Views from a tuk-tuk

And one of me for Gem and Mum!

Killing Fields

I have just been on the most depressing tour of my life. When Pol Pot was in power in the late 1970's he killed about 1.7 million people in Cambodia. During the Khmer Rouge regime they kept the population of the country to exactly 80,000, which they thought was the ideal number. They killed all professionals and educated people and believed by doing this they could start from 'year 0'. Today we visited the killing fields where thousands of men, women and children were taken bound and blind-folded to be beaten to death in trenches, rather than waste bullets. We then went to the school where these people were tortured and held. All their photos where taken on arrival, in order to document the process. It was such a sad place, made especially real when our tuk-tuk driver told us how his father was also killed here. It is amazing that the people here are so happy. Most people over the age of 30 have had direct experience of the events. It is very sad.

Anyway, I know this is really depressing, but as we are in the country we should know the recent history and it really does make me appreciate what we have. Tomorrow we leave Phnom Penh and go on the Siem Reap.

Photos!

Phnom Penh

We flew into Cambodia yesterday. I was expecting Phnom Penh (the capital city) to be really basic and run down but it has turned out to be a really nice city. We didn't manage to do much last night. We made it to a restaurant on the water front (after me falling over like a toddler and grazing my knee) then back to bed pretty early. We both slept so well - ready for today's marathon walk.

We have walked all over the city today. It has some really beautiful areas and some very run down parts. I am so shattered now - ready for another early night. We're going to eat at the hotel then watch TV in our room. I hope there's a nice Christmas movie to watch!

I have just tried to add photos but it is so slow here - so it'll have to be another time.

Christmas Presents and Pigging Out

We went to the Sheraton Hotel for our Christmas meal today. It was great but I really couldn't breathe very well after eating so much. Gareth on the other hand is totally infuriating. He gets full so quickly. Below is a little sequence which sums up Gareth's eating. The Sheraton is well known for its buffet - especially the mini puddings - so that you can eat as many different ones as you like, without getting full. Gareth came back with only a single tiny little creme caramel. It's all he could manage!!! Aaaargh. Why do I have to be the big pig? I ate at least 3 times as much as him. We had a little Christmas day today as we are off to Cambodia tomorrow and can't carry presents along with us. We had some really nice gifts from our familes - so thank you very much! Gareth gave me this great tea set that I've had my eye on for a while. He chose the design and I love it.

Christmas Party

Gareth singing to Ben's amusement.

The band of teachers played again for a Christmas party by the river. It was a really fun night, but you could see that everyone was really shattered and is so ready for a holiday. We have 2 and a half more days then we're officially on holiday!

I went Christmas shopping today for Gareth and bought some great clothes for my holiday from my friend's son (a designer and factory owner who makes clothes in Vietnam for the UK and USA). I bought some great designer tops worth more than £80 for less than £3 each - bargain! I also bought and decorated our Christmas tree. The only problem is that it has crazily manic lights and is a bit overpowering, but it's very true to the extravagant Vietnam style.

Wildlife

I was just having a moan to Gareth the other day about having to live with wildlife in the house. There are always lizards and geckos scooting all over the place. A few months back one plopped into my bowl as I was pouring out my cereal - he had been eating it too. On Thursday this one was just lounging around in the sink.

Carol Concert

We sang in the kid's Carol Concert this afternoon at school. It was really well attended. I can't show you any of the later pictures as I can't put the faces of the kids on here for legal reasons. It was a really nice evening, despite the hot, sticky temperatures which make it all wrong at Christmas time!

I had a lovely night out on our management evening. We went to an Arabic restaurant. Despite not being able to eat anything, I had a good time with a couple of glasses of red wine. I am already starting to feel a bit wiped out and it's only Tuesday. I desperately need an energy burst.

Crazy Vietnamese Wedding

Dry ice in the champagne and the glasses are glued together - all just for show!

Miserable wedding staff.

Crazy wedding bomb.

Bride and parents.

The BIS teachers.

Sammy getting up for karaoke!

We went to Gareth's school TA's wedding. As usual it was a crazy affair - with massive party poppers released by big gas-fuelled machines, dry ice in the champagne to make it pretty (then no-one can drink it) dreadful synthesised music and karaoke on tap. It was fun as there were quite a few of us from school. Everyone was staring at us as we were the honorary, white lucky people. Now it's the last full week of term it's pretty full-on. I've just been out for the management Christmas meal, it's the primary carol service tomorrow, the secondary one on Wednesday, Friday we're taking the TAs out for a meal then it's a big party on Saturday. I'm going to be shattered by next Monday. Help!!

Global Echoes Concert

I know that it's been over a month since I updated this and I am very disappointed in myself. However, I havn't had a minute to do anything other than work and play my cello or sing. I have spread myself too thin (as always I can't say no to anything) and agreed to play cello in a concert with a Canadian choir in the Global Echoes Concert and sing with my school for a Christmas evening. We have been practising with the orchestra every Saturday and Sunday - from half 7am! The Asian's love their early mornings and it's almost killed me off - no lie-ins for a whole month.

Anyway now that tonight is the last night, reports, observations blah blah blah is all finished at school I am feeling like I have a little time for myself. I didn't get up until 10am this morning! So Mum and Gem enjoy the photos - Gareth did his best as the light was bad. I will get my friend to take some more tonight.

See more adverts for concert here!

Back in the Hoch

We got back into Saigon yesterday. It was really good to be back in the relative calm of Ho Chi Minh City. I especially loved my bed last night - it's never quite as comfortable in a hotel.

Last night we went out for a slap up meal at the Sheraton Hotel, as a treat for Gareth's birthday (this coming Tuesday). They do a fantastic buffet with all kinds of food that you can think of and free-flow Australian wine. The problem was that my stomach just wasn't big enough to taste everything. I did my best though and had to sit for a while after dinner because I couldn't walk with such a full tummy! After dinner we went to met our friends at a nearby bar. It was good to catch up with everyone.

Now it's Sunday and I only have one more day to enjoy my holiday baaaaaah. I have to stay in the flat and wait for Gareth's birthday present to be delivered - he has been locked in the bedroom until it comes!