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Tim, Chris and Edd´s And James's Long Ol' Adventur
Hello,
I'm in Siem Riep in NW Cambodia at the moment and have been for 4 or 5 days. After finding a hostel with suitable hammocks, I spent 2 days doing nowt all really except wandering, eating, seeing some temple ceremonies and some more eating.
Last 2 days have been spent at Angkor which is truly awesome. Temples I saw include Angkor Wat, Bayon (Loads and loads of massive stone faces on towers), Preah something which is being eaten by the jungle like in the photo and tonnes of others all different in some way although now I'm a bit templed out.
Went around on one of these electric scooter thingies which are great fun and max out at apx 20kph. Still, it saved me from using my legs in this heat......although it didn't go up temple sides so I had to actually do some exercise for that.
Had wicked experience getting robbed today in beteween 2 temples. Was happily going along through the forest when guys (13-14), (thats their age by the way) made a line across the road while I was about 100m away. Sling shots out (this is no joke) and standing menacingly each one with a different pose (1 arms crossed, another sideways, hand on hips, spare slingshot hanging out back pocket), they barred my way. I was amazed and at 10 metres stopped to take a picture. Their leader however, a fierce brutish fellow came up before I had a chance and promptly removed an empty water bottle from my front basked. Another hand went to grab the 2nd. I kept a close hold of the full one and in so doing made them stutter. But instead of loose my cool, I gave them the 2nd empty one and then promptly made my geteway. When I looked behind, they were jumping up and down in triumph after what must have been their first highway robbery on an unsuspecting tourist. They then waved, laughing and I was in hysterics and waved back. But by the time I had recovered my wits and realised I'd got no photo, they had already slinked off back into the bushland with their 2 new empty water bottles and not to be found. Oh well.
Journey back was monsoonal with buckets of rain so got holed up in a local place. On returning to main site, bike battery was empty and on looking for a replacement, was told that all battery vendors had gone home as its raining (obviously). The way it works is, tourist rent bikes for 4$ day and replace bat for free whenever it runs out. So, with no battery and 15km back, I started to question what I should do. Tuk Tuk he said. No chance. Closest battery 10 km away. These bikes have peddles but it would be easier to move a tank. no chance. He said that these bikes were bad as they have big problem. 'What?' I said. 'Same one your having' he replies. The thing over here is that everything stops when it rains. It is thererfore very stupid for a tourist to come out here on a battery on the presumption he can replace it to go home even though all places apparently close at 6. What isturbrd me more was the fact that I appeared to be the only person having and to ever have had this problem. There is no logic to it! It's brilliant, cheap bike, free battery replacement, just make sure ure not still out there on low when it starts to rain. I love Cambodia!
But eventually, found kind gal who took me to a place 10 mins away which was battery heaven and we all lived happily ever after.
The End.
Chris
p.s. Sorry this was so bloody long
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