The Way to Sihanouk

Riding a bicycle in Cambodia can be frightening experience, especially riding on the national highways. Maybe it is just where I have been riding, there is one road that seems to be paved. Maybe when I get closer to more populated areas the roads wont be so congested due to more roads being used. We will see.

I left Ko Kong in a drizzle, a common occurrence it seems. I rode through beautiful mountainous jungles for the whole day with some nice climbs and descents

The Cardamom Mountains.

Do you see my bike?

Amazing to see so much forest everywhere. So wild compared to Thailand.

Follow the little line.

. Getting over and down the last pass was a race because the clouds looming in the distance were threatening. Thankfully at the bottom of the hill there was a little house selling water. After getting some I made my way to little spot of forest off the road. I made sure to look out for landmines. People tell me to be careful about that but mostly I should be careful in the north of Cambodia. Anyway there was a fire not long ago it seems. I reasoned the fire would detonate the landmines. I like how I make judgements I know nothing about! Anyway, I got my tarp set up just in time because seconds later all hell broke out. I jsut stood under the tarp for like 45 minutes holding my bike up saving it from the rain. I also learned that my tarp leaks water. Good to know. The rain died down and I made gruel, seriously, I made gruel. I tried to sleep in the hammock for the night but that plan failed due to mosquito's eating me. I set my tent up eventually.

I woke up after a surprising deep sleep.

Looks so peaceful. Funny that this is in Cambodia, could easily of been taken in Canada. It seems the photo is slanting right to left, its because the ground slants from right to left.

I decided to to a short 40km ride. I was tired. I found a guesthouse that was occupied by millions of ants. I watched them troop zigzagged lines all around the floor. I had to hang my food from the ceiling since they were determined to get their teeth in everything. It thunder stormed again at night. This time I was under a roof!

And now we are at today. After leaving Srae Ambel I soon merged onto the national highway 4. It was a horrible experience I am sure I will repeat. The road was narrow and the trucks large. I opted to the gravel shoulder. It wasn't so bad with music coming from my headphones drowning out the large trucks zooming by. I eventually was able to find a route through a huge plantation that aloud me to quietly go on my way. The road was sandy and bumpy but to me that is 100 times better then a roaring highway with no shoulder. I have too many things I love at home to be just another bug on their bumper, like my dog... and my car. Just a bit over 100km I got to the city of Sihanouk. Its hard to believe this is part of Cambodia. Or maybe it is just the parts of Cambodia I saw so far. To compare would be to compare night and day.

The sun burning the mist away.

We have some real intelligent conversations together. They kept on getting closer while I was eating my breakfast.

A planted tree times infinity.

How about a summary to date eh? So far I travelled 2289km ascending 17576m. I have been riding my bike for 221.48 hours (only if I got paid for this!)

Ahh I'm getting so far away from Bangkok!

Tomorrow is going to be a hard day. I have like 4 beaches I want to explore and I need to find a new pair on sandals since my old beloved ones are still in Ko Kong. I love day offs!