Day 8 - "you could sell this to an Australian museum for $500"

Our final full day in Phnom Penh, we do like Cambodia so far. Headed off to the National Museum in the morning, followed by some markets. Found a great antique place so of course had to purchase some 8th century Angkor pottery- apparently worth lots of money to a museum, if he can be believed? Then off to a fantastic massage for $7 an hour. A quiet lunch, handed out more "care" packages to the kids on the street, who are now running around in Charlotte & Courtney's old clothes.

Headed back to the hotel to finally do the blog - hope you find it fun, as we are on our way out to dinner.

Day 7 - Tears, rats, cocktails and skinnydipping.......

Just when we thought we were getting over the atrocities of the shocking War Museum in Saigon we visited the Killing Fields. It is unbelievable what we saw, the thousands of skulls, the huge open graves and for every person found there are still 450 missing. Depressed & miserable as we were we continued on to put ourselves through more by visiting what was the high school until it was turned into Tuol Sleng Prison of the most extreme torture unimaginable. An incredibly sobering day.

So there was only one thing to do and that was to start the Happy Hour with the $2 cocktails. As Kathryn had lost her glasses during the day (only cheap ones) Mike had to read her the entire cocktail menu plus ingredients. She finally chose one and was most amused to discover it was a Cosmopolitan. After 2 lovely cocktails in a very nice place Kathryn headed off to the toilet as a rat scampered in front of her and entered the kitchen!

Headed home after a nice Thai meal. The weather is so wonderful for sightseeing - 20- 23 degrees and overcast, but not good when you have paid for a private pool. However we forced ourselves to grin & bear the colder evening temperature just so we could say we had used it!

Day 6 - Cambodia here we come..if we can just stop the boat tilting.

Another early start, this holidaying is hard work! Piled into a cyclo and were driven to our boat for the 5 1/2 hour trip to Phnom Penh. The boat was comfortable but there was an hilarious start as they moved passengers around according to their weight. There was still a lean so they got the biggest guy to swap sides, the boat levelled, everyone laughed - he good naturedly patted his gut!

Stopped at the border crossing and we disembarked to get our visas before continuing up the Mekong.

Arrived in Phnom Penh, ambushed by cyclos and taken to our lovely hotel with our private pool.

We walked to the Royal Palace which is similar to the one in Bangkok but not as large.

Lovely meal at "Taboo", great Penang Curry and $2 gin & tonics. Cambodia is so cheap!

Day 5 - We've got so much luggage we had to buy bus tickets for our suitcases!!!!

Another early start on an incredibly small boat to the floating markets. On our return to dock Kathryn stands up to exit the boat, puts her foot through a plank and very nearly ends up in the Mekong. Boat girl was horrified, Mike just shrugged "par for the course with her".

We then headed to the bus station to travel to Chau Doc, problem was each time we tried to enter the bus we were sent back to buy another ticket, 4 tickets for us to travel the bus..

Arrived in Chau Doc, cute town cute room with balcony for $13 for the night. Caught a motorbike each to go up Sam Mountain. Fantastic views across the rice paddies into Cambodia. Mike's bike picked up a nail so he got left on the side of the road until the other bike could take Kathryn home and come back for him.

Lovely dinner at upmarket Victoria Hotel, they were advertising tours up Sam Mountain $34 each, we paid $5 - shows the difference in what you are charged for where you stay.

Arranged boat to go to Phnom Penh, Cambodia tomorrow.

Day 4 - Uptown girl/boy survive boat crash

Today we joined a cheap tour to travel up the Mekong as far as Can Tho. We had planned to get there on our own as per normal but found a tour for $17 each that would take us to all the sights we wanted to go to and get us to our destination cheaply. On the way we talked to the tour guide re our continuing plans so as to get some advice. Only to be told that as I was an "uptown girl"' & Mike was an "uptown boy" and we were obviously "not backpacker"s that we were basically out of our depth and we would find it "too complicated" to travel on our own! You can imagine how insulted we were! Vietnam is a breeze to travel in compared to other countries we have done on our own!

We had a lovely trip up the Mekong until after lunch when we found out they had changed boats on us, but assured us our luggage had been transferred. However one of our bags was missing, thanks to mobile phones we finally got to collect it from the office in the next town we stopped at.

They drive their boats the same as they do the vehicles on the road - with gay abandon.....so it was that we rounded a corner and coming straight for us was a much larger boat. It was obvious we were going to hit I grabbed Mike's arm for support as we watched it unfold in slow motion. Crash straight into the bow of the boat (Mike said later he thought it was going to go straight through and take the front of the boat off). There was a smashed upright beam and a caved in side (right next to our suitcases) - they leaned over the side, had a giggle and we moved on.

Day 3 - Chu Chi Tunnels

A very interesting day, going through the viet kong tunnels - Kathryn only made it to the first level with lots of complaining, Mike went to the end on his hands and knees, unbelievably small - no wonder they were safe from the US - they are built Vietnamese size.

Back to Saigon in time to witness peak hour traffic - what a sight, all those motor bikes.

Day 2 - Saigon "No Enter!" President's Chair

An early start for sightseeing of the town. We followed the walking tour in the Lonely Planet (LP), seeing all the major sites and Kathryn ending up with prickly heat as it was so damn hot! Booked on a $5 USD tour to go to the Chu Chi tunnels the next day.

Day 1 - Arrived Saigon

After an uneventful flight via Darwin, we arrived in to HCMC about 1am Melbourne time, and promptly went to the hotel. Mike was amused to find the board inside the foyer door was welcoming "Alfred Visentin" - first photo opportunity...