i have the worst luck ever! i didn't pull any money out of the ATM in KL because we were only staying for one night and i didn't want to have a ton of ringet (that is what they call their money) and of course i didn't have any US money on me because it has all been exchaged! the cambodian visa is 20 american dollars. and i knew this. as the flight landed we all went into the terminal and filled out our visa forms and jumped in line. on the wall behind them was a sign that said "cambodia prefers visa" how exciting for me, i do have my bank card that is a visa! well they lie because they do not take visa...cash only. plus nobody could understand what i was saying, so big lanugage barrier. that wasn't the hard part...the stern gentleman behind the desk wouldn't give me my passport until i obviously paid for my visa and i was told that a line a little farther away took visa. so i got in it realizing that i was the only person with no passport, but i couldn't get my passport until i paid for the visa...so i get up to the counter and explained myself to two men who spoke extremely broken english. they told me that i couldn't pay with plastic and i needed to sit for a minute. well by this time, i was getting a little scared (i dont mind saying that i almost cried) the group came together for me and pulled enough money for me to get my visa! AND no tears! HA :)

we are wisked away in our private van to our guesthouse called "the villa" it is owned by an aulstrailan couple, fiona and anthony. the rooms are big, the showers are hot and the beds are comfy! we got to go out late to ta phrom temple and have a look around and then watch the sunset while drinking wine and eating cheese and olives! it was so amazing! then next day we got up early to go exploring again, we did about 3 smaller temples, and then back to the villla for lunch. fiona and anthony have connections with other hotels around and we were able to get pool passes at this really luxurious hotel. they had an infinity pool and the water was just right! we swam all day and i am so dark now! dinner that night was a dinner/show deal and it was pretty cool. it was buffett stlye and the dancing looked a little like thai dancing.

today we got up around 8:15 and got to the temples at 9-ish and rode elephants! payne and i were on elephant #2 and it was really neat. at first i was scared becasue you are really high up but the elephants are so sturdy that once you get going the only thing you can think about is "how many people can say they have ridden an elephant through temples!" we walked over victory bridge and along this dirt path to the bayon temple. it is famous for all the faces carved into it. oh, and the temple ta phrom was where they filmed the first tomb raider and indiana jones! bayon was pretty sweet, of course tons of pictures! and then we went for lunch.

we sat under a tree in front of ankor wat, the largest religous building in the world. now you havae to understand something about cambodia. they thrive off of visitors coming and blowing a ton of money on nik-naks...so when the van pulls up to a temple, it gets swarmed by little kids saying "lady, you buy from me!" and they are sooooooooooo adorable and sweet and you really dont want to say no, but the second you give in all of them expect you to buy from them too. today however, our feelings changed about feeling bad for them. payne and dave had to hide in the van to get away from the little girls and had pursched some hats to make them sort of go away. as they (the girls selling things) saw that we girls were walking to the van, of course they went after us. well you learn quickly to grow a thick skin and say "no thank you" and just walk away. plus by this time, we were sick of it so when we were all in the van and still not making eye contact, trisha pulls the curtian so that we dont have to look at them and one of the girls mouthed "f**k you" and then another girl flicked us off! we all busted out laughing. so no longer do we feel bad for saying "NO!"

this time tomorrow i should be on my way to vietnam via bus and i will continue from there! i miss everyone and i can't wait to come home :)