Christmas trip to the jungle

We spent the 24th Dec driving for 10 hours to the north east of Cambodia, to a province called Rattankiri. I think that's about as far as you can go and still be in the country. In the car with us was "V" Soeun's friend he plays music with and another guy from V's church. 

V's church in Phnom Penh is linked to a church up in R'kiri, and the three of them were going there for Christmas to help with the Christmas service.

My back wasn't happy about spending ten hours in the car, esp as the last three house were over an unpaved road. It wasn't as bumpy as the roads near our house, but still my back and our car complained. On the way home we had to get our suspension fixed again. (It also broke when we drove for a few hours on an unpaved road in July between Swasisopan and Siem Reab.)

There was lots of thuds underneath the car as we travelled along the dusty red road. We were carrying musical/sound system equipment, not sure if it all got back to PP in working order. 

I had a sore back and headache all night and the next day, and yes I was taking ibuprofen or however you spell it. The guesthouse had hot water for showers so that was nice! Anyway, pain didn't stop me from taking some photos as you'll see somewhere on my blogs in the near future.

Our guesthouse room was on a corner and had windows on both external walls overlooking a lake- it was a nice view, esp at sunrise.

Soeun spent Christmas day at the church getting ready for the program that evening. He was playing a song and helping with the sound system. Meanwhile, I was walking around dusty Bunlung, the capital town. It was so different to being the the city- so much open space, and hills and trees!! It was also quite cool, which, along with the absence of crazy city traffic made it ideal for walking around- well apart from the dust!

Before we left we decided that we would spend 31st having our own Christmas celebrations at home. I was glad I had that to look forward too as Dec 25th 2008 was not a very Christmassy day for me. As well as being by myself I really wanted to eat some yummy Christmassy food. I had meant to go to a bakery in PP before we left so I would have some cake or something with me, but I forgot.

But the next day my back pain was gone, and Soeun had free time. We and a few other Khmer guys from the church went to see a lake. They think its an old volcanic crater. There were lots of other places to see but we didn't have time.

Yesterday we drove back. I didn't have as much pain, I think cos we stopped a few times. In Kratie we had to wait an hour an a half to get the car fixed. It meant we got home in the dark.

Anyway, I'll tell you more with the help of photos, maybe on the main blog. 

Today we have been cleaning the house- it so dusty after not being used for 4 days, although not as dusty as R'kiri!