After Siem Reap we decided to take another water commute down the Tonle Sap River to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

We arrived in the afternoon and settled into a wonderful little hotel Kelly found called The Pavillion. The pool was a nice touch. We went out later to the Phenom Penh branch of the Foreign Correspondants Club for drinks. The next day we hit the market and just boppped around town.

On our arrival into Phnom Penh the boat was deluged by tuk-tuk drivers. One guy spoke with such a perfect Australian accent that we couldn't resist. Jack became our translator, tour guide, and all around protector. One night he took Helen and me to a boxing match. It wasn't like the Thai fights in the Lumpini Ring that are geared not so much for locals but more for tourists. This fight was purely local. We sloshed through the rain to get to the converted warehouse that had a ring and wooden bleachers. Looking around we both realized we were the only westerners there. Helen was one of only 3 or 4 woman. The bands that accompany these brutal fights always play funeral music and is not uncommon that it is appropriate. The fighters pray to the North, South, East and West before they start a bout. A really top notch fighter will earn about $60 per month. By the way, the guy with all the mobile phones strapped to the board is a bookie, Jack is the guy in the picture with Helen, the stuff in the bottle with the animal skull is the original Red Bull and it makes the euro-american stuff taste like Evian.