Hi Everyone,

Having completed a gruelling three days around Sien Reip it was a relief to arrive in Sihanhouk Ville which is a very chilled area of Sothern Cambodia. C and I had decided to catch the bus all the way through which included a change of vehicle at Phnom Penh so the journey took around 12 hours if I remember rightly. It was a bit arduous as the last stages were so slow and everyone just wanted to get off. There were two stops in each section of the journey, the second stop being the most interesting as we were deposited at the Cambodian equivelant of a Service Station, minus the McDonalds and Burger King - thank Goodness! What we we were presented with instead was fried black Spiders, Locust and other delights. The Spiders were about three inches in size (body that is) jet black and crunchy - yummy!! I could only eat six max!! No actually I lie, I couldn't bring myself to eat any. There was a girl who had some pre-cooked live ones and she was merrily placing them on peoples arms to demonstrate that they were harmless, maybe in life but cooked to a frazzle they didn't look harmless at all, stomack upsets looked more likely than satisfied hunger. I went hungry.

The weather by the coast was very pleasant indeed, we arrived with an Aussie and his daugther and combined with us and all the collective luggage we piled into a 'taxi' which then really struggled to make it to the accommodation, it was quite amusing as the driver tried to assure us that we could make it. I think he should have perhaps asked the poor bike which would only muster about 5 MPH, poor thing! We had booked ahead as C had a mini lap top with her, very handy, and very neat. We were now sharing a large twin room which was great value and gave enough space that we weren't on top of one another, two big comfy beds and a decent shower. The weather was just perfect for the following three days that I stayed, C stayed on longer after I left. The guidebooks seem to be a bit reserved about the area but if you want lovely beaches with 'fun' beachside bars and places to eat, decent weather, clear warm water and beautiful costal views this is a good place to come. Accommodation is plentiful, good and really cheap, it is easy to get around, there's not a great deal of traffic and the people are wonderful, helpfull, friendly and 'Happy'. Yes there are a lot of 'Happy' places to go.

It was an easy walk to the beach from where we were and if you could be bothered to walk an extra 500 meters along the sand there was hardly anyone around. Watching the sun sink slowly over the horizon was the most active thing to do, but coupled with some very 'happy' milkshakes and food, it was a very chilled place to wind down after three solid days of walking the Temples. Vendors swamp certain parts of the beach and I can understand some people becoming frustrated but there is no point, these people have nothing else to live on, better to make friends and have a laugh than constantly be annoyed and then agitated. for example, each evening boys and girls come to your table, such as it is, and offer you fireworks to set off on the beach. The rockets are about a meter long, hand held and fire off around 16 or so bursts of flare which either explode into different colours or go Bang at the same time. Each cost a rediculous amount of money about 75p I think so in theory you could set off fireworks all night long if you wished. I bought several over the days but the kids also appreciate being given food and it is easy to buy just a little too much and then let the children have the surplus. You can buy five cooked lobsters for $3, they are like large tiger prawns, we would buy five, have what we wanted and give the spare ones to the children, the same applied to fruit and other food stuffs.

One night five children approached us, one, a little girl was just really sweet, she had no interest in selling fireworks and was clearly just there for the food, she had probably heard that this is what we did. She sat on the arm of my chair and just looked longingly at the food on the table. I ended up putting some pieces of pizza into a napkin and giving them to her. She was pleased as punch and I know it made her happy as it did me because I didn't have to buy another blooming firework!

There is a lot of work going on to help get children off the streets, in the short time here I have met a guy from Child Safe, the Street Children Network who resettle abandoned or orphaned children into care homes and into education to help stop child prostitution, a nurse from America who helps a surgeon taking basic medical proceedures in to the country areas where no medical assistance exists, and others from Friends International who are behind Child Safe and other intiatives. It is really worthwhile work and the Country is taking other measures to help reduce Child Sex for example, bill boards advertize Help Line numbers and encourage people to call if they see suspicious behaviour or perpetrators in this horrendous trade. I think it is really good to so openly advertise that action WILL be taken against offenders whilst offering help to the vicitms and a place of safety. The slogan underneath a set of handcuffs is 'One Size Fits all!' written in big bold letters, it looks good and attracts the eye, a good campaign.

It is at times like this that I am glad of female company because I would absolutely hate to be viewed as just another middle aged male visiting areas known for filthy scum bags preying on children for sex.

So the time passed very quickly, we strolled up Victory Hill (very disappointing) and down to the fishing port (very nice), made our way, generally, back towards the main Serendipity Beach and then back to our now familiar evening haunt for supper and a little happiness! We had fabulous fish most days for stupid money, spread all little love (money) to as many people as we could and generally had a great time. I would go back tomorrow given the chance.

My next leg was a return journey to Phnom Penh where I intended to try and meet up with the friends I had travelled through Laos with. Did I make it, did I have any traumas? Well yes to both but you will have to wait to find out:

See you soon,

Chris