Greetings from Siem Reap, Cambodia, the home of the largest temple complex in the world I believe! I have just arrived here a few hours ago mmmmm so should fill you in on the last few days really. I have done all the things that tourists do in Phnom Penh (the capital of Cambodia) such as the national museum, the royal palace and silver pagoda and the central market. I have been getting around on a moto - now they are meant for 2 people. How many people do you see on them. I managed to count 6 on one, its only a moped, and they don't wear helmets so a bit scary doing that. Also they don't drive in any particular fashion, there are no road markings , or crossings so crossing the road is so dangerous. You just have to run! In the end I jumped into a tuk tuk just to cross the road as it was more like a dual carriageway and I thought that after the effort I've put into arranging this trip I'd like to get past the first country! Yesterday, I spent the day in bed, well when I wasn't on the toilet and vomiting at the same time. I really think it is my malaria tablets, they sent me loopy when I went to Madagascar and I have all the side effects it says on the packet. I have to carry on taking them though, as I am getting bitten by mozzies as I sit here and I am completely covered in clothes. So yeah, I was a bit disappointed not to be doing something yesterday but I could hardly walk. I feel ok today though so maybe it was just some dodgy food. So in the heat of the sun I have been sat in a bar / cafe sipping juice and then fitting in the tourist things when its not so hot. In the evenings I have been going out for dinner (well pizza actually). Couldn't find anything vegetarian for ages, despite the claims of my guide book. However, just eaten some lovely stir fried vegetables and noodles so feeling quite happy now. Had a bit of a random night out for the football. Walked into the first bar that I saw with a giant screen and of course there were no women (except prostitutes) but there are not any women generally, western ones that is. So ended up talking to this UK zoologist who now works for the government of Cambodia and he took me to bar called 'The Gym'' that is the only bar with English commentary that they had somehow managed to get piped in from S. Africa! Needless to say it was filled with very quiet england fans until the last 10 minutes of the game. Then I met up with more zoologists and we went to a shockingly bad nightclub where it is so dodgy they frisk you and search your bags - aparantly the only nightclub in Cambodia with bouncers. I was fine in there though, men leave me alone as they hardly need to put in the effort to pull me when they can pay $3 for a Camboadian girl anyway. Its been very difficult watching it all go on. The girls are great with me and we have had some interesting chats about men, makeup and clothes but I just feel so sorry for them or is it that I just realise how lucky I am? Its very difficult to keep your mouth shut when certain things are said and I have kicked off twice at a very rude American guy, who was so out of order I could have punched him. Aside, from that I've found the travelling business a bit lonely so far. All the tourists that I have seen have been in groups and I don't think that they notice you sat by yourself. Plus they are mainly couples or groups of guys, although I have been treated very well and had no problems. In fact, its so easy to get around, its so English speaking orientated I can completely understand why the US and OZ people come here. I really don't get why there aren't more western women though, well I do get it, but its not a bad place to be as a women. So I have arrived in Siem Reap to spend the next few days looking at temples and things, then I go back to Phnom Penh for 1 night, then I fly back to Thailand to join the Intrepid travel trip from Bangkok to Singapore. I'll be with 11 other people then so I'm looking forward to that. I don't generally mind being alone, afterall I spent the last 12 months sat in bars by myself anyway but I hate eating alone in restaurants, which I refused to do in London. Well feeling a bit tired with the heat and being up at 5am this morning to catch the bus here. The people make me laugh here though, they never stop eating, all the time - my god and the things they eat. Urgh! On the menu of this one place was ox penis and pigs bladder with noodles......... then one of the girls in the hotel offered me cockroaches to eat and they weren't even dead. Obviously, I don't mind creepy crawlies but bloody hell, I'm glad that I am vegetarian! I think that they eat all the time because what they eat has so few calories they have to graze but then they can't understand why I only eat once a day. Hopefully I will be sending a few postacards soon. I'm gonna write them over dinner tonight and then I'm gonna ask my guide to take me to the post office tomorrow, have no idea if they will get to you. Well, Im going for a little wander now its gone cooler, to get my bearings and look around for a bit. More updates soon.......... don't forget to stay in touch. Maria x