent food- for some reason, Femke really liked the Kiwi bakery...
Back in Phnom Penh, and enjoying the excellent food- for some reason, Femke really liked the Kiwi bakery...		 Here we are at the Foreign Correspondance Club, or FCC, which overlooks the Mekong River.
Here we are at the Foreign Correspondance Club, or FCC, which overlooks the Mekong River.		 Eating at the 'Friends' restaurant- a non-profit that works to keep kids off the streets. The food was incredible!
Eating at the 'Friends' restaurant- a non-profit that works to keep kids off the streets. The food was incredible!
Wedding procession
Wedding procession		 As we headed south through Cambodia to the coast, kids on the way to or from school were a common sight.
As we headed south through Cambodia to the coast, kids on the way to or from school were a common sight.		 We always got smiles, waves, and laughter...
We always got smiles, waves, and laughter...
An ancient Angkor era ruin
An ancient Angkor era ruin		 Cambodians would often ride up and chat with us as we rode along. Usually asking us our names and where we were from
Cambodians would often ride up and chat with us as we rode along. Usually asking us our names and where we were from		 One of the guest houses that we stayed in.
One of the guest houses that we stayed in.
Riding through the rice paddies- it looks very different during the monsoons than during the dry season
Riding through the rice paddies- it looks very different during the monsoons than during the dry season		 Traditional way of plowing the rice paddies
Traditional way of plowing the rice paddies		 We took the back roads and saw some beautiful parts of rural Cambodia
We took the back roads and saw some beautiful parts of rural Cambodia
I never tried riding with an umbrella, although we saw many people riding with them
I never tried riding with an umbrella, although we saw many people riding with them		 Water everywhere!
Water everywhere!		 camthai_015.jpg
camthai_015.jpg
Interested and friendly people everywhere
Interested and friendly people everywhere		 camthai_017.JPG
camthai_017.JPG		 Rice paddies and temples
Rice paddies and temples
camthai_019.JPG
camthai_019.JPG		 Heavy traffic in rural Cambodia
Heavy traffic in rural Cambodia		 The monsoon rains take their toll on the roads
The monsoon rains take their toll on the roads
We rode through some pretty heavy rains, but usually managed to find a sheltered spot to avoid the worst of it
We rode through some pretty heavy rains, but usually managed to find a sheltered spot to avoid the worst of it		 The biggest pothole ever!
The biggest pothole ever!		 Femke made it through without a problem
Femke made it through without a problem
I wasn't so lucky- I tried to ride through and fell in!
I wasn't so lucky- I tried to ride through and fell in!		 I'm still rinsing red mud out of my gear
I'm still rinsing red mud out of my gear		 One of the thatch bungalows we stayed at in Kep, along the coast
One of the thatch bungalows we stayed at in Kep, along the coast
Femke's doesn't like Hummers, particularly in Cambodia
Femke's doesn't like Hummers, particularly in Cambodia		 A statue of a Cambodian woman at the coast- the rain clouds were threatening again
A statue of a Cambodian woman at the coast- the rain clouds were threatening again		 The sleepy coastal village of Kep, once playground of the rich
The sleepy coastal village of Kep, once playground of the rich
Eating at one of the many seaside seafood restaurants. Amazingly, the people who run the little shops often live there too
Eating at one of the many seaside seafood restaurants. Amazingly, the people who run the little shops often live there too		 A strange setting- there were many abandoned mansions, signs of opulence from before the Khmer Rouge
A strange setting- there were many abandoned mansions, signs of opulence from before the Khmer Rouge		 The odd part was that the grounds were often well kept, even though the mansions were falling down
The odd part was that the grounds were often well kept, even though the mansions were falling down
Seaside in Kep
Seaside in Kep		 Riding along the coast
Riding along the coast		 The guest house in Kampot, which was once world famous for black pepper
The guest house in Kampot, which was once world famous for black pepper
Ready for another wet day of riding from Kampot to Sihanoukville
Ready for another wet day of riding from Kampot to Sihanoukville		 The battery delivery guy- many homes in rural Cambodia don't have electricity, so they use car batteries
The battery delivery guy- many homes in rural Cambodia don't have electricity, so they use car batteries		 Waiting out the rain. Yes, that is a showercap on my helmet.
Waiting out the rain. Yes, that is a showercap on my helmet.
Life goes on, rain or shine
Life goes on, rain or shine		 This load is extreme even for Camodia, where they make the most of their transportation
This load is extreme even for Camodia, where they make the most of their transportation		 camthai_042.JPG
camthai_042.JPG
A typical family cruiser in Cambodia- if you look closely, you can count four sets of legs!
A typical family cruiser in Cambodia- if you look closely, you can count four sets of legs!		 After the rains let up
After the rains let up		 Lunch time! We met another spanish cyclist here who was a purist- no buses or ferries. (We were planning on taking the ferry)
Lunch time! We met another spanish cyclist here who was a purist- no buses or ferries. (We were planning on taking the ferry)
Sihanoukville is the only deep water port in Cambodia, so the road to it had lots of truck traffic
Sihanoukville is the only deep water port in Cambodia, so the road to it had lots of truck traffic		 Gotta pay attention, although most drivers in Cambodia were very courteous and used to sharing the road
Gotta pay attention, although most drivers in Cambodia were very courteous and used to sharing the road		 Cambodian family of five on a scooter (we passed them!)
