Crazy cyclo tour of Phnom Penh –second day in Cambodia
A day of orientation on a cyclo around Phnom Penh could also be called first orientation to the crazy traffic system. After a useful explanation of how the cyclo driver would ride up the wrong side of the dual carriageway and undercut the traffic to turn left – and not to be alarmed by this, we each mounted sat in our cyclo. These look like a wheel chair precariously attached to the front wheels of a bicycle on which a stick thin man sits and pedals (Angela’s description). 2 front wheels, one rear ,one hubbrake to rear wheel operated by pulling a rod behind drivers seat, heavy duty motorbike type chain to drive wheels to overcome inertia of two bodies (Chris description).
Photo of Chris and cyclo man.
Photo of Angela in Cyclo.
We briefly visited the Royal Palace –this will definitely be worth a half day revisit. It sits on the Banks of the Tonle Sap river as it joins the Mekong.
Photo of Chris in front of the Mekong
We went onto the Central Market where Chris bargained for some sandals –she passes you a mobile phone with a gorgeous picture of her baby on it and the first price $18 you then input $12 next to her babys face –you eventually settle on $13 feeling a bit of a heel. The market is huge and very easy to get lost in. The Sandals are marked Clarks (ie Clarks of Kendal UK) I dont think so!
Photo of Central Market
We called at the Vietnam Friendship Park which was built to commemorate the Vietnamese driving out Pol Pot . It was about 38 degrees there so quick photo and back on the bikes.
Photo of Chris by the Vietnamese Friendship Monument
A further exciting ride through the traffic brought us to the French style post office then on to lunch of Chicken Cashew and Mango with rice..
Photos –sights on the Phnom Penh Roads
After this it was time for a siesta – not a bad start to life of a volunteer!
Photo of our Cyclos parked in front of the Royal Palace.
Half past 11, still sat in bed after night out at Hilton Manchester with Noddy Holder and Jim McDonald........... how different our lives are right now!
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, it looks fab - look forward to seeing more. Deb and Gary xx
Its looks cleaner and far more salubrious than Morecambe!!
ReplyDeleteThey dont charge $12 for sandals here though.
Nice first picture of Chris and the Mekong
Great to see/read of your initial experiences. It looks clean, bright-and fun!?!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, thinking of you both,
love
Wendy
Crikey - what tourists!
ReplyDeleteYour photos suggest you had the place to yourselves - not at all the dusty free-for-all bustle I imagined.
Great to have some preconceptions shattered.
Long may your adventure be populated with great shareable experiences.
Dear Chris and Angela,
ReplyDeleteI have seen your photographs and was very inteerrested9sorry about that, it is along time since I used a typewriter, years infact.Wendy hasput me in front of this machine and told me to get on with it, I am sitting here with my drink to hand, I wish you were hhhhere to have the other half with me,,,,,,I still have the label round the bottle, Chris, I ca nsee why youhad to have motor cycle lessons before yhoou left;Iiiiiiiii it doesn’t look as 9f anyone there had any lessons. Quick slerp there. I;m sorry I don’t know how to get a new paragraph and Wendy has gone upstairs. Hasthe heat affected you yrt///.Thatis supposed to be a question mark.Sorry; I think yolu must be feed up with my poor attempt. I wwas thinking of you and wanted to send you a letter so Wendy suggested I email you.
My bery best wishes to you both,
With love from Olga.