I see you guys are in Thailand, so I guess you are going to heading to Cambodia in the near future. You should love it. Someone decribed Cambodia as like "being on drugs all the time, which is sort of true.

Here are a few interesting thing about Cambodian culture:  

You are in a poor town. You go to the market. There among the meat and herbs you see a silver merchants. Cambodian's don't use banks. Instead they buy silver etc. and trade up everytime they have more money saved. Once they have enough for a big ticket item, a moto, an ox etc. The sell their silver.

The current Prime minister was a general in the Khmer Rouge. Auto genocide a weird thing. When you visit the killing fields you will see what I mean; hire a guide. They all have personal stories. The trail of ex-leaders of the khmer rouge just started before xmas 2005. A little late huh? Hopefullythe killing fields hasn't changed too much, I believe it was sold to a japenese company. Short sighted Cambodian government policy again.

Hashish is a common ingredient in Khmer cooking.

Corruption is rife, but can you blame them?  A cop tried to sell me his badge. Others tried to fine me when on motos. There are lots of stories. Tall to any you meet from NGO's working there.

Visit the musical doctor in Siem reap, he runs the very good hospital there. Ask around. I think he performs on wednesday? 

 Cambodians are VERY superstitious.

There are quite alot of Khmer bloggers!! http://www.cambodiablogger.com/

http://www.technorati.com/search/cambodia 

Anyway before you go read this website to get the up-to-date lowdown on border crossings www.talesofasia.com. And try to stay in 100% Khmer owned accomadation.

I'll be back in Asia in 3 days, great :-) 

Go nÉirí an bhothar leat.

 Pity you missed the busker festival in ChCh. It was mucho fun!  The city walks are good & free! , sights include  monument to the womens movement, NZ was first country where women got the vote,  and  Rutherfords Den is interesting if you are into science. (he split the atom). I also like the Huge oak tree, grown from aa Acorn sent back by a soldier during WW I, he died, but his tree still grows on the banks of Avon river, ChCh, NZ.
Takes a couple of hours + stops along the way. 

Pity CHCH  police station is so ulgy!! 

Lee, since you are a big nerd (like me) you might be interested to note that Melbourne museum has one of the  oldest surviving  computers in the world. Bring your punchcards :-) It was the fourth computer ever created.

AU$6 to the Museum. 

Justin www.withoutdirection.org 

Kayaking in Doubtful sounds was my best value activity in New Zealand. 2 days= $300. You get to Kayak under waterfalls, sleep in a rain forrest, and you have Doubtful pretty much to yourselves. Well you, the seals and the dolphins..

 http://www.fiordlandseakayak.co.nz/guided_fiords_doubtful.html

Tell them I sent you!

Justin

 www.withoutdirection.org