On our travels

A trip into the Cambodian countryside beckons early tomorrow morning. My brother Tim has arrived from England - my body clock is already shot to pieces after two late-night and early morning sessions painting the town red - so at least my liver will thank me for the rest as we head up along the Mekong River to Kratie and Stung Treng over the weekend, followed by the Route 66 section from the Mekong to Tbeng Meanchey and visits to Preah Vihear and up along the northern border area of Cambodia through Anlong Veng and onto Banteay Chhmar. We should return to Phnom Penh in about a week but as a result, posts to this blog will be sporadic, to say the least. Internet connections in the boondocks still leave a lot to be desired.

It's hard to believe that my last serious visit to stay in Kratie was as long ago as December 2000, when I managed to catch a glimpse of the dolphins and enjoy the gorgeous sunsets as well as get a feel for the relaxed and laid-back lifestyle along the Mekong. And my teenage guide in those days was none other than Phanna, now a successful businessman in Phnom Penh with fingers in lots of pies including No. 10 guesthouse at Boeng Kak Lake. It will be fun to compare my 2000 trip with the 2009 version. Lets hope for more of the following:

Sunsets are a treat in Kratie