29 December 2011 - this morning we moored on the riverbank at Wat Hanchey a temple and monastery 303 steps above the river. Apart from the view over a bend in the river itself the hilltop is the site of a pre-Angkor temple. It is now surrounded by more modern temple buildings and the monastery itself.
It is also the site of the local school and as the teacher apparently has "other things to do" today the local kids were not in school and our tour provided the morning's entertainment and the opportunity to practise english which was surprisingly good.
Before lunch we had a ride in the zodiac inflateable across the river to an island mid-stream for a swim in the Mekong. This far up the river is much cleaner as there are very few towns of any significance upstream - Luang Prabang is probably the largest - and only villages along the banks.
Back on the boat and after lunch Stuart was suddenly struck down by the mystery lurgey that has been doing the rounds of the passengers. Luckily not too virulent but enough to keep him confirmed to the cabin and in easy reach of the bathroom.
We therefore missed the afternoon excursion into Kampong Cham and a visit to the market and a local orphanage - which by all accounts was a great experience.
In the evening we set sail south down the Mekong back to Phomn Penh where we will turn off the Mekong and into Tonle Sap River towards Kampong Chhnang for a morning excursion.
It is also the site of the local school and as the teacher apparently has "other things to do" today the local kids were not in school and our tour provided the morning's entertainment and the opportunity to practise english which was surprisingly good.
Before lunch we had a ride in the zodiac inflateable across the river to an island mid-stream for a swim in the Mekong. This far up the river is much cleaner as there are very few towns of any significance upstream - Luang Prabang is probably the largest - and only villages along the banks.
Back on the boat and after lunch Stuart was suddenly struck down by the mystery lurgey that has been doing the rounds of the passengers. Luckily not too virulent but enough to keep him confirmed to the cabin and in easy reach of the bathroom.
We therefore missed the afternoon excursion into Kampong Cham and a visit to the market and a local orphanage - which by all accounts was a great experience.
In the evening we set sail south down the Mekong back to Phomn Penh where we will turn off the Mekong and into Tonle Sap River towards Kampong Chhnang for a morning excursion.