March 25th, 2010 Battambong

Sunrise at Battambong

7AM I woke up to go to the Bamboo train, made famous by Lonely Planet. I paid 4,000 riels to get there, which was about 20 minutes away. The 15 minute train ride was somewhat expensive at 20,000 riels. I think I should have done half of it because it is bumpy and uncomfortable after a while. Unfortunately, that was all there to do at Battambong. I got out of there at 11:30 AM (20,000 riels). Before leaving, I sent 3 post cards (500 riels each) out to the schools I was waitlisted at (3,000 riels and it takes 3 weeks). I was back in Phnom Penh at 6PM.

Bamboo Train

8PM I got to my host Eddie's place at 8PM but he isn't there until 9PM. He teaches at a local school and has a Cambodian girfriend. They were very nice and treated me to dinner. I erronesouly pulled out a 5,000 riel bill and thought it was 50,000 riels. I think the girlfriend saw that. But my part was not that big (around 8,000 riels). I felt a little bad as he is obviously not affluent being a teacher and renting a $350 place that is half of what I paid last year. I told them my story in Vietnam and I think they enjoyed it. They also slept outside and gave me their room for the night. That is some hospitality. I don't know if I could do that for someone else, especially if I am with someone else and the man is alone. That night it rained for the first time in the year and the thunder hit like bombs.