Well, the overnight train to Nha Trang was kind of exciting. 4 of us girls in a room, felt much like a sleepover party. Took my handy sleeping tablet and was out, woke only once during the night. The toilet on the train was interesting. Basically, a squat toilet with a hole that goes directly through the bottom of the train. So yes, you actually pee right onto the track. Strange. Nha Trang has been quite hot. Spent the first day on the beach for a bit, then headed off for a soak in the mudbaths, followed by a hotwater mineral bath, followed by a hotwater pool, followed by a 60 minute massage, all for 12USD. My second massage since being here. It's so cheap. Apparently, Nha Trang is the place to party. Not a lot going on for a friday night though. Sarah and I left the bar on our own and walked right by our hotel, of course. Ended up walking around for half an hour or so asking random people if they knew where our hotel was. Most had no clue what we were saying and we did run into some sketchy individuals. Mostly, cyclo or moto drivers wanting to give us a ride. We did finally find the hotel, waking up the hotel attendant that was sleeping on a mattress in the lobby of the hotel on our way in . . . it was clearly a very posh hotel.

Today, we had a bit of a lie-in, 0800, had a leisurely breakfast and then headed off to a high class restaurant with pool. That's where we've spent a majority of the day, relaxing and recovering from the hectic mud pool and massage therapy yesterday. We leave tonight on another overnight train to Danang, where we catch a bus to Hoi An, central east Vietnam. Looking forward to doing some much needed laundering. It's becoming rather monotonous, wearing the same clothes day in and day out. Not only that, but as soon as you put something clean on, you step outside and you're already sweating in it. Ah well.

Unfortunately, I cannot upload any pics as there is no USB connection, not as common as in Cambodia, strangely enough. Hope everyone is well. Will update soon.

Well, it's been busy since leaving Sihanoukville and arriving in Phnom Penh and now Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Not a lot to see in Phnom Penh, loads of traffic, not a lot of charm and lots of traffic. That seems to be the norm. The highlight, if you can call it a highlight is the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields, both revealing the painful past of Cambodia. Tuol Sleng Museum is site of the former Security Prison 21 or S-21, the largest center of detention and torture in the country that saw 17,000 men, women and children taken and killed between 1975-1979. The compound itself, a former school, looks unobtrusive upon entering. A closer look inside and around the courtyard tells a different story. Before entering your are faced with the 14 graves of the final men and women found inside the prison. The outside of the building is enclosed in barbed wire and there are bars on all of the windows. Inside the buildings, single rooms have only a metal bedframe and shackles. A black and white photograph hangs on a single wall, revealing a victim that once occupied the room. On another floor there are large rooms with mugshots of all of the men, women and children that were registered in the prison and later executed in the killing fields, many of them children. The killing fields themselves are not what I expected. At first glance, there are large trees, green grass and a large pond lending an air of serenity to the area. It is the incredible monument (you'll have to turn sideways to see the pic) that catches your eye, a reminder of those that lived and died; skulls fill the the monument from floor to ceiling. It's quite an incredible sight and really brought me back to the reality of what has happened in the very place that I am standing. When walking further in, there are are areas with mass graves, bones and scattered teeth lie beneath one of the trees surrounded by decomposing clothes. Hard to believe that something so terrible as this has happened in my lifetime. It makes me truly thankful to be living the life that I do. Needless to say, I was anxious to leave Cambodia to see what Vietnam had to offer.

I am now on my second day in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). My god, the traffic is incredulous. Motorscooters come from every direction in mass droves. It takes great strength to work up the courage to cross the street when multiple vehicles are coming at you. It's getting a little easier though. Basically, if you wait for them, you'll never get across. The city itself is a nice change from the uncleanliness of Cambodia. Still garbage everywhere and people pee right on the side of the sidewalk?!, but at least they have flush toilets. What a bonus. Today, was outside Ho Chi Minh at the Mekong Delta, a tourist trap. A lot of travelling on boats; big boats and small boats, eating a really mediocre meal and looking at a bunch of merchandise. I did hold a snake though. Kind of neat, but probably wouldn't do it again.Tomorrow, we head to the CuChi Tunnels and will be walking around to see a little more of the city. Should be a bit more interesting. Leaving tomorrow on my first ever overnight train to Nha Trang. Sounds exciting to me but after 14 hours, I'm sure I'll be over it.

