The first day in Battambang was activity filled! We started an 11km kayak down the Tonlé Sap. After we descended the moist, slippery and treacherous avenue down to the kayaks, were off! Unfortunately, the staff showed me a very strange position to sit on my kayak, which wasn't comfortable for my back, I ended up rotating between strange positions, including lying and squatting!
It was only after I discovered what looked like a seat did I become comfortable - not sure why they didn't tell me about that! To be honest, the guys who rented the kayaks to us seemed a little spacey, and they didn't have the key for the building at the end point of the trip to allow us to dismount, so we had to paddle further down the river to reach a bridge were we could be brought off and the driven in the back of the truck.
The afternoon was occupied with the bamboo train - something that would never be allowed in the UK due to health and safety concerns! When we met a bamboo train coming the other way, we had to stop and wait while the one with the lighter load had to be dismantled to let the other one through!It was a touristy thing to do, though we saw some locals using it as their form of transport. From the name, I was expecting a strong bamboo carriage pulled by an engine, which would have been interesting in itself. But it was far better and it was breath-taking.The bamboo platform is put on top of a set of wheels (not attached), and then run with a little tuk-tuk engine along a rickety old discontined French railway at speed - you will have to see the videos! Going over separated, badly welded or uneven joins in the track gave an interesting "rhythm" to the journey!
When we reached the end (half-way through our return journey) we were met by a very friendly family, and the kids showed us where their family extract rice from the crop - a very complex and room-sized machine! The tour came at the cost of the feeling of obligation when the family hinted at a tip, but then handed it to the driver!In the evening we went to the Smokin' Pot - cockroaches were spotted - where I had Chha Marah Prow. I was offered the choice of chilli level 3, 5 or 10 - the waiter informed me that level 10 will make me cry. I tried 10! The food was fiery but so tasty. My mouth burned and I sweated for about 10 minutes afterwards. Since the start of my sabbatical my chilli tolerance, and my demand for more of it to prevent food from tasting bland, has thoroughly increased.
