I got to Kompong Thom without any problems. The road between Stung Treng and Tbeng Meanchey was like a baby’s bottom (despite still being under construction) and I had lunch with the motorbike driver when we got to Tbeng Meanchey. He helped me find a shared taxi and I got pack into that with 4 other passengers for the journey to Kompong Thom. The front seat was going to cost $10, or I could sit in the back (with 3 other passengers) for $5. I opted to go in the back, but there were even 2 people in the driver’s(‘) seat at one point.

In Kompong Thom I got met by Mr. Sokhom, who was a taxi driver who also ran a tour agency. I went and rented a motorbike from him the next day for a trip to Sambor Prei Kuk, some pre-Ankgor Wat temples.

The trip to Sambor Prei Kuk was amazing. I went through some tiny villages, which were absolutely beautiful. They were all centred around a red-dirt main road, lined with coconut palm trees. The houses were all on stilts, to protect aginst flooding during the rainy season. The colours were all pastel greens and blues and every village was immaculately clean, with lots of happy people and friendly children in them. I liked going through here so much that I went exactly the same way on the way back.

Sambor Prei Kuk was OK, with some temples built out of brick and some pushy children wanting to sell scarves. I spent most of the day here, getting very dehydrated and went back to Kompong Thom in the evening in order to catch a bus to Siem Reap the next day.

For reference, the nice villages I went to on the way to Sambor Prei Kuk were:

• Prey Kuy village
• Sachey village
• Team Chas village
• Thnot village
• Ashu village.