The road network in Cambodia has come a long way in the last decade.  Most of the main routes are now paved and travel times are a lot faster than quoted in the guidebooks only a few years old.  Unfortunately there are not may direct routes from "b" to "c".  Most people trip ends up looking like a star in because you almost always have to go back to Phnom Penh before heading to your next destination. 

Even though Siem reap is only a few hundred km as the crow flies from the 4000 islands it is a two day round about journey to get there.  I chose to stay overnight in Kampong Cham rather than Phnom Penh to cut off a few hours of total travel.  There was not really anything to do in town in the evening.  The bus left bright and early in the morning to get to Cambodia's biggest tourist attraction at a decent hour.

[Coming soon, I never ended up writing a journal entry for this... but I will tomorrow]

After a hectic first few days, reclaiming my delayed luggage, visiting temples after temples in Phnom Penh, and paying a visit to Toul Sleng prison, I set off to my father’s home town, Kampong Cham.
My cousin and I headed off to Kampong Cham late in the afternoon and arrived slightly before 8. The bus fare for the 3 hour drive was a measly 10,000 Riel (approx $2.50US). The road was fairly good; however certain portions needed heavy maintenance.

The following day we set off early in the morning to visit my very aged great uncle. The ride was long and draining, giving me a sore butt as we headed out into the countryside. After giving some fresh fruits as an offering (Bonn), we said by and set off.

We decided to try to set out to an ancient ruin that I had visited the previous year, situated in the middle of the rice fields. However Prasat Yeay Hom was inaccessible as the road leading to the ruin was shocking, and in order to set out to the ruin, we had to leave the motorbike in the middle of no where without anyone to mind it and waddle through a small creek. We ended up giving it a miss after the treacherous ride to the very entry point.

Along the way home to kill some time, we popped into countless local temples just to admire the architecture. Unfortunately I can't list the temples I visited as they are still on my camera and I haven’t yet transferred them!!!

[All the photos that I took at the many Wats I visited are long gone.... my memory card became corrupt and was going to retrieve it via data recovery but the Vietscamese stole my camera and daypack when I was in Hanoi]

Well after waiting for an hour in front of the Royal Palace on the 31st of October, for a fireworks display, I was utterly disappointed!

Apparently there were fireworks the night before, and I simply wasted my time coming back to Phnom Penh for the day, whereas I could of spent that extra day or so and extended my stay in Siemreap.

But the good thing is that there will be a much bigger fireworks display and a bigger festival during the 3 day Bonn Om Touk festival, which I will return for after my 2 days rest in Kampong Cham province.

Over the last few days I haven't really done much, except walk around the small town of Kampong Cham, and visit some relatives. So even though these last few days were designated for rest and family, I was always on my feet and always out and about... :S

My grandma fell over twice the other night, but she seems to be ok now...

I walked to a temple along the banks of the Mekong river and was greeted by a whole swarm of kids, wanting to have their pictures taken. I took a few snap happy shots just to please the kids and then was approached by a local, introducing himself in English. I decided to play along and converse in English for a while until he asked what nationality I was and then what ethnicity I was. This is so because he like many others thought I was either Korean or Japanese. As soon as I said I was also Khmer, he could not stop laughing at himself and just didn't believe me! LOL.

Anyways I'm returning to Phnom Penh tomorrow in order to go to a local temple festival called Bonn Katen and then also joining in the festivities of Bonn Om Touk, the big water festival!

Other than that there isn't much else to write since Kampong Cham is a fairly quiet town, and I've already visited many of its ancient ruins and temple sites. So yeah it gives me a breather for a few days as I anticipate more travelling and more festivities!

Allan