Battambang

Well, 20 people all wanting breakfast early at once taxed the kitchen staff severely, and we left the motel a few minutes late at 6:45 on a bus down to the ferry. Road impossibly narrow for the bus, and often we squeezed between stalls with only inches to spare. On to the ferry which was small, but not an ancient wooden one which I was expecting. Only broke down once going across the lake, then up the river past several floating villages that move locations depending on the water level. Zig zagged up the river, often reversing to turn corners. Eventually arrived at the town. Tied up at a shop and transferred by bus to a hotel in the town. It was classified as the best hotel in town, but its real rating was somewhere near comfortable.


Back to one dollar and two dollar lunches at the hotel restaurant. Tried a toasted ham and cheese sandwich. Funny cheese! Memo to self -- don't choose Western dishes in Asian restaurants. After lunch the group walked around town. Visited the obligatory pagoda -- actually a Hindu temple in a Buddhist monastery ground. Then to central market for a quick wander, and off to the local after-school program to teach English to a class of about 30 Cambodians including several monks. Most were in the 16 to 25 age range. They go five nights a week after school from 5 PM to 6 PM. Tea outside in the garden of the restaurant. Paid four dollars for two meals! Then had a party game of guess the celebrity. After 16 days it was surprising how many people still didn't know each other's names.