After Siem Reap, we drove to Battambang, Cambodia’s second largest city located in the northwest. We walked around the bustling markets after lunch, then drove away from the city centre to ride on the Bamboo train.
You may be familiar with the Bamboo train in Battambang if you’ve watched Jack Whitehalls travels with his father. I hadn’t watched any of them, so had no clue what to expect. When our tour leader said we were riding the bamboo train, I thought it was going to be a standard sized train with seats, a roof and open windows... only all made out of bamboo. I imagined us cruising slowly through Battambang and seeng some sights. My god, I couldn’t have been further off.
The bamboo train should be called the bamboo rollercoaster. It’s like a small raft made out of bamboo plonked on top of two sets of really heavy metal wheels. These wheels sit on the track and the ‘train’ is propelled really really fast by a rickety motor attached to the back (with a local guy controlling it). And no, there’s not really any sight seeing... you just fly at high speed through open fields and are occasionally met by some cows. You speed along the track for about half an hour/40 minutes, stop off to have a drink at the souvenir shop at the side of the track, then hop back on and ride it back to the start!
In all honesty, the Bamboo train was so much better than what I expected! It’s extremely thrilling and loud and you feel like you’re going to fly off any second, but so much fun nonetheless. I highly recommend hopping aboard if you ever find yourself in Battambang.
Big love,
Belle x
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