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Hello!
Thought I would make this one a short blog tonight, last night was a bit of an essay...sorry everyone!
Today me and Lucy left Siem Reap at 7am to catch a bus that would bring us to Kratie. Nothing is simple out here in Cambodia, so the 10 hour journey was bound to be eventfull!
Eventfull doesn't sum it up... the first leg of the journey was in an average coach similar to National Express at home. There was a TV screen at the front playing a lovely repeat of some Cambodian kareoke, and then a comedy sitcom which a group of men and women sat behind us found hilarious and were literally crying with laugter! The aircon didn't really work, it was more like a 'drip'of warmish water every so oftern, which would usually land on Lucy's lap. But besides these minor differences, the journey was pretty similar to your standard Swindon - London National Express Journey. We stopped half way at a petrol / toilet stop. I We rushed off desperate for the loo, kids pulling down their pants here there and everywhere to do their business, had to mind our step. The loos were just a hole in the ground...lovely! Goodbye Western toilets! A women slumped up against the bus holds out a plastic tub for contributions of money. She's holding the tinyést baby wrapped up in a blanket. As me and Luce looked out the window to watch if she got any money, we saw her pocket any notes that a passer by gave her, so it looked as though the basket was still empty- CHEEKY! As we pulled out of the station, I caught a glimpe of the baby - purple face and limp legs, for a moment we thought it might not be alive, but then I saw it cry!
After 5 hours we stoppe at a small drop off point in a place called sluong ( spelling may be wrong), where a crowd of men gathered by the doorway looking as though they were getting on..No no... they were there just to stare at me and Lucy! It was like we were a freak show, quite scary and off putting!
The next thing, we're being told to get onto a minibus 8 seater. They shove our big rucksaks onto a front seat, so we climb on with no idea as to where we're going or if we're even meant to be on it! The men from the doorway follw ud over and stand by the minibus pointing and saying something to us, but we had no idea what. A strange, slightly scary guy dressed in an orange T-shirt kept waving at us and saying 'No No'...very wierd! It seemed to be only me and Lucy getting onto the minibus which seemed odd so I turned to Lucy at one point and said 'Do you think we're getting kidnapped, how do we know we''re going the right way?' Hmmm...
10 minutes later, we are pointed to another minibus, crammed full of people already. 'Seriosly, we have to get on there, with all our bags?'' Yep!! we do. So we pile onto this bus, clambering over a couple of people to get onto the back seat. We watched our rucksacks being atattched into the boot by some rope... SAFE! The bus was falling apart, seats ripped, windows no longer there, roof carpeting fallling off and the doorways selotaped together. Aty one point we must have had about 15 people on board with us! At Kompong Chom we stopped to let most passengers off, so me and Lucy were asked to hop in the front with the driver. No seatbelts, very cosy. The windscreen had a massive crack running through the windscreen, and the MPH gage wasn't working so we appeared to be driving at 0MPH for the whole time - I think Not! Then it started raining, and the windscreen wipers didn't work....the driver looked at me and laughed. Lucy's side window wouldn't go up so she was getting soacked!...
The rain started to get worse and we could hardly see out of the window, out of no-where a god ran into the road and we were inches away from killing it. I think if me and Lucy hadn't been there the guy would have smacked into him! About an hour later we met a heard of cows on the road, again, inches away from hitting them! Ahhh...Not to worry you parents but if we'd hit them, I think me and Lucy would have been straight through the windscreen! Eek.
Anyway, we finally arrived safe and sound into Kratie at 6pm this evening, room is nice enough, bit mossie infested and I left my mossie plug in our room in Siem Reap! ooh dear!
Tommorow we're going dolphin watching. Love to all
Mds and Lucy xx
- comments
Mads Just realised it's not so short! Sorry! xx
Alan Just want to check...when the god ran out into the road did you stop to worship it?! Glad you are having such an exciting time, glad we hear all about after the excitement is over!! I hope thre next instalment tells a less hair-raising story! Dad xx
janice Booth Another hairy journey complete with god! Lovely! Glad you got there safe and sound - just... Glorious sunset here. Just had Viv and Jerome round for afternoon tea. They talked about their American experiences and we told them all about yours! Look forward to speaking tomorrow...
Dan and T Wow! Some people wait their whole lives to meet their maker and he just turned up on a road in Cambodia, and you darn nearly killed him! I think had you killed God the world would be a very different place. Next thing Father Christmas is going to run out in front of you! Glad you're having a fab time! Keep up the blogging and hopefully speak soon on Skype - give me a time and a day and we'll be online (pref any sat/sun). T sends lots of love, both waiting for a dominos pizza to arrive and I (Dan) feel rough as after a night on the rum and coke at the Vic (reggae dancing etc...) P.S: good spelling bob. xx love ya
Mads Haha!!! Totally didn't notice that spellling error!! what a silly billy...to be fair...easy mistake! xx
Emily Oh Moodle, you do make me laugh, I'm literally crying here reading this!! And just to let you know...you are a freak show. But we love you xxx