If anyone ever wanted to find the best sales people in the world, Cambodians are strong candidates. We were welcomed by a barage of smiling men excitedly jumping up and down and shoving each other around holding signs for the guest houses. We hadn't even made it out of the building and could just glimpse them through the doors. The reaction when you gave them a wave was higher jumping and some of them almost running right through the doors before realizing you were just saying hello.

Once on the streets, realizing that you are now settled in a guest house, they are sure you MUST need a moto motorcycle with driver. Every 30 seconds - and this is probably underestimating - someone is saying "Moto, lady? Where you go? What about tomorrow? Next day?"

They never give up. They have an answer for everything, and the same people will ask you seven days in a row every time they see you. They are quick witted, speak very good English, and actually laugh at themselves. They know that your most common statement of the day has been, "No, thank you," but they appreciate the smile!

If you do take a moto, you then get the miscellaneous sellers. They sound something like this.

"Film, lady?

No, I have.

Camera, lady?

No, I have.

Battery, lady?

No, I have everything!

Postcard, lady?

No, I have no friends.

You have mother?

She doesn't like me.

You have boyfriend?

No, do you sell those?"

They have an answer for everything and I have to give them a lot of credit because they are very good. People attempt to buy from them thinking this will get them to stop, but they just tell you to buy two "for your friends, for your family, or in case you lose the first ones."

Their sales ability was not the only reason that I found the Cambodian people so charming. They were extremely friendly outside of the selling. The people at my guest house took very good care of me when I found myself restricted to bed. Their younger brother even drove me around and accompanied me to the sites as I became a "regular" at the guest house.

The Cambodian people are huge fans of the English language. They see it as their way of overcoming a lot of the problems created by their past, so there was rarely a shortage of good quality local company. I knew little about the war in Cambodia and the subsequent genocide. I have read a lot about it while here. It was really strange to meet people who had lost family and friends to the Khmer Rouge, to have them take you to visit the sites recognizing what happened and despite it, remaining friendly and positive!

My last stop in Cambodia was Sihanoukville. I went there after Angkor and the Killing Fields, in search of some time in a bungalow on a beach until meeting my friend, Emma, for the next leg of my travels. My time in Sihanokville was cut short, though, when I could no longer handle the extra company in my bungalow!

There was an unidentified creature living in the bathroom which appeared to be a cross between a spider and a lizard, a very large red spider living behind the toilet giving the term "stage fright" a whole new meaning, several cochroaches, a few beetles, something that tried to eat my soap and a lizard which chased me around! I needed some solo sleep time so I left for Thailand.

And just in time because two days later, riots broke out between the Thais and the Cambodians. Some Thai actress claimed that Cambodia had stolen Angkor. This statement is about the worst thing anyone could say, even worse than calling a Canadian an American or a Kiwi an Aussie!

I found myself on one of the most beautiful islands in a quaint little hut right on the water. I really mean on the water - at times it was hard to distinguish where the hut ended and the sea began. On my last day, I woke up to a wave crashing over my head! When I tried to leave the bungalow, it took some time to move the rocks that had washed up in front of the door, and when I got out to my deck, wave number two came crashing over my head.

I wasn't washed away, however. I made it back to get Emma at the airport. I was hoping that Bangkok wouldn't be too much of a culture shock for her, but when our bus on the way from the airport was rammed by another bus (intentionally), all hopes were dashed. I assured her that it didn't happen all the time. Let's face it, a first impression is a first impression.

We made our way out of Bangkok quickly and had a nice overnight bus ride. No buses rammed us on the way, and it gave us some quality time together. I am happy to report I am the current Pringle-eating champion - start with one pringle and keep increasing. You must get the entire chip(s) in your mouth to move on to two, three, etc.

The sun has set, time for a fish BBQ.

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