Our last day in lovely Battambang. With the taxi booked for 1200 we had a couple of hours to kill so wandered over to the museum. Very like UK museums of old it comprised a large room full of old stone relics each with a card giving a description and its age e.g. Khmer lintel, 11th century. Not exactly inspiring but there were some old pieces with incredible carvings on them. Then we wandered into another chamber and found a display about the Khmer Rouge days. Several large boards with photos and stories of how people had been displaced, families separated and family members not returning. We hadn’t fully understood until seeing this exhibit how pivotal Battambang had been during the KR days with encampments of those forcibly evacuated from Phnom Penh and being one of the major agricultural centres people were forced to live and work in. Very moving.
Back at the hotel we jumped into the waiting taxi and set off for Siem Reap. We do seem to get them. While this guy didn’t drive quite as fast, but that was probably due to the road rather than his desire, on a single carriageway road, packed with trucks, tuk tuks, mopeds and bikes he sped along very fast. Speed limits, schools, busy urban areas, nothing slowed him down. Worst of all was his persistent use of the horn. It seems Asian custom to give someone in front a quick pip if you will be passing close or need them to move over. This guy pip’d everyone he overtook. He was constantly jabbing his steering wheel.
Two and a half cringing hours later we arrived at the delightful Frangipani hotel. And then, serenity. The hotel is set back from the streets in an oasis of calm with super polite, well trained staff that attended to our every need. Shown to our room, it wafted with the delicate aroma of Frangipani and a sense of wellbeing overcame us. While Yvonne showered and enjoyed a proper cup of tea, Glenn went in search of an ATM that did not charge a fee. After some googling and a bit of street walking he eventually found one offering free withdrawals to most SE Asian countries - and the UK. It only saved $5 but it’s small victories like this that put a spring in his step (right guys?).
Neither of us could be bothered to walk into town so we dined in the hotel and found to our surprise that they offered some western dishes. You know how sometimes you fancy a curry or a chinese, well after 11 days of oriental food we just fancied something western. One pizza and spaghetti bolognaise later we retired a happy couple with the aroma of Frangipani wafting in the air.
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| We say farewell to Battambang Some of the Youngsters we've met in our time here. |
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