Before jumping on the Mekong in Laos alone, I needed to practice. After we returned to Phnom Penh, Vathana would put me and the rolled up kayak on his moto and we would would cross the Japanese bridge each morning to some spot northeast of the city to put in. The first morning we came upon a local film production, the star of which was another goddess that Vathana recognized from TV. 
Driving down a dirt road, chickens fleeing, Khmer staring, I would be saying “Here’s a good spot”, and Vathana was always saying “I think a bit farther”. And he was right of course. Setting up would always draw a small crowd, and this fellow one day was keen to follow my requests with barked orders and really happy to help inflate the boat:
Here’s some lads fixing their fishing net and then showing off how its used:
And in this village a local entrepreneur was selling ice cream with prizes for the kids who hit the right spot on the rotating dart board affixed to his 2 wheel store:
I gave it a whirl…its a little cross bow attached and aimed @ the big turning wheel where you put the nice pointy, suburban parent-scaring METAL DART and then press the trigger! The ice cream was very very good, but I didn’t win…
The happy face of capitalism:
I floated up to one spot on the river to find the local carwash:
As I floated into Phnom Penh I found this fellow fishing across from the Royal palace:
Both river & city are quite dirty, but the smiles:
That night Vathana and I went out for dinner to celebrate
and I ate some bugs:
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Gosh – am I being completely thick – or have you only just updated for the first time in ages? Well, whatever – but a bit weird considering I was just reading an article about some Kiwi kayakers doing the Calafornian rivers ending in Lake Tahoe. Then I thought of my bud Dan and wondered if he was still alive!
Great to catch up bro. Looks interesting!