Hey there, I wanted to catch you guys up to where I am at in my trip. Currently I am staying with some thai friends in Chantiburi, Thailand enjoying their hospitality and see how thai's actually live. After here I head to islands for some scuba diving lessons. Then if I have time to Krabi area to soak in my skin cancer. After that I hope to fly to see Grant Knisely (a good college buddy) in Singapore. Finally off to last stage of my trip in Africa (April 16). Head back to Colorado for my buddy Tony C. wedding the 1st of August and after that I will reevaluate where I want to go for last part of my little adventure.
Figure I enlighten you with few stories from Cambodia:

Transportation:
I decided to travel the true local way in Cambodia. First I took the taxi from Kampot (beach) to Phen Phem. The taxi is Toyota Camry which been jacked up with extra strong springs and shocks. A full taxi is 8 people!!! including the driver. 4 in the front 4 in the back. The driver literally sit on one of his customers. After that tight experience two weeks later I took a truck taxi from Battangbang to Pailin (old Pol Pot strong hold). In one Toyota Tacoma we fitted 28 people on the outside of the truck and 8 inside the truck. People were hang off every where as we did a 4 hour journey over some worst roads I seen. To top it off it poured for last 1/2 hour and we all had to hold onto this old tarp as thunderstorm raged. I never been so dusty and cramped at one time. The local could not get over it that westerner was riding with them. Every where we went people would scream 'Hello' at me (the only English everyone seems to know). It fun trip and in Pailin I one only tourist far as I saw. People were pretty surprised to see me.

The fun of being a foreigner:
Where ever you go at least in SE ASia as a foreigner there is an unofficial tax. Everywhere you go people charge you more. Sometimes it just little and others if they think they can get away with it, it 5x more expensive. It is one thing to put up with this for a week or two and then go home, but when it becomes a daily part life it gets pretty frustrating and tiring (constantly try make sure you not being taken takes resource and energy). I guess this first time I have ever been discriminated. What also adds complexity is you might be getting ripped off, but if make too big of deal about it you can cause them feel like they are losing face. If that happens WAtch OUT! I will be happy one day when get back to states and have only one price, even though that might be a rip off.
A fun note: I shaved off my sideburns. I started to think about it and realize I had them for over a decade; so I went for a change.

Sorry That I can not rotate this for you. I just throw this in so you can see the maze like qualities these temple sights have.




The forest in some temples literally is taking over. This is temple alot of tomb raider was shot.

Old man praying at one many Buddha statues in one court yards in Ankow wat

Ankor wat through main entrance. Pretty amazing temple. (top is hot air bloon over the outer wall)

There are few thousand of these smiling buddha faces through out the temples sights. There is one whole temple dedicated to smile faces and four entry ways. Know one really know why the builder choose to use this image.

Phen Pen, Cambodia Park in downtown. This place was covered with semi-wild monkeys, but none would wonder into the hot sun for this pix.




Kratie, cambodia

Ankwat, cambodia (this is mother of temples sight)

Kratie, Cambodia (NE)

Kampot, CAmbodia

So what the piles of white stuff? Salt. There must been 12km of salt farms right up to ocean.

Kep, Cambodia This small coastal town 15km from Vietnam is really unspoiled. However, from years of war an neglect the reefs of Cambodia are pretty much destroyed.

Kampot, Cambodia The next day a few of us at hotel climbed the railroad bridge to tip top and jumped off. It was a blast. I should get a e-mail with a picture of me jumping from some dutch guys who were doing back flips off it. When I get picture I post it.

I just thought this statue is hilarous. I guess they just wanted to be accuret. But I thought the large mane made it clear to me that it was/is a male lion.

Hey guys. I am right now in Kampot, Cambodia. A little town on the river 14 km from the beach and maybe 50km from Vietnam. In true small town style all but main streets are dirt and there really is nothing here except a market and few local shops and restruants.
It is starting to get pretty hot here and even at night it is starting to not cool down. Luckly the place i am staying at is on the river and 20 feet from my room I can just jump in the river. Only draw back is its 3km outside of town andthe food is expensive, but delicious.
I plan to stay here for 2 or 3 days then back to Phen Phem to get few extra pages put into my passport, because I just realize I do not have enough to get back into Thailand. It would been nice to realize that when I was there a week ago.
Just a note: If want to go to nice beach that has not grown up yet go to Shinikville. The lodging and food are cheap and it's really nice place. The roads to most beaches are still dirt and sand and doesn;t take much to walk to your own piece of paridase. The only draw back is the reef around the area is almost completely killed from the years of war; since this was a pol pot strong hold 10 to 15 years ago. Cambodia is still pretty far behind the SE ASia curb, so everyone should get here in the next 5 years before it turns into another Thailand.

Hey guys! I am sorry for the long time between my blogs. I have had real hard time accessing blogger for last two weeks. I am not sure if it was down or the computers I was using were not set up for it.

Anyways, I am right now in Sihanoukville, cambodia. A small beach community that I am told is like Thailand 10 years ago. I am actually staying 50 meter of the beach in a FREE guesthouse. Run by some young expates.
Cambodia is still the wild west for sure. There are little to no rules and you strongly encourage never to go off the main roads or trails, because of all the unexploded mines and bombs from the war that only ended 10 years ago.
I have 6 weeks left in Asia and I just bought my ticket to Africa. So I will be in Africa by the 17th of April and a new chapter of my trip will begin.

If can zoom into old lady smoking. I really wish I had high power zoom lens. That way I could take picture from really far away, but up close with out bothering people. this lady has great face. This on the Mekong River in Phen Phem, Cambodia




Everything done by motocycle. He is headed to morning market to sell little pork.










These kids demand I take their picture. I wish I caught back end of this picture as the one who looks like he getting kissed freaked out. (Phem Phen, Cambodia)


A cop in Siagon. He really happy I took this picture. but he did agree before hand. Seems the same uniform as in the 60's







Da Lat, Vietnam Supposible small quiet town in highlands in Vietnam according to lonely planet?

Nam Tham, Vietnam (Notice the garbage lady. Rare beuty and little reality