Cambodia - Battambang

A big lake just outside of Battambang where we had a coconut as a drink

We got a tuk tuk to take us on a tour, taking in the bamboo train which is powered by a small petrol engine.  The engines replaced bamboo sticks which they used to use to push it on with

You go on the train to a village about 7kms away where you have a drink before going back

It runs on the old single track which trains don't really use anymore as it's in such a bad state.  It's very rickety as you go around 20mph, until the inevitable happens and you meet a train coming the other way

The rules are, whichever train is lighter, gets off to allow the other one past

The bamboo body is simply lifted off, then the axles are taken.

We also went to the 'Killing Caves', another of the Khmer Rouge hell places

On top is a pagoda

This was Keoung, prob spelt wrong, who was a 14 year old guide who earns money to help pay for the English School that he attends

You're pretty high up once you go up the many steps and the views are good

To the left is the cave opening where the Khmer Rouge threw babies down

The adults would be hit over the head and thrown down there, if they didn't die straight away they were left anyway

Was fairly big, a teaching buddha, with students opposite

It was thirsty work climbing up and a coconut was the ideal drink to quench your thirst

At a point where the lookouts could see the road leading in, 2 guns were placed, one from Germany, one from Russia

Cambodia is fairly flat apart from the odd limestone mountain/hill that juts out occasionally

Looks like a giant mole's been digging

At the end of the day, millions of fruit bats would leave the caves, sometimes leaving in a continual line for 2 hours

They were hard to photograph as they moved quickly

Was quite a sight

Further out was an old temple, originally Hindu, but then rebuilt about 1000 years ago.  It's on the top of a big hill and getting up is knackering

Slipping coming down would not be an option, cos you wouldn't stop falling

At the top are 5 towers, a central one and 4 surrounding ones.  The middle one houses a monk in a hammock listening to the radio.  He will do a service should you wish

This is where the service is done

The view at the top is good

The view down the steps is sheer, not so good if you have vertigo

In Cambodia, there are good reasons to stay on the paths