Always bring more than enough water...
I thought I had learned that lesson way back in Japan. But, nope, apparently not, as I looked at the less than half full bottle of water. Two liters just wasn't enough... Then again, I think I was close to 10 or 12 miles into the Cambodian countryside on a single geared bike...with a basket on the front.
For a second I wondered why I had decided to do something pretty dumb like this. Hot, sweaty, thirsty AF, legs cramping... But, only for a second, though. As I took a deep breath of fresh countryside air and just looked around. Leaning against my bike I watched people following their own lazy trails through the day.
I met dozens of people heading this way and that.
On bikes, walking, on motorbikes, carts, even a couple small trucks. Everyone smiled and waved. I'm sure 'strange white dude is doing what here?' was going through there heads. I think we all laughed at the untold joke.
Some trails, I admit, didn't look lazy at all.
Most of us who live in cities can't even imagine the days those who live in the countryside go through. We grouse about this and that, but, really, do we have that much to complain about? But, I have to say I saw some of the biggest smiles and heard some of the hardest laughs from kids who were playing in the crazy deep irrigation ditches next to the road. I really wish I had stopped and taken a picture. It was a memory that I can see so vividly in my head but only describe so much in words.
Jumping in from the edge, splashing about, throwing a ball around, about 7 of them. All under 17 from what I could tell. They even tried to get me to join. But, adventurous as I was...irrigation water? ...yeah, not that brave.
How I chose where I went
And how far I went, was completely random. I started on the main road...pretty much the only one between Siem Reap and the Thai border, and just kicked off on a side path when it looked interesting. One thing led to another and the miles crunched under my tires slowly but surely. The only thing I had to remember was which fork I took where. Which, did get to be slightly complicated by the end.
It was like being in a movie
At the advent of Technicolor technology. Every time I think of Cambodia, that's the word that comes to mind, Technicolor. A lot of younger people reading this might have no idea, but it was a game changer. Like going from black and white to color. Eyeball stimulating, visceral colors, like someone had taken the vibrance slider to max. I've said it in a couple different posts, how color feels different in certain countries, and Cambodia is the reason I feel that.
$3.
That's all it cost me. For a half day of biking adventure. Wait, the water cost $1. So, $4 total. Bike $3, water, $1. That and a lot of sweat. By the time I got back to my hostel at the edge of town I was feeling it. Making the mistake of not bringing enough water kind of sucked. It wasn't bad, but it was enough to remind me to NEXT TIME, bring more water. Which, I don't believe ever happened again on this trip.
I took a quick shower and flopped on my bed for a much needed nap. So much from that afternoon to process, and energy needed for heading out with people to the night market later.
This wasn't a vacation. It was an adventure! Lol.
All images shot on Canon 50D
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