Wow. Cambodia has been mind-blowing. I feel pretty ignoramus for admitting this, but i had no idea what to expect here, and until a few days ago, i'd never even heard of the Khmer Rouge, (monsters!), and the genocide that went on between 1975 and 1979. More than a million Cambodians were starved, executed or tortured to death under this regime, who tried to purge Cambodia of anything capitalist or western, any foreigners, any "traitors". Why did we not hear about this when we were growing up?? Why wasn't it in our history books?! Why no media coverage given? Was it any less important/horrific than the Holocaust? or South Africa's racial policy happening around exactly the same time? (or could it be simply that Cambodia simply didn't have enough
oil supplies for the rest of the world take an interest and "rescue"
them?)

There is so much to say, i couldn't possible capture it in one go. Awesome friendly people, but scarred by the atrocities that were committed against them by the Khmer Rouge, led by a psychopath named Pol Pot (who conveniently died of heart issues before he could get tried for his crimes). None of the Leaders of this group have been tried in court. They all protest that they had no idea about Tuol Sleng prison - where 20 000 prisoners were taken to be "Investigated", brutally tortured, and executed, with less than a dozen survivers remaining. They also claim to know nothing of the Killing Fields, where over a million Khmer people (as well as those foreigners unlucky
enough to be there at that time) were brutally executed with farming utensils (to save bullets you see) in mass graves just like during the Jewish holocaust. Darren and I have walked over ground this morning at those fields where you can see shreds of clothes and bones sticking out under your feet. And a few days ago we met Hak, an amputee (stood on a mine while innocently playing in a rice paddy when he was 8 yrs old). Hak is now working with this amazing man, Aki Ra, who laid his first mine for the Khmer Rouge when he was only about 6 yrs old, (you had no choice, any "traitors" would be killed, as were his parents). Laying mines is the only thing Aki knows, so he has made it his
personal business to find and remove all the mines in Cambodia. So far he has personally removed over 80 000 mines! He can remove up to 30 an hour with no protection gear, no metal detectors. He finds them by scraping his feet along the ground, and removes them using a farming tool and a screw driver. His operation is completely unfunded by the currently pretty corrupt government. (oh don't even get me started on that...that is a-whole-nother story...)

...sigh...there's too much to say. 2-3 people get killed in Cambodia every single day by walking on mines. There are still a few million left to remove before Cambodia is safe. Hectic man. These people have been through an exceptionally tough time, with every single person you meet having lost some or all of their family members to this horror. It has really opened my eyes to how very very lucky we all are, and how very little we really have to complain about.

OK. here endeth the lecture. Darren and i have been thoroughly enjoying this experience, the hectic bits too. Khmer people are so so beautiful and full of smiles. Khmer food is awesome, (although it is rumoured that a certain someone devoured a tuna sam-which last night... but i aint sayin nothing!), with our best meals coming from these little roadside cafe's where you chow your "fried ricenoodles with chicken(/dog?)" while cars/bikes/mopes whizz past you hooting frantically at each other and anyone who's willing to listen - all at
the price of a uk bag o crisps...

Hope everyone is well and happy and healthy. We've updated our website(below) if you wanna check out some pics. Thanks so much for yr messages, PLEEEEZE keep em comin!

Lots and lots of love to you all,
KnD
PS little brother, i'm so so sorry i didn't call you on your birthday.
In my defence i remember dating a diary entry "Feb 30th" before i
thought hmmm... what is wrong with this picture?!!!
PSS Leigh! When is it? Did i miss it again?? Araaaagh!!!!
PSSS Anton, Tayla, Jase, Nic, Max, happy happy happy. So sorry this is
so belated but we DID think of you on the day i promise!
PSSSSSSSSSSSSS. that's all folks! x