Greetings from Phnom Penh!

I am currently in Cambodia on a computer that is dial up and 28k modem!
This has been one long day and one long ordeal which progressively got worse
as the day went on. Last night after writing...we went to dinner at a
restaurant...I wanted Rice and Pork to which they said "no pork"...no
"beef"...no anything but squid which I did not want so I just settled for
rice. It was a reminder how spoiled I am in the states that when I go to a
restaurant they will have what I want. After we went back to the hotel which
wasn't too bad. I stepped out on the porch/patio for a smoke and was
attacked by bats...after about 4 drags...I thought...this is not worth it,
crushed out my cig and went back into the room! I guess now I have found a
way to quit smoking...just let loose some bats.This morning began with
breakfast at the hotel which consisted of bread, jam, and coffee....from
there I had to walk down to the river and caught a little boat which took me
to a fish farm on the Mekong River. We then headed north a way to a place
that did weaving which was interesting. Here we got on a boat that I
thought was going to sink at any minute..but it turned out to be relatively
nice. I ended up spending most of my time with an Israeli Guy traveling
and talking about politics and history and my trip to Israel last year. We
journeyed for 3 hours north to the Vietnam/Cambodia border.

I had to get off the boat with all my luggage, go through immigration,
customs...then get my Visa for Cambodia. I then had to get on a little boat
that shuttled me to the Cambodia border crossing where I got my passport
stamped and entered my 26th country. I was dismayed though as we all had to
get on a smaller boat...I was so jammed and it was on folding metal chairs.
I felt like I was at an All Staff Meeting for Work. Three long slow hours,
up the Mekong River to some little village. It was at this village we got
off the boat and things got worse...We then had to catch a mini bus that was
so jammed pack with people and luggage I felt I couldn't breath. Plus it
was filled with all Germans and Dutch and they were really getting on my
last nerve and kept shouting and singing on the bus. The road to Phnom
Penh was terrible...partly paved and partly rocks.....It was the most
miserable 2 hour bus ride I've had in all my journey. We finally got into
Phnom Penh and there was some drama about where we were going to stop and
get off. At this point, I didn't care..I just wanted off the bus. If that
bus would have been in an accident we would all have been killed. It was
bone crushing pain being on that bus for two hours! And it wasn't Air
conditioned!!!!!

It was one of those moments where I thought....Damn, I would like a drink!
We finally got off the bus in Phnom Penh and had no idea where we were at.
It is advised not to ride one of the tuk tuks..without prior negotiations.
At this point I would have paid 100 dollars to get some where safe, clean,
and cool...but it was only $4 to drive to the Manor house where we had
reservations. The Tuk Tuk is a motorcycle with a carriage on the
back....what and incredible journey that was....4 bags of luggage and two
two hundred pound guys in the back of the Tuk Tuk. He couldn’t' find our
place and we drove around aimlessly for an hour and finally got to the Manor
House. The accommodations are nice.

So....I has taken 14 hours to get from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh....almost as
long as to get from LA to Hong Kong!!! It's now 9 pm....and I'm tired,
starved, dirty, smelly, sticky, salty, and exhausted...so I will go get a
bite to eat, some snacks, and then rest.

In spite of all this...it's been a great trip....the people here are very
friendly....and the cost of things are next to nothing so money goes a long
way which is great!

I still have no Cambodian Currency...which I will tackle that problem
tomorrow and hopefully tour around the city tomorrow and visit the Killing
Fields which I wanted to see. I hope all is well with you..and thanks for
being a part of this journey!