Happy New Year from Cambodia!

Siem Reap knows how to party! Except for, and even during, the power cut for 40 mins (cue glow stick toilet trips, very surreal) everyone was rockin at a fab street party last night, twas truely international as the Cambodians don't celebrate new year for another 4 months! Much singing and dancing and cocktail consumption!

Cambodia so far: Beautiful temples, delicious food, hoards of highly skilled sales-children hawking everything from postcards to muscial instruments to braclets, all at 1 dollar and a bizarre french influence make this place special...well maybe not the children who I realise are doing this to make a living, but are beyond pushy, in fact one recited the entire populuation statistics, political history and geographical knowledge that put me to shame...the practically clambered into the taxi to continue her sales pitch-I still didn't buy the postacards though ;) Despite being treated like a walking dollar bill, the people here are friendly and Siem real is a very chilled-out city.

And the food! Heavenly Kymer style, spicy, coconut creamy yum and I even tried stuffed frogs (those french again)..not to be reapted as rather graphicly splayed out on my plate! (appologies to the veggies)

And the temples! Angkor Wat for sunrise, up at 4am and very bleary eyed, was disappointing due to the cloud (and my heavy eyelids obscuring vision) but the smaller temples were magical. My fav was Ta Som, a tiny one surround and intertwined with trees, a bit tumbled down but peaceful and like a gateway to an Asian Narnia, clambering among the roots and blocks of stone and through hidden doorways...

Next stop Laos!