Tonle Bati Lake

 

On April 19, 2014 Meizel and I decided to take a day trip. Our plan was to go to Phnom Tamao Zoo. (about 40 Km south of Phnom Penh) We got a late start and didn't leave until around 1 pm. I looked up the directions online and headed south. We drove for about an hour and then passed a sign for Tonle Bati Lake. I knew we were headed in the right direction. Just passed the sign we decided to stop and get some food and water at a stand on the side of the road. (pictured below)

After a nice snack (frog stuffed with something unknown to me and my first taste of palm fruit) we were ready to head back on the road. However when I tried to start the moto it would not start. My new (to me) moto is not the most reliable machine and has some trouble turning over sometimes. However it is a very popular moto in Cambodia, (Daelim City 100cc) so virtually every moto repair shop (and most Cambodian citizens) can figure out what is wrong and fix the problem quickly and and cheaply. We walked the moto about 50 meters to the nearest moto repair shop. I demonstrated that the moto would not start and they quickly went to work. About 30 - 45 minutes later the moto was up and running as good as new. Price for the new part and labor, $5.

By the time the moto was operational again it was getting late and I was unsure of how much farther the zoo was. We decided to head back and check out the lake so we could be sure to make it home before dark.

After entering the park area we stopped at what looked like a Cambodian weekend festival near a wat. We walked around and drank some sugar can juice. We then headed to the lake to get some food. (The picture below is not the lake..)

We rented space in a lakeside bungalow to eat lunch. There were several kids with inner tubes swimming in the lake and many families eating in the bungalows around us.



The picture on the left is the view of the lake from our bungalow.

After lunch we made the trek north back to Phnom Penh. Although we did not end up where we had set out to go we had a great day. Flexibility is a virtue that will make your adventures in Cambodia much more enjoyable and easier to deal with. Meizel's ability to adapt and make the best of any situation is one of the qualities that I love the most about her....