Well, currently in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. A beach-type atmosphere I didn't quite expect in Cambodia. Just to catch you up, an excerpt from my journal June 19, "Today, I sit aboard a public bus to Phnom Penh. The aroma of rubbish fills my nose and permeates my pores. It makes me feel ill. Outside, small houses on stilts, shacks really. Something we might use to put our garden tools in. And everywhere, garbage. My roommate, Sarah, poor thing, has succumb to the dreaded and unforgiving travellers diarrhea. She and I have been up all night. When we stop at the bus depot, Cambodian children bombard us at the door, "you want buy pineapple?" They follow you as you make your way to the everpresent squat toilets. Forget the pineapple though, there are also freshly grilled crickets and tarantulas (I ate a leg, couldn't do the body though), not to mention the deep-fried frog stuffed with crickets . . . oh the delights. Not good for the already present nausea. The bus trip continues, my life in the hands of the bus driver that passes rather precariously and dangerously close to oncoming traffic.

In the evening we arrive at our homestay in Takeo, Cambodia, a rural area outside Phnom Penh. Our dinner was absolutely amazing fresh spring rolls, BBQ pork, sauteed morning glory and chicken soup. Wasn't particularly fond of having my vegetables washed with pond water, but can't really complain. Makes me yearn for the comforts of home. Our rooms are mini saunas; stagnant air combined with sweat, no showers and a squat toilet. I came to Cambodia why?"

Things are now looking up though. Sihanoukville is quite nice. Had some beefed up cockroaches on steroids in our bathroom, Sarah calls it "the cockarazzi". All very exciting. Spent yesterday on the beach and took a boat trip out to a few islands to spend more time in the sun. The water is like a bathtub in some parts, hardly relief from the heat. Have I mentioned yet that there are dogs everywhere?! I'm not sure any of them even have owners? Tomorrow, we head for one more day on the beach. Then, we're off to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Looking forward to a change of scenery.

Sorry, no pics this time. Will update when I'm at a faster computer. It's painful waiting for pages to upload!

Well, it's been a busy few days since leaving Bangkok. My roommate is wickedly hilarious and the rest of the group is an interesting mix of young and old, quirky and serious. The drive to the Thai-Cambodia border was long and extremely bumpy, my tailbone is still paying for it today. We were attacked by children trying to sell postcards, fans, flutes, books . . . you name it, they tried to sell it. Some of them even start to cry when you don't want to buy anything. The town of Poipet across the Cambodian border was a mess of garbage, broken down shacks and a haze of orange dirt spread across all there was to see. Also, our first experience with the squat toilet . . . there is definitely a technique to using the squat toilet. I think my thigh muscles will likely become super developed while I'm here. Upon reaching Siem Reap, there wasn't a significant change in the economy, shacks line the streets, the odd one with a TV surrounded by children. All very eye-opening. On our first day in Siem Reap, we arose at 0440 in the morning to capture the sun rising above the mighty Angkor Wat, the largest religious building in the world. The temples of Angkor were built by god kings in the 12th century to serve as a palace to the king. Walking among temples built so long ago was a surreal experience. They were absolutely amazing and it's incredible to think of the time that has gone into creating these works of architectural art. We spent the day traveling among many of the temples within the Angkor Wat complex, including the famed location for the filming of Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones. Headed out for a traditional Cambodian meal afterward, which basically involved rice and stirfry. The following day, we left for the floating village of Tonle Sap. Quite interesting, people living in substandard shacks on the lake. Children living in the village come up beside your boat in their own boats trying to sell you bananas and soda. It was sad. The water was disgusting, garbage floating in it everywhere, yet children were still brushing their teeth with and swimming and bathing in it. It was an eye-opening experience. Following this experience, our heart strings were pulled even tighter when we visited a local orphanage. Upon returning to Siem Reap, a group of us decided to partake in a local massage, performed by the blind, to clear our heads of the day. Tremendously relaxing and very cheap $4US/h, but serves to help them make a living. The girl that did mine must have been about 12 years old. And now here I sit at this incredibly slow computer. Tomorrow we are off to Kompong Chom to see some more temples and then visit a local family in Takeo, becoming involved in preparing and eating a meal and spending the evening with. Should be interesting.

