Had the hotel bus take me to Doha airport at 23:00 I had a voucher to cover me for lunch and dinner and they wanted me to pay for the breakfast as well. Told the guy how can I have breakfast when I arrived after midday? Did not get any sleep wanted to keep the sleep for the plane. Eventually got on to the plane a bus ride away and luckily there was a spare seat between me and a guy. I was a sleep before the flight took off and managed a good 6 hours needed it.

Arrived in Madrid at 07:00 good to get off on an air bridge most of the trip has been bused off. There is one big hike to go through passport control and then catch a train to collect our bags. Don’t you hate it when your bag comes off the plane last? Well I qualified for that honour today. I took the train from the airport to Atocha Madrid main train station where I caught the 09:25 train to Alicante. Got there before midday and took a taxi to my place in La Marina. The ride cost 42 euros and I gave the driver a 50 euro note he was going to his car to give me the change as I turned my water on by my boundary wall, turned around and he buggered off I yelled out to him and he kept driving down the road, arse hole.

Left on November the 30^th and back 12^th March. 23C and sunny day and I did 5 loads of washing and got it all dry. Bag put away and don’t want to see it for a while.

The blog was mainly for my own record which I will look over at times in the future. I am glad a lot of people enjoyed reading them, looking at the photos, videos and the comments which I received. It would be great if this inspires my friends to do some similar travels in the future. Be interesting to hear from you if you would like or going to do it, a trip similar to our one? Remember we only live once and if you have your health fit and able make the most of your remaining life. Thank you.

Left the hotel at midday for 15:35 flight, taxi took us to the airport it is chaos driving in Phnom Penh. The roads should be better than what they are the Prime Minister has been in power for so long and even got out voted at one stage but stayed on refusing to relinquish the role. Apparently, the UK is the 2^nd largest contributor to the economy after the USA. If there is aid involved, I am sure it is going into the corrupt PM and his family pockets. Waiting at the airport my favourite nation citizen pushed his trolley right in to the back of my legs not watching what he was doing. I swung around and kung fu kicked his bags and told him watch the hell where you are going. He apologised many times and picked his bags up and put them back on to the trolley.

Was a short flight under an hour to Bangkok got through immigration picked up the bags and eventually got into a taxi a very long queue. Reached Penny’s hotel 50 minutes later. Was there for 3 hours we had some dinner and I showered and dressed for the flight. I said my good byes to Penny we have practically been together 24/7 since end of November. She has been a great gutsy lady to travel with and if it was not for her, I would not be doing these travels, thank you Penny. Penny intended to stay on in Thailand for over 3 weeks, but she has to fly back to London on Friday as she just received a letter from the specialist at her hospital requiring her back ASAP for month long treatment. It should begin next Monday.

Bangkok airport is very busy at 22:00 eventually checked in and got through passport control and got to our gate for the 01:20 flight, after a while our flight details disappeared off the board, then I could see people walking so I checked the indicator board and our flight had been changed so off I went and queued with everyone else. Lots of Qatar ground staff were making their way through us and going downstairs to the boarding lounge and it seemed strange as we should have been boarding earlier. Then some one told us our flight will be delayed until 04:00 there were a few pissed off people and made it known, we were given a food voucher. Also told our onward flights would be held back for us, let’s hope so.

Got to Doha and we have all been put on later flights mine is now 15:30 arrived here at 08:00 been given a bit of misinformation. I spoke with a airport official and he took me up to the Qatar lounge as I needed to use the internet to check train and flights to Alicante. We arrive after 21:00 and there are no trains after that time and there is a flight at 23:30 but I asked Qatar to pay for it, No. Told there is a flight at 00:30 tomorrow and arrive at 07:30 which suites me so I am put into the 5 star hotel here in the transit area with meal vouchers. Had to wait 2 hours for the hotel bus to pick me up I told the manager at the hotel and he has given me a suite leave here in 8 hours time for the airport.

