This was a short day of only 164 kms so Paul used the opportunity of two hydraulic lifts where our cars were parked to have a thorough look underneath for any damage or weakness after the tribulations of the Cardamon Mountains yesterday. Extraordinarily, nothing serious was discovered.
Stuart had a broken rear leaf spring so the mechanic hopped on his moped and came back half an hour later with a replacement; fitted it and charged $38. You don’t get that service in Bury St, Edmunds!
Everyone took off their air filters and cleaned away a thick coating of red dust so the cars can breath again. The garage washed the cars the night before so everyone was good to go.
The drive to Siem Reap was around the Tonie Sap Lake, the largest fresh water lake in South East Asia which, when it is filled with water from the Mekong, covers 10,000 square kilometres. The lake has crocodiles, snakes, turtles and otters but since we are in the dry season, all we saw was a flock of ducks in a puddle and some water buffalo having a paddle.
The trip into Siem Reap was not uneventful for one crew as David and Lorraine came across a road accident. A car and a motorcycle had collided head on and there were several injuries but no one standing around was doing anything. So Lorraine got our her first aid kit and tended until the ambulance arrived. It just proves how important our practice is of refresher first aid train before we come away. Well done David and Lorraine.
Also we aren’t too sure what had caused these four to get “arrested” but they still made it to the hotel in time for dinner
Siem Reap is home to the world renowned Angkor Wat, a temple complex of such breathtaking size, it defies description.
But we will try tomorrow.
In the meantime we leave you with a picture of Bruno, our event Director, and Inspiration Cambodia boss Claire who plotted our route through the Cardamon mountains yesterday
Day 12 — A day very much in two parts!
Tracey
Incredible journey