On Wednesday night we all went out for tapas which was yum. its always good to get everyone together and talk about the day. danny won the sward for top quote in his textbook 'the boy squirted on the puppies!'
afterwards a few of us went in to town to the drag show. certainly an experience! it was more like a group of drunk men in dresses that didn't know the words to any of the songs, they were enjoying themselves though. we were taken there by one of the new hope organises...he's gay. and very proud of it!! after the show we went for some drinks and a dance. one to many long island ice teas for me!!

On Thursday morning we were shown around the village where most of the students live and where the old school is. it really put in to perspective how much they really do need our help. by teaching them English they are able to get better jobs in tourism and secure a more stable future for themselves and their families. Cambodia was destroyed during the 70s, tourism plays a huge part in rebuilding the country. the old school is what I imagined to be coming too, very basic. such a contrast to their new school. they are however very happy children. there lifestyle reminds me of camping at rammys farm, making do with what you managed to fit on the car, playing with every child on site and going to bed a bit grubby ready to do it all again tomorrow.

Thursday was also valentines day, over here they call it happy honey pot day. Avril and Geoff however had read in a local paper that this is a day when 18yr olds try and lose their virginity! and any hoteliers found to be letting young people in to their hotels for the night would be prosecuted! I gate crashed Avril and Geoffs romantic evening by joining them at a charity cello concert. En route to the concert Geoff had another puncture. he pushed his bike back to school to swap it whilst Avril and I waited in town. When he got back to us he told us about his valentines day proposition...a man followed him in his Tuk Tuk saying you me massyboomboom. Geoff wasn't sure what he meant but politely said no thank you and carried on. the man overtook and stopped infront of him blocking the path. you me massyboomboom. this time followed with a wagging tongue and rather explicit hand gesture!! never did I expect to see Geoff doing that!!
I digress! before the concert we got some grub at a street cafe, we all ate something different so we could guarantee that at least one of us would make it to school the following day!! the concert was in aid of a group of children's hospitals. a Swiss doctor (beat richer) has established 5 hospitals throughout Cambodia over the years to provide free medical care for it's patients, TB being the most common. apart from his huffing and puffing throughout each piece it was an interesting evening!

Friday, 3 out of 3! none of us were ill!! in the morning I joined Danny's class, the children are about 8-10 I think. it's had to tell as their abilities vary and some are tiny and some are big! it's above change from kindy anyway! I had another scabies check up with my on site doctors. they decided it was fungal so I had to go back to the pharmacy, feeling like a local, to get more cream!
as I was in town I went to the market to see Gek, who also works at the guesthouse. I intended to just pick up a couple of bracelets and go back to school but she was keen for a long chat she also gave me some food to try, it grows on a palm tree, it was creamy in colour and she peeled it. inside was like a clear jelly with a liquid inside, it was quite bland in flavour.
Before our afternoon classes we had a goodbye ceremony for some of the volunteers that were leaving new hope. as it was some of the volunteers' last night we all went out for dinner again. we went to a bar called constructin which looked really cool, the good was good but it took forever to come out.

myself, grace, Jess, nadia and Katie got an early night as we had to be up at 5am to go and see the sunrise at Angkor Wat. Danny was supposed to come too but decided to stay out. at 5am we managed to open his window and throw coins at him in an attempt to wake up. not happening.
the sunrise isn't like the pictures! it basically just got lighter, the weather is so hazy all the time. the area of Angkor Wat(temple) is surrounded by lots of smaller temples which the Tuk tuks drove us between. the temples were beautiful and carved in stone but after a while got a tad samey, we are all aware of our ungratefulness...but it was hot and we'd been up since 4.30! one if the temples however was the set for tomb raider which was pretty cool, although it was like a maze and took us a good half hour to find our way out!
We headed back to the guest house and had a kip under the aircon before going in to town for a foot massage and lunch. beforehand though we had a bit of a wander...down one if the side streets we met a boy carrying the most beautiful baby. Katie and I coo'd and carried on. nads however was stroking his face and taking pictures. school boy error. the boy started chirping like a stuck record 'I don't want money I want milk' feeling a little sorry for him and liking the fact that he wanted to feed the baby Nadia asked where. good one! 'mini mart mini mart' taking her hand he dragged her up the street with us in tow. two more appeared out the woodwork and we seemed to have one each! Katie and I were trying to ignore our whining children, Nadia said she'd pay for the milk as it was her fault!in the minimart they all picked up a tin of milk powder and took it to the counter. $27! EACH!! 'woah! no way!!' Nadia says and puts them all back on the shelf! the look on their faces!!!! Katie and I had managed to sidle our way out and hide. 'I don't want milk I want money' changed their tune! she gave them all $2 and walked away! at lunch one of the girls came to our table asking for money. 'no, I gave you $2 already' 'when?where? you lie!' comedy! Katie and I had no sympathy and continued to make nads feel guilty for the rest of the week!
We went back to Angkor Wat to watch the sunset. again, a bit of a disappointment. our driver reckoned he knew a great spot, we climbed up a hill to a temple ruin...with thousands of others. the view was beautiful, overlooking an open landscape of water trees and fields (west baray) but not over the temple which we wanted. after waiting a while with the crowds we decided it was just another sunset so headed back down before everyone else did! at the bottom there were some elephants, I've totally fallen in love with them since elephant hills in Thailand, such gentle giants.
on the way home we were tailgated by 3boys on a motorbike looking ready to hit the town, asking us where we were from and where we going and that they'd see us there. I think the language barrier would have made for quite a dull evening!!
We caught up with the rest of the volunteers and went out for Mexican. the food was good but I felt uncomfortably western!
us oldies got pancakes then headed for bed, yes, I'm well and truly in that category!!