Bikes

I realise that I've been a bit remiss not mentioning bikes in my enthusiasm for the Honda Dream 125cc motorbike but of course bikes are everywhere.

 

 

This chap is the Cambodian equivalent of an ice cream seller as he has a very loud radio on the back of his bike. Someone stopped him and he opened the flap of his carrier and took out two of what looked like sticks of rock - palm sugar sticks wrapped in palm leaves. The father who brought them gave one to his 2 year old and ate the other himself.

 

 

A lady in pjs and one of the beautifully made local baskets on her bike in the countryside.

 

You don't see these bicycle taxis (rickshaws?) in Siem Reap - this one was in Phnom Penh where they all seem to be operated by old men.

 

 

Of course, it is very flat here. All the children ride or give lifts to each other, sometimes on bikes that are so big that it makes you wince. It is quite worrying that, although the main stream of traffic is quite slow with even the tour buses keeping with the general speed, there are a lot of quite large land cruiser type vehicles, the owners of which want to travel as quickly as possible without regard for the general speed.

There is a general disregard for normal road rules. If you want to go in a direction, you go even if it is a one way street. To cross the road you sort of aim a route winding in between the bikes, buses, lorries, tuk tuks and cars. No one stops for pedestrians at the very faded zebra crossings - the traffic barely stops at red lights - going if there's a gap or ... maybe a gap ... or there was a gap here last week!

You can hire a bike for $1 a day and cycle around but I've not been tempted as it is too hot and humid. About 30 degrees today and 65%.

 

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