Hello from Cambodia!

I left the UK a week ago today and have now been in Cambodia for 5 days. The flight from Stansted to Kuala Lumper was 13 hours (with Air Asia - a budget airline!!) - not sure if I would do that again but luckily I slept most of the way! Stayed at the Concorde Inn for one night before flying to Phnon Penh to meet Tor the next day - only a 2 hour flight. She had already been there for 5 weeks teaching english in an orpahage so was very familiar with the city by that point.

Only spent 2 days in Phnom Penh, we did S21 and the killing fields - I didn't relly have any idea about the mass genocide and can't believe it was only 30 years ago. There are still blood stains in the cells and the clothes and skulls of the people that were killed have been placed inside a glass memorial in the killing fields, it was quite gruesome!! The roads in the city are mad there are no rules! Everyone just weaves in and out and beeps and swerves! - I could spend all day sitting in a tuk tuk driving round the city and watching people go about their business and trying to make a few dollars for the day, there is a lot of sitting and waiting and staring into space at the side of the roads - makes me never want to moan about going to work ever again!!

On Saturday we took a bus from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, 4 hours and $4! A 3 days beach break - the beach is gorgeous - I wasn't expecting to see beaches like that here - will upload some pictures in due course! Went on a boat tip to Bamboo Islands - the beach lned with paml trees and the water was clear and warm, fell asleep in the sun and that's when I found out first hand that the Malaria tablets i'm taking make you photo-sensitive! I've never had sunburn like it! I think I'll be staying in the shade for the time being!

The kids and wmen that walk the beaches from morning till night offering manicure, pedicure, fruit, massage, bracelets flocked when they saw me as they can always regocnise a new comer not to mention the fact I am bright white! They keep touching my skin saying that white is very nice!! You can hear the kids saying '"Don't be tight arse when you come to Cambodia...! Open your heart! Open your wallet!""

Tonight we're getting a 10 hour bus from Sihnaoukville to Siem Reap where we will go to the markets and to Angkor Wat - from there we will get another bus into Vietnam. All is well so far, apart from a little sunburn and a bit of a stomache bug! - Perhaps the change in food and temperature!!

Will update again soon! Bye for now xxxxx