What a great day this was going to be. Headed out of Stung Trend it was already obvious it would be another gloriously hot day. A huge bridge spanning the Mekong River was a modern and impressive site compared to the French Colonial style townships I have mostly seen.
The great thing about a detour is that it throws up new and interesting scenes.
The three lads were rightly proud of their builds. Made from scraps of wood, string, bottle tops and tooth picks. I was really impressed and despite no other words than hello and bye. It was a heart warming encounter. They will grow up to be masters of recycling, repurposing and maintaining the things they have, as all these people do. Rural Cambodia has no throw away culture, everything is used until it can no longer be used, at which point it is repurposed (baring the enormous deluge of single use plastics).
My second detour led me 30km to a waterfall on the border of Cambodia and Laos, where the mighty Mekong flows.
After the 30km back to the main road I needed yet another drink.
The math’s doesn’t compute to me. There are literally thousands of roadside stalls all the same. How do they earn enough to support themselves. There are rarely other people about when I stop. My trade brings in pennies. I suppose there’s no rent to pay as properties are handed down.
I was getting closer to Preah Vihear. Although still 29km away, the bike was purring along and I was in my happy place. I saw behind a bike with flashing lights. I slowed and waited, it drew alongside, it was a Yamaha MT. I gave the rider a thumbs up, relieved it wasn’t a Police bike with flashing lights. He slowed and we managed a fist bump. He then rode ahead of me, slowly getting further ahead. Then all of a sudden I was back with him. I knew I hadn’t sped up, so clearly he had slowed down. He signalled left and flagged me down to stop at a roadside shack. His name is Janal, although it looks a whole lot different in Khmer. A thoroughly nice guy whose female friend owned the shack (Not girlfriend or wife he told me). He got me a large bottle of water and paid for it, refusing my offer to pay. He works for a big drinks company that supply bottled water, various soft drinks and beer to Cambodia. After our chat in English and Google Translate, we rode together to Preah Vihear, where we went our seperate ways, but not before becoming FB friends.
I booked into my charming hotel, found a resteraunt and a coffee bar. Day done I hit the sack.
Earth, Wind and Tyres 