Today was a stark change. For one thing we were up bright and early. For another we left within 20mins of the planned time. And after that things got really different.

We left Phnom Penh completely, heading for the northern province of Preah Vihear and its 'provincial town' of Tbeng Meanchey. The road is "one of the worst in Cambodia" according to the Lonely Planet Guide and the legend of it was enough to have a few people worried and most taking precautionary drugs.
Our car was great. The driver was actually quite slow which was a major factor in the easy-on-the-stomach stakes, and we had a ball of a time laughing and singing and nattering away.

Lunch was at an… interesting little place. Quite fancy for the area; very little out of Phnom Penh was anything other than hut on sticks of some variety. The ice was no good (and avoided) and the food was cold by the time our car arrived, but the atmosphere was friendly and the people were quite interested in the 5 cars of white expats who just rocked up.

The road was not at all as bad as expected, but still the cause for merriment and interest. In one "puddle" in the road we had to sit and wait for a buffalo to get out. At another place we were held up by a dump truck dropping a load of soil on the track, and then longer for the grader to level it enough for us to drive over (two passes and she'll be right mate). Roadworks were everywhere, and there was no telling the conditions around the next corner, but our driver was supremely conpetent and the early 90s Camry (with raised suspension) was actually quite up to the task!

Room 23, "Prum Tep Guest House"
Tbeng Meanchey, Preah Vihear province
Cambodia