We crossed the border independently at the Hat Lek - Cham Yeam crossing and encountered no problems.

Our first night in Cambodia was in a small place called Koh Krong Kong ( a transit town).Through just having a wander through the town you realise how friendly the Cambodian people are, they all smile and say hello more often than not.Phnom Penh was our next destination where we spent 4 nights. We visited the S21 genocide museum which was quite harrowing and explored the city.Then decided to go down to Kampot on the coast where we had heard there was a good national park and within it an old French Hill Station. Unfortunately theCambodian Government has sold land and rights to build in the park to a Japanese company, there were hotels and restaurants being built in the park which really did spoil the trip and the beautiful views of the coast towards Vietnam.It was upsetting to see all this building work going on in Bokor but at the same time there are 1000s of Cambodians employed to work on the project.But it is still ruining a portion of the National Park and animal habitats.

After Kampot we moved on to Pursat a small town on the way to Battambang.There is not much going on in the town but we spent two really enjoyable days here. One day we went to visit a floating village called Kompong Luong which was amazing there is a Vietnamese side and a Cambodian side to the village.There are floating shops, schools, wedding venues, a doctors, a petrol station and a police station.The next day we went on what the Cambodians call a Norry (Bamboo Train) through the Cambodian countryside.It's literally a wooden rack placed on top of two axels with wheels that run along the tracks and goes quite fast! Riding the Norry and seeing the floating village have been highlights in Cambodia so far.

After a good few days in Pursat off the beaten track we decided to move on to Siem Reap.Having seen many of the locals hitching we decided we would give it a try and after about 40 minutes we hailed down an overspilling minivan full of Cambodians.Sarah had an executive front seat which she shared with another Cambodian while Robbie was squashed in the back between men offering him deep fried insects.We made it to Battambang having missed all the buses to Siem Reap we decided we would travel Cambodian style in a shared taxi (4 in the back two in the front).We were being quoted $6 each which we knew was not the Cambodian price. We were trying to get $4 each. After turning down an offer of $5 early on, we waited another 2 and a half hours refusing to go for $6 with some other taxi drivers. Finally having to settle on $5.5 each! Sometimes this is the way bargaining goes you win some you lose some!

Arriving in Siem Reap was very different from Pursat it feels like there are more tourists than Cambodians here!And so much choice of where to stay and where to eat, sometimes it 's easier when you don't have that many decisions to make!Siem Reap seems nice and there are a lot of bars with happy hour all the time $0.50 for Draught Angkor and $1.50 for cocktails.We plan to stay here for Christmas in a luxury room costing us £1.60 each a night and even has its own balcony and it used to have hot water until the guesthouse realised they forgot to switch it off as we are in a cheap room!!!It doesn't really feel like Christmas maybe because it is so hot, they don't celebrate it and because we are not with family as we usually would be.Not sure what we are going to eat for Christmas day yet but we will certainly both miss Christmas dinner (Robbie Scurlie especially and Sarah pigs in blankets). Will have to make up for it next year!! Cambodia is our favourite place so far we love the food ( there is so much choice - the curries, salads, stir fries, bbq and noodles)also everyone says it but it's true that the people are so nice, always smiling and up for a laugh and joke.Hope all is well back home. Merry Chritmas!!