And here we are, our first taste of Cambodia and I have to admit, not the best place we've been so far (brownie points were scored however with the showing of High School Musical on the bus though!) The town is limited, pretty small and DEAD quiet. It's definitely somewhere to pass through rather than spend any time. It's also the place where I have the misfortune to see a Furry Friend (I'm too uncomfortable with the R.A.T word hence their new name) scoot across the street ahead of me. I think thats more to do with the fact that I haven't noticed them rather than the place being full of them though. We do however have two new beers. Angkor and Anchor. I think they could become new favourites.
The only real reason for coming was a) break up the 16 hour bus journey to Siem Reap and b) to see the endanger freshwater Irrawaddy dolphin (however since Grimshaw referred to them as Shawaddywaddy dolphins, the name has stuck).
As always arriving in a new place means we get 100s of new friends, all of which want to sell us something or take us somewhere. This time we lucked out and got chatting to a guy who worked for the hotel that we were planning on going to anyway so free tuk tuk it is then. After a rice soup (which tasted better than it sounds) and a mad dash to get sorted so we could go and see the dolphins, off we went. Reached the place that loosely resembled a pier and got chatting to two all american boys - seriously, these guys could have been advertising life as an american college jock! We sailed off into the sunset (one of the only decent ones we've had so far) and god damn it, there were loads of them! We managed to see a mother and it's baby, and so many dolphins swimming around the boat. Definitely a sight to remember. Unfortunately the little beggers were a little too quick for Dan and the camera so you'll just have to believe us. It's true I promise!
Heading back to land in the dark takes us on one more advienture. The driver seemed to be getting a little agitated just before the engine cuts out. Land is in sight (and we did have mobile phone reception) so no hysterics just yet. Then he stumbles upon a miraculous idea. He has us all move to the same side of the boat. At this point we realise what's happened - no petrol. Real planning on behalf of the company. Anyway, his plan worked. For a little while. When the engine cuts out, he starts to suck the remainder of the petrol (and probably all the scum in the bottle of the tank) through the system. After a few splutters off we go again. And dry land here we are! The only thing the journey back resulted in was an increase in Dan's knowledge of college football. Not a bad thing really.
So, after hurtling back to town in a tuk tuk, we made it in enough time for one of Dan's best parts of the evening. A United match. Watched with the hotel owner and his daughter. Awesome. Not the worlds best match but the first one we've caught in a while so there's no complaints. And with our beers bought with the money we saved crossing the border, all is good.
Foolishly early morning tomorrow however our early night seems to have disappeared in the haze of new beers. No major concerns though, plenty of time to sleep on a bus tomorrow! About 8 hours I think! Pretty good job too as much of my night was stressing about the number of ants in our room (and all over my tooth brush!) Damn local wildlife! Not to worry, I'm sure there'll be more of that to come......
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