Well, I seem to completely love Cambodia. Such a change from Vietnam. Everything is more relaxed and laid back, and its just so hot. Had great time at the orphanage I mentioned last time. the kids were lovely and it had a real family feeling to it. I saw some girls having a proper bickering match like you can only do with a sister in your mid teens and I speak from experiance. They loved all the toys and bits we took and had a great couple of hours hanging out. Dinner at the family home was also very cool.

Since I left Pnom Penh I have been in SIem Reap and most of my time has been spent visiting the temples. Yesterday I went to Angor Wat and spent a few hours admiring its splendour. You can see why its one of the wonders of the world. SO big and so completely intricate. Nearly every visable stone is covered in carved decoration. You cannot imagin how much work it must have taken to complete. I had good wonder round and had acouple of lovely encounters, one with a few monkeys and another with a couple of Cambodian brothers who were 11 and 8. I hung out with them both (monkeys and brothers, but not together at different times). The boys were lovely and making a change from Vietnam they were not after money, we just talked about where we lived and what we did for work. This was one of my fave bits so far.

I did a cople more tmaples in the afternoon, but it was just so increadably hot that I couldn't manage any more. I am afraid I looked like someone had poored a bucket of water over me. Slathered in suncream and guzzling as much water as I could but I am a delicate English flower and climbing temples in 35+ degrees cannot be sustained for more than 6 hours.

I did however go back for sunrise this morning. I was up at 4.30 and in a good spot at Angor wot by 5.15, just waiting for the sun. It came by 6am and although cloudy it was still magical. Was with a few good friends and a few thousand other tourists, but it was stil and quiet and very pleasant apart from the mosquitos, and I enjoyed it very much. I went on and did a few more temples, because I may never get back to do more. The best one was the one they fimled Tomb Raider in. As some of you know- I want to be Lara Croft. I even have a Lara Croft outft at home that I will don with the slightest excluse. I was ver sorry not to have it with me and went charging about the temple with imiaginary had gnd and my trusty M30 (see previous blog!). I think I know what it might be like to be a 7 year old boy. I think it is more fun that being a Commissioning Manager, but only just (?!)

I have suffered quite a lot with mosquito bites on this trip. I always seem to be the first choice of snack but I have at times felt like an ear of corn being eaten in a cartoon. I have been through all my afterbite treatment and chomped my way through packets of antihistamine, and that's after I have used enough Deet to ensure that I am probally infertile, but I cannot escape. I must assume that I am both delicous and irresistable... but I wish I wern't.

I went of a bit of a souveneer binge yesterday at the local market and I'm going to go back tonight with friends. The plan is to mooch into SIem Reap from the hotel and have a look round. Head to the Forign Correspondants Club for a few cocktails (Ginger Roger is my new best mate- Gin, Lime, Mint, Sugar and Ginger ale- yum) them back to the markets. You may get some judgement impaired presents.

Tomorrw I go back to Bangkok by bus. Its going to be a long drive, and that is my last night here. I fly home the next evening so I'm goign to leave you now and make the most out of every last second I have of being here in this wonderful place

Big love and Cambodian Sunshine

See you all soon- Sob xxxxx