Day 15 - After booking the bus for 13:00 we had all morning to stroll round and tick off a couple of things we wanted to see in town. Breakfast taken at the rooftop restaurant of the hotel where I had, and I have to admit for the first time, an omelette pizza. Just had to order it to see what it was like. Alice went conservative with banana pancake with honey.

Packed our bags and left them at reception to wander to the old Battambang train station that is now derelict. It was built by the French but fell into disrepair under the Khmer Rouge regime and has never been resurrected. This is the same across Cambodia, there are train lines but none actually in use. The station clock reads 08:02 all day every day now. There were kids playing at the station and as soon as they saw us they ran towards us shouting hello. Not really sure what to expect, I had one hanging onto each arm and one wrapped around my waist! It sounds bad but it hard in Cambodia to know if there are ulterior motives behind this but if in Laos this is the norm that kids run and jump and just want to play. It was also a funny sight as Alice didn't want to cross the track just in case!! It did seem strange, although a train hadn't run on the track for 30 years, that you could just step across a train track.

Making a retreat from having my arms pulled off we headed down to where the Thai governor had built his house in 1907. A massive grand house with lovely garden that is still kept in pristine condition. We just strode past the guard point and in to take a peak, just the gardens though a you can't get into the house. Finishing here we went back up to the top end of town to take a breather in some shade by the river. A prime spot if you want marajauna or a taxi to the bus station as some guy kept pestering us about whether we want to get high or go on a bus. Whatever we answered he wouldn't go away so we made a hasty retreat.

We had a quick look around the local market before heading to the Gecko Cafe for a cold drink and an early lunch as we were getting the bus soon. I have to mention the starter we had, cream cheese wantons with chilli dipping sauce, were amazing and the BBQ chicken pizza was pretty good too! Back to the hotel to grab our bags but really bad timing as a large group had just turned up to all check in. We finally got some sense out of one chap who said we were being picked up from the hotel so to wait outside. 5 minutes later a guy emerged from the hotel and ushered us into his car along with an Italian guy. Nice chap who had come from Siem Reap the day before so not quite sure why he's going back after one day in Battamabang. Rolled up to the bus station where we met a girl from Liverpool who was also on our bus to Siem Reap. Another manic bus station but at least there were four of us to keep our eyes peeled and ask questions. Everyone seemed to get a sticker on their bag except me as when I have my gave my bag to the guy he just threw it in. At this point the person next to me said Phnom Penh and was pointed to the same bus as us. I jumped on the bus where Alice was already sat and said this to her. Did wonder two things, one, was my bag going to be there at the other end and two, where the other end was, Siem Reap or Phnom Penh. For the first 50km we kept our eyes peeled for the small road signs and we noticed one that said Mongkol Borei which was on the right road for Siem Reap, phew, panic over although maybe another night at the 252 in Phnom Penh wouldn't be all bad!

A few stops and 5 hours, yes 5 hours later (it was meant to take two to three), we arrived in Siem Reap. A big panic as we got off the bus, my bag was nowhere to be seen but luckily it was hiding right at the back of the storage area behind some boxes. Grabbing a tuk tuk for $2 arranged by the guy at the bus station we headed for the Golden Temple Villa or so we thought!! 10 minutes later we rolled up to the Siem Reap Villa and when we said it wasn't the place to the driver he looked very confused. Either the bus station guy hadn't told him right or he misheard him but it certainly wasn't the place and to be honest, if it was the right place, we wouldn't have stayed there, it was down an unlit almost dirt track and just looked dodgy! He made a few phone calls as the driver had never heard of our hotel which again was a bit strange and worrying in itself. Eventually we headed off hopefully to the right hotel. Arriving at the Golden Temple we jumped out and he started asking me for $3, cheeky git. I said no and he just smiled I guess fully expecting me to pay. Not sure if he was told $3 by the bus station man or he tried to charge is extra for his mistake, but either we just walked off.

A really nice welcome into the hotel with a nice cold towel and a nice drink. The receptionist sat with us for a bit and chatted through how things ran and the options available for tours etc. We checked in and headed for our room which was rather pokey but fully functional. A bit of planning for the next few days and we headed to reception to book our tuk tuk for tomorrow morning.

Heading out for dinner was a complete eye opener to say the least. There were literally thousands of tourists, either westerners, or Asian cramming pretty much every street and every restaurant. We headed down a street called 'Pub Street' which resembled Magaluf more than Cambodia. Bars everywhere, flashing neon lights, cheap deals etc etc, not what we were expecting and definitely not what we were looking for to get something to eat. We headed for a place called Khmer Kitchen (not on pub street) which was rammed as well but luckily we got a table. Large beerlao bottles so a good start and we both had amazing meals. A quick stroll through the night market looking for some elephant pants for Mel........no idea, nor have I and then it was back to the hotel for what I'm sure will be a tiring day tomorrow.