Hmmm... Still can't really get into this place. The girls feel much the same, though Eva can't seem to get enough of the markets - yes, we did the markets AGAIN today, though different ones, and yes, we bought more. Shockin', as a true Aussie would say. The area where we are staying, D Pham Ngu Lao, is tourist central, and it seems that the Saigonese hanging around these quarters are very 'spoilt' by the Vietnamese tourist boom. I have gotten everything from wolf-whistles to 'Moto, madame?', 'No, thanks', 'Marijuana, madame?'. Last night, we had dinner in close to the guesthouse, though nothing really grabbed us, probably mainly due to the seedy-looking middle-aged single white men lingering everywhere. We ended up at an Indian restaurant down an alleyway. The food was ok, the service was American-style ... read more

First of all, I would like to say that I feel i haven't really been able to farewell Cambodia properly, and in a way, I wish I were returning home, so that I could digest all the wonderful things I have experienced so far. We ventured into Vietnam today via boat(s), and the trip was so overwhelming in a sensory way, that I failed to find the quiet time to just think about everything I experienced in Cambodia. Since my last blog (to which I haven't been able to read the comments, as the internet provider in Chao Doc is barring me from the page as it contains pornography????? Karla?!) and our exit from Kampuchea, I have tried to think of ways in which to help this country, which still ranks amongst the 10 poorest in ... read more

I know it is a terrible excuse for not blogging, but I have been sick for the last two days - mum, please forgive me, you must have been devastated when you logged on to find no new blog! Anyway, yesterday morning I felt a little sick in the stomach for no apparent reason, so Eva supplied me with some dihorea tablets from our medical stach. That seemed to fix me prettyquickly, so we embarked on another day of the Russian Markets for some serious shopping. DVDs, silk, silver, etc. I bought 48 DVDs and 26 CDs, all for about US$100! We just couldnt get enough, and the quality is reportedly the best in South East Asia. Justification for another day of self-indulgent shopping - we are supporting the local economy and giving money directly to ... read more

Tonight may be a shorter entry, as it is nearly 10pm, and I have been awake since 6am (that actually sounds pathetic, but I am really really tired). We arrived by bus at Sihanoukville, on the Southern Coast, around 11am today, after a good 4hr trip (in a/c) on a coach from Phnom Penh. A tuk-tuk picked us up from the guesthouse at 7am, and drove us with backpacks in tow, to the bus terminal. We boarded the bus to the sound of some beautiful Khmer karaoke, blerring out of the DVD played at the front of the bus. The locals seem to enjoy awakeningly loud karaoke music early in the mornings, as you can be testament to if you stay in our room at the OK Guesthouse, third floor, any day of the year, I ... read more

Today's entry is going to be shorter than yesterdays (do I hear you all sigh with relief??), only because we have yet to fill the second half of the day with exciting things! I woke up early this morning, and decided to fight the urge of wanted to fall asleep again, and instead got up at 6am to read A History of Cambodia on the weathered hammock on the small balcony of our building. Before I actually opened the book, I was spellbound for half an hour, just watching the people in the alley below washing dishes, cooking meals for what seemed like the entire Cambodian Army, and racing around doing their chores. Motos tooted in the background, and for the first time, I even hear birds chirping. By 8am, the other ladies were up and ... read more