Tales from Abroad

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Tales from AboadSus dey from Cambodia!

I'm sorry I haven't replied to everyone individually, but I haven't had a chance to log on for too long between little adventures, but thank you for writing back. I have read everyone's e-mails so it's fab to hear what you are doing too!

The trip so far has been so great because it's been really varied. The food is lovely and so cheap, I think dinner last night cost $1.25 from a street stall! On the first day in Phnom Penh we had a tour around the city by cyclo, stopping off to see the Independence Monument and Wat Phnom (a temple on Phnom Penh's only hill). It was pretty fun joining in with an open-air aerobics session in the middle of a town square, although at 32 degrees out here, we only lasted five minutes.

After that we had a very sobering trip to the Tuol Sleng Prison and Choeung Ek (Killing Fields). These two places were used during the Khmer Rouge regime, so only 30 years ago. I'll spare you the details, but what went on was so shocking to learn about. Luckily, however, we could put that aside for a time as we travelled to Chambok for a home stay in a remote village with a Cambodian family. The house was on stilts, with mattresses laid on the floor for us to sleep on. After dropping our belonging off, we travelled a little further to climb a short way up a mountain (pretty hard when the humidity level is over 90!). Having emerged out of the jungle about an hour later, we jumped in to the cooling waters of a waterfall up there. The home stay was a great experience as the family, although they couldn't speak English, were so friendly and answered all our questions (our guide was interpreting). It was a great insight also into the hardship people living outside the major towns face.

Hope all is dandy with everyone.

Love Surini x

xxxxxx

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