"ITS A HOLIDAY IN CAMBODIA!" Hehe RIGHT here we go again, another country down, another deck of amazing stories and my 3rd GAP Adventure Tour is off to a to a great start. Jumping right into it:

Day 1: Arrived in Bangkok to join the group and go out for a "get to know each other dinner + drinks". Indian tour guide Hanif is cool and seems to know alot about Asia, his knowledge will be put to the test on the way..

Sat Nov 27th: Early morning wake up, full days journey heading for the Cambodian border & Siem-Reap. Relativly smooth bus ride, heard rumours of the bumpy roads in Cambodia and will be getting back to that one later on. The border crossing itself was abit of a hassel, forms to fill out, pictures to be taken, visa's to be shown etc etc. Took approx 1 hour and got to walk under a huge "Kingdom of Cambodia" monument (pics included). After arrivng in town we hired some of the local Tuk-tuk's (motorcycles with carridges) and went to dinner at a local families house where we sat outside, played with the kids and went for an amazing walk around a very quiet tucked away village.

Sunday 28th: Today was an absolute highlight of Cambodia, a full day trip to the famous "Angkor Wat". We arrived at the temple just after 5am to catch the sun rise over the back of it. Took some of the best photos Ive ever taken in my life and felt very lucky to be there at such a time. Lots of people around but our guide for the day Sonny did a great job guiding and telling funny stories. Of course it was very educational and historic aswell:) We spent all afternoon walking around many different temples around the sight with one highlight being something called the "echo room". You stand up against the wall and pound your fist into your chest and it makes a vibrating echo that was completely mental. Next to that, we visited a temple deeply hidden where they filmed parts of the "Tomb Raider" movie, GREAT FUN! pics and video where taken. Lots of "Angelina Jolie adopting cambodian baby" jokes where made.

Another good dinner in downtown Siem-Reap followed by many cheap cocktails out at a bar called "Angkor What?" hehe. Found out which members of the new group could "bust-a-move" and followed this up with what the cambodians call a "fish massage". Dr Fish Full Body Massage lets you dip your feet into a tank of dead-skin eating fish who clean you right up. After not wearing any socks for almost 2 months, my feet were a different colour when the fish were done with me!

After two days in Siem Reap, we spent a whole day traveling to Phnom Penh. On that first day we went out to a dinner in which all the proceeds go towards helping orphaned children so I felt good about ordering a slightly expensive hot-mexican pizza^^ Went for drinks in an O.K dodgy area where the bars were not quite fit to our groups taste. Game of snooker with Gavin the welshman to round off the day.

Tuesday 30th: Today was...how you say? Full On. We took a trip 45mins outside Phnom Penh to the "Killing Fields" which is something you might not enjoy googeling. After a very intense history lesson on Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge on what they did only a mere 25-30 years ago we arrived at one of the most horrible sights Ive ever seen. We were met head on by a monument containing approx. 8000 human skulls, men women and children the like. We were shown Mass graves where hundreds of people ae burried, and theyve done such a poor job of covering it up, you were litterally tripping over bones, half decomposed clothes and scattered teeth. They dont call it the Killing Fields for nothing. Lessons on how the Khmer Rouge used to kill their own people without the use of bullets left the entire group spechless. That trip was followed up by a visit to the "S21 Prison". Another aweful aweful place , lots of graphic photos on the wall, cramped prison cells, a real Gallow, torture devices etc etc. "No smiling allowed".

The day took an absolute turn for the better when we went for another dinner at a local family's house. Played and sang songs to the kid's and had my first taste of Tarantula Wine! mmmm.

Next day was another horrible half-day of bus-travel going south to my favourite city in Cambodia, Sihanoukville. This chilled out town is right on the beach surrounded by great islands for suitable for snorkeling and diving. It was our first beach as a group and we pretty much ran down and frollecked around drinking pina colada's. Delicious 3$ seafood BBQ for dinner followed up by lots of free drinks at one of the many many beachside bars. Fun fun fun.

Day 2 of Sihanoukville, we went for a ful day of Island hopping & snorkeling! yes i know it sounds amazing..:D 1 hour banka-boat took us to island nr1 where we stopped just outside it for some pretty good snorkeling. Different from the Philippines but I wont say better or worse. 2nd island was our lunch stop. One of the most scenic places Ive ever been to, so much so I hardly got any photos! Had a walk to the other side of the island through the jungle and open patches, I swear it looked like something taken right out of "Lost". Amazing beach photos will be included from this one. After another round of snorkeling we went back to the hotel, I stopped on the way at this place that for 50cents you can get any movie or tv episode put on to your iPOD, so now im prepared for those long bus rides and overnight trains! Went for another seafood BBQ consistent of Squid, prawns & barracuda! (nom nom nom!) and a Watermelon/Apple Shisha to end the night.

Our time in Cambodia was just over 1 week and "what?" a great week it was. Hot lovely days, probably the best seafood ive had since Japan and my camera is just overflowing with pictures I will treasure for life. The new group is pretty good, had some fun with 4 Norwegian girls from Oslo and Bergen (I didnt tell them I was norwegian for about 4 days! hehehe, overheard some pretty funny conversations and I thank my mum and dad for teaching me english with such a convincing accent^^) british passport helped aswell and using the travel name Matt made for some of the longest faces Ive ever seen when i burst out in a ful norwegian rant infront of them! Also we have some english girls, australian couples, a welshman and the funniest russian Ive ever met in all my days. 30 days with this bunch..oh my stars.

Quick personal update: Im feeling alittle homesick now, no alot but alittle! Migh be all the christmas music being played everwhere and the complete lack of brown bread and good milk. Snow would be nice but beach and sun is still better;) im healthy, happy, and at this time a little hungry so im off for some rice and meat!

Ciao!

Matt