Day Two,

up early for breakfast,

we sat at our table, and Diana went up first for a selection of Thai food,

then I had a look around,

lots of choice,

and everywhere so many bowls of fresh lotus,

the selection of food for breakfast,

seemed almost endless,

the room also had nice decorations,

decisions,

decisions,

I started with a fresh orange juice,

I also noticed some nice desserts,

I then went to the egg station, the chef cracked the first egg, it was a double yoker, he cracked the second,

 and that was as well!

into the pan,

breakfast for today, 5 different cold meats, sausages, two eggs and a few rashers of bacon, what more could I want?

a glass of bubbly, naturally!

the local cat adopted us, until it realized we had eaten all of the food,

we made a move outside for the taxi, but I first took a couple of the vintage cars outside,

they looked nice at night, but stunning in the light, both Citrons, I was told the green was made in 1927, the white in 1928, both immaculate,

as was the front of our hotel,

we drove out of town for our first days trip,

taking a few pictures as we moved,

this is the local equivalent of the tuk-tuk, so common in Bangkok,

we were off to the Kulen Mountain, 

tickets purchased and we were on our way,

past rice paddies and sugar palms,

a couple of the locals on their way to school,

we passed lots of small stalls selling local produce,

and overtook a few farmers on their tractors,

there were some imposing buildings on the way,

after some time we started going uphill,

with wide valleys,

we also passed some roadside shrines,

we did pull over to take a few pictures,

of this stall,

selling so many different types of bananas and the plants themselves,

we were then soon after some really bumpy dirt roads at the car park,

Diana strikes the pose,

the entrance to the National park, you can go part way by car, a bit further by 4 wheel drive, but then it is walk or by motorbike,

we chose to hire the motorbikes,

so first stop at the entrance,

Diana and her driver, we hired a couple from the army,

with their bikes, so a top up of fuel,

and we were on our way,

the going was rough,

very rough,

there are no trails,

it was a case of looking for the best route,

looking at these pictures,

just does not give any idea,

of how rough,

the gouged and pitted the river bed we were travelling on was,

we meet an intrepid traveler returning, one of only three foreign tourists we saw in the park,

there were of course lots of streams to cross,

it was slow going, I did not take any pictures of the jungle we passed through, I was too busy holding on with both hands as more than a few time I left the seat by a few inches,

after 50 minuets or so we had arrived, 

so a quick pose with our drivers,

and we were on our way,

past some  huge rocks,

covered with dainty flowers,

into a small valley,

looking on my right the statues of two huge lions,

a little bit of history, Phnom Kulen is a holy mountain for Cambodians, held in high esteem as the birthplace of the ancient Khmer Empire, its Sanskrit name was Mahendraparvata, meaning 'great Indra mountain' the whole area is considered holy by Khmers,

also at this site there is a huge elephant,

what stories these lions could tell,

one of our drivers strikes the pose,

as does Diana,

there is little left of what was once here,

one of the drivers in quiet contemplation,

naturally I had to have a picture of the elephant with me in it as well,

the lion in a silent stare,

there were a few other statues in the area, but I do not know what they were,

then back on to our trusty motorbikes for the return trip,

we passed over,

many small streams,

on the way here,

and crossed them again on our return,

on both journeys it was slow,

and sometimes painful going,

we made our way past the occasional house,

and over a few bridges,

I did not take any pictures of the rough riding we had to do,

but thankfully the road became more manageable,

we then arrived at the temple that is the most holy place in Cambodia,

we walked through a huge natural cavern,

into the temple courtyard,

where a monk was chanting blessings,

and where offerings could be left and candles could be lit,

we went in to some of the buildings,

and took a few pictures of others,

next downstairs,

and there were lots of them,

it was a courtyard,

so back up,

to the Buddha,

in the main building,

which was reclining,

and treated with the greatest respect,

from the temple there is a good view over the National park,

we made our way back to the entrance,

and over one of the many streams in the area,

where there were lots of bathers,

all eager to say hello,

we arrived at the main waterfall area,

where there were a number of shops,

I decided to have a quick look at one of the smaller falls before our meal,

it appears you can hire these huts for the day to keep out of the sun,

lots of fun,

and a rope bridge as well,

and this is where we were eating, the Koulen Mountain Waterfall Restaurant,

Diana decided on a coconut,

so a quick flick of the machete,

and it was on the table,

we were the only customers,

Diana decided on a noodle dish,

tempura prawns and chips for myself,

a few monks walked past as we were eating,

meal over we went to the main waterfall, which was great fun for all, but beware you do not slip,

as here there is an even bigger waterfall,

and it is a long way down!

but great fun for all of the family,

going back to the taxi I notice all of the shops were selling small or large rocks like this one, it looked like it had grains of iron pyrites in it,

another shop,

appeared to be selling just herbs,

so back into the taxi for the journey back to the hotel,

we did make one stop on the way back so I took this picture of some of the animals you might see in the park, if you decided to visit the park it is a US$20 entrance fee to use the road built by a businessman, the park it appears is free and to hire a bike and driver US$15 each, but be warned the motorbike ride is no walk in the park, it is treacherous as a lot of the journey is in soft sand, the ridges that the water has worn are steep, as I mentioned before on more occasions than I care to recall I left the motorbike seat by more than a few inches!

we arrived back at the hotel and made our way past the boutique in the foyer,

the view from our room,

also I forgot to mention there is an outdoor balcony next to our room,

which has these comfortable looking chairs, I have seen these before on the Philippines, under each arm there is another arm on a hinge,

pull it out and it becomes a leg support for a few afternoon ZZZZs there is one on each side of the chair,

each time we return to the room there is a complimentary gift yesterday chocolates, to day green tea,

which Diana just loves,

we popped downstairs for a pre-dinner drink,

fresh flowers floating in bowls everywhere is was a nice touch,

as was the game of Carrom,

the rules,

Diana decided on a cocktail,

which was unusual,

after our drink we passed some more flowers,

and then our tricycle for the evening,

I still find it a bit strange that ever tricycle driver wears a crash helmet, I mean motorcyclists out here do not, I just wonder how many of these trikes turn over to warrant wearing one?

we were dropped off at Pub Street,

and made a move along it,

in case you want to try it, the name of the restaurant we went to last night was the Cambodian Soup Restaurant,

for tonight we decided on the Cafe Latino,

a Tex-Mex restaurant,

we decided to sit upstairs,

below us a group were playing traditional Cambodian music,

the sign says it all, US$10 well spent a little later,

Diana ordered empanadas, 

whilst I went with sliced cured ham, I had expected a few slices, but the plate was covered and it was a big plate!

'Cheers!',

as we were eating a little street entertainment,

a couple were having their wedding pictures taken,

there were more than a few helpers,

people with make up,

and hand held lights,

a director,

and a number of camera men, plus a few like us taking pictures but at street level,

all set for the photo-shoot,

and very nice they looked too,

the inside of the bar, now here was the problem, both Diana and myself could not manage a main course, we were still full from lunch time, so off we went,

to have a relaxing drink a little further along the road at the Soup Dragon as it was called, 

which was opposite the Banana Leaf,

that had an extremely good group playing,

and a light show,

another 'Cheers!',

I then made my way across the street,

leaving Diana for a while,

whilst I took a picture of the band, which we both thought had Filipino singers, in any event they were really good,

on to a tricycle,

for our trip back to the hotel,

and a nightcap,

Diana chose a coffee,

with biscuits,

a glass of wine for myself,

we decided against the stairs,

and had great fun,

using the lift,

oh dear, me behind bars,

a quick pose,

then past the corridors decorations,

and into our room to find some more complimentary chocolates, with that we were off to bed.