Well here I am back in the big city and believe me that's what it feels like. Left quiet Pailin at 8 this morning and arrived just after 9 so it is definitely a place I can come for a weekend. Did the important things like getting my nails done and then just walked around. Tomorrow I am going to be a tourist proper and go to some of the main attractions. One of the best things about today is that I met Joanna a girl from Ireland who is travelling through SE Asia....

Yesterday after work most of the department went to the local Pagoda. I was expecting to be there a few minutes but it was 2 hours later before we left. We started by just talking, we then ate at a long raised platform (about 4 inches high) then the monks came out and prayers were said. It was such fun and yet again I caused a great deal of laughter when I tried to say anything. I am going to have to practice sitting on the floor, mind you although the older Camb...

I have found a retreat only 6km from Pailin. It is set in the mountains and has day hikes etc but the best things are it has a great restaurant, excellent wifi, fabulous pool and gives me a space to relax outside. (Mind you it is down an unmade road which after rain!!!)

My bike arrived with a mechanical fault. It jumped a lot especially when I first set off, it had a serious problem when changing gear - i.e. It did not always seem to know that I had asked it to go up or down a gear, in fact it seemed to have a mind of it's own. I was thinking I would have to take it to a garage as it was obviously faulty but strangely over the week that it has been in Pailin the air here has worked it's magic and it now running much smoother!! I...

As you know San has been the greatest help to me. She works for my landlord (whose name I may never know) and she speaks English. As usual she says very badly but if I can speak Khmer half as well by the time I leave I will be happy. For the last few days she has been bringing me Cambodian food to try, this morning it was a rice cake, Cha-ck-roc-han (everything she gives me she teaches me the word). It looked sweet and pink but actually it was fabulous and I if y...