Goldie Boutique Guest House Phnom Penh

... until they were dead. Equally shocking were the mass graves where people were buried, with woman and children being stripped naked (with some being raped), executed and then dumped into the grave. As we toured around I found it slightly haunting how so much evil went on in these beautiful tranquil fields, now a quiet resting place for those poor people, if you didn't know about the killing fields it just seems like a beautiful countryside setting, with lush grass and ...

... stalls containing not a lot and I wondered where on earth I was coming too with not a little frisson of anxiety. However things improved and a kindly English speaking HK Chinese chap helped me out and I managed to find a reasonable tuk tuk (small vehicle built around a motorbike) whose driver eventually found my hotel (recently featured in the Indie) where I was greeted as a long lost friend. This helped a lot because by now I had ...

... if you are easily offended then please finish reading here).

Most of the victims, to save money by buying bullets and ammunition, they would be killed using axes, hammers, knives (made from local tree branches), but also there was a tree that they use to swing babies against (known as the killing tree) smashing there heads, and then throwing them into the mass graves. It was so hard to look at the actual site where it all ...

... atmosphere, service, food and drinks (frozen daquaris, yum). Can't recommend the place enough, in you're in PP go there and you won't regret it. After that we wandered down to the riverfront to find a bar that served $0.70 pints. Not a big night out but good.

Next morning a group of us rented a minibus from the hotel to do what seems to be the standard PP tour. First we went to Tuol sleung prison or S-21 then to the Killing Fields. I don't think ...

... and with Aly on Skype and who do we see but the guys we met for a few drinks in Siem Reap. So we end up getting a few beers with them before kipping.

08/09 - Today, I did what I hate most, shopping. However its at the markets, and this I quite enjoy. Starting at the russian market (where all the factory rejects for A&F (Aly explained the names for me) end up being sold dirt cheap) where the fish part of the market was interesting but rather rank as they ...

... sun, tall plants and flowers offer privacy to those who wish to relax, and shallow ponds covered in floating flowers provide a home to the sweetest sounding frogs (I can hear them chatting, but can't find them)! Asia and I took advantage of this beautiful outdoor paradise and sat at tables under a bamboo terrace reading, writing and listening to the distant sounds of thunder.

The other part ...

... the security checks, not to mention getting into every one else's way. However, although not as grand as the Grand Palace in Bangkok, it was attractive enough: marble, cream, white and gold - the main buildings - monks clad in the orange robes and flip-flops striding in unison. The place, however, got so crowded at the finish that I was glad to quit the place. Outside, I gave a lame bookseller a couple of Cambodian bucks. It was nice to sit down and ...

... Looking at the LP map I’m amazed, we have the TON LE SAP river in front of us and merging in from the right is the MEKONG. There are a few junks going up and down but not many, its mainly boats taking tourists on trips. On the waterfront itself stalls are setting up for evening meals…

We need to get onto the internet and look at hotels for HCMC and PHU QUOC, and I think we need to do it now! Although at the moment I really can’t be bothered moving I’m ...

... is the most expensive (by a hair). Another unexpected sighting is .. many nice new 4 runners, Lexus SUVS, trucks and cars; more cars than anywhere we have been yet (not that we have been in one).

So after a few days we went to a small town a few hours south and experienced transportation, Cambodian style.... that means 24 people INSIDE a minibus (with 10 seats), and god-knows how many or what is on the top. Not to mention ...

March 11th - written in Bangkok, Thailand

We left Phnom Penh in the early morning on a river boat. This was the same type of speedy barge that had initially taken us to Sihanoukville. We were sat on the top of the boat this time, along with about fifty other foreigners. The weather was a bit dim and I suspected it was going to rain.

We travelled up the Tonle Sap river in a northwards direction towards the great lake, also called Tonle Sap. At the end of the rainy ...