Today I took the slow boat from Siam Reap to Battambang. Intentionally I wanted to travel some days earlier, but a lousy diarrhea kept me from starting my journey. After some days off in Siam Reap I felt I could finally take the challenge.

The route is regarded as a special trip in south east asia, as one does travel with a slow boat through some pretty rural areas. Passing by many floating villages, fisherman and large areas of rice fields the trip is considered especially scenic.

When I boarded the boat at around 8.00 AM I had the chance to sit right behind the driver. The boat passed Tonle Sap Lake after a few minutes. Continued into one of the channels. Passed the bespoken scenic views in the floating villages. Made a short stop for a quick lunch (which I didn’t allow me to try, brought some nuts and bananas instead). And finally stranded in one of the several serpentines leading to Battambang.

We were towed off by a smaller boat only to find ourselves stranded again after a few meters. So the entire crew and the passengers of around 45 people changed to three pick-up trucks. Off we went. Cruising the Cambodian country side, sitting on the roof of an open pick-up. Waving kids and locals as we passed by.

I enjoyed every minute of my trip. Now that I’m in Battambang I will check out what to do next. Doing the trip the other way round in a canoe, renting a 4×4 to go to the Cambodian countryside or neither of it?