On Sunday we all enjoyed a well earned lie in before our afternoon trip to the floating village. it was about an hour away and really great fun. toplevgshj is one of the biggest lakes in south east Asia, it's 600sq km! during the monsoon season it doubles in size and you can get to Phnom Penh by boat, but it takes 6 hours!
There are hundreds of types of fish in the lake, mainly catfish, but the quantity and weight of fish is decreasing. It was interesting to see the village but I'm still not sure why you'd want to live in the middle of a lake...or have a cat or dog on your house, it seems such an inconvenience! On the river back to the boat all the rice boats we'd passed along the way were being unloaded onto lorries on the land. There was such a great buzz about the place, so much going on. On the way back to Siem Reap we stopped and walked through a village, it was interesting to see the houses up close but I felt abit like we were gawking at the people-glad to get back on the bus!
We were really hungry when we back so went to a eat at a place called Beaches at the end of our road which was newly reopened and looked lovely. Looks can be deceiving! After waiting 40minutes just to get our drinks, we walked out after 1.45hr as we were still waiting for our food! We went across to the road to a very local place, being the only non-Cambodians there everyone stated, it was great! After breaking down the language barrier and communicating that we were really hungry our food came in record timing and was so tasty!

On Monday some newbies arrived making us oldies feel very local! In the last 20minutes of school a group of travellers comes to look around the school and sit in our classrooms. Today we had a Canadian guy, he was like Bateman but taller. Being used to little Cambodian people the kids weren't very subtle in their astonishment! comedy!

After school we went for a curry that Avril and Geoff had recommended. it was immense. As if we weren't full enough some of us got an ice cream to compliment our evening foot massage (anyone sensing a theme here!?) We opted for a foot scrub too. I thought the first one we'd had was embarrassing when the lady kept looking at me then picking my skin with her nails but this time was a whole new level! Considering I'd had them done just a week before I didn't think they'd be too bad, apparently not. Half way through the lady stopped and did the biggest sigh I've ever heard and looked as if she might collapse. Followed by the words 'very long time'. awks. Katie and Nads found this hilarious.

On Tuesday we had lunch at the Bodhi Tree Riverside Cafe which Hannah and Sue-Ellen (my personal doctors) had recommended. It's only been open a few months, the two girls that own it are Australian sisters. They were on their way to London and got delayed...and never left! It had such a lovely atmosphere and the biggest club sandwich I've ever seen in my life! All the staff are Cambodian and are learning English. I had a little chuckle at our waiter. Australians often say 'how you going' as in how are you. he must have picked this phrase up from the girls, it sounds adorable in an Asian accent!!

Today's afternoon visitors really annoyed me. They were really patronising to the kids and looking at them like they were aliens. This class are between 17 and 32 yrs old and some of their English is amazing.
Tuesday evening had been assigned as pamper night...as if we don't get enough! Beforehand though we went for food at Joe to Go, another Geoff and Avril recommendation! Really lovely, simple food with profits going to the local community. Back to pamper night, it was certainly an experience and a box ticker! Stripping down to our undies we lay on the couches and got smothered in tamarind and milk powder, the irony for Nads was just to much, she's definitely going to hell! We then had to go and hose ourselves off in a dark room before the massage part. It was more like someone just rubbing moisturiser all over you with no pressure at all. Somewhat disappointing but gave us something to laugh about for the rest of the week!

Wednesday was tapas night again, the food took quite a while but we managed to sink a few bottles of wine to fill in the time. Afterwards we went to the night market which is really nice and much calmer than the usual ones. Picked up some nice souvenirs...for myself. don't hold your breath for good/lots of presents anyone!!

On Thursday I went on the village tour again. There was a lady crying as just an hour before a fire had started in her house and destroyed everything. New Hope got to mending it that afternoon.

This was Avril and Geoffs last evening with us, emotional. They've been comedy value for all of us. We went out for dinner which was average, so we topped it off by going across the road for pudding and wine :-D We also took Avril for her first ever massage! How she's avoided them all this time I have no idea, she loved it though...Geoff went elsewhere for a beer!

Friday was now my last day :-( In my morning class I spoke to Sophal, the teacher, about his wedding. he gets married on 23rd March. the ceremony lasts for 2 days and they have between 400-600 guests! He will wear about 10 different outfits and the bride 20-25!! Sophal also told me that his father is a farming...he has one hectare. I didn't really know what to say! I really enjoyed working with this class, the kids had a giggle trying to teach me Khmer (I think I did quite well considering) and I had a giggle spending my mornings with Danny. Being from Carlisle our accents are so different. Either I'd have to go northern or him southern so not to confuse the children to much!! One of my favourites was 'bucket' which Danny said first and they all repeated it as 'bockit!' I had to step in, I couldn't allow them all to think that was right!! I struggled teaching them to say 'university' and 'vegetable' when you break the words down in to syllables for them they don't sound like words anymore, couldn't done with auntie jean!!

In the afternoon I had my kindy class who really are marmite. Some of them you could quite happily punch in the face and others you want to bring home! It's fair to say that wherever you go in the world, boys are all the same. Constant fighting, beating each other up and karate chopping the teacher!

After this class we had our leaving ceremony. Good old avril made a speech on our behalf, we collected certificates, sang "if you're happy and you know it" for the squillionth time, then got bombarded with hugging children. I know you shouldn't have favourites but we all did. My little boy had a big cheeky grin and hugged and kissed me all me (had to keep turning my head to avoid mouth to mouth!!) Before I left he came to find me with his brother to ask me for shoes. As if he doesn't even have shoes! ...did a Nadia and totally fell for it, although I don't think he'll take them back to the shop and get the cash back!

We left school early as we were doing a cooking course at 5pm.
We were taken around the market to buy some ingredients then back to the kitchen. It was quite a long and slow class but the outcomes were good and we all made something different, I'll whip you up a few dishes back home!

Saturday morning we went out for breakfast then to the market to buy shoes for my favourite! Nadias here for one more week so is going to deliver them for me! We then went for our final treat, a mani pedi. My feet look lovely but I smudged my French manicure already...should've packed beforehand. doh!

I got my lady Tuk Tuk to Siem Reap airport, my flight was over booked so I got moved to another flight leaving at the same time, and compensated $130. win win! I'm know in Bangkok airport gorging on peanuts and coconut waiting for my flight back home! I can't stop smiling at the thought of seeing you all Xx

p.s. can everyone please just comment or write you're name on this. whether you've read one or all the blogs and just intrigued as to who's actually been reading!