My bus to Siem Reap is held together with a Pringles tube... But I'm not worried. The driver threw some water on the engine and he seems to be happy so I'm sure it will be fine! Phnom Penh was quiet as Cambodia mourns their late king for a week. Te same week that I am here unfortunately. It is a surreal change to not have music blasting out from every direction.

This is the most southern I have been during the day I think and yesterday was really hot. I met Willem from Germany on the bus and we went around the city together yesterday morning but all we really did was see the Olympic Stadium (we are not sure if they are planning to host the Olympics or if they have done in the past but it was considerably smaller than London's park...) and try to see any famous people at the palace but, alas, it was barricaded off. Willem is a garden landscaper and his job sounds very cool and if I had any designer flair I would consider it as a career. He is travelling around with a 4 kilo backpack and inspired me to cut the size of my junk. I threw away/donated 2 kilos and will be posting about 4 kilos home. But only when I get to Bangkok because Cambodia has a bad hit or miss reputation.

I enjoyed a great family call the other night at 1am here which was surprisingly successful and impressively clear. Afterwards I didn't feel homesick but I do miss them greatly and I will be back in a few months, it's not much more than a long university term. I'm really looking forward to the familiar face of Rachel in Singapore where I should be arriving in a week or so... I PLAN to stay in Siem reap 2/3 nights and a couple of island nights in south Thailand on the way down via train/plane. Unfortunately the planes get expensive around Chinese New Year which could suck!

Status
• Really hot and sweaty, why didn't I choose cooler countries to travel through?! Bring on NZ...
• Enjoyed a film in the hostel last night; Training Day, intense but good...
• Cambodians use a combination of Dollars and Reip here and generally 1000r is use in place of 25cents, a bit confusing but I've it it now...

Food: Breakfast this morning and yesterday was chopped up pork, omelette, rice, tiny salad and soup for 75cents which is a bargain over the 2$ eggs and baguette at the hostel! Tried some local dishes for tea: pineapple fried rice, grilled chicken legs/wings (we were given significantly less than the locals :( ) and a banana bud chicken noodle dish.

Fiona Hockin Sorry you are so hot. We are too cold!!!!!! Feb 3, 2013