We cross over to Cambodia and do passport control on the banks of the Mekong - very interesting. We approach to Phnom Penh at sunset and the skyline looks really impressive. Unfortunately we don't have a lot of time in Cambodia so it's a matter of trying to fit in all the highlights of Siem Reap, Angkor Wat and Phnom Penh in less than a week.

Upon arrival in Phnom Penh we hop straight on to a bus which will have us in Siem Reap in six hours. We have a short pit stop at a flea-infested shed that functions as a roadside diner before we arrive in Siem Reap at about midnight. We check in to La Noria which is paradise after the long day's travels. Our room is a lovely wooden cabin set in forested grounds which features little walkways, a poolside bar, small massage centre and a fabulous restaurant.

We don't have a lot of time to spend in Siem Reap so we get a rickshaw to bring us from temple to temple in Angkor. What an amazing experience! The temples are so much more spectacular than I would have imagined. Both myself and mum are totally blown away by Angkor Wat. Although there's some scaffolding and construction going on, the beautiful grounds, paved pathway to the temple and the stonework and carvings of the temple itself are amazing. We spend ages wandering here - partially because of the beauty and partially for the cool of the stone - it's a sweltering hot day. We also visit Angkor Thom, a huge complex which comprises Bayon, the Terrace of the Elephants and numerous other famous sights. The entrance to Angkor Thom is a good sign of what is to come - intricate stone carvings and imposing features. Bayon is a beautiful temple which is well known for the beautiful faces carved in to the stone. Again, we take a while to wander about Bayon before walking along the Terrace of the Elephants, a walkway with numerous elephants carved in to the stonework. We next move on to Ta Phrom, the Jungle Temple, which was never completely excavated after it was discovered and still has major tree trunks and roots which seem to be growing out of the building. Movies such as Tomb Raider has been filmed here. We watch sunset from Ta Keo - this is a really beautiful temple and although it's a bit of a climb up some seriously steep stairs the view makes it worth it! We spend a while hanging around up here with the hordes also awaiting sunset before heading back to La Noria for a great massage and one of the best meals of the holiday. A couple of glasses of wine and a great sleep make a perfect end to a great day.

It's back to Phnom Penh rather quickly where we take in the usual sights. The journey from Siem Reap is really interesting by daylight and we pass through some tiny little villages where we see the local housing and agriculture. Again, we get lucky with our accommodation and restaurants in Phnom Penh. Phnom Penh is really interesting and quite pretty in its own right, but it's a really sad city nonetheless! We visit the Killing Fields of Cheung Ek where thousands of civilians were buried in mass graves as part of the Khmer Rouge regime. There's a really good information centre with videos and a museum. It's eerily quiet wandering the grounds here! It's monsoon season at the moment and we are caught in some torrential rain and flooding. It's funny though, life just seems to operate as usual with people going about their business as if the sun is splitting the stones! We make such a big deal about the weather at home. The only other sight we have time to visit is the S-21 Prison which is now a museum. The prison is a large open courtyard containing a number of cement apartment-block-type-buildings. The prison is the site at which many tortures and atrocities ordered by Pol Pot were carried out. There is still barbed wire draped over the windows and entrances and many of the rooms carry a large collection of disturbing photographs of the people who were tortured and how they were tortured. I just can't believe that this all happened in the not so distant past! And…it's only in recent years that people have begun to be held accountable for their roles in the Khmer Rouge. Phnom Penh really is interesting but there is something still a little bleak about it!

We head back to Saigon through beautiful countryside - wish we could have spent longer in the Cambodia!