Some photos of Cambodia and todays update for Alissa.

In the Tuk tuk on our way to At Tonle Sap Lake
Tonle Sap lake.... (ah should have known
better!)

At Tonle Sap Lake a floating BB court. Elephant ride at Angkor Thom

Chilling at a hammock bar after the lake Floating Village on Tonle Sap Lake

Khymer cooking class. 3 courses and a T-shirt $10 One of the Temples visited.

More Temples visited

Apsara dancing at Temple restaurant.

Today had the cooking class, brilliant.. Visited the Old market with the chef before commencing to cook.. There was a choice between 3 starters, 3 mains and 3 desserts.. I chose mango salad, chicken Amok, and green bean dessert... delicious and only $10... The silly thing was had gone for breakfast first at the Blue Pumpkin bakery... so was full... Invited the chef and the helpers to join us to eat the food but there are cameras in the restaurant and they were not allowed to join in. So we ate a little and then took the food to them away from the sight of the camera... and asked them to eat... Our chef said that in Cambodia she was considered a "grandmother"at 29 and too old to marry... She came from a rural area and for the last 10 years had been working 2 jobs to support herself and earn enough money to learn english.. Now she only has the one job... Having said that though, she starts work at 7 am to 5pm from 5 - 6pm she goes to continue to learn english and then returns to the restaurant from 7.pm to 11pm...

This afternoon we organised to go to the floating village on Tonle Sap Lake... All the photos that refer to the floating village please note that this water will in the dry season be gone... The village moves into the lake proper this is the wet season so they come in for shelter as the lake is vast and is fed from Vietnam..

Alissa - cost was $10 return by Tuk tuk (and more on this shortly *^#&*Y#*^) approx 30mins

$2 entrance fee to the lake.

$22 for boat hire.. There are cheaper options but Intrepid use "partners"that try to conserve natural resources, having said that the cost was split between 8 of us so that was 2.50 each.

The floating village also farms some of the fish species, have crocodile pens which are raised for their skins, and catch and pose with snakes...

The villagers generally boil the water from the lake for all uses, but it is still (according to our leader) 70% unsafe.

At Angkor Thom elephant rides are available, which costs $15 US for a 15 minute tour around the perimeter and also there is a balloon trip that also costs $15... It is tethered and rises 200 mtrs off the ground and then down (this is over Angkor Wat).. There are usually helicopter rides available too, for $50US which will take you right over Angkor Wat, but all the helicopters (both of them) are being used in a movie that is being shot here in Cambodia, so it was not an option.

So I'll get to the tuk tuk thing now... On our way to the floating village there was Dudu, Michelle, Emily and I in the tuk tuk... Should know better by now but hope springs eternal.. You can see from the photos that it had been raining somewhere and the river had overflowed.. Now of all the tuk tuks in all of Cambodia, guess whose one managed to find the only pothole that tipped that sucker over AGAIN??? Yep ours... over we go in the middle of a road wide puddle. The driver yet again (but of course a different one!!) falls off his bike, the tuk tuk tips over, we start laughing yet again but this time we had to get off... At least I thought we did, so I proceeded to jump into the water, checking out the driver who was under his bike to make sure he was ok, and Dudu sits like Cleopatra waiting for the bike and driver to be picked up again... Which of course he was by all the others around him.. Meantime I'm soaked from knee to toe laughing because he was fine, and she's sitting grinning like a cheshire cat... (Will get her back tomorrow for sure)..

Loving Cambodia, whilst a much poorer country than Thailand, there is definately a more relaxed flow in the country... Is a "will come back to"place for sure.

Alissa, don't forget to ask the people before taking photo of them.... Is incredibly rude, also cover your shoulders ie: tee shirt at least and down to knees attire... don't touch the monks so if taking a photo don't put your arm around them....

Were off tomorrow morning at 7.00am for Kompong Cham on the public bus... We've been told that it may have air conditioning, but they usually have karaoke.... and if it doesn't our tour leader has a healthy collection of Richard Marks songs on his phone.... (note to self get some ear plugs fast)..

Oh one other observation, Bangkok had lots of cats, Cambodia has lots of dogs...

One more thing while I'm thinking of it... we met a young girl who had been horribly disfigured.. We asked the guide what happened thinking "landmine"but in her case, her family home caught on fire, and her entire family was destroyed. She now lives on the street as their is no social or governmental structure that will provide support. If she doesn't get any money from begging she starves... He did look at us funny when we asked why no one takes her in, that's just not done here, and I guess that with 50% of the population being under 18 and she seemed to be about 14 there is nothing else for her... Yes she was given money and I hope that it wasn't taken off her when we left by someone else..

And another thing, the guest house we are staying at is currently housing volunteers for the local orphanage... Young men who have given 3 months to helping with english lessons and anything else that may be required.... All at their own cost... Nice to know there are still some altruistic people around.... (One of them is from Hamilton - Go Kiwi!!)

Must away, it's after 10.00 and I have some washing to do before packing for the morning..

:o) Tutu and Dudu... xoxox