I came to Battambang for the "French Colonial Architecture". Still wondering about that as it is a rather dusty and tired town trying to become the arts capital of the new Cambodia. Um.
I did rent a bike today to get to the Bamboo Train. Now this is billed as one of the world's all-time classic rail journeys. A Bamboo train is actually one 1 car long and consists of a 3m long wood frame, covered lengthwise with slats made of ultra-light bamboo that rests on two barbell-like bogies. The aft bogie is connected by fan belts to a 6HP gasoline engine. So---everybody on! And down the single track line you go.
At least until you meet up with a similar Bamboo Train coming in the other direction. Solution? The train with the fewest people; get off and take their train OFF THE TRACK. The oncoming train goes through and you put your train back on the tracks. Well, it was fun for a few times and I didn't have to help with the on/off track dance as the conductors help each other out.
The journey: out 20 minutes - fend off drink and souvenir sellers for 20 minutes - back 20 minutes.
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| Most of the French era buildings are much smaller...and look ages older. |
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| Large sections of the country still have unexploded ordinances |
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My train conductor. (He had no teeth--hence the pose)
Check out the slats of bamboo. |
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| Traffic Jam |
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| Passengers Off; Bamboo frame off. |
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| Bogies off |
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| Over the bridge and down the tracks...often warped and mismatched. |
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