We arrived in Sihanoukville at midday after an eneventful bus ride and were instantly swarmed by taxi drivers, tuk tuk drivers, motorbike taxi drivers and people handing out flyers for various guesthouses. Although we did find out that the drivers get a commission for bringing people to certain guesthouses, so you invariably end up at the guesthouse that pays them the most. Having said this Sarah was negotiating a fee to one of the beaches (there are 5 in total) and I was collecting flyers and decided that I had chose one for us to stay at and it was on the beach we wanted (called Serendipity beach), and we were taken there so it must have paid well.

After checking in (to Monkey Republic) we went down to Boom Boom Room (the i-pod shop) after the disappointment of Phnom Penh (and the guy did it instantly! useless Phnom Penh shop) and spent the afternoon wandering the beach. It was hot to say the least and after tea we went back to the room for a refreshing cold shower (over the next 5 days they would just keep getting better). We found a cockroach in the room that was a couple of inches long and instead of running away, it charged us. The cockroaches there do not care about humans and do exactly what they want and would probably attack if they wanted.

The next day (and the next, and the next) was spent in bars on the beach front (there was enough of them) relaxing and soaking in the sun. Whenever it got too hot the sea beckoned, although it didn't do much good as the water was as warm as a bath! The only cool water was about 20 metres off shore and a metre or so below the surface.

The second evening we went to the most bizarre cinema I have ever visited as it was a large room with large wicker chairs with enough cushions that it was impossible to know that you were in a wicker chair. Whilst watching the film I felt something on the back of my neck, and thinking that it was Sarah trying to tickle me, I brushed it away. It then started crawling down my arm which is about the time I realised that it wasn't Sarah but was in fact a pretty big (hairy) spider! Needless to say I was a little on edge (panic probably a better word) and managed (just!!!) to watch the end of the film, all be it on the edge of my seat.

As it was the final weekend of the six nations mand I hadn't had a chance to see a game yet Sarah said that we could watch the Wales-Ireland game (how nice of her). We found that the only place showing the game was on the other side of town so we got a tuk tuk out there to find that we were 4 hours early. I have heard about the paedophile problem in Cambodia but sat in a bar (on a seedy street) we got to see it first hand. There were guys of at least 50 years old offering money to girls who at the most were 12. It was disgusting to see and made even worse by the older women acting as the little girls pimps.

The next night we decided to test the bar staff at all of the cocktails (some were nice and some not so nice), to the extent that the guy behind the bar dreaded us coming to order. At last orders we decided to continue drinking and went down to a beach bar. It is fair to say that by the time we got back to our room we were inebriated.

Other than what I have already said we did nothing (absolutely nothing!) but relax and I think it is fair to say that we both enjoyed every minute of it. It was made even better that we didn't have anywhere to rush off too. Our next stop is Siem Reap so the break from touristy things was definately what we both wanted and probably needed.