Carrie has already introduced our tuk tuk driver, Votha and he turns up in our vehicle home for the next few days. (I'm really thinking about buying a tuk tuk when I get home, they're so handy and you feel so regal being driven around in a little carriage). First stop is the landmine museum. The guy who owns it was once a boy soldier working for the Khmer Rouge so planted a lot of mines. As he knows about the mines and where they all are he has made it his life's work to now de-activate the landmines for villagers that call on his help and has achieved over 50,000 to date (much to the annoyance of the authorities who charge over 1000$ for the privilege). It showed us what an area full of unexploded mines would look like and then had a sign to say "If you see any of these, please do not approach and report them immediately". That was quite a sobering moment to think that there were thousands of these things still out there (but don't worry mums, we wont be venturing off the tracks).

The journey to the museum was like a trip in itself. We went through the most gorgeous local villages. The people here don't have a lot, but what they do have is set in the most beautiful countryside and everyone seems extremely happy, especially the kids. Made even more happy by Carrie blowing up some balloons and handing them out to a group of girls as we stopped at a local restaurant for lunch (fish Amok curry served in a coconut, yum!).The girls were very cute and were even blowing her kisses as we drove away in our tuk tuk (Suzi - Carrie says thanks for these, she's hoping to have some left for S America, she's even sent jeans home so she can fit your bag of goodies in her backpack!)

Next stop was a boat ride on the Tonle SapRiver to the Tonle Sap lake - the largest freshwater lake in the world - going past the floating villages. When we stopped at the lake to take in the amazing view of a nearly setting sun, a family row over to us selling bananas and beers and the little boy who must have been about 3 was holding a baby crocodile - crazy. It only occurred to me when we reached dry land that it was likely they caught it in that river.. and the mummy and daddy crocodile might have been out looking for it...

That evening we went for cocktails at the amazingly named 'Angkor What?' Bar (we had to have cocktails so I could get a free T shirt, which I love) but couldn't stay up long as it was an early start next day. Arsenal vs Spurs kicked off at 3am and seeing as we were being picked up at 5am to see the sun rise at Angkor Wat it made sense for Steve (Spurs) and me (Arsenal) to get up early to watch the game - and what a game it was! (luckily it was a 4 all draw which saved Carrie from weeks of bickering).

Unfortunately the sunrise wasn't as spectacular as David Bentley's goal. A bit of a wash out actually. No sooner had it got a little light the heavens opened and we took shelter for about an hour in a nearby ruin (really thoughtful forward planning of the guys who built this to think about sheltering the tourists a few hundred years later). We were eventually saved by some poncho sellers and headed back to our tuk tuk looking like - well you can see for yourselves - so we could get back and sleep off the rain.

It worked as the sun came out and we headed off at about 3pm to do some tomb raiding - literally! Tomb Raider 3 was filmed at Ta Prohm (which was by far mine and Carrie's favourite). It had trees growing out of the roof and its roots were climbing all over the building - pretty spectacular.

Next day we explored more temples whilst dodging the rain. They do all end up looking quite similar but Angkor Thom was cool as this used to be the capital city back in the day and the Bayon temple in the middle looked like one of those 3D drawings you used to get, you can see all the pillars and faces when you are driving past, but when you stop still the stones all just merge into one. That afternoon we went up in the Balloon over Angkor Wat - unfortunately a cloud's shadow was hovering over the lotus flower shaped bit, but the view was pretty cool. Finally it was time to head into the 'Wat itself. Quite uneventful really - only got stuck in the middle of a troop of monkeys trying to kill each other and Carrie being propositioned by an orange robed Buddhist monk (saying he didn't have to be a monk if she fancied settling down in Cambodia with him!!!) so yeah, pretty average day as temple viewing goes!

So Angkor Wat - Been there, done that, got the T-shirt (sorry, dying to say that!)

That was pretty much it for Siem Reap - absolutely loved it. Now it's off to Phnom Penh…

Sharon x