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Hi All,
Today has been another of wading through the deep and struggling against the current, depth of water and the hidden potholes. We had arranged to meet Jen and Ric in town to save them the long, difficult walk here, so we set off and 1 and a quarter hrs later we arrived - a walk in the same temp without water would have take 20 mins max! The three females set off like aged ladies using an umbrella to find the edge of pavements and potholes - much hysterical laughter hid the fear of falling and wondering what on earth was wrapped around our legs or tickling toes. When we were on roads perpendicular to the river the current was so strong we could hardly move forwards and it was a struggle to stand too. However, we safely, albeit very wet arrived at our meeting point - first, but they very soon arrived.
After breakfast in Angkor Famous and entertainment from one of the waitresses I went to show SR to J and R whilst Lindsey and Sian went for yet another massage. Only the veg, meat and fish part of Phas Chas was open, but we had to wade through mid calf water and that was also mixed with the entrails of the meat, fish etc not pleasant! Then we preceded to walk along the road parallel to the river - so deep, even J's shorts were too long, but with now wet knickers too we continued up to the circle (roundabout to us Westerners) and along Sivathri - hard work and when a vehicle came along the wash nearly knocked us over. Eventually we got back to the Blue Pumpkin and had an ice cream. Mine ginger and black sesame it was delicious.
The walk back to here via a stop at Alan's for a drink was again very difficult, and we had to be so careful with the current pushing us along - water about mid thigh. Kids/teenagers etc were having a whale of a time jumping off the bridge and very tall trees into the river, fortunately, we didn't see any accidents.
J and R came back to look at my computer, for dinner and a game of cards. Bad news on the computer front - he took it completely apart, but couldn't find the problem unfortunately. I'm not sure whether to take it to someone here or wait until I'm back. After a haute cuisine dinner of pasta, bottled sauce and tuna we played Rummy - no scoring, so no winner.
J and R have now left to wade home in the dark - to them it is an adventure, but they are young, intrepid, fit and do not see the dangers like us oldies! Their hear torches to light the way and as there is so much water everyone about can be easily heard.
Tomorrow we are all meeting up at 8am to visit the temples, apparently it is ok out there. Globalteer have arranged for a truck to pick us up from here and take us to the circle (roundabout) where we are meeting them and our tuk for the day. Hopefully it will not rain, or be too hot, as we are not used to that.
Hopefully we will be able to go to Battambang on Tues, but we have to find the bus station for ourselves - hopefully the truck will be available and all well.
The water is not going down, but neither have we had more rain, although they have further north from where our river water comes, so who knows when we will live on dry land again.
Apparently 150 were killed by a flash flood in Chang Mai in N Thailand yesterday - it is a favourite haunt of backpackers, but I don't know anymore.
Enjoy and will be in touch again soon.
Love to all, J
- comments
Doreen I can't begin to imagine how you are all coping xx
Jon I am looking at these photogrpahs with awestruck fascination. The floods are something else and we never saw anything like that in 2010. That the market is flooded leaves me with staggered disbelief. And that everyone seems to be getting on with life as though it were just another day. Like Doreen imagining how one copes is very hard but I guess it's seen as just another of those little problems that determines everyday life in Cambodia for many people. One wonders if the builders on Ankor Wat understood all of this when the temples were built so that they remain above the floods? I am reading Nic Holland's book about Duch at the moment and it isn't easy. Hope the floods subside quickly and travel becomes a little easier for everyone. PS Please note new email address!