100909 Thu [Battambang]

The boat ride to Battambang was an experience. Along the side of the river were stilt houses of many locals. Those kelongs in Singapore is mainly for fishing purpose. Along this river, you really get to see the authentic lifestyle of the river village people. How they wash the clothes and bath in the river, how the child have fun in the water, how the women chop the wood gathered from river bank to prepare their meals. That one house has no partition inside. It is the same area where they eat, sit, sleep. Some set up stalls at their door step selling some basic necessities. Now and then the boat will stop by to drop some passengers at their house. Their neighbors, especially the kids will wave eagerly to them, quickly hop onto their boat and row over to their house to welcome them back. Even along the way there will be kids running to their doorsteps to wave to the rest of us. Just a simple gesture and it really warm our heart. It would be really nice if in our busy city life we just smile and greet the people around us.

There was also moments whereby the boat have to sail through a narrow path with plants at the side snapping at us through the window. Luckily there're thick curtains to pull down to protect us from being hit by the plants. Reminded me of the scripture in the bible that says that the road to heaven is a narrow path. It will not be an easy path and will be full of obstacles. But as long as we stay on path and within God's domain, we will be safe. Many a time the boat got entangled with the submerged plant and can't move on. The boaters would use big wooden poles to push the boat away. There's even once that one of them had to jump into the water to pull the plants away. Indeed in our life there will be weeds growing along the way. If we don't remove them it would not be possible for us to move on smoothly. And we must remove them immediately and not them accumulate. Thank God we manage to reach the destination safely though it was delayed. Boarded the boat at 730am and reached only at 230pm. Even the hunger bang went off.

Plan to try the bamboo train and visit the Phnom Sampeou Mountain. But met a horrible tour guide. Decided to erase the long paragraph that I had initially blog about him since this blog is dedicated to God and God don't like us to complain. Still thank God that I got to experience the bamboo train and see what happen when 2 trains meet face to face. Well, one party just step off the train, carry the train off the rail to let the other pass! Simple logic, no need to think too much. A lot of problems in life are also very simple and can be solve with simple logic. But man just make it so complex. Isn't praying something simple and logical to do?

Although that's all I get to do at Battambang, I get to rest well in the nice hotel. Almost 11 hours of sleep. Thank God for the long desired rest.