I’m about halfway through my trip now which makes me a little sad. It’s lovely here: the climate, the people, the food, my tour group, and especially my group leader: Keasar. He’s an incredible man. He has three degrees, meditates every day, and believes strongly in a happy future for his country. Tonight — in Sihanoukville — he took us all out for dinner at a local place. Meat galore which isn’t my favourite but i tried to stay openminded.

Here are things I’ve learned from Khmer people:

• Cut whole pineapple with coarse salt and fresh chili is very tasty.
• Sedans can be converted into pick-ups (just cut-out the back window and top of the trunk).
• Holding your baby while riding shotgun on a motorbike is okay.
• Riding side saddle on a motorbike is lady-like.
• It’s okay to ask whether somone is married after you’ve just met them.
• Women don’t sit next to or touch monks.
• Jackfruit is the yummiest fruit ever.
• So is coconut water (drink right out of the fruit with a straw)
• If you own a car or a motorbike, you need to know how to fix it when it breaks down.
• You eat the shell on the crab as well as the meat inside.
• When driving, you use your horn liberally and often while passing
• Driving on the right-hand side of the road is a suggestion only.
• Babies — in warm climates — don’t need diapers (don’t dress them and hold them out and away from you when they go.)
• Bananas can have seeds too.

thanks for all of the comments! It’s nice to know you’re reading my blog : ) I couldn’t update my flickr account or add photos to the blog as the computers and internet connection are not great which i guess i should’ve expcted. i did manage to update the header image which is an image i took of angkor wat at sunrise on new years day. it was cloudy so not a brilliant sunrise but impressive nonetheless.

i had the best birthday i’ve ever had yesterday. the host of our tour group invited everyone to his home (in my honour!) where his wife made us all traditional khmer food. we all sat on the floor in his home and enjoyed curries and spring rolls. it was wonderful! he also prepared a special cambodian pumpkin cake and sang happy birthday to me in cambodian (khmer). it was very moving. i hope to share photos soon!

Thanks for the happy birthdays!

Well, I’ve made it! I arrived in Bangkok late Monday night (actually it was very early Tuesday morning). The airport bus dropped me off near Khaosan Road (thanks Andrew for the tip! It was very easy to find these buses and the driver was very helpful.) I found my hotel okay too. The next day I explored what I think is a very small part of the old city. (Agin thanks Andrew for the tips. You’re very helpful.) I walked to a flower and fruit market (Tewes Market) ate Tom Yum Gai and learned what rice is called in Thai — khao (or something like that). After I’d ordered the soup some men at the table next to me insisted in Thai that I order rice too. So I did. Afterwards I took a water taxi to the stop closest to Wat Poh. I took far too many photos. I’ll try to upload these later as the computer here is very old. I also visited the Royal Palace and saw the Emerald Buddha which didn’t excite as much as just walking around the old city. I drank logan juice and bought rice crackers and a bag of peanuts. They’re simple things but it made me really happy. I only had one full day in Bangkok unfortunately. I’d love to see more of this city (and of Thailand) in future.

I’m now in Cambodia! I can’t really believe I’m here. I’m sitting in an internet cafe but the streets outside are unpaved and the sidewalks are crumbling. Most people walk everywhere — they don’t drive. It’s hot — stinking humid hot which I’m slowly getting used too. Everyday I’ve been here I see new things I’ve never seen before. I don’t know if I can write it all here.

The border crossing was an intense experience because there were thousands of people trying to get into Cambodia to gamble. It’s legal here while it isn’t in Thailand.

Today I went to Angkor and saw Angkor Wat and a few other temples. They’re spectacular. Photos to come soon!

Tomorrow I think I’ll spend most of the day sleeping as I’m still feeling jet-lagged and I’m also pretty overwhelmed.  Tomorrow afternoon  I’m planning a trip to one of the villages at Tonle Sap (lake).

I’m now going to see if my bank card will work in an ATM. ‘Til later.