Moped is for country children?

When my legs were long enough I got a moped, like many country children. It was great to be mobile, I hated driving to school in the dark and it rained occasionally. Gravel roads are terrible, oil spills take away your control and rain is really wet. Those were my experiences until trains, bikes and cars determined my life.

Now it's time to remember the old skills again. Getting around by bus and train is logistically possible here, but it means that you can only get from hotspot to big city and that you have to go to the bus station very early in the morning and are inflexible, so individual mobility is necessary.

Robert already showed in Loas last year that he can take on any slope. So we went to the moped rental company with a good rating and we set off with the bold plan to explore Cambodia on a solid Honda with 125 cc. The plan was good, but Kathleen, who was actually experienced with mopeds, had to spend a few days getting used to it.

Traffic works differently, without rigid rules, but with a huge amount of consideration. You don't drive for yourself, but explore everything that's happening around you. The roadside consists of small stalls, people on bikes or with slow mopeds, carts or any form of transport vehicle (mopeds with trailers are often used to transport entire seating areas, apartment furnishings or even fruit deliveries). You should keep an eye on all of this, the road and the occasional overtaking pickups.

After 10 days on the road, the three of us (Robert, the Honda and I) have become a good team. We can sneak along the dirt track together, balance between water holes and love having a piece of asphalt, which allows for relaxed (and faster) driving. Regular driver changes, a short stop at the temple or a good coffee help. We have now easily cracked the 1,000km mark.

And everything you can see: rice fields, Mekong, temples, markets, schools, weddings; All life in the village takes place on the street.

Tomorrow we'll continue to Siem Reap and Angkor Wat...

Kathleen