The day I shoulda gone home!

OK so another hot and humid day abounds and I am sitting on a very dirty and rickety local bus to Rathanikii - the wild east of Cambodia. I have backtracked somewhat and in hindsight it woluld have been much better for me to do this part of Cambodia on the way from Laos, but it was a last minute thought and now I'm actually glad I didnt because I would have had the worst of my food poisoning here which would be even worse than the musty Phnom Phen room without a window and Nate's insensative comments. And that's saying something!

I'm glad I had an extra day in Phnom Phen to see Lakeside. However the accomodation we chose wasn't great - the bathroom smelt of urine and their were ants crawling along the walls. But we wanted to be near te bus pick up as it was such a ridiculously early start!

In keeping with my new resolution to make every single day count, I am doing my best to stay positive on 3 hours sleep (Don wanted to do an all-nighter and this was my compromise!) smelly clothes, pot-holed roads and annoying Cambodian music blaring right by our ears. The up side of travelling by bus is seeing the landscape which can at times be stunning but always interesting, witnessing local vollage life. Did I mention that it is a 12 hour bus ride and I had to go to the toilet in half site of a whole bus load of people. But you dare not venture too deep or too far due to the enexploded ordinances. I actually saw something that looked like one but it was close to the road so figured it couldnt be but it was not a normal stop - we got a puncture and had to pull over to change the tire.

I am really missing church and talking to other christians. Like when I was in Italy, it can be really isolating. I'm gonna try and find an english speaking church in Ho Chi Minh City. Fortunately I have a couple of friends I yahoo message which are a great support but other than that really miss chatting to Luci. I had a good chat to Bas last night actually. Ive got a lot of time for Bas, he can have a proper conversation and even though he gives the male perspective on things, as one would expect, he has a oot of depth and a really good outlook on many things including travelling and the whole experience of it. However I'm not entirely sure I understand his choices. I agree with making the most of an experience - but he split up with his girlfriend back home to do so so he wouldn't miss her and be in two places as it were. I suppose it makes sense in theory but I'm not sure what it says about a relationship.

Its funny how travellers are here to have their eyes opened and their perspectives widened and yet I always sense a prejudice towards christianity. I just miss having people around who innately understand where you're coming from. I think its the hardest part of travelling for me.