Evil bus and boat trips

We got very sick just at the time we had to make a 6-hour bus trip, followed by a 9-hour boat trip (which we had expected to take 3 hours). It was tough, but as they say, whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger!

The bus stop mid-way to Battambang:



Already feeling unwell, we opted not to have any of the food offered at the bus stop:



Our luxury cruiser:

Phenomenal Phnom Penh

Some more random pics from Phnom Penh....

This is the guy you don't want to crash into:

We wanted to have our hair cut at Barber Shop Kennedy - it was like a mini memorial!

Walking back to our guesthouse:

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum - S21 Camp

We stayed across the road from Phnom Penh's notorious S21 prison - a former high school converted into a death camp by the Khmer Rouge. Apparently of the 17,000 prisoners at S21, only 7 survived. It was totally horrifying to go there, even 30 years later.

A demonstration of the cell sizes:





The regulations were written in Khmer in each room. Here's an English translation (click on the picture to increase the size):



The museum has room after room of pictures of victims. It was quite overwhelming.





How does a society come to this?

Groovy mama!

We're digging the Cambodian styles ... who else would combine lumberjack chic with a dainty little beaded number?

..... Superbreadman perhaps?



It's all high fashion stakes here:



We have taken a few 'helpers' to see us though the long trip:



... and I'm receiving subliminal messages not to think of the Themis project (at work) ...

Stay tuned ...

Meandering in Siem Reap

Oh boy! After 6 days of crippling illness (Godfrey has claimed the title of 'Miss Amoebic Dysentry 2006) we finally ventured out a little queasily to the temples yestderday before dawn. Angkor Wat is breathtaking, awesome in the true sense of the word. We spent yesterday there and at a few other temples, and this morning we went to Angkor Thom - also spectacular in its own way.

We don't really have the resources to sort through and post a good selection of pictures while here in Siem Reap, but we'll make do with a random smattering in the meantime - till we get home.


...The obligatory shot of Angkor Wat at sunrise:



Angkor Thom reminds us of Inca or Mayan temples:



A peaceful morning (before the korean tour busses descend):



We've seen some big figs ...



and lovely Apsara:

Travelling Boyds

We are currently experiencing the delights of Cambodia and will definitely be posting some pics and observations to this site as soon as we have the chance. Cambodia is challenging, beautiful, dusty, tragic, inspirational, amusing, confronting, and so much more ....

We haven't yet found an internet cafe where we can upload pictures from CD, so we may have to do that retrospectively upon our return. We're also both a little unwell at the moment, so will probably update this blog in a few days when we have more energy.

All is fine at the moment though - we have a lovely shady little guesthouse in which to recouperate, and are looking forward to exploring the ancient temples of Angkor in the next few days. Will keep you posted ...