Land mines on the side of the road

Land mines on the side of the road greeted us as the bus crossed the Thai/Cambodian boarder, you'd think it'd be way up in the hills, rather than directly on the side of the road, the verge, that little piece of grass between the road and the fields....little red skull signs indicating those unexploded found, and some very weary and serious looking locals with -what appeared to be - 50 year old metal detectors....

This is a country of leggless, armless, limbless and perantless beggars. There ARE a great number of NGO's on the scene. I met a young beggar who was honest enough to say simply that all he really wanted was a Pepsi....I later saw him in his fancy clothes riding a brand new red bicycle, that he'd purchased himself with begging money!! bless him, you cannay deny the cheek of it, but why the hell not eh? other kids get bicycles for their birthday, this kid "worked" for his at least.

The Hart Of Darkness has lost all of its appeal...this horrid pit is the best Phnom Penh has in the way of a night club, the music is nothing less than embarrassing, and the sheer number of prostitutes mind boggling, not that this means we don't know the place well ;-)

Enjoy the change of season all