We left Ho Chi Minh City bound for Phnom Penh at 6.30am on Wednesday morning. This meant getting up at the ridiculous time of 5.30am which is something we definitely aren't used to after having not worked for a year. We reached the Cambodian border at around 8.30am and after getting our passports stamped out of Vietnam we were into Cambodia within the hour. We had been asked to give our passports to the bus company worker when we boarded the bus with our money for the visa and he managed the whole situation so the border crossing ended up being one of the more simple of the trip so far.

We arrived in Phnom Penh at 1 in the afternoon and jumped in one of the many tuk tuks which were after our business. The tuk tuk ride took around ten minutes and was very dusty and we were coughing and spluttering by the time we made it to our hotel.

After getting settled, we grabbed a map from the hotel and wandered down to the river and had some lunch in one of the many bars and restaurants bordering the river. We then toured several travel agencies trying to find one that could arrange a 60 day Thai visa for us. However, we had not banked on there being two days of public holidays in Cambodia due to it being the kings birthday. This has closed the embassy and meant that every single tour agency gave us a different day for when our visa would e ready which didnt give us too much confidence. We eventually gave up and went for a nap after an early start. On Wednesday night, we went out for tea to a place right next to the river and there were loads of fireworks presumably for the kings birthday. There were thousands of locals milling around watching and admiring the fireworks.

Today (Thursday), we had a better look around and explored the local area. After grabbing some lunch and finding a (hopefully) trustworthy travel agency for our Thai visas, we went to the Royal Palace which is only a short walk from our hotel. After paying the $6 to get into the palace grounds, we had a good wander around for an hour or so and we were both very impressed. The buildings and the grounds were both extremely well kept which is in quite a contrast to outside of the palace.

Tonight, we went for some tea before having a walk along the river and admiring the Royal Palace which is all lit up at night. Again there were thousands of people out and about sitting by the river.

We've enjoyed our first few days in Phnom Penh but there have been a few nuisances that we've noticed. Firstly, the tuk tuk drivers are incessant and you can't walk past one without them shouting 'tuk tuk' at you. Literally, as you walk out of the hotel, several drivers will rush towards you in the hope of getting some business. Secondly, everything is in dollars here. There is a Cambodian currency and you do get it as change for anything below a dollar but all the cash machines only seem to give out dollars. Thirdly, we seem to get asked if we want weed a lot. We were asked a few times in Vietnam by shady looking people on motorbikes but here they walk up to you and show you what you are selling. For places with such strict drug laws this seems really strange but they must get business off some people!!