Battam Bang to Pailin
Today was hot. It was another 102'F day. There was no shade on the ride but it was all on pavement (faster but hotter). I don't think I have ever sweat this much before. We got an early start and rode hard. This group has some exceptional riders. One our guides rides for the Cambodian National Cycling team has said that after 7 years of cycling tours, we are the strongest group he has ever rode with. For us to come out here in the dead of the Boise winter and go from a low of -2'F to a high of 102'F and kick some ass is pretty impressive. With the heat and hills today I hung with the lead pack for the first 55K. I slowed a little for the next 30K, there was a breakaway group of three people that I just couldn't seem to keep up with. And the last 5K was after a lunch stop, and we all stayed together. I'm one of the stronger riders on the trip but it has made me relize that I've been a bit lazy with my training and should push a little harder, do more intervals and more group rides.
Points of interest for the day: malaria warning signs along the road (first time we've seen that, hurray for malerone even if it makes me blotchy) and watching people sweep for land mines. Yep, you read that right, land mines. This area of Cambodia was the last holdout of the Kahmer Rouge and still contains some land mines. We were told that for today, no pit stops in the bush, always find a bankon (Cambodian for toilet). It seems surreal to think of them still having some land mines. They said, 95% have been removed, still nuts. Apparently landmine clean up efforts cost 30 million a year and will take another 10 to 20 years to clean up. What a nasty, evil things landmines are.
Tomorrow we cross over to Thailand. Will be interesting to see the changes as Thailand has a much higher standard of living. The average income per capita of Thailand is $5300 (by comparison Vietnam is $1374, Cambodia is $853).
Going to add some random pictures that I haven't posted yet...
Cambodian spray tan! (The dirt roads are very dusty and reddish dirt that sticks to sweaty legs and sunblock)
The group riding on a dirt road in Cambodia.
Cambodian air filter. I have a thin scarf to tie around my face when the dust is really bad. Oddly, in Vietnam many of the women wore masks on motor scooters. It is partly for dust but mostly to keep from getting tan as pail skin is considered more attractive.
Temple indicator. These arches iindicate a road that has a temple on it from a bigger road. There are manynof thes as there are over 4000 temples in Cambodia.
Mmmmm! Mijito! So refreshing!
Butterfly
Cambodian gas station. This is a common site. The bottles are a liter of gas for the motor scooters.
Baby monkey.
Points of interest for the day: malaria warning signs along the road (first time we've seen that, hurray for malerone even if it makes me blotchy) and watching people sweep for land mines. Yep, you read that right, land mines. This area of Cambodia was the last holdout of the Kahmer Rouge and still contains some land mines. We were told that for today, no pit stops in the bush, always find a bankon (Cambodian for toilet). It seems surreal to think of them still having some land mines. They said, 95% have been removed, still nuts. Apparently landmine clean up efforts cost 30 million a year and will take another 10 to 20 years to clean up. What a nasty, evil things landmines are.
Tomorrow we cross over to Thailand. Will be interesting to see the changes as Thailand has a much higher standard of living. The average income per capita of Thailand is $5300 (by comparison Vietnam is $1374, Cambodia is $853).
Going to add some random pictures that I haven't posted yet...
Cambodian spray tan! (The dirt roads are very dusty and reddish dirt that sticks to sweaty legs and sunblock)
The group riding on a dirt road in Cambodia.
Cambodian air filter. I have a thin scarf to tie around my face when the dust is really bad. Oddly, in Vietnam many of the women wore masks on motor scooters. It is partly for dust but mostly to keep from getting tan as pail skin is considered more attractive.
Temple indicator. These arches iindicate a road that has a temple on it from a bigger road. There are manynof thes as there are over 4000 temples in Cambodia.
Mmmmm! Mijito! So refreshing!
Butterfly
Cambodian gas station. This is a common site. The bottles are a liter of gas for the motor scooters.
Comments
Post a Comment