ok, so Hannah warned me before i left that the kids would be memorable in Cambodia. Jeez,thats an understatement. I thought, from my experiences in India and Thailand that i would be up to the challenge but Cambodia's kids beat them all!!

Anywhere you go in this country there are kids out on the streets, of all ages, begging you to give them money. But you can tell, they are not homeless, most of them are intelligent, educated kids, forced by there parents to beg, beg and beg even more.

The guide books tell you not to cave in or get frustrated but understand that they are only doing what they are told. But after a while the pretence gets to you. I dont know why i am writing this, its nothing new and i cant change it, but you know sometimes you cant understand why things are the way they are. If one begs to you that its only a dollar and you have plenty, then you start to feel for them, it IS only a dollar. but once you give one, the rest flock around you demanding their share. Why you give one to him/her and not me. You not fair etcetc.

I give up! I cant and wont win, so i let them get on with it and try to locate the ones with something for sale.....

Anyway this blog is supposed to be a lighthearted journal of my travels so i wont harp on....its life. So let me tell you what i did today....

Cheung Ek, THE KILLING FIELDS!!

So 1979 when Vietnamese soldiers flooded over the border to rid the world of the despot Pol Pot, who we all knew was fairly bad, found this place. I mentioned it earlier as you cant escape it in Cambodia. The mass graves over over 200,000 people that were executed and buried here between 1975 and 1979. Its very moving, i am glad i went. Makes you mad that the world all said:- "Never Again"

after the atrocities Hitler instigated, and then over 30 years later, it went on again, this time, auto-genocide mass killing of their own people!

A chilling reminder of what b******s we can be to each other....

To follow, i visited the S21 Torture museum, a 1960's secondary school turned into an Austwichz(sp) style torture camp that any person including foreigners could be sent randomly by the Khmer Rouge. Again, you see, you pay your respects and you hope its not happening elsewhere. But you know it is and it will.

The cambodians deal with their history fairly well i feel, and it goes to show what a country can do to understand and rebuild. As a tourist, i have paid my respect, chucked them some dollars and will encourage other to do the same...

A fairly thoughtful day, not the chirpiest i have had on my travels but one i will remember for ever......

If you want to look at the photos, please do, but be aware they are not pleasant images. I didnt take hundreds because i dont think its right, but please look and share a thought for the unfortunate people that suffered here....

Its my last night in Phnom Penh so i am meeting Marta and Maria for a beer or two, leaving tomorrow for the 8th Wonder of the Modern World. Siem Reap, the historic city of ancient Khmer and possibly the most advanced civilisation that ever lived (or something like that)

See you.