After the very early morning and late night the day before, we'd agreed a sleep in would be a good idea, and that we'd have a sleep in and meet for breakfast at about 8.45am. Things didn't quite go according to plan though - there was a funeral at the neighbouring temple so we awoke at 5.30 to the sound of singing (projected via loud speaker), drums and music. Fortunately it only lasted 30 or so minutes before it stopped.... and then started again 5 minutes later. And so the day began, with everyone on time we enjoyed a nice breakfast at a nearby cafe before heading to P's place to learn a bit about the work she has been doing in Poipet and the issues that face the people living there. I was really struck ... read more

Yejj Day two in Cambodia, and P had organised for us to visit Jotham at the Yejj training school. Yejj run a number of different types of training programs including some hospitality and some IT training. Obviously I found the IT side of things quite interesting - they do basic Microsoft type training, along with CISCO training (networking stuff for the non-nerds reading this). What I found more interesting was that Yejj also have a web department, which employs nationals who have completed an IT degree. They mostly work with companies in Europe, generally building relationships with IT companies who deal with the end clients and outsource to Yejj Sometimes they do whole websites, sometimes just a component (like a shopping cart etc) I found it quite interesting looking at off-shoring from the point of view ... read more

After an early start in Australia, napping on the plane, and an incident involving new shoes, suspected dog faeces and me washing footwear in the women's toilets, we arrived at Phnom Penh safely and pretty much on time. Having negotiated the procedure for acquiring visas and navigating our way though customs we all emerged safely from the thoroughly air conditioned airport and stepped out into the warm and rather humid land of Cambodia for the first time, where P and Sokren were waiting to meet us with the mini van that is to be our home away from home for the next couple of weeks. The van seems to come equipped with industrial strength air con, which led me to wonder whether perhaps I'd under packed and might actually need some warmer clothes for the trip! ... read more

Well, here I am at Heathrow airport waiting to board my flight to Cork. today was our last day in London - deb, luke, emma and captain cuddles (a.k.a. aaron ) are probably also waiting for their flight home - but they are at a different terminal. We actually go to the airport fairly early, which was good cos th tube was getting pretty crowdd as it was and any later would have made it a real pain to get here. My first stop once I got to my terminal was the bookshop - where I picked up a biography of Catherine de Medici- which is actually really good! (credit goes to tour manger matt and his mini history lessons for making interested in reading it) Today has bee pretty cruisy, we went to Harrods which ... read more

Well, at least I think I'm in Southsea - maybe its Seaforth. Eh, either way - I'm somewhere near Portsmouth, (which I think is in Wiltshire - or at least near there). We're staying in a hostel againg tonight - which is good because it means I can get on the Internet and bore you all senseless with what I've been up. The unfortuate part of the story is that there is only ONE room in this place where you are allowed to smoke - the same room where the internet access is. Doh! Ok, now that I've completely confused everyone as to where exactly I am, and complained about the cloud of smoke I'm looking at this screen through, I'll start on the more interesting stuff... We spent a fair while exploring Edinburgh castle - ... read more