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.