Ola, next load of back-dated entries:

31st July - Phnom penh

We got up quite early to go to the genocide museum, wasn't looking forward to this to be honest and rightly so. For anyone who doesn't know the museum is basically an old detention centre used during the Khmer rouge rule (led by pol pot) from mid to late 70s used for detaining, interpreting, torture and killing after 'confession'. The detainees being accused of being members of the CIA or KGB or generally just enemies of the state. The majority of which were innocent. Before the rule of pol pot the building wad an old school, each of the classrooms were made into multiple cells most of which were like 0.8 by 2m, I went inside one and could hardly move- grown men were kept in them. In the one that I went into there was still blood stains on the floor. In other rooms they had put up photographs taken by the Vietnamese soldiers who had come in to raid the security office, the pictures were of the remains of the prisoners the way they had found them, all dead with clear signs of starvation and horrific injuries from abuse. It was pretty intense to say the least. A lot of the girls didn't understand the basic ideology of the Khmer rouge, so I gave them a little politics lesson. Apparently I explained it much better than anything else they'd read - nice to know the degree wasn't a complete waste of time. After the genocide museum we went to the killing fields where the bodies of the detainees were disposed of. Nothing can prepare you for the sight of the mass graves. There is a monument erected over the biggest mass grave that was found that contains all of the skulls and bones of the victims found there. It's absolutely overwhelming. There are also blood stained fragments of clothing and bones still visible on the ground, there is simply too much to clear and alot gets washed up during the heavy rains of the rainy season. There is also a large tree called the killing tree, it was used by the soldiers of the Khmer rouge to bash children off of in order to kill them and save ammo. The tree is clearly damaged in places from the impact and multitude of blows. Obviously wasn't the most
enjoyable of experiences but still glad we went if only to pay our respects to tens of thousands of innocent people who lost their lives under the regime.

Afterwards we all needed some light relief so wr went to the Russian Market for a wee look. Didbt buy anything, was all a but claustraphobic and not as good as the one in siem reap. We then went to FCC - the old foreign communications centre, used by journalists in the past but now turned into a bar that serves very decent cocktails, all the better that we were there during happy hour. Result! We went for dinner in a place that supports a local orphanage, I had the most delicious loc lac.

1st August Sihanoukville

We travelled for about 4 hours to the Coastal town of sihanoukville. Beach time!! Had another amazing meal at the guest house when we arrived - beef noodle soup. It was delicious!! We all headed to the beach, had a few mojitos and local lager by the sea. We did however get attacked by loads of looky looky folk. In the end I got my legs threaded, manicure and pedicure all for 10 dollars, while I lay on my lounger with a mojito- hilarious! Met a 12 year old boy who has to be a lady boy in training- he introduced himself as beyonce!! I taught him the single ladies dance! After dinner we went for some drinks, had pretty rank cocktails in monkey revolution then the most potent bucket ever in JJs bar, we met some welsh guys in the pier bar, typical rugby lads singing fields of athenry when we joined in they came over to talk. Had a few more drinks and shots with them, with the night culminating in a lot of uv paint and arm wrestling. Interesting to say the least

The next day we went to another beach, I was hanging like a mofo so wad very glad of the chill out day. The beach was glorious- no looky lookies, lots of sunbathing, naps and playing in the beautiful ocean - perfect temperature and not a bit of seaweed or fish in sight. Perfect!!! After we got home we both showered and passed out, didnt even get up for dinner, both slept right through til 7 this morning!

We've just arrived in nam so can't get Facebook easily. Message On here or email me if you have my email address

Muchos love guys!
Xxxxxxxxxxxx