I was told to be on the roadside by 7am and we finally reached our destination at 2.30pm. What was funny was the fact that I was back in the same town I visited last weekend. This time we travelled in two cars instead of a bus, which made it a bit more comfortable, and we also avoided the terrible road we were on a week ago.
As usual, we practiced absolute flexibility and patience. One friend was late so Vuth and I went off to have noodles. We always go to the same place and I always have seafood and noodle soup with bean sprouts. I'm fascinated with the staff because they wear a plastic shield which sits in front of their mouths so they don't contaminate the food, and presumably the clients.
After breakfast we set off to meet the rest of the group. I sat for a while in the living room which had four motorbikes parked in it. People also drive their cars into the living room at night time. It's quite something, having a relaxing evening, surrounded by motorbikes and cars.
In the car I sat in my own little world while the Khmer friends chatted away. I have no idea what they were talking about but it went on non-stop for the entire trip. Along the highway we decided to stop at a roadside stall to buy some fruit - custard apple and sour sop; both delicious and juicy. Vuth and I relaxed in hammocks and had a coconut drink. I was just going to throw mine away as I'd finished the drink when Vuth told me to give it to the lady to cut it open so we could eat the flesh. It came back, cut in half, with part of the shell made into a spoon. When I'd finished I put it on the ground and a lone duck came to finish things off. He was joined by two hens and almost twenty chickens. I'd had a big breakfast so I wasn't that hungry but then boiled corn on the cob appeared.
Not long after we stopped again for lunch. This time it was by a fast flowing river. We climbed down rocky steps to a platform with mats. This kind of meal is always a challenge for me because the food is traditional Khmer. The flavours are so different to what you find in restaurants. We had a chicken soup and Thornin asked if I wanted meat or bones. The meat always has tiny bits of bone in it. I imagine the cook chases the chicken with a large knife and just whacks at it as it runs along. I can see no other reason why there are so many bits of bone. I sat by the river and tossed the skin and bone into the water. There was also a chicken and ginger dish which was too much of a challenge as Thornin had asked for it to have chillies in it. The youth had a group conversation so I headed off to a hammock and had a snooze.
From there we went to a waterfall which meant climbing 396 steps - I know because I counted them - plus a scramble when the steps ended. The base of the waterfall is a large flat area of rock which is quite slippery in places. I saw young people walking along and then going flying through the air and landing on their backside. The water's cold but the people wore clothing and had fun going under the waterfall. When we got back to the cars the group decided it was time for more food - this time it was a sugar cane juice. There were twelve of us so it was taking the lady quite a while to put the canes through the machine which squeezes out the juice. The ladies in our group decided to help her by filling containers with ice and then scooping the juice into them. It's a lovely, refreshing drink.
Around 6pm we finally checked into the hotel at Kampot but only to drop our bags and go off for yet another meal. This time we drove the 20 km to Kep which is a seaside resort. A micro-finance company was having a year end staff party. They'd hired a stage with dancers and singers and set up tables so the rest of us had free entertainment. Some of the group went off to buy food at the market as we intended to have a picnic on the beach. They came back with fresh crab, prawns, squid, fish and rice - all cooked by ladies at the market - and we settled down for a meal. I've no idea where Cambodians put their food; they are eating long after I've decided I'm full yet they are generally so skinny.
I was glad to finally get to my room. The folks decided I needed a room to myself, which is nice, but a bit quiet; I always enjoy sharing a room and having a chat before sleep. I suppose tomorrow will be another eating and moving day and I'll have to get my brain around the fact that it'll be another long drive back to Phnom Penh.
