Siem Reap to Phnom Penh Jan. 16/10

After seeing rice paddies and water buffalo on our trip up to the Tonle Sap Lake, we left Siem Reap early in the morning on the Mekong Express Bus and six hours later arrived in Phnom Penh. The land in this part of Cambodia is flat and at this time of year, extremely dry and dusty.
We arrived at the bus terminal and easily found a tuk tuk to take us to our hotel. Actually, they are all over you for your business.
Riding in a tuk tuk is an experience! There are no rules of the road, stop signs do not exist and red lights are ignored. Often you find yourself going in the wrong lane against the oncoming traffic.As you approach an intersection traffic continues to roll weaving around everyone else until you come out the other side.
Trying to cross the street is a different story. You slowly step off the curb and continue to walk carefully towards the other side of the street. The traffic will somehow avoid  hitting you. It all works - traffic moving in all directions on the same road - haven't seen any accidents yet.
Last night we wondered along Sisowath Quay and had dinner at the FCC. This is the Foreign Correspondents Club where journalists gathered during the Vietnam War era. It is now frequented by westerners and has great food. Getting back to our hotel - The Frangipani Villas 60- was another story. We had a tuk tuk driver who got lost. Of course it was dark and he couldn't see the map we had. He stopped several times to ask directions and finally we arrived home. The Cambodian people are all very friendly and helpful.
Today - Jan. 17 - we visited the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum which was a high school converted to a prison during the regime of Pol Pot and the Kmer Rouge. This is where people were imprisoned and tortured from 1974 - 1979 before they were transported to the Killing Fields.
We then continued on to Choeung Ek Genocidal Centre which were the actual Killing Fields outside of Phnom Penh. It was a very sombre experience. The movie The Killing Fields was based on this period of time.
We have purchased our tickets and will spend the next two nights and three days travelling down the Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). We have our bug spray ready and have begun to take Malarone (anti malarial medication). Hopefully, we will not experience any side effects.
Until the next post,
Joan & Ross