To Chi Phat
Since we re-planned and had a shorter day today, we left a bit later (when it seemed quite a bit hotter as well). Our road was still a highway, but we were not longer on the main Phnom Penh – Sihanoukville/coast artery, so that traffic was a lot lighter, and the cycling less dangerous. Somehow, though the road seemed to only go uphill – it was difficult for me to get any speed up and my pace was 3-5 km/h slower than on the previous days – just not a lot of energy (or it was warmer, or….). after about 60-odd km, we got to the town of Andoung Teuk.
After looking around for a while for a “restaurant with blue pillars” and not finding it, we finally found someone to help us with organize a boat to Chi Phat (about 20km up the river) for 30$ (2 people, 2 bikes) – 2 hour boat ride.
Yes – those are chickens (still alive) hanging out the back of the truck
The boat ride was interesting (but felt like it went on forever) – mangroves and wilderness on both sides of the river for most of the was – felt like you could have been on any jungle river (Amazon, in Africa…..). Got there eventually, and were quite disappointed – a poor village, garbage everywhere, a visitor center that only seems to cater for itself – everytime we wanted to get something somewhere else (beer, food, etc.), they told us we can and should get it at the visitor center.
The bungalows we ended up at (Firefly) were quite nice, outside of the village, without power (except 6:00pm to 10:00pm when a diesel generator ran, otherwise only 12V lamps available). The owner (middle aged woman) was very helpful (even though she could speak NO English), and it was all very pleasant and peaceful (even if the cycle to get there went over a very questionable bridge). We cycled into the village again for dinner with our headlamps for the cycle back afterwards.
(58km / 280m)