From Siem Reap to Kampong Cham..

We left Siem Reap at 7.30am... Alissa, the guest house cost $6 per night... air conditioned, lovely hosts, hot and cold running water, guest geckos (but that's everywhere) and 24 hour reception (on account of they sleep downstairs under mossie nets and can hear you walking around)

We were picked up by a public bus and transported to the main bus terminal where we hopped onto the larger service going to Kampong Cham.. Brilliant public transport... the karaoke screen was playing when we got on, air conditioned (at times it became cold it was so good) and got to our hotel at 1.30.. We stayed at the Mekong Hotel, that was converted 10years ago into a 5 star hotel by the government... Prior to that it was a hospital.. It's still undergoing upgrading, so on the ground floor it's just the reception and builders., second floor rooms and 3rd floor (went for a nosy) there is nothing beyond the doors in the hallway... By that I mean, open the door, you have a room but no external walls.. Nice rooms again, air conditioned, hot and cold running water, cost $5 dollars..

We arrived on a Saturday and I would definately stay there again.. it is across the road from the Mekong and the street it's on seems to be the nightlife centre of the town... Come nightfall a mini fair is set up on the waterfront, and you can buy cold drinks and food from the sellers and just enjoy the people..

Earlier that day we had gone to a local's for lunch that was organised by our leader... Again would recommend it.... for $5 we had over 9 different dishes, ate with the home owners, learned a little about how they lived and also had a show.. The little guy (2yrs old) came wandering out after lunch with a tarantula on him.. Then of course out came the deep fried ones.. When in Rome.... surprisingly, it tastes like "chicken" which is the local vernacular to describe to foreigners anything that tastes yummy.... If it is it tastes like "chicken"... Texture of jerky though... They prepare them by drowning them in salt water, scrub them, remove the fangs and then cook them...

After that we went up to the man and woman mountains... Our local guide said that years ago a dispute arose as to who would propose marriage... So in order to decide, the men and the women agreed to build a mountain.. The highest one by the sunrise would be the winner... The two sexes then moved earth to start making the mountain... The women prepared a meal with alcohol and gave it to the men, and in addition they had built a large fire. Closer to dawn the women lit the fire to replicate the sunrise, the men having been provided food and drink, were fooled into thinking that the sun was coming up and stopped building their mountain... In this way the women's was higher and from that day forward in Cambodia the men have to propose and pay for the marriage..

There is a popular song here with the title of $5000 because on average that's how much it cost for the men's dowry... They not only pay for the reception but also the mother in law as she fed and raised their love from conception... Nice!!

One other thing is that the Cambodians until recently were able to practice polygamy.. And if you had more than one wife when the law changed you were ok, now though if you do, and your first wife complains you can go to prison for a year and pay a fine of 1 million reils..

On the mountain there are monkeys that scamper around... We were watching them play, and one monkey grabbed the tail of an unsuspecting cat and started to drag it around the courtyard... Too funny, I have photos of this cat leaving trail marks where the monkeys were tugging it along... The street sellers said that the monkeys love the cats, they take them up the branches of the trees with them and drop them onto the ground... They have had to replace the cats twice... Sorry guys but it was just too funny how it was explained, and we sat down and howled with laughter...

Waterfront that night, they have two dance floors.. (kind of) on the footpath they set up huge speakers, have dancers on two platforms and then the whole community get line dancing... One end of the road was "bollywood" style the other more "saturday night fever" (I did recognise the bus stop).. So picture this, sitting on the side of the mighty mekong, nibbling on local donuts (filled with coconut and wrapped like samosas) music blasting, small fair for the little ones on the other side of the road, with the carousel horses, neon lights, people smiling dancing.. Truly magic...

We're at Phnom Penh at the moment and will shortly be heading for our overnight stay at a locals home.. we have been warned that there is no electricity, no hot water, we will live (for 1 night) as they do... Can't wait!!

Oh one other thing, on the bus this morning coming to Phnom Penh, we made a pit stop.. eating pineapple, spotting the funniest thing...

A van, loaded with people, the back of the van was open, hanging out the back of the van was strapped 3 motorbikes, sitting on the motorbikes were three people and on top of the van was one person lying flat enjoying the day... brilliant... and the traffic, for some reason it works... if you have space I'll use it thank you... must away off to the homestay..

Will upload photos of today in a couple of days...

Tutu and Dudu :o)