Thai-Cambodoa Border to Siem Reap

Drove for 10 hours yesterday from Bangkok to Siem Reap in Cambodia.

The first 4-hour leg of the bus journey was very pleasant - air conditioned coach and clear roads. However the last 6 hours after we crossed the border into Cambodia was much more uncomfortable but alot of fun.

Only half the road from the border to Siem Reap is made. The other half is literally just dirt track. An international bank is sponsoring to have the road tarmaced but they've only got half way so far. So we drove through pot holes and when we weren't doing that, we were swerviung the road construction work. Twice we nearly crashed into other vehicles travelling in the opposite direction but who got in our way because they were avoiding pot holes. We bumped around so much in the bus that my bum ached when we got off! I couldn't read becuase the road was so bumpy!! However, the view out of the window was so interesting. It was lush green paddy fields for most of the way. Because we're here at the end of the monsoon season, ponds had filled up on the side of the road between the road and the paddy field. Kids were leaving their bikes on the road and jumping in and swimming and ox were drinking on the side. Further along, we saw shack houses built on stilts, with fmailies resting in the stilt area with chickens and dogs running around. Other vehicles on the road included bicycles, motorbikes and pick-up trucks which people hitched a ride on the back of.

We eventually got to our hotel in Siem Reap at about 5.30.