We started our day when we were picked up at 7.30a.m. from our hotel by a tuk-tuk. We had booked a 25km bicycle tour of the countryside outside of Phnom Penh. After getting kitted out with our mountain bikes and helmets and meeting our fellow group members (Jude from Canada and Hans from the Netherlands) we set off on to the busy streets of the city. Navigating the busy roads on a bike is an experience in itself, however our guide Amom was there to make sure we made it to the other end. We soon came to the rivers edge and hopped on a ferry with the locals crossing the Mekong river to Mekong island.

After we hopped off at the other side we began cycling off road through the farmland. The young children in the villages run after you saying 'Hello Hello' and wanting a high five - very cute. We stopped at various places for Amom to explain the surroundings to us and the farming techniques. At our first stop, she pointed out the mango trees all around and picked a few green ones for us to try later on. There are 45 different types of mango! The lands flood all around in the rainy season so the few buildings around are on stilts. As we moved on, Steph approached a rough, bumpy patch of wet mud and as if in slow motion, slid sideways and fell off. Amom joked that she would do our laundry for free for making us so muddy!

Next stop was at a farmers shed where the working cows are kept. In Cambodia, cows are more commonly used for mowing the fields as opposed to eating. We have never seen a bull so big - he was taller than both of us. Amom picked up some grass and asked us to smell - lemongrass!

We continued our journey along the bumpy paths in the blazing sun until we arrived at the Silk Farm. Firstly, we sat around a table and were provided with cold bottles of water and an array of fresh fruit. The best was definitely the orange mango! We also tried the green mangoes we had picked. You dip them in sugar that is mixed with red chillies - very flavourful.

After our break, we walked through to the Silk Factory. Amom showed us the silk worms and described the journey that they go through. One silk worm cocoon produces 400m of silk! We then saw a lady use a loom to make a skirt with a traditional Cambodian pattern; it will take her five full days to complete. Steph bought a 100% silk scarf that is turquoise and pink.

Another tour group were at the silk farm but they were Malaysian. On our way out, they asked if we would have a photo with them because we're 'so tall, and Asians so short'.

Back on the bikes, we continued through the beautiful countryside. We passed through a ceremony that Cambodians have 3 years after a funeral, a happy event. Again, all of the kids were giving us high fives.

Next stop was to try a glass of fresh sugarcane juice. It was very tasty, so sweet but good for you. We cycled on to a pagoda (a religious building) in the next village where we caught the monks sitting cross-legged around a wealth of food eating their lunch. This is the last food they can eat all day as they only have two meals a day, breakfast and lunch. Once they had finished, the local people that serve them clear the dishes and eat lunch themselves. As they cleared the dishes, they gave us a bowl of sweet rice cakes and fruit. Both of them are nothing like we have ever tasted before.

When the local people started eating, underneath the Buddha shrine, Amom asked if we may join them. They were delighted! We sat in the circle next to a Cambodian lady of about 70-80 years old. She was so enthusiastic for us to try the food, passing us every dish with a huge smile and asking in Cambodian if we think it's delicious. This was the first time she had ever eaten with Westerners and you could tell she was very excited. Again, we were pleasantly surprised at how welcoming and happy the Cambodian people are.

After our pleasant feast, we continued to cycle and reached the end of our tour at a local restaurant back across the river in Phnom Penh. Amom had preordered a variety of local dishes, including a bbq'd fish, aubergine, beef with pineapple and chicken soup, all of which were in tasty sauces. The tour finished back at the Grasshopper Adventures office with a coconut each to drink.

We headed back to the hotel, washed all the mud off, then headed back to the riverside to enjoy a beer (and use the wifi!) of an American bar called Cadillac.

We're moving on tomorrow, so we're unsure how the wifi will be. Hope to blog again soon.

Max and Steph x