Well here goes!!! This will really put our writing skills to the test. How can we try and describe the emotional roller coaster we have been on during our visit in Cambodia 30th March - 4th April.

Quick summary of our trip to Cambodia incase you havent got time to read this or you cant be bothered: WOW, WOW, SHIIIITTT, WOW, WOW, PHEW!!!!!!

It began with a long journey involving every possible means of transport, from Koa Tao to Cambodia city centre Phnom Penh.

We left Beautiful, relaxing Koa Tao unfortunately and clambered in the back of a pick up truck with our back packs to the port, where we waited a while for our boat to Chumphon, where we exchanged boat for a coach to take us another 12 hours to Bangkok (Ko San Road). We had a 'de-ja-vu' has we hung around the Bangkok streets looking dishevelled has we bartered with taxi drivers to take us to the airport.

We had a long wait and uncomfortable sleep (as you can see on the pictures) as we waited around for several hours until we could check in. After what seemed like a life time of waiting, our check in desk was finally open. Then we heard the dreaded words "you baggage is over weight" so we frantically started to throw our belongings around the airport floor listening the annoyed queue of people behind us. Finally after abit of juggling we had the all clear - no charge yeah!!!!

Felling chuffed with ourselves with avoiding any extra charges we stood chatting in passport control, as it came to our turn we noticed some commotion, shaking of heads and stern looks from the immigration officers. We got escorted to a private room, Steph started to get apologising turrets as the officer informed us we had got to pay 1000 bht each (20 pounds) as we had over stayed by 2 days oops!!! (carols calculations had gone to pot.) But alls good as we managed to avoid being on "banged up abroad"!!!!

So finally made it though, depressing ourselves as we walked through the designer shops. Dont think our budget would stretch to a chloe handbag - damm!!!!!!!!!

Next came the flight to Cambodia the shortest part of the journey, we all stepped off the plane with the look of fear in our faces and the sound of vikki's Granddads tails of war, killings and torture ringing in our ears. As we walked down the plane steps we were half expecting to dodge bullets and be blown up by landmines at any minute. But after 24 hours of travelling the fear factor did us a favour as it gave us a boost of adrenaline to get us going for another bartering with taxi men, this time in Cambodian Riel (8222 to the pound, get your head around that one after 24 hours of travelling!!!!!!!!!).

Somehow we got sold another package deal, which included our own personal driver for the next 5 days, surely this is not backpacking standard. Package included 5 nights accommodation, breakfast, black mercedes with personnal driver, transport from Cambodia to Vietnam, visa for Vietnam, most of all peace of mind and all for 86 pounds - This took a lot of fluttering of the eyelashes and Cambodian smiles our bartering skills are odviously getting better by the day!!!

Our hotel was situated on the river front where the Mekong river joins with the Tonle Sap. We built up the courage to venture out and explore the city, the shear volume of traffic was the first obstacle we had to face, reality of this country hit home when an elephant was casualy strolling though the traffic (equivalent to the M6) stopping at different food stalls for snacks. Sorry but you will have to take our word for this, as no picture evidence as we were to scared to take our valuables out at this point.

It is such a vibrant city oozing with culture but sadly there were constant reminders of the past history and remaining poverty as you frequently see tragic sights of men pulling themselves along busy roads on skateboards as they have been victims to landmines. Hundreads of families and orphan children living and begging on the streets, just makes you realise how lucky we really are.

We stuck out like sore thumbs are we strolled though the food market with eyes wide open, jaws hanging low and a trail of tiger balm under our noses (tip we picked up to help with the stench) as we saw stalls with live chickens being slaughtered, fish flapping about being gutted on the filthy pavements, insects worms etc displayed like a pick and mix at woolworths!!!!

The following day with our own personal driver we set off to see all the historical sites that Phnom Penh had to offer. First port of call was the 'Killing fields', the original site where the Khmer rough between the years of 1975- 1978 took thousands of innocent Cambodian people for mass murder, this is now a memorial site. Huge graves to more than 17000 men, women and children who were executed but have now been excavated, they are still continuing and the numbers still rising. To our surprise/horror you can see the clothes and bones poking up through the soil while you walk around where they have still yet to dig up. As you can imagine this stunned us all into complete silence trying to get our heads around this catastrophic event but most of all that this only happened 30 years ago!!!!

We also visited an old school that the Khmer rouge turned into a prison, there were clear signs of brutality and torture methods still left around the different cells and in the yard that turned your stomach!!

On a positive note we next went to see the independence monument, the driver seemed very proud of this and was excited to take us there, its also a memorial to Cambodias war dead.

Wat Phnom, on the citys highest point this temple sits on the top of a hill which is in the middle of a large roundabout (strange site in itself) even stranger was that a group of wild monkeys had located them selves here amongst this busy roundabout and happily ran about being feed by the locals and us!!!!

Next was another market this time not so smelly as it was textiles and lots and lots of tat, big dot (vikkis nan) would of been in her element!!! Then the museum with its Angkor period sculptures and art work, the Royal Palace with its stunning building and gardens to walk around, a good place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Journey to Siem Riep- we were introduced to our new driver, this one spoke very little english, looked like a Cambodian tin tin but full of Cambodian smiles!!! We set off on our 7 hour journey, didnt take long to start noticing there were absolutely no rules when it came to driving in Cambodia (including not needing a licence!). It is hard to describe the terrifying white knuckle ride that we were experiencing!! Vikki at this point was sat in the front and had to turn around as all you could see were cars weaving, undertaking and overtaking each other with no regard to the on coming traffic.

