My Friend, the Tarantula (How about Fried Crickets?)

If you travel up Route 6A from Phnom Penh on your way to the northeast provinces, or perhaps to take Route 6 to Kampong Thom, or, further up the road, to that Cambodian destination of destinations, Siem Reap, you are likely to stop for breakfast just before Skun, about 75 kilometers from your start in the capital city, where 6A becomes National Routes 6 and 7.

National Route 6A and the work on Route 7 have transformed travel between the capital and the Angkor temple complexes. And as land approaches to Siem Reap became easier over the last few years, the fast boats that ran the lake went out of business even as tourist numbers swelled. Facilitating this transformation were hundreds of used buses, imported from Korea and Taiwan. The intense competition has created great travel deals: $US7 to $US11 for a one-way bus ticket for the 300 km trip.

And almost all the buses that start in Phnom Penh will make a rest stop in Skun. I have my own favorite breakfast place where you can get a selection of noodle soups and curries (made from scratch with fresh vegetables) and good, strong highland coffee.

Fresh-cut mango or pineapple are hawked by kids, which you can munch on during your onward travel. And if you are particularly adventurous, buy a bag of fried tarantulas or crickets!

The young lady above graciously posed for a picture with her furry friend. I gave her a thousand riel ($0.25) as I often do when I take a young person's picture. Giving money like that is anathema to some photographers (though many I have encountered with this attitude are professionals who are going to make quite a bit of money when their picture is published). They say it spoils things for the next photographer. I find the claim suspect and self-serving.

Though I do not make money on the pictures that I take, I don't mind provoking a smile with a thousand riel note given in thanks. (I wouldn't be surprised if she has had her pictures taken dozens of times for similar small contributions, good on her, is what I would say)!