Today we are both excited as we are leaving Vietnam for Cambodia, country no5. The bus was a day bus and took about 7 hours. On the bus we met Amy and Harry, a couple from Norwich who had been travelling 6 months already. We we're soon all chatting away and by the time we arrived in Pnomh Penh we decided to all get accomodation together. To our suprise alot of the guest houses we're full but this must have been fate as we found the best room. The hotel was called Longlin Guest house, and although we had only known each other 7 hours we were sold on the family room. It was huge, 2 big doubles ang a single, balconys, chadenliers and the best part, our own living room with fridge and tv. All for $5 each a night. We were all suited with our choice.

That night we all went to a little restuarant a few bars down called Blue Dolphin, the beers food and cocktails were so nice we ended up in there all night racking up a bill of $11 between me and James, think that has to be the cheapest night out yet.

The following day our persistant tuk tuk driver was sat in the bar at 10.30am ready to take us to The Killing Fields and the S-21 Tuol Song Prison. Another very educational day to say the least. Non of us really knew what to expect but were quite suprised when we got there, it didnt seem like there was anything there. We were soon hooked up with our audio tours and maps as each location had board and was marked with number that corresponded to what was been said on the audio tape.

The reason that there wasnt remains of the buildings was when people found out what they were used for they were destroyed.

The reaon behind the killings was due to the Khmer Rouge Regime in the 1970's ran by a man named Paul Pot. He basicaly wanted to revert back to the old way of farming. He executed over 200,00 Cambodians and other ethnic Thais, vietnamese, there were some europeans also killed. Anyone that worked for former goverments, professionals or intelects were also killed and buried in the mass graves. Only the 'base people' people that had never left their village and farmed for a living were safe.

The evidence we saw really was horrific, although most of the graves had been excavated you can still see the huge craters in which up to 400 bodies were once buried. As you walk along the paths there are bones, teeth and bits of clothes that are brought to the surface by weather and poeple constantly walking over the paths. Every so often there would be a glass case filled again with bones and teeth that had recently been found, even on top were lose bones and teeth that people pick up on their way round. The worst was when I saw a girl brushing the ground with her foot, it was a jaw with a few teeth still intact just coming to the surface.

The final part was huge stupa, (temple like building) that housed 17 stories of the skulls and bones of those found in the graves. Its crazy to think that our parents were alive while all this was going on.

Next stop was Tuol Son prison or S-21.This is where prisoners where held before been sent to the killing fileds. It was ll jus prison cells with very little inside and then a room full of pictures of those that were killed which was quite eerie.

That night we went back to the Blue Dolphin as we knew the food was cheap but good. As it was saturday me and Amy indulged in a few bottles of wine and they let James and Harry have happy hour prices all night. They even brought us our free cheese and bisuits.

At 12.30 the bar closed so we stocke up on more wine and beer and headed back to our little party living room!

Sunday was movie and market day. Wehad a very lazy morning before getting a ruk tuk to the russian market which was great. James got a pair of converse for $10 so was very happy, his haggeling skills are coming along nicely after nearly 3 months of being away.

For tea me and James went to a restaurant called Friends, it provides educaion and training for former street children. It was Tapas style so we had Chicken Amok ( a local curry) spinach and ricotta raviolo, fush cakes wih red pepper coulis and honey glazed meet balls which were gorgeous.

Tommorow were going to Siemp Reap!