Yesterday morning, the minibus picked us up from our guesthouse, for the trip to the bus station. Veronika and I are heading to Phnom Pehn! So we get on the new bus, and it is supposed to be a 5 hour ride - leave at 730am, get in at 1230. Except that we needed to stop 3 times for toilet and food on this journey! Ugh! So we really didn't get in until about 1:30. Each time we stopped, we were swarmed by people asking us to buy things as soon as we got off the bus. "Miss, would you like to buy one of my books?" or "Miss, buy a postcard." etc etc. And when we arrived in Phnom Penh it was no better, except that now everyone was selling accommodation. It was so bad that you had to force your way off the bus and then they followed you, offering taxis. So finally we made it out of that mess, and flagged down a random tuk tuk, who still took us to a different place than the one we requested! But we said no, we really do want to go to the one we want, so he ended up taking us there.

Phnom Penh is a much bigger city than Siem Reap, but still just as poor, and just as dirty (both in garbage and dirt). There are no garbage bins anywhere, so garbage piles up on the streets, and when it rains (which is does every night because we are in the rainy season) the streets all floor because there is no drainage system whatsoever. We are constantly asked if we want a tuk-tuk or moto, and there are tons of children roaming the streets trying to sell things. Yesterday we were just walking around for a bit, and trying to find Wat Phnom. We got directions from one of the drivers, and then he followed us the entire way making sure we were going to correct way, and then giving us some history about it. All so that we would agree to book him as our personal driver for today.

And I have to say it worked. His English was pretty good, and he really wanted to drive us around all day to the Killing Fields, to the S21 museum, to the Palace and the markets. He is picking us up this morning at 9am, and dropping us back home whenever we are done - all for 15$. =\ We found out yesterday that his English is so good because he used to be a teacher, but gave it up because there is no money - he makes better money being a tuk-tuk driver. Awful.

The place we are staying is really nice. Veronika and I are sharing this huge room with two double beds, with air-con, and a fridge, and a huge bathroom with hot water, and even TOILET PAPER! Ahh, the luxury! Except we found that the electricity goes out randomly several times during the day for half an hour at a time (or more). Blech!

We are only staying in Cambodia until we get our visas for Vietnam. We applied for the yesterday, so we will have them back Monday night, and Tuesday we will be on a bus for Saigon. Which gives me a couple more days there before I fly home on Saturday!