Phew! It is HOT! 35+ today apparently and I am sat in a glass room with 2 old desktop computers which run permanantly, no windows and a ceiling fan stuck on high which is circulating the heat. Comfy? Not really, so this is going to be a short one.

Travelled from Thailand (Bangkok) to Cambodia yesterday. This was a welcome idea after the tour leader told us that Thailland is experiencing a heat wave and it was to get to 39 that day. We had an air conditioned van for the trip to the border, which took about 3 hours. It was pretty uneventful to be honest. Even the Thai way of driving wasn't too bad. From what I can tell, red lights are merely a suggestion to stop, if there is no traffic directly in your way, then it's all good to go.

We arrived at the Thai/Cambodia border around lunchtime and waited at the (HUGE, Colossal) Friendship Market for the driver to come back wih our Passports and Cambodian Visas. If at all possible, it was hotter at the Market than in Bangkok. Thankfully, between the neverending stalls of Curtains, Golf Clubs and Gucci bags are water stalls. 2 big bottles later, we were on our way to the öther" side. After declaring in writing that I don't have swine flu and writing down my passpor details for about the 4th time in an hour, we were free to go.

One vey hot, very sweaty bus ride tothe bus station we transferred to the air conditioned comfort of our Van. 4 hours later we were in Siem Reap. I was more than surprised to see that it is actually a beautiful city. There is enormous poverty in Cambodia and it is very obvious but Siem Reap is a tourist trap and has obviously done well for itself and some of its people.

We explored the city and markets and then headed to dinner. So far, we have group consenus that we eat local food, made by local people. it was no different last night. We had fantastic, curries, salads and soups. The food was amazingly fresh and tasty. After dinner we headed into the Night Market. A sprawling mass of stalls with everything you could ever want (or not want really). Just off from the Night market is Pub Street (great name I know!), it is Siem Reap's version of Khao San Rd but it is much nicer and far more inviting. Given we had had such a long day and we were to be rising at 4.45am for the Angkor Wat tour the next day, we held off temptation in Pub Street but agreed to go the next night.

So off to bed early for a very early morning start. Headed off to Angkor Wat for the Sunrise. Took about 20 mins to get there and it was stifflingly hot already! We watched the sunrise come up of the temple, which was worth every bit of lost sleep and then went for a guided tour around the 800 year old complex.

The history of Cambodia and it's impact on the Angkor Wat is truly amazing. Through various wars with it's neighbours and even it's own internal upheaval this memorial was pretty much lost and forgotten for 400 years! It was plundered and partially destroyed by the Khmer Rouge during Pol Pots reign and yet inow it is going through a resurgance and restoration. It truly is magnificent.

Next we are heading to Angkor Thom and then back to Angkor Wat for sunset. Apparently the Angkor Wat is set on 200 hectares, so I doubt we will get bored. Of course after Sunset comes Pub Street.. Yay!

Stay tuned...