Sunday, November 5. Today was a long bus ride to Siem Reap. Long, but slow. 197 miles, eight hours. Extremely flat, extremely straight. About 45MPH. Stopped at a town famous to catching, defanging, and eating Tarantulas. While everyone else crowded around the spider farmer, I kept my distance. Phobia. Got one zoomed photo that turned out better than I could have hoped for.

Lunch lakeside at what must be the only place to eat on the way. A dozen buses. Nice place, with pavilions over the water. Sweeping vistas.

Stopped at a village famous for crushed rice. Impressive mechanism that reduce labor for four to one. Two rotating pots cooking the rice, a pounder to crush the rice, a shaking basket to remove excess kernels. All run by one engine.

Crossed on foot the Kamponog Kdei Bridge, a corbeled arch bridge. The bus drove across the new bridge.

Finally reached Siem Reap. Great hotel, but wifi week (again). Though I’ve been in the city before, nothing was familiar. Met my tour guide from five years ago. Had a perfect Singapore Sling. Twice. Delivered over 5 pounds of laundry. Wanted to hand over the sweaty cloths I was wearing as well.