Back to basics

I can tell you one single thing about Cambodia and that's that Angelina Jolie (Pitt) got her son Maddox here. If you'd asked me three days ago what the capital was I couldn't tell you. And if it wasn't for the fact that I'd got to Cambodia on a bus from Vietnam I wouldn't even be able to show you it on the map. (Okay, even though I did get here on a bus from Vietnam I'd probably *still* have difficulties showing you on a map.) So the last few days have been a real education for me.

So yeah - there we were on a small, cramped bus from Ho Chi Minh City to the border. It took about 2 hours to get to the border, and then about 3 hours to get across it. Eve had outstayed her Vietnam visa, which we were told wouldn't be a problem. Sure, it was no problem for the men at the border - they saw it as the perfect opportunity to rip her off, and demanded more dollars "for drinks." (See above - Duncan demonstrating the drinking of a Cambodian beer, much like the ones we assume the border guards purchased with Eve's money.)

From the off, Cambodia feels different. We drove through countryside for miles passing nothing, except a few little houses on stilts and kids lassoing cows in fields. It reminded me straight away of Africa. The rawness. The nothingness. The bare beauty.



Another 3 hours and we were in the capital - Phnom Penh. So yeah, I now know that this is what it's called. I still don't know how it's pronounced. My blood ran cold on arrival. I'd had a quick read of the LP and magpied that there's no taxis in Cambodia. Only motorbikes. So I'd gone a bit mute, bricking the thought of getting on the back of one of the mopeds at night with my massive rucksack. But a barrage of arrow prayers rustled up an amazing luxury tuk tuk which we rode in authentic style through the city to the dark and shady lakeside, the backpacker's choice.

Checked in to a wildly basic guesthouse. No cable TV with Star Movies here guys. In fact, no clean sheets (this is clearly it - I've escaped without scabies for far too long) or shower here - just a bucket of cold water to wash with. I love it. We're taking it back to basics, just like Xtina. Keeping it real, just like Jodie Marsh. That's right.