Cambodia

Hello!

The day after the Mekong Delta we headed straight for Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital. Although we stayed there 2 nights, we only really explored the city for 1 day, but we managed to pack it full of interesting experiences.

Our first stop in Phnom Penh was the S21 prison, an old school which had been turned into a torture facility during Pol Pot times. We learned so much about the recent Cambodian history there. It was a dark and unsettling and for some, including myself, rather emotional. It is unbelievable that something so horrible as the Khmer Rouge happened as recently as 30 years ago. We also visited the infamous Killing Fields, where Pol Pot's executers piled thousands of bodies of professors, doctors, monks, children, women etc... who had been tortured in S21. What seems incredible is how despite their horrific history, Cambodians seem to be very happy, smiley, eager to help and honest people - and this only adds to the mysterious charm of this amazing country.

We got to experience the Cambodian hospitality later on, when on the way back to our hotel we got sucked into some birthday celebrations, Khmer style! So we sat for a few hours drinking beer and eating chicken's feet (only Laurence, thank God!) with some very friendly and generous locals.

On our third day in Cambodia we headed down for Sihanoukville, desperate to get to a beach! We found the most picture perfect, crystal clear, white sandy and quiet beach called Otres. We stayed in very simple accomodation, with electricity only coming on for a few hours in the evening, and no access to internet, TV or phone. But none of that mattered since we were in beach heaven, so we spent around 5 days just reading, swimming, occasionally eating and drinking the delicious local whisky. It was perfection!! So, it is easy to see why we couldn't pull ourselves away from there to go to Siem Reap and see Angkor. That will have to wait for another visit. And I'm sure there will be more visits to Cambodia!

So following a looooong travelling day yesterday, we are now back in Bangkok. We'll be meeting up with our friends Kim & Frazer down in Hua Hin in a few days, and we will report back soon after that!

In the mean time, don't be shy to write us emails - we love to hear from back home!

Lots of love,

Rozzi and Laurence
xxx