This former school is now a museum. It was taken over by the Khmer Rouge and used as it's interrogation and detention center in Phnom Phen. It was heartbreaking to hear of and see the exhibits during our tour. I do remember John Pilger the journalist making documentaries about the atrocities taking place there during the late '70s. We went from there to the site of the Killing Fields... a very sobering morning for all who were on the tour.

While out very early in Phnom Phen we found this little fellow at a Temple.

Tour Leader Bo's family run a screen printing business so we had t-shirts made!

Lorraine and Irene's Gap Adventure - 2009.

Spring Rolls and Fish Curry Cambodian Style.

Irene and I towards the back of the group. Dinner was supplied by Mr Cham and his family. He is a tour guide who supports very poor childern, offering English classes in his home. He explained that he supports an extended family of about 30 people.

It costs him 5 US dollars a day to send his daughter to a public school.

Our dinner was delicious.

We visited a school run by volunteers who teach English to childern in the basement of a home of a delightful family. The girl in the centre of the photo was able to talk about the cold Winter weather in Scotland!! Their ambition is to become tour guides in Cambodia, they see that as a good way to earn US Dollars.

We had shopped earlier for notebooks, pens and pencils to take along as gifts. All were much appreciated by both students and teachers.

We found the Blue Pumpkin as recommended in Lonely Planet..... coffee and buns to please!

We enjoyed an evening at a traditional Cambodian restaurant which included a show by the local dance troupe. The performers start their training at 7 years.

We have had a few entertainng visits to the market in Seam Reap. This was a tea and spice stall. I will spare you the photos of the "fresh"
meat and fish stalls!!!

Again the Cambodian people were lovely, none of the usual market place hassle. They offer "very good price", "very inexpensive", "cheap cheap" and you start at abou a third of that and as you work up they work down and we all end up feeling very satisfied and you all at home will have lovely gifts for Christmas!

On the flight from Phnom Phen to Seam Reap Irene decided to hand out the newspapers and suggest that people fastened their seatbelts. The pursar asked if she had been former cabin crew? Irene being Irene said "yes". "FIFTY years ago?" he asked. He then gave her a pressy of a pack of playing cards with the Bangkok Airways logo on it....

Enjoying the chaos of Bangkok. Had the best value taxi ride last night as we headed off to meet up with our fellow travellers. It took us an hour and forty minutes to get to their hotel -thankfully I had negotiated a FIXED price for the journey of THREE pounds!!! It had taken only forty mins from Seam Reap in Cambodia to Bangkok!
We enjoyed a lovely evening - dinner with lots of promises to keep in touch. Then on to a bar on Kosan Road... how young-at-heart are we????? Young man even sent a rose to me at my table. I thought "it's been a while". Think he was wanting to give some custom to flower-seller.
Enjoying the delights of the hospitality of Executive Lounge, Holiday Inn right now (thank you, Colin). Will focus on photos this evening as the typing might be a littleeee offfffffffffffff.