Wednesday 18th October

Our first experience of Phnom Penh was wet after heavy overnight roads flooded some roads. The atmosphere was hot and steamy as we looked out on the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers from our hotel the Star Royal. First job was to get Vietnam visas so Tim walked about 2 miles through town to the embassy taking in the sights (and smells - reminded me of Africa). After doing the paperwork he was hailed by two Australians on the same Ankhor Trail trip who were passing in a tuk-tuk (trailer with 4 seats towed by a moped) and headed with them to a bar near the hotel. Tracy joined us and we wiled away the afternoon with beer, food and watching the world go by the waterfront.



The traffic in the city is pretty crazy to the uninitiated with a plethora of mopeds and tuk-tuks mingling with the cyclists, cars and trucks. However speeds are low and everyone seems to miss one another and get around tourists crossing the road. Seeing a road junction where noone stops is impressive. They just seem to weave around one another.