Well, Day 3 in Bangkok was better, perhaps because I know that I will be leaving soon. The tuk tuk drivers are crazy, speeding in and out of traffic, leaving you wondering, are there actually rules on the road? They are also not the most pleasant people to do business with however, my bargaining skills are getting better, one guy tried to tell me that one of the places I was going to was closed. I knew it wasn't, but he insisted. I said "look, we either go to Wat Pho or I find another driver to take me there." And suddenly, it was open. Wat Pho was incredible. Saw the golden 46m long 14m tall golden reclining buddha. Quite a site. The feet of the buddha are made up of ornate patterns of mother of pearl inlay. Spent a quiet night in. Trekked to my new hotel today after throwing a good 15 lbs of extra stuff that would eventually have broken my back. I was cutthroat. It was hard, but my back will thank me for it. The other picture is another Wat in the middle of the city. The joining point hotel is so much nicer than my last one. I actually look forward to being in my room. Meeting up with the group tonight before heading off to Cambodia tomorrow. Looking forward to it!

Well, I have made it. At 0945 this morning I was sitting outside my hotel room drinking a mai tai, 1245 Sydney time so didn't feel too bad. Bangkok is crazy busy. There are street vendors everywhere and everyone is trying to make a buck. "where you go?" seems to be the predominant saying. Walked around Khao San Road today, just masses of people selling everything you could ever want or need. Hopped into a tuk tuk to see a few sites, but unfortunatetly my camera went on the fritz again, as in, it no longer works. So . . . had to buy another camera, just what I wanted to do . . . can't travel without one though. Did I say it was hot. Dense, humid head so hot, that you drip sweat permanently. Definitely will be investing in some thai fisherman pants. Tomorrow, I will be attempting more sight-seeing and then meeting up with my group the following day. So far, so good. Can't say I care for Bangkok, lot of concrete and enormous apartment complexes everywhere. Will talk soon and hopefully upload pics from my new camera.

Well, here I sit at Sydney airport, boring. It's so quiet at this time of the night. Feels like it should be 0300 but it's only 1945. Sad to say goodbye. Ended up switching backpacks at the last minute. As I have said before, packing was an absolute nightmare. Another girl from Calgary had another pack so I'll be using hers for my trip and meeting up with her again in Calgary. This wasy, I can fit way more stuff . . . just what I need. Gate checkin in 45 minutes. Might kill some time with a coffee. Talk soon.

Well, I am off to Thailand in approximately 7 hours. Little nervous about flying into Bangkok on my own, but there's certainly no turning back now. For the past 6 weeks I have been working hard at the gym to lose the holiday quiches, fast food and beer that have managed to adhere to by belly, thighs and butt from my trip to New Zealand . . . yes, I actually gained about 8 lbs. But alas, I can now do up my jeans and feel reasonably comfortable. All of this hard work, only to head out on another holiday. Mixed feelings about leaving Sydney. Have made some really great friends here. Two have already left to work in other parts of Australia. Others are still plugging away here. Just finally growing accustomed to living in Sydney . . . I might even go so far as to say that I was adjusting to the nursing? . . . sort of. But, this chapter has ended and I look forward to the new experiences that the next chapter will bring. Stay tuned . . .