We were all heading to Battambang to get a different taste of Cambodia. Siem Reap was a lot of fun, but it was just like any other big city. Touristic. You can't really avoid these types of cities and I don't think you necessarily should because they're touristic for a reason. On the other hand however it's also important to check out the not-so well known cities. I heard that Battambang was supposed to be more "real" Cambodia even though it's one of the largest cities. Once we arrived I realized that we were probably some of the only tourists in the town and it was so strange because it is such a large city, but it doesn't cater to tourists at all. Every other large city that I've been to has had a big focus on supporting tourism, but not Battambang.
Our hotel stuck out like a sore thumb and so did we. It was situated next to these abandoned railways where people were showering in the streets and stray dogs lingered about. The contrast was crazy, but it was nice to have a good hotel and to have a break from the party scene of Siem Reap. We got into the city late in the afternoon so we didn't really explore too much of the city and rather we just decided to grab some wine and have a chill night. This was also a fun way to get to know each other a little more and to enjoy one of my favorite hobbies, that is drinking fermented grape juice! It was so nice to just relax, have a good shower, and to sleep in a comfy bed. When you're traveling its hard to remember to take care of yourself sometimes and its ok to treat yourself to a nice hotel room every once in a while. Especially if you can split it with friends and make the price go down.
The next morning we got all of our belongings situated and got ready to check out and then head over to the bamboo train. As we were checking out the receptionist was telling us that the bamboo train no longer existed and I was shocked. The bamboo train was really the only reason why I wanted to go to Battambang in the first place. Despite her assertions, however, we decided to hire a tuk tuk driver to take us there and he also suggested for us to go to the bat caves as well. That morning we also met up with some more people from Siem Reap and we got our squad ready for the bamboo train. At first 5 of us were crammed into this tiny tuk tuk, but our driver told us that he wold get us a bigger car and oh did he. He rolled up with this bass blasting tuk tuk that would be our ride for the day at a small fare of $4 each. A few other of our friends were following us on motorbikes and after a fun little drive we finally got to the bamboo train.
The bamboo train was the locals way of using abandoned rail road tracks as a form of transport by using these makeshift flatbed trains from bamboo, but nowadays it is pretty much just a tourist attraction. Unfortunately the bamboo train is going to be ripped apart soon in order for a proper road to be constructed, and this will leave all the men who have learned to operate the train without a job. Despite the fact that the bamboo train is one of the very few tourist attractions in Battambang it will probably be replaced within the next few years, so I made it a priority to do it.
We had such a large squad that we had to get two bamboo trains, and as soon as we sat down on our pillows we were off! It was actually a lot faster than I thought it would be and it was a great way to see some of the Cambodian countryside. We made a few stops at some shops alongside the tracks and there was one little girl selling bracelets that stopped us right as we got off the train and told us to only buy from her and made us do a pinky promise. She was about ten years old and had some pretty great sales skills, because if any other kid came up to me trying to sell bracelets she would look at me directly in the eye and I just couldn't break her ever-so binding pinky promise right in front of her. She was a genius. Of course I had to buy a few bracelets that I will give to my sisters when I go back home. She also had impeccable English and when I asked her how she learned she just said from the tourists that come by. She also knew some French and Spanish and I thought it was crazy that she could learn so much just through tourists passing by.
It was such a fun and different experience riding the bamboo train, but when I thought about the situation a little more I got a little depressed because these people live off the tourists that come for the bamboo train and once it is gone what will these people do? It's a vicious cycle of industrialization that will have both positive and negative effects. The new roads that will replace the train will produce more jobs, but higher skilled jobs that the locals don't have, nor the money to learn. So what happens next? Are they just left in the dust? It's not the most pleasant thing to think about but its a reality that is very apparent. I'm not sure what will happen and I think the saddest thing is that when its all said and done I'll be back home in California in a few months and the little girl selling bracelets will have less and less tourists to sell to and even though she has so much potential it will be so much more difficult for her to succeed. It's not impossible. I think the biggest take away is that we can never ever take for granted the privileges and opportunities we have and to be aware and vigilant to the obstacles that others have to face just to survive in their daily life.
Next stop: Phnom Penh!