No Christmas calendar for us this year, as we're not really having a Christmas.

We caught the bus to Battambang and checked into a nice but cheap guesthouse, although they did put on a bit of pressure to see the sights with their tuk-tuk drivers. We found this a bit annoying so just for that we found another tuk-tuk and booked him instead. The driver was nice and spoke good English but didn't have the best start as he had a puncture that needed to be changed. So we sat on the side of the main road whilst this was done, which was actaully quite novel and funny so we didn't mind at all.

First stop was Phnom Banan; lots of steps to the top to see a Khmer temple, apparently very similar style to Angkor Wat. It was worth the climb as we were rewarded with impressive views. Next was Phnom Sampeau, another hill top temple and where there was a killing cave. It surprised us just how flat Cambodia is.

Then we were off to the Bamboo Train via the back roads through some villages. It was really amazing seeing the countryside, with Cambodian children running out to the roads waving and shouting hello as we passed. We both really enjoyed this and see what people love about this country.

The bamboo train was fun; it's a small bamboo platform on rail tracks powered by a petrol engine, but because there is only one track if there is anythings coming the other way, it gets dismantled and can be lifted off by hand. The locals use this for transport but we just paid for our own to take us down the track and back. It felt like a minature rails meets rollercoaster on a straight flat line. But it went pretty fast and was really bumpy it places-lots of fun!

Off to Siem Reap!