What is it with Cambodia and pick ups!!!!!! In Siem Reap they forgot to pick us up for the bus and they've done the same in Phnom Penh! The bus left at 8am and we, 2 phone calls later, eventually got picked up at 8.05 so after jumping on a moving bus we were off. This was not the bus we had paid for we're certain of that, we were on a normal local bus and were the only non cambodian people on the bus. Now I don't mind what bus I go on but I bet they paid a fraction of what we did!

I ended up shutting the curtains on the drive down because I was so sick of seeing rubbish! The rubbish issue in these Southern Cambodian areas is really bad.

We are staying at Serendipity beach in Sihanoukville and have found accommodation right on the beach and, of all the places we could have chosen, we've picked one owned by a family from Huddersfield! We ended up eating in their beach front restaurant quite a few times as their food was so good and on the Sunday D treated himself to Sunday roast - roast beef, yorkshire pudding followed by apple crumble and custard - D was well pleased!!!

In this area some of the guest houses have clubbed together to pay for 2 local girls to clean up that section of the beach each day but the rest does seem to have a litter issue! I can't really see where it is coming from so I guess the tide must be bringing it in. It is a fairly small beach and is full of bars and restaurants (usually with a few rooms at the back) which have comfy chairs or sun loungers in front of them. The sunloungers are free and you can stay there all day in return for buying a couple of drinks.

On the beach you are approached about every 5 minutes by beggars, amputees, masseurs, beauticians and children all trying to sell you a variety of things or not as the case may be. We spoke to one woman who has come here for 5 years on the trot (is she mad!!!!) who said she cannot believe the explosion in the beach beggars/sellers. There are again posters on the beach asking you not to give directly but instead explaining how you can really help the Cambodian people.

Like in China there is a strong penchant for wearing pyjamas as day wear. It appears that once you hit child bearing age you put away your normal day clothes and pull out your pink or yellow pyjamas covered with cartoon characters and off you go!

I do not know what it is with Cambodia but they don't seem to be able to move on. Maybe it is because they have a weak government or maybe it is because despite constant campaigning the war trials for the leaders of the Khmer Rouge have still not taken place. It is suggested that internationally few countries involved would emerge unscathed if these war trials ever took place which is why the UN are dragging their feet. A case of politics over people I think!!