So we left that hostel and walked down the main backpackers street, trying to find a place to stay and feeling somewhat like Mary and Joseph with all the refusals we got!
 Finally we gave up and sat down to get coffee. As I drank the best coffee I'd ever tasted, my spirits lifted and I hit the road again looking for a place to stay. We found a place, at least 6 flights of stair up, and settled in to the spacious dorm room- with air con! Luxury!!!

Although our time in Saigon started so badly, things soon got a lot better. 
We spent some time exploring our surroundings and drinking a lot of coffee. Unfortunately I've become the caffeine addict I once was yet again, but it's so good here I can't resist. 
One of the more interesting things was a visit to the tunnels near Saigon. This is one of the places where the Vietnamese Army hid and fought from during the war with America. It was so interesting to see how these people, who are naturally very small in their build used that to their advantage. The entrance to the tunnels was extremely tiny, and hidden so well. The biggest shock was the video at the end of our trip, it was so obviously filled with propaganda supporting the communist way and a great attempt at brainwashing us all. I was very glad that there were no Americans in our group as it was more than a little anti American. We followed the life of a nine year old girl who fought against 'the brutal killing men from america'... In her life she helped during the night, baiting the Americans to come closer to the rest of the army under the cover of darkness, during the day she farmed with the other children.   "A rifle in one hand a plough in the other"   
Very interesting indeed. It was almost as though that past of Vietnam is trapped in time and full of unforgiving. 

I've started go become a more active member of couchsurfing.org which led me to be able to arrange a free guided tour of the city with a student who is studying tourism at university. He was great fun and took us around for a couple of hours leaving us with a group of his girlfriends with whom we hung out, got drinks and played the most popular game in Vietnam. The game involves playing keepup with something that resembles a shuttle cock. You can use any part of your body, the one rule is DON'T LET IT DROP!!! we managed to gather quite a crowd of amazed  and amused locals as we played unsuccessfully for about 30 minutes...imagine, White girls playing sport! 

We left Saigon feeling a greater love for the place than when we began and I would love to visit again, but maybe this time not arrive at 4am!

We left up the Delta Mekong and took a tour with a fantastic group of people. Including 2 awesome Aussies, one wonderful American and 2 class Canadians. There was also a family on the trip who were just fantastic. Back in Canada they're farmers for 6 months of the year and the remainder of their time is spent travelling. The kids are Amazing! So well travelled and so very clever. Of course being with them made me once again yearn for a family of my own, kids to show the world to and a partner to have all of that excitement with! Well one day!

We arrived in Phnom Penh very late at night after a bit of a hold up on the border as one of our group had  overstayed in Vietnam. We, Cat, Kate, Phillip and I   stayed at the first place we came to which had one bed and a thin mattress on the floor..oh joy!

The next night we went to look for a hostel and upon arrival we found that the week before it had been pulled down! In its place leaving a space that opened onto the lake at the bottom of an alley of hostels.  Phillip, one of the Canadians, was still with us so we  all got a room together at another hostel which was clean enough, despite the strange stains on the wall, which meant we were paying next to nothing for a night.

We soon made friends with many of the local tuk tuk drivers who had made our area into a place to chill, drink and watch the sun set beautifully over the lake. 

Being taken under the wing of Sam a tuk tuk driver and Phil the hostel manager we experienced a Cambodian's Cambodia. We went fishing at a holiday spot for the locals, we were advised on where to go and what to see and we borrowed bikes to explore our surroundings.
Phil explained that all buildings in that area are going to be bulldozed to the ground within the next few months as they're redeveloping. Unfortunately the redevelopment consists of filling in the lake, and making a massive highway. I feel extreme lucky that we happened upon this hostel and all of these amazing people before this place no longer exists and these people are redistributed all over the city like cattle. 
 
I was so sad to leave Phnom Penh, and all of the friends we made but as much as I hate to admit it, time is pressing and we've still got so much to do. 

At this point I must mention that Cambodia has become my new favourite place in the world.

We then came to Siem Riep and checked into a beautiful, spacious room with a fantastic balcony.
Obviously we have visited Ankgor Wat and a great many other temples, each as fantastic as the last. Sunrise and sunset with a background of 1500 year old temples is something everyone should experience. I completely understand why it's one of the seven man made wonders. 
Yesterday Phillip, who made the trip with us "borrowed" a motorbike and we spent the day burning around the city, discovering places we never would have known about otherwise and relaxing in the shade. An absolutely amazing day, but 3 on a bike is pretty snug!
Cat and I are leaving for 4000 islands in Laos tomorrow, I'm very sad to leave Cambodia and the people here, I must return.