Alanna chowing down on some rice, coconut and beans steamed in bamboo at the rest stop on our ride.
Sunset over the river in Phnom Penh
The main highway into Phnom Penh :)
Some of the stunning countryside that I had to stop and absorb along the way
We rolled out of Kampong Chnang as the sun was coming up and there was some apprehension as to what the 100km day would hold given we had people who had been down for days with sickness and aches and pains. Our biking leader Lucky said we would ride the 40km to a rest stop where we would re group and then ride the rest of the way through the back roads together. Well after 58kms and a couple of turning back on ourselves we were convinced we had gone to far we reached the rest stop. People were a little grumpy as they hadn't stopped for drinks, sun cream re application or toilet stops. It was a rather event free morning and the hip was feeling good probably due to the number of preventative pain killers i had taken in the morning.
Once people had rested we headed off down the back roads which was just beautiful - it was so nice to ride as a group off the hectic main highway inhaling pollution all the way. We took up the whole road and the the villages came out to greet us with their amazing smiling faces and the constant echo of hellos.
The ride was wonderful and you noticed the energy change as we rolled into Phnom Penh - the hustle and bustle was upon us not to mention the numerous foreign faces!
After a much needed shower and the depositing of all my clothes in the hotel laundry we headed off in a tuk tuk to watch the sun set over the river. Josh one of our tour leader knew a great place across the river and a gin and tonic proved to be a wonderful cure after a days cycling. the sun set was amazing with a couple of the great people on this trip. I was wearing my green t shirt that says home with a picture of NZ on it when a lady across the bar yelled asking if i was a kiwi - of course I yelled back in what is the strange immediate unity you have when you discover someone of the same place as you., she had been living here for 8 years and loves the place - I can see why - she gave me a rose :)
For dinner we headed to a tapas style restaurant 'Friends'. This provides support and training for streets kids and not only is it a great organisation they have sensational food! after a rather bland and constant diet of fried rice, noodles and noodle soup over the last couple of days the taste sensation was a welcome change.
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