Life Begins At.....
Issue link: http://ebook.aprs.com.au/i/47118
CRUISING COLUMN Down the river to Kampong Tralach, where all aboard were provided their own ox cart for a ride that took in the local scenery, we passed rice fields and small villages. Buses were waiting to take us to Oudong, the former capital of Cambodia where we visited the largest Buddhist centre in the country. At Chong Koh, a silk weaving village, we walked from house to house observing the villagers at their looms that were situated beneath their homes that were on stilts, to protect them from the annual flooding. Local handicrafts such as silk scarves and tablecloths could be purchased at very reasonable prices. We were followed by local children everywhere, who amazingly, spoke almost perfect English. In Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital, we had several hours at leisure and explored this most interesting city, with its French architectural heritage. Most on board hired a 'tuk tuk', the local means of transport consisting of a motor bike driven rickshaw. After dinner, local children came on board and performed traditional dancing. Phnom Penh had lots to see so we stayed overnight. We visited the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda followed by a tour of the museum to see various Khmer crafts. The Russian Market was most popular where many of our fellow passengers bought souvenirs. Some of the local delicacies consisted of deep fried grasshoppers and tarantulas as well as frogs and cockroaches. 84 THE RETIREE SUMMER A visit to the 'Killing Fields' where it was estimated up to 2.2 million of the country's then population of around seven million were killed during the Khmer Rouge regime under Pol Pot. We viewed the memorial and were taken to several of the mass graves, then on to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. After dinner many passengers went ashore to experience the local nightlife as we were not leaving until the next morning. Everyone felt very safe during the whole journey as in all the main cities there was an abundance of Tourist Police. In Vietnam we visited the old house of Huynh Thuy Le, better known as 'The Lovers' Museum'. The French writer Marguerite Duras lived in Sa Dec between 1928 and 1932. Duras became the lover of the son of a wealthy Chinese family and this love story became the basis for Duras' 1984 Prix Goncourt winning novel The Lover. Our river boat, 'La Marguerite' was named after her. The Captain's Farewell Dinner was during our last night aboard. In the morning we would be disembarking in My Tho. The bags were outside the cabin early today as after breakfast we were bidded farewell to APT's La Marguerite. We disembarked and boarded the air- conditioned coach that was to drive us on the two hour journey to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Most of the roads were sealed during our coach trips so they were always comfortable. Soon after leaving My Tho we found ourselves on a multilane main