HA! That’s a salon down the road from the hotel we stayed at in Siem Reap. They boast a range of available styles.

Cambodia then. After a week in Bangkok we took a train to the border town of Aranya Prathet. Quite a tranquil ride for a while in nice seats at the front of the train, watching life glide past, watching the women chatting about this and that on their way home from market. Very peaceful. All of a sudden, everyone in our carriage is shouting and running past us with fear in their eyes. We had no idea why. One large lady was sat on the floor by the door and she’d shot off like lightening and the train is braking quite hard. Turns out a truck was on the line up ahead and wouldn’t move in time. One of the passengers had seen the truck out the front window and legged it. So we nearly died. Good times. The locals all found it hilarious.

We arrived at the broder town well prepared for the scams of overpriced visas and scam buses. We arranged a fare rate with a tuk-tuk driver and were promptly dropped in the middle of a visa scam. Bugger. Turned out OK though as we just walked away. Several more corrupt people later and we finally buy our visa and almost for the correct fee too.

Then we found ourselves in Poipet, or Scam Town as I like to remember it. We managed to bag a cheap car and driver again though and made our way to Siem Reap for 3 days of temple hopping amidst jungle, tuk-tuks, buses and monkies. Not to mention small children hollering “Hey you! You wan’ cold drink? 2 for 1 dollar!” in quite good american accents. The temple area is astoundingly scenic and atmospheric and a lot bigger than we imagined. There are photos somewhere of Vic pretending to have 2 pistols and doing a cartwheel outside the tomb used in Tomb Raider.

Then onto Battambang via boat. This was an experience. $20 each got us a transfer 1 hour late and a boat ride on the roof of a clapped-out barge that broke down. Anyway, we got there and spent a couple of days in and around town. Phi Lay our guide was a charismatic ex Khmer Rouge worker with a long tale to tell…

Now, after the world’s coldest coach, we are in Phnom Penh. Just spent the day visiting the Killing Fields and the Tuen Slong museum. A somber day.

More photos soon.

P.S FAO Tana, we were amused and a little surprised to find your sideline in the adult entertainment industry! The professionally named Tana Porn Clinic, Bangkok. We were also impressed to see you’ve dressed it up initially as a ‘dental clinic’ from the street so as to disguise your frankly shocking enterprise.

posted: Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 11:37
under: travels.
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