First exciting destination - Cambodia!

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So I did EVENTUALLY leave the restful Thai islands  - not that you'd know it from my blog - very behind  - but Cambodia has been too amazing to waste time sitting in an internet cafe! Too much to see and do, taste and learn!

Cambodia has been just incredible. The people here are so friendly and kind and welcoming. And given the horrific recent experience of the Khmer Rouge its very humbling. In  fact its been terrifying to think that everything that has happened here has happened in my lifetime - exactly - the KR marched into Phnom Penh on the 17th April 1975, two days before I was born.  

The country is not very developed, with a mainly rural and tourism economy. Which makes for a very exciting place to visit. Ive been so lucky that Ive not really come across that many other tourists -either Ive been off the beaten track (but not off the paths for fear of landmines - delightful souvenirs of the civil war here that were being laid up to about 10 or so years ago I think.) or because maybe its early in the season - either way - its a great time to come and feel like you are not on a tourist merry-go-round.  Either way, it makes my heart melt when beautiful smiley kids come running up to say hello - i wish people got such a good welcome back home. And because its after the rains, everything is so lush and green  -its beautiful. November is definitely a great month to be here! It was also great because i got to share it with friends, Charlie and then Al.

Having said Cambodia is not very developed, the mobile coverage would make any londoner jealous - everyone has mobiles here because there are no real fixed lines to speak of - and mobiles make so much sense in countries with patchy transport networks (the train has been discontinued, only the major towns are linked by roads with tarmac!)

Anyway - an incredible country to start my travels proper - I love it! Gorgeous people, Beautiful scenery, great food - need I say more?