Cambodian family of five on a scooter (we passed them!)
The seaside resort of Sihanoukville- a very mixed bag of a place. Lots of 'sexpats', or sex trade tourists
The seaside resort of Sihanoukville- a very mixed bag of a place. Lots of 'sexpats', or sex trade tourists		 After some looking, we found a great bungalows right on the waterfront
After some looking, we found a great bungalows right on the waterfront		 Relaxing with tasty food, yummy cocktails, and great ambiance on the waterfront
Relaxing with tasty food, yummy cocktails, and great ambiance on the waterfront
The view from the bungalow, which cost about $12 a night!
The view from the bungalow, which cost about $12 a night!		 Storm clouds on the horizon...
Storm clouds on the horizon...		 Taking the ferry to Koh Kong near the Thai border- the ride was too long, and the ferry was a fun way to travel
Taking the ferry to Koh Kong near the Thai border- the ride was too long, and the ferry was a fun way to travel
The bikes were strapped to the roof of the ferry. Luckily we had good weather, but bad movies and karaoke
The bikes were strapped to the roof of the ferry. Luckily we had good weather, but bad movies and karaoke		 The guesthouse in Koh Kong, another 'sexpat' hangout
The guesthouse in Koh Kong, another 'sexpat' hangout		 Riding to the Thai border
Riding to the Thai border
The local kids kept us company for part of the ride
The local kids kept us company for part of the ride		 Not mch traffic on this road- the dogs sleep in the middle of the road!
Not mch traffic on this road- the dogs sleep in the middle of the road!		 At the Thai border- gambling is illegal in Thailand, so just across the border is a huge casino
At the Thai border- gambling is illegal in Thailand, so just across the border is a huge casino
Moving goods by hand across the border
Moving goods by hand across the border		 The night market in Trat- lots and lots of yummy (and strange) food!
The night market in Trat- lots and lots of yummy (and strange) food!		 Waiting for the ferry to Koh Chang island. I love my bike- it's a great way to travel.
Waiting for the ferry to Koh Chang island. I love my bike- it's a great way to travel.
On the ferry
On the ferry		 We rode down the quieter, less developed side of the island
We rode down the quieter, less developed side of the island		 We did pass a shooting range though- probably not very quiet there
We did pass a shooting range though- probably not very quiet there
Something for everybody!
Something for everybody!		 The views were stunning at the south side of the island!
The views were stunning at the south side of the island!		 We were headed for a quiet resort we read about in our book at the end of the road- but we didn't plan on the road doing this!
We were headed for a quiet resort we read about in our book at the end of the road- but we didn't plan on the road doing this!
As the sun started to set, the road got steeper and twistier
As the sun started to set, the road got steeper and twistier		 And more beautiful!
And more beautiful!		 Riding down the hairpin turns
Riding down the hairpin turns
The road was nice and paved... here. It turned to dirt and potholes after a few more miles.
The road was nice and paved... here. It turned to dirt and potholes after a few more miles.		 The scenery was great, but we had no idea how much farther we had to go.
The scenery was great, but we had no idea how much farther we had to go.		 Pushing up the steep hills- would we make it before dark?
Pushing up the steep hills- would we make it before dark?
Puppies, kittens, cold beer, and empty beaches- we found Paradise at last!
Puppies, kittens, cold beer, and empty beaches- we found Paradise at last!		 Long beach...
Long beach...		 Tropical paradise
Tropical paradise
Femke catches some sun- the monsoons had let up
Femke catches some sun- the monsoons had let up		 Paparazzi shot
Paparazzi shot		 camthai_081.JPG
camthai_081.JPG
Bungalows along the beach- each one was different
Bungalows along the beach- each one was different		 camthai_083.JPG
camthai_083.JPG		 My trusty steed outside the bungalow
My trusty steed outside the bungalow
Inside the bungalow- note the kitten that is cute by day, but a terror by night
Inside the bungalow- note the kitten that is cute by day, but a terror by night		 camthai_086.JPG
camthai_086.JPG		 camthai_087.JPG
camthai_087.JPG
Chillin' on the deck
Chillin' on the deck		 Chillin' on the deck
Chillin' on the deck		 Can't get any cuter than this!
Can't get any cuter than this!
Unless there are two of them!
Unless there are two of them!		 Or five!
Or five!		 Caught in the act
Caught in the act
Who me? I didn't do anything...
Who me? I didn't do anything...		 Food coma after dinner
Food coma after dinner		 I learned to love the Thai currys- YUM!
I learned to love the Thai currys- YUM!
A quiet and bittersweet moment on the beach- one of the last days of my adventure, spent in paradise
A quiet and bittersweet moment on the beach- one of the last days of my adventure, spent in paradise		 Dressing up for a last dinner out in Bangkok
Dressing up for a last dinner out in Bangkok		 Goodbye southeast Asia- I'll never forget you!
Goodbye southeast Asia- I'll never forget you!
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