We left Bangkok and travelled to Siem Reap in Cambodia on the 13th March. First place to visit was the temples at Angkor Wat. It is hard to describe and do them justice, as they cover a very large site and are many and varied. They are truly awe inspiring and we spent from 7:30AM until they closed at 5:30PM cycling around the site. We managed to visit 7 or 8 temples (the most recommended and famous), but we could have spent several more days there. Angkor Wat is the main temple that tourists visit, and has the iconic image associated with the area. However, we preferred Preah Khan and Ta Prom (used in the filming of Lara Croft Tomb Raider), as they were being encroached upon by the jungle, see our pictures and decide for yourself.

On our second day in Siem Reap we cycled 10 Kilometers to the local lake Tonle Sap. As it is the end of the dry season, this is little more than a muddy puddle at present. But we cycled through typical Cambodian villages and it was all very pleasant. On the way back we stopped at one of the local hammock bars that are unique to this area; Abby did not think that they were very comfortable, and suggested that we drink up our beers quickly and move on. Half an hour later when we both woke up, she thought differently, and we found it hard to motivate ourselves to get the bikes back to the hire place on time.

One hot night was a 'home stay' with a Cambodian family. This consisted of a mattress on the floor of a wooden shed with a mosquito net. Not the most comfortable of nights sleep, but an insight into how the locals live.

We cycled across a narrow bamboo bridge (that was cycling three days on the trot!), over the Mekong River, made by the local people every year, and every year it is destroyed in the wet season. This was quite a hair raising experience, no barriers, people on mopeds coming the other way and a few holes to avoid.

Two full days in Sihanoukville on the coast next. White sandy beaches, snorkelling in clear blue sea and a barbeque on the beach; imagine it is very like Thailand, but less commercialised and quieter.

In Phnom Pehn we visited the Toul Sleng genocide museum. The Khymer Rouge's (lead by Pol Pot) largest interrogation complex, formally a school. Between 1975 and 1979 over 17000 people were tortured and then sent to be executed from this place. The guide that showed us around lost 5 brothers and his father during this period. Pol Pot wanted to remove all intellectuals and non supporters of his communist regime. You could be arrested and held here for many reasons including wearing glasses, having pale skin or being related to the wrong person. It was quite upsetting, with torture devices left in place, and many photographs of the victims. Following this we went to the 'Killing Fields' where many of the above individuals were taken to be executed and dumped in mass graves. Some were still alive when they were buried. This was very upsetting. Under foot there were bits of human bone and clothing that are exposed every time it rains. Some of the photos may be upsetting, but we want people to remember that this happened within our lifetime.

Visited the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh next. This was very similar in design to the one in Bangkok, but less well maintained, a reflection on the prosperity of each country probably, as an example the Silver Pagoda has unique solid silver floor tiles that were held down in places with parcel tape!

General impressions of Cambodia are that it is the land of 'wun dollah', as that is what everything costs. They do not trust their own government so the US dollar is the unofficial currency, although smaller amounts are paid in Cambodian Riel. Even the ATM machines dispense dollars.

So for $1 you can have:

A can of coke, hire a bike for the day, get your hair cut, have a beach manicure (pedicure $2, but that is $1 per foot!), ride on a moto tuk tuk, have a beer or an hour on the internet.