Hello, Just arrived in Phnom Penh a few hours ago after few hot and sweaty 5 hour bus ride - listening to a tape of annoying cambodian pop music on repeat! Was a bit worried I would have trouble getting here today as the road has been flooded the last couple of days and people have had to get boats across the flooded bit and another bus on the other side - however, although many of the fields were flooded, with the water nearly reaching many houses on s...

Hello, Am now in Sihanoukville which is on the coast of Cambodia, with lovely undeveloped beaches, which are apparently similar to what beaches in Thailand were like 20-30 years ago before mass tourism. Chris is attending the VSO conference - I was supposed to be relaxing on the beach - but the rainy season has kicked in so its been a bit damp! Its still warm though and I did venture out today and had a bit of pampering on the beach by one of the women ...

Battambang Hospital Thursday 10th August This afternoon I went along to have a look around Battambang hospital. The hospital is really basic. The beds are made of rusty metal and there are no sheets on the beds, just plastic covered mattresses. There are hardly any nurses and patients are looked after by members of their families. The families also have to provide food for their relatives and so come and build fires in the grounds of the hospital to coo...

Wednesday 9th August 2006 I am now in Cambodia, in Chris's house in Battambang. Chris has just gone back to work for the afternoon, having been home for lunch, and I am here with his Khmer (Cambodian) housekeeper/maid! Quite strange having what is effectively a maid - she cooks delicious Khmer meals - with lots of rice, vegetables, chicken, pork and fish which she buys from the local market. She also does all the cleaning and the laundry - and the wash...