We suddenly came to a holt and it was clear a accident had just happened literally thirty seconds ago. (In Cambodia because the people are so poor and cant afford there own transport, they pay a small amount to get on a sort of pick up truck which has a cage surrounding the sides, they cram an unbelievable amount of people inside the cage and hanging off the outside). One of these had collided head on with a large lorry, the driver had to slowly veer around this, cant put into words the sights we saw, it was immediately obvious that there were not many survivors from this awfull accident.

We continued with our journey even more terrified than before but despite shouts and screams from all of us the driver continued with his heretic driving, not even slowing down when we had a near miss and his wing mirror was knocked off!!!

Safe and sound at the hotel, no need for pool crashing as we had our own this time. We were all trying to think of options to avoid having to return to those roads in order to get to Vietnam!!!!

That night a few drinks were in order and a sample of the delicious Khmer food, we found a lovely cheap reataurant that did local food (amok fish yum yum) Mick Jagger goes to this restaurant apparently, it was good enogh for him and it was definitely good enough for us!!!

Yet even more culture and history- our driver drove us around the Angkor Temples, wow wow wow- without doubt a sight to be seen, this was the capital of the Khmer empire it consists of numerous building, one being the worlds largest religious buildings (Angkor wat), our personal favourite out of all the buildings/ ruins was Ta Prohm (this was used as a film set for Tomb raider) it is a surreal site - the jungle has been left to grow through the accient building, now the large trees are doing the job of holding up the walls!!

The usual time to explore Angkor Temples can be up to 3 days, however we managed to do it in 4 hours ha ha!!!

We found yet another cheap but really nice restaurant (this time it was Angelina Jolies favourite place- apparently), the night life was really surprising in Siem Riep, loads of great trendy bars and clubs with a great atmosphere, so Sarah and Vik decided we should take advantage of this!!!!!

So it was time to leave Siem Riep, after long discussions and pricing up of flights it became clear we had no option but to go back the way we came!! Sarah got on the phone to the manager of the hotel who translated to the driver to 'slow bloody down!!' I also borrowed the drivers Khmer phase book, which certainly came in handy!!!

We were now on our way to Veitnam, journey so far much less terrifying untill again we came to a sudden hault - ohhhh noooooo!!!!!!!! We had a flat tyre, the driver had no choice but to leave us in the middle of Cambodias outback as he hitched a lift with a passer-by clutching the tyre!!!! We gathered a bit of unwanted attention as again we stuck out like sore thumbs as it not often the locals would see 4 pharangs (white people in there terms) pacing the side of the road.

We soon realised we had a dodgy Cambodian man on our case as he had been riding up and down the road several times obviously checking us and our luggage out. We decided then to lock ourselves in the car, we all did have a little chuckle to ourselves when it got to the point we were searching for a weapon, when all we could find was our butter knife (used for money saving dinners of laughing cow and crackers). We were saved in the nik of time as just as the dodgy man and now with his mate were coming back, so was the driver with his own little following- phew!!!!! Thank god lisa didnt have to use the butter knife ha ha !!!!!!!

We we all relieved as we set off again on the road to Vietnam, just staring to relax when the driver was getting a bit brave again and overtook a lorry- aghhhh, never mind your life flashing before your eyes, there was a huge cow flashing before ours!!! Little tin tin did well to swerve out of the way and sarah taught him two new words- 'naughty cow !!'

Almost there, just one more hurdle - the border crossing!!! As the driver didnt speak very good english it was difficult for him to explain what was happening as we pulled up near to the border and swarms of Cambodians came rushing around our car grabbing our backpacks out of the boot in the middle of the night!! Sarah again got on the phone to the manager and gave him yet another ear bashing, as he tried to explain that we had no choice but to go with them. They loaded our bags on scooters and after refusing to get on the bikes we walked behind them as we were in a panic thinking they were going to take us all the way to Ho Chi Minh City on scooters and as no one spoke english they couldnt explain what was happening. It all turned out ok as we went through passport control and at the other side of the border was another driver waiting for us, the men on the scooters had a good laugh as once they saw the relief on our faces they bagan to mimic us - patting their seats saying Ho Chi Minh, he he!!!

So over the border to our next destination and next adventure!!!! Hope we havent scared our parents too much, but we are all safe and sound now!! Also want to make it clear that we all thoroughly enjoyed Cambodia and would recommend everyone to go visit there (perhaps using different means of transport) it an amazing country full of culture and history and the people are the most happiest and friendliest we have come across- we will always remember the Cambodian smile!!!!!

As always missing you all, lots of hugs and kisses xxxxx

When you have finished reading this dont forget to leave a message, its so nice to hear what you think of the blog and to hear what you have been up to!!!!!!

Sarah, Vikki, Steph and Lisa xxx

P.s Thankyou for all my birthday messages, happy birthday to my fellow 'Rams' (inc Mum, Dad, Gary and Julia!!!!)xxxxxxxxxx