Today I start a two day min-break in Siem Reap. You have no idea just how much it has changed from when I was here nine years ago. It is now a tourist trap and in some areas could be almost anywhere. The two day conference that finished yesterday was held at the teacher training college and was good as it gave me a chance to meet up with friends I made when I first arrived.
Today we (Ian, Gillian, Shiela and myself) moved into town to a hotel with a pool - mind you it is still only $6 a night each. We spent the morning wandering through the town getting invited by monks to join their celebrations - actually only one monk but it was still really nice to know that even in such a tourist hotspot normal local life goes on. Afternoon spent indulging the inner woman - i.e. Massage, pool, swim, sleep etc!!