Day 32: Krong Samraong - Kralanh - Frankie goes to.....Indochina

January 25, 2018

Day 32: Krong Samraong - Kralanh

Routing: #68

I didn´t expect anything from today´s ride and I wasn´t going to be disappointed. Yawn! But if the road itself is not good enough for a good day, the Khmer people along the side will help out. Reliably! So just very briefly the bullets regarding the actual cycling part:-great continuous shoulder on a dead flat road -fierce headwind from the southeast. The temperatures are currently continuously in the mid 30s Celsius and that headwind feels like a giant blowdryer. I do normally like the heat as such but in these conditions you do tend to dehydrate swiftly and that´s why I strictly stick to one discipline: Every 10 km I will have a drink break and that´s a great opportunity to get into touch with the locals. They are probably used to see some western people but only in a minibus on their way from or back to the Thai border.

Coming into Kralanh on the crossroad with Hway 6 I was aiming for a guesthouse on the southeastern exit of town that Jan had recommended. He must have been talking about the Sovannaphum GH about 1 1/2 km down the 6 towards Siem Reap. I would certainly have picked that too if I would have stayed here for more than one night but in the end I decided for the combined guesthouse and beverage wholesaler a bit closer to the center, right opposite the Acleda Bank. Very basic with moderate housekeeping records but I got a corner room in the back of the building again (essential two windows!) for 6 $ and a can of Angkor for 2000 Riel. Who wouldn´t have stayed? But honestly - the next time I would rather walk that extra 1 km (if it is that much) into town and go for the Sovannaphum. I believe there is one more guesthouse in town - attached to the petrol station - but that did look even more basic than mine. Never mind, it´s all about getting down to Siem Reap tomorrow.

Great breakfast with the boys from Phnom Penh: Huon, Kosal and Chhunleng are working for the Ministry in charge for the drinking water supplies of the rural population. I guess it´s hard to find a more important job. Hope to see you guys down in the capital soon!

See this photo and you know what I saw for 5 hours

I can do with some good spirits regarding the wind direction otherwise it will be an energy consuming ride down to the Vietnamese border

These two pyjama ladies in their ultrabasic kitchen were going out of their way to serve me the meatless meal I was asking for

Looks less than average but was a yummy outcome: tofu with vegetables and a fried egg

Note: I am in Siem Reap since Fri, Jan 26 and have met up with Jan but we are obviously busy doing other things.....So I may fall behind a couple of days with the blog. My apologies but after such a long time on my own I am thoroughly enjoying socialising with a same-minded friend!

Today's ride: 77 km (48 miles)
Total: 2,546 km (1,581 miles)

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