Cambodia here we come

29^th November 2017

Pop Hostel, Trat

Hot and humid, with a breeze

Trat is the place to be if you want to take a boat to Koh Chang.  It's also the main transport hub from Thailand to Cambodia if you're using the Hat Lek border crossing.  We've been reading up on border scams which includes a fine for no passport photo (we now have 4, although what they do with them is a bit of a mystery), a bogus health inspection certificate (apparently we just ignore the request and walk straight through) and several other dubious practices that backpackers need to be aware of most of which involve the transport companies overcharging. 

We left Highway 3 for a while, travelling along the lovely coast road between Rayong and Laem Maephim and we were very pleasantly surprised to find a cycle path.  So much more relaxed, less traffic and generally greener, plus the added bonus of beautiful beaches.  Interestingly, European beaches usually have sunbeds laid out in twos, with an umbrella and table to share.  In Thailand, the deckchairs and tables are set up for families, usually 6-8 people, and eating and drinking is a favourite activity suitably catered for by the many permanent stalls on the beach, or, the travelling carts selling drinks and snacks, ringing bells to advertise their wares. 

Bike path, lasted for a couple of hundred kms

Family deckchair setup

But return to Highway 3 we must.  The road begins to undulate approx. 20kms before Trat, otherwise it's dead flat.  One particularly hot lunch time I spotted this poor guy, up a ladder, trying to fix whatever was wrong with the hundreds of wires entering and leaving this particular junction.  He wasn't even breaking a sweat.  Meanwhile, some girl guides were being led through town by a young woman, who, as a younger woman myself would have called a 'bossy moo'!  She got to wave the flag and shout a lot.

Up a ladder, in 34c, aye aye aye ......

Girl Power!

Trat is a very typical Thai city, not much for the average tourist except transport and accommodation.  There is a fabulous night market selling just about anything you could possibly wish for, and all of it so beautifully presented.  Last night we marvelled at the thousands of Mynah birds hanging around the centre of town.  We're not sure if Mynah's murmurate (is there such a word?) like Starlings, but, they were certainly gathering and making one hell of a noise.

Tomorrow we head down the narrow strip of land belonging to Thailand to the Cambodian border at Hat Lek.  On the left are the Cardamom Mountains in Cambodia, on the right is the ocean.  We are moving on .............

Laters

PS wildlife excitement, yesterday I saw a Raquet-Tailed Drongo!