And so it begins...

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Finally, time to get dirty. I mean literally. As in covered in dust from top to bottom. Today's stage included 120 km proper dirt roads, a couple of river crossings and one very rickety bridge. Called it a day in Pailin, a small rural town near the Thai border with a beautiful tempel up on a hill. Great warm-up before getting into the highlands tomorrow. Cardamom Mountains, here I come!!  

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Here' the bridge I just crossed. 

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Local kids cooling off. 

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...and the hilltop tempel in Pailin.