We only made it to one party yesterday – house warming, most people working for NGOs, GIZ, (former DED, GTZ), Friends international and many more. We left Lutz’s house on Mekong Island around 20:00 – and it was pissing it down. So rain gear and off on the bikes. After about 5km, right in the centre of PP, my bike died completely. It had already signalled before, that it had problems with the generator/battery.
So there we stood, in the middle of the city, surrounded by heavy traffic and a rain which was trying to flood the city. We decided that lutz should drive to the bike shop (closed), get the tel. no. from the sign and call for help. Apparently the initial reaction was ‘the shop is closed/yes we know/it’s raining/yes we know’. Anyway, the guy showed up and pushed me on my bike while sitting on his (his left food on my right rear footpegs) through the city until we reached a shop where we could park the bike for a night.
Here is a shot of us waiting in the rain – under the roof of some bank, lutz on the phone (my iphone doesn’t like the local sim card. Samsung here we come, soon).
We arrived at the party by nineish, good atmosphere, nice hosts. Met a dentist from japan, now living in australia, doing dental tourism here in cambodia. He showed me many pics of his bikes back home and of patients teeth – he always had the laptop ready 😉
Left at 2 or 3, too late for the other party and slept over at eva’s place just around the corner. Good we thought, sleep in, have late breakie etc. We thought …
By 5:30 the catapilar started to grade a new street below our appartement. Hadn’t stopped when lutz and me left to pick up my new bike (around 11). And today is sunday!
Anyway, we got the bike – feels better, although on this bike something is wrong with the steering head or even the frame. Feels a bit odd going around corners, will try it some more tonight or tomorrow.
Central market then, lutz bought some boots for bike trips and the back home onto the peninsula. Just before a brief shower started.
These shots were taken from the roof overlooking the Mekong river …
OK, will try to catch some sleep before going out tonight. Will go to a bar where local expat bikers hang out, hoping to obtain some info on tracks through the jungle/rice paddies/mountains. Planing on leaving around tue/wed for a week or so. First trip, then maybe back to PP and after that 2nd trip. We shall see what happens.
offwe_r 