Later on

Having just explored Siem Reap (its not very big- and catered to the sort of tourists who have ruined thailand) and its night market (which was fantastic) we went for$1 foot massages and back massages. Weve met a lovely couple from switzerland on the train this morning and we shared the cost of a taxi, so we all went out this evening- sharing mixed feelings about the various industries here. On one hand, what else will these young people do- they live outside the extreme poverty outside the cities, yet at the same time it lends itself to even worse industies,. Its quite an extraordinary world to be thrown in to. I spoke to some of the girls after- they were so sweet, and in broken english we spoke of their 7day 10 hr day working week. One girl in particular didnt want me to go, she was so eager to talk and just be there.

Cambodia is a very interesting place. There is a lot more visible poverty -and to a greater extreme than in thailand, although some of the slums lining the train line today were pretty harrowing- n in direct view of the brand new high rise apartment blocks- with sewage pipes running through, burning rubbish piles next to gas canisters, and yet people going about their daily lives as normal- food seems such an important feature of the day, and there seems to be no difference between what the rich and the poor eat.

There was a distinct difference upon crossing the cambodian border-
Everything was even less organised and the $40 taxi ride from the border to our hotel was obviously enough to let the whole 10 in the company relax for the rest of the day. Driving through incredibly flat and green fields (where lanes on the road mean nothing to the drivers but it still felt very safe and comfortable- it was paved) we kept passing slum houses on stilts, emaciated looking cows helping plow the fields, and chickens everywhere. Siem reap manages to hide the poverty somehow behind a facade of european party atmospheres, yet it still lurks behind every corner. I feel like its really broken my heart a bit- its one thing seeing it all on a documentary, but having it stating you in the fce, asking for your money, and having no way out, it seems almost surreal.

We are going to see the temples at Angkor Wat tomorrow, its a huge complex so we are planning totake the day to really see it all. Its been another packed but very fulfilling day today- i feel like my head is spinning from
Everything we have taken in, but it can only be a good thing. We are really enjoying it.