It is raining, Cambodian rain is very wet so I am staying inside until it stops or it is 10 o'clock when I am meeting Gillian for Brunch. To fill the time I will tell you about different ways of travelling in Cambodia.

Luxury coaches - boring I would not bother unless you are ill.

Local buses - on time, crowded, sometimes a bit dirty, usually noisy, you could be travelling with just about anything. The couple I have been on have been great - have heard other tales!!

Mini - buses - quieter and quicker than buses - stop every 2 hours for something to eat - could be travelling with just about anything

Shared taxi - will often not go until they have 6 passengers (5 on the back seat) It is illegal but you often see 2 passengers on the front seat. You must remember they are also the post vans so will drive about town picking up parcels, trees, letters (also delivering parcels, trees, letters,etc ) I have actually travelled with a motorbike inside the taxi!!

Moto Dop - sitting on the back of a motor bike - they will take 2 Cambodians but only one European

Tuk-Tuk - covered seat pulled by motor bike - by far my favourite

Van - not recommended - these are Bedford type vans that may or may not have wooden benches in the back - all seem to have one attached to the tailgate that they use when full. What I mean by that is, they open the tailgate allow this bench to hang down and people will sit on it. I have seen 4 people with feet dangling sitting on these make shift seats!!

Traveling within Cambodia is an adventure in itself. Many roads are now of a good standard - which means those big cars and more powerful motorbikes can get up a fair speed. Other roads are little more than tracks which can become very interesting in the rain. There are no road signs or markings and everyone is used to just driving out into the road without looking. This was fine when everyone was on a bike or small Motto but cars and lorries do it as well!!

Cross roads - In the city there are now some traffic lights that may or may not stop traffic - everywhere else you just weave in between traffic going the other way. This is actually fine in Pailin where the main roads are wide and very quiet. In fact so quiet I have had to avoid the following, men playing badminton; sleeping dogs, cats and people; bikes, Motos and lorries coming the wrong way up the duel carriage way (I have actually started doing that myself!!)

In fact I am no longer surprised at anything I see on the roads!!