Hi folks,

We've now been away for just over 8.5 weeks and have already visited 4 different countries....gosh doesn't time fly - can't really believe how much we have packed in already and we are only half way through South East Asia....

We left Vietnam on another dreaded bus this time bound for Siem Reap in Cambodia. Now after our last bus saga, I was dreading it but we didn't really have any option as flying was too expensive. Anyway it was a welcomed relief, the bus was on time, stopped when they said and we even got breakfast and lunch thrown in, not bad at all. Phew!

As we crossed the boarder and arrived in Cambodia there were a few things that struck both of us immediately. Firstly, how flat, green and lush the land is. There are so many farmers, cattle, buffalo and crops in all the fields. It really is their livelihood and how they survive. The second is the evidence of how they are still recovering from the many years of war. Reading up on it before we arrived, I didn't realise that there is so much history behind Cambodia and the amount of war that has been carried out over the last 50 years. First there was the Cambodian Civil War which ran from 1967-1975 which resulted in the fall of the Khmer Republic of Cambodia to the Khmer Rouge (the Communist Party). The US aligned with the Republic of Cambodia during this time and participated in the fighting at some points along with North and South Vietnam. After this ended, conflict then broke out between Vietnam and the Khmer Rouge as they demanded the Mekong Delta area be returned to Cambodia. This ran from 1975-1979. There were many years of conflict between the political parties of Cambodia and they only came to a full peace agreement in 1993. There are signs everywhere for the "Cambodian Peoples Party" (hope you're all impressed with my history lesson!!)

The final thing was how many children there are, sitting with their families at the side of the road or in cafes and shops. They are always trying to sell you something, bracelets, books etc. Some of the children are so young and it really is heartbreaking to see. Apparently over half the Cambodian population are children under 15 years old, many of them are orphans as a direct result of the years of war.

We arrived in Siem Reap and were ushered from the bus into a tuk tuk and taken into the town centre. He drove us round various guesthouses (obviously his friends as that's the way it works out here) and we found a really nice place. The driver then proceeded to tell us that he would take us round Angkor the next day and would be our guide/driver. We had heard from other travellers that this is the way to do it, so we agreed a price for 3 days and arranged for him to pick us up in the morning.

Siem Reap is in the middle of Cambodia and is where the famous temples of Angkor are home to. In Angkor itself there are approximately 1000 temples (some just tiny piles of ruins others are massive) They were all built between the 11th and 13th Centuries. They were mainly used for praying and worshipping. Siem Reap town has been built up solely for tourism, their main business being the tourists that the temples attract each year. The Cambodian people are extremely passion about them and are full of bits of history, always willing to share it with you.

That evening we wondered around the town, which has a "pub street" and reminded me a little of a bar street in Greece!!. We ended up bumping into Phil, one of the guys we met on the Yangtze river cruise in China. It was great to see him and catch up over quite a few beverages, he introduced us to some people he had met on his travels and a merry night was had by all!!

Bright and early the next morning our driver picked us up and off we set. As we approached Angkor, we quickly realised the scale of it and just how big it is, no wonder it is one of the worlds most famous heritage sites. Our first stop was Angkor Thom which is a collection of Buddhist temples that were built around the 12th century. During the war, many parts of all the temples were destroyed so there is a huge restoration project going on at the moment. We looked around and took some pictures. The detail that was carved into the stone was amazing and so clever - it must have taken ages to carve and it was all done by hand. Next we went to a smaller temple called Ta Keo and then onto Ta Prohm which is where they filmed to hollywood film "Tomb Raider" starring Angelina Jolie. This was great and although neither of us have seen the film properly we did the token running around with pretend guns, imagining we were Lara Croft!!!

Later that afternoon we got to do something I have always wanted to do, we went up in a hot air balloon overlooking Angkor Wat and it was AMAZING (sorry I know I'm using the same word again...). We decided to go up at sunset and although it was a little cloudy, the views over Angkor were just breath taking. As we left we saw a sign for the "Red House" restaurant (for all that know, make sure you say it properly!!) and took a photo for you family!!!

Day two and our driver picked us up as arranged. We went to Angkor Wat which is the largest religious monument in the world and was built between 1113 and 1150 by King Suryavarman II, surrounded by Jungle. It is a Hindu temple. Angkor Wat itself stretches 3.6 km (2.2 miles) and from the outer wall there are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. At the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers. A moat surrounds the grounds and temple.

Now, as you all know neither of us are normally ones for things like this but we were both fascinated by the whole thing. It was absolutely mind blowing to see. We wandered around for a couple of hours just admiring the architecture, the carvings in the stone and absorbing all the history behind it. As with the other temples around Angkor, there is also a restoration project going on to protect and repair damage caused by the war and general erosion. We tried to be a bit arty and different with our pictures so hope you enjoy!

As we were walking out of Angkor Wat, Carly rode a horse in the grounds. She only got to go a little way but enjoyed it none the less. As we stood waiting for our driver, we were suddenly surrounded by Cambodia children all trying to sell us drinks and bracelets. They all kept saying how beautiful they thought we were and were fascinated by our eyes and make up, one girl even wanted to "sleep with me like a sister" (not really quite sure what she meant but don't think it was anything that weird?!!). I also made the mistake of saying Carly's name which they then kept repeating! We ended up buying some bracelets and a drink for only a couple of dollars from them. They were so sweet and it is nothing to us, that will probably feed them and their families for the day.

On the way to Angkor we had driven past a children's hospital and there was a sign outside saying they urgently needed people to give blood. After chatting with these kids and seeing the sick children queuing outside the hospital for treatment, Carly decided she really wanted to donate. (I also wanted to but as I have never done it before thought it might not be such a good idea especially being abroad). We went in and she filled in a form. It was very clean and the needles were sterile but unfortunately they wouldn't let her donate as it was her time of the month! Bloody biology!!

That evening we climbed to the top of Phnom Bakheng and watched the sunset over Angkor. The colours in the sky were gorgeous and it was so peaceful to sit and watch.

Day three, and after our two previous days we were a bit "templed out"! We got our driver to take us to a posh hotel and we spent the day chillin and relaxing by the swimming pool - it was heaven!

So that's about it from Angkor, hope you are all still awake! Sorry, I know it's quite a long blog this time but I wanted to fully portray what we have seen and the history behind it...we're off to the Capital Phnom Penh tomorrow and now off for a well deserved cold cocktail!

Take care and love to you all
Claire and Carly xxxx

p.s Cambodia has to be one of the sweatiest countries EVER - feel like I have been doing one of you're spin classes Lee for like 5 hours!!!!