Beach time!
We were all pretty hyped up to go to the beach for a few days and chill out without having things to do, things to see and buses to get on. After yet another bus journey - only three hours this time, so quite speedy for us! On arrival we discovered we were staying at some beach bungalows, just a hundred yards from Ochheuteal Beach - which I must admit was a bit of a disappointment. Although I suppose, it would be hard to beat the beaches of the Maldives now, and even some of the beaches in Southern Sri Lanka were beautiful, but hey ho. The overcast weather surely didn't help the situation either. We have only seen smidgens of sunshine so the tan is developing very slowly I'm also very disappointed to admit.

However, negativities aside, the beach is obviously a mecca for backpackers, lined with beach bars and restaurants. Once again we were literally hounded with around thirty children, and that's per person, trying to sell us bracelets. Some. you feel sorry for as they are so lovely; but others are downright rude, having learnt words and phrases from other foreigners who have clearly had enough from them. Not the best selling tactic.

That day us girls headed out on a boat trip to the surrounding islands to explore and snorkel. The boat was pretty rickety, no yachts insight for us unfortunately. Nevertheless the trip out to sea was lovely. It was great to finally be able to relax and soak up some sun. It was a forty minute trip to the first island, where we were to go snokelling. I was slightly concerned that there are apparantly a lot of barracudas in the sea - Dad's Florida experience vividly came flooding back - it was practically a re-enactment of 'Jaws', when he got viciously bitten by I believe a barracuda. I will never actually know if this was the case, but it still freaks me out, particulalry as the water was really murky. my goggles were steamed up, and the lack of glasses didn't really help matters. I only managed to see a few stripy fish and some green ones quickly flash by before I lost sight. Again, the experience would have to be unbelievable to top the snorkelling conditions in the Maldives, which was like a scene out of 'Finding Nemo'.

We clambered back up on bopard the boat to head out to the next island. We arrived just in time before the thunder bellowed and the lighting struck. The storm had been casually brewing for some time - just or luck, I don't think we have gona a day without rain. Running for shelter, we found ourselves ina tiny shack, wqhere we kondly served lunch, a huge part of barracuda and salad, proof enough then, that there are definately many barracudas within close quarters.

Timed perfectly, the rain has ceased to fall after we had eaten lunch. We then all headed through the forest covered island to the beach on the other side. En route we saw dozenbs and dozens of huge millipedes, which had gotten out of their holes during the rainfall. Poor Kate had to endure the walk barefooted as she had foolishly left her glip flops on the boat, thinking that we would have been walking round the island in the sea! This amused me somewhat - Kate always seems to be encountering some sort of disaster one way or another.

When we reached the beach, which outdid the Ochheuteal beach by far we headed straight for the sea. Unfortunately, yet again, the hevens opened. for the most part we stayed in the sea though, however I began to get pretty cold. We endured the rain for the entire journey back.

Back on dry land, four of us headed to a massage parlour for a full body massage, which although was nice, was extremely painful at times. Every bone in my was pulled, clicked and pushed forcefully back into place, and I wasn't therefore able to properly relax for fear of my next bone been crushed. I've since felt great though, so it's all good, but I doubt I will be rushing back anytime soon.

That evening we headed to the beach for dinner and drinks - a farewell drink was required as a group member was leaving the tour at this point. Mum, you will be pleased to hear my poncho came into excellent effect that evening - before that night I had thought it would be very embarrasing to wear, however, surprisingly people were actually jealous of the poncho! It's fair to say. A good send off was had indeed, particulary as we didn't pay for a single drink at a bar on the beach. Shots and cocktails were been handed out freely - who were we to complain, or say no for that matter?

The following morning however, wasn't a bed of roses to say the least. Having had got home by 3am, and got up by 7am, wasn't a great combination for the day's long bus trip to the Cambodian/Vietnamise border. Bumpy roads doesn'tr even begin to dscribe the experience, they were barely roads to begin with, more dirt track, covered in holes. It was a long, long, hungover journey, but we made it, and once again crossed the border by foot.