Back to Khao San

6 September - Back in Bangkok in a craooy room on the fifth floor of an israeli infsted overpriced guesthouse with a view of ... An alley some type. But, i'm back in Khao San and it certainly is nice to be somewhere familiar even if it's Khao San.
After saying fare dee well to Angkor Wat I headed in Siem Reip for a disappointing Khmer meal and was about head home when I bumped into Greg, a Welsh expat from Ausstralia whom i'd met in Sihanoukville. We had a beer that was consistently interrupted by the street kids, who are very amusing at first but eventually become very tiring before heading to Lingar Bar - which is the sole site of Siam Reip's pumping gay SCENE. Very overpriced drinks (for Cambodia) and a smattering of overdressed young Khmers and run by an expat American who originally came here to work at one of the hotels. However, a very nice place regardless - and they had free wifi as well. According to those in the know Cambodia's king happens to be of the gentle persuasion, and is a rather tortured soul because of it, which would go a little way into explaining why he refuses to take down the pictures of his parents in all of the public buildings (bit of a mummy's boy, methinks) - but then again, most of those in the know always said that about Paul Keating and Bob Carr, so can hardly take their word for .
Early wake up and check out before an extended wait to actually get to on the bus to the Thai border. It was probably worth the wait because it was a very interesting bus ride. A very nice eclectic mix in the overcrowded bus, which had no air conditioning, no suspension and no functional fanbelt (apparently) - the bumpiest ride i've ever had p like a rollercoaster - constant potholes for about six hours - some of them throwing us out of our seats by six inches. And on the road, apart from road trains and live pigs on motorcycles, where pick-up trucks loaded down with at least twenty people in the back being thrrown around like lottery balls. Glad I did the trip - as it probably won't exist for much longer - the Poi Pet - Siem Reip road will definitely be sealed up in the next few years due to the fact that Angkor Wat is Cambodia's onlyattraction - however, am also very glad that it's over. Waited around for a few hours at the Thai border for the bus before getting a very nice air conditioned omnibus with ample leg room and very nice next door company. Unfortunately didn't arrive in Khao San until 11:00 so missed a pre-arranged rendesvous but am here and no longer on a bus (t least until tomorrow) Also bumped into a few others from my original bus who arrived in Bangkok around midnight - so I can't really complain about my late arrival.