On our third day in Cambodia we explored Battambang Province! I was very excited because this was the day we would explore some ancient temples and ride a bamboo train!
Our first stop was to Phnom Banan. There were 358 Steps to climb to get to the top! When we started our ascent, two little kids started following us with paper fans. I was grateful for the little girl who ran up the stairs next to me with ease while fanning me, I was melting. For the last 100 steps, Mi Amor raced the little boy that was following him up to the top. The top of the mountain had a handful of pagodas surrounded by cacti and green plants. The Pagodas didn't seem to be in such good shape, they had been bombed by the U.S. during the time of the Khmer Rouge.
Then it was off to The Bamboo Train!!! On the drive there we stopped at a fruit stand on the road and got a pomelo to share. I had never heard of a pomelo before! It is a citrusy fruit and was actually pretty good. This one we had was a bit dry and the flavor wasn't as strong, but we had some more another time where it was way more juicy and flavorful. I recommend trying one if you are ever in South East Asia!
When we got to the Bamboo train all the platforms were laying out. They started placing the axels with steel wheels on the track and then put the bamboo platform on top. There is a guy who sits on the back of the train and controls the motor. The tracks are old train tracks that were left from when the French occupied Cambodia, then the locals started using them to transport livestock and goods in a faster way, and now it's a tourist attraction. The track is not very seamlessly connected, so at points during the ride there is a bit of a bump. I really loved it! The train takes you through vibrant green scenery and you feel like you are on a mini Indiana Jones adventure! The track ends at food and souvenir stands, then you go back the way you came on the same track.
When you are on your way back on the platform, if there is a group coming, you have to get off the platform and take apart the train and wait until they pass. You then have to put the train back together and then hop on to get back! All part of the experience!
After riding the Bamboo Train we worked up quite an appetite! So we stopped for lunch and had fried chicken spring rolls, Pomelo Chicken Salad, and a fish stew in banana leaves. Everything was so good!!
On our way to Wat Ek Phnom we stopped at the side of the road at this local family's house where they make Spring Rolls. We saw how they made the rice paper by using boiled rice and water to make sheets. They also showed us the racks they use to dry them and what the paper looks like before it's final process. The paper looked like a piece of plastic! Even though we just had lunch we ordered a fresh spring roll from them to try, and it was delicious!
We explored Wat Ek Phnom, part of the temple area had been destroyed during the Khmer Rouge time. It was still very beautiful to walk around and take everything in.
For dinner that night we went to The White Rose in Battambang and had an amazing meal. We had Khmer Corn, Bun Hoi (which I am still craving to this day and want right now!), and pinapple cashew chicken stir-fry. Seriously. Everything was so good!