The resort boat took us to the main beach jetty at 09:15, I was hoping to speak with Ruz the manager but he was cleaning the pool I got the impression he did not want to speak with me. Not a problem he can read my review on booking.com. We left on the ferry at 10:00 and got about a kilometer or 2 in to our journey and warning sounds and lights came up on the skippers console. So he shut every thing down, another ferry came along sides us and as usual the Chinese scarpered off first and then yelled out for their bags. There were others who should have been put on there as they had flights to catch. No one has a nice word for the Chinese and even Penny who never slags any one off after our 7 weeks there does not like them either. We were told another boat would come out and it never did, the skipper managed to get the engines started and we limped back to port, I think we were over loaded and they do not do any maintenance on their engines. They dropped us off in the middle of know where and they did have their company bus to take us back into Shitville. Well the bus is not maintained either really struggled to go up hills, every thing was passing us. Into town got a tuk tuk to the bus depot and got on the 14:00 bus.

It was a mini van a new ford but these people insist that they cram every ones bags into the back where there is no dedicated space and what they cant get in put in to the van very cramped. We had the seats next to the driver got a great view. Shitville (Sihanoukville ) apparently use to be a lovely little town and then the Chinese moved in and built hotels and casinos for their people. Apparently there are alot of Chinese living permanently there and there is new buildings been built every where. I have never seen so much rubbish, plastics just piled up everywhere or just discarded it is an eye sore and no one appears to be tackling this major issue. Cambodia besides being a highly corrupt country it is also the filthiest I have seen in my travels. The distance is 227 km and we arrived there at 20:00 the traffic at times was crawling at 20 kmph this was due to thousands of trucks most over laden going up hill the road is only 2 lane and the over taking was completed on both sides of the trucks. Our driver had his indicator on all the time tick tick tick bloody annoying. The norm is to over take and the on coming traffic has to take measures so we don’t crash and he was on his mobile as well. We pass by 4 weddings all been held next to the roadside big marques loud music it must have been so dusty with all the traffic stirring it up. Arrived in Phnom Penh and got a tuk tuk to the hotel checked in and went out for some food and then chilled and slept.

Flying out this afternoon to Bangkok and then 8 hours later I fly back to Spain.

Had the usual breakfast nothing to get excited about, you can’t fuck up fresh fruit. Spent a couple of hours sorting out accommodation for Penny in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, she is going to do a 2 day 1 night in the jungle with elephants which she is looking forward too. Flights as well so cheap £35 return with a carry on ruck sack. Penny is flying back to London on the 15th now, plans changed.

Went down to the pool and chilled had a siesta as we did not get to bed until 02:00 and up at 07:00. The sun tan is coming along good. Got the 15:00 boat to the main beach, found a quiet spot and swam and sun bathed. The boat was to pick us up at 19:00 so went to Sara’s Resort for the calamari and chocolate brownie dessert which a lot of people rave about. Back in our chalet showered and time to chill need a good sleep tonight.

We leave here at 09:15 tomorrow and the ferry at 10:00 when we arrive at Shitville go to the bus station and bus up to Phnom Penh stay the night and a flight to Bangkok the next day. Going to be a long day.

Be positive about life and tell your partner you love them. We only have one chance at it, so make the most of it.

This morning we got the pairs canoe and fins and mask and paddled along the coast and found a small sandy beach parked up there and went snorkeling. I was similar to yesterdays dive not much visibility and slowly dying corals and debris. Paddled back to the resort and went for a swim in the pool and chilled on the loungers. At 15:00 we took the boat ride back to the main beach and headed to Sara’s Restaurant where we had lovely calamari done in bread crumbs and dipping sauce. After that headed to Lazy Beach a 25 minute walk, headed along the beach and dropped our gear down and in to the tropical clear warm waters we swam, what a way to relax and unwind. Along the beach amongst the trees is about 17 thatched chalet 2 bedrooms and one bar restaurant run by a British guy and his partner. People arriving on the main beach have a 25 minute walk through the jungle to reach the beach and their bags are bought over by this vehicle shown in my pictures. There is no internet but a great place to chill. We walked along the beach waiting for the sun to set. We both took alot of photos an ideal location to watch the sun go down. Then we headed to the restaurant and chilled in some hanging basket chairs having a drink. Then had spare pork ribs and salad, the best meal we have had on the island so far. We left after 20:00 and headed back to the main beach we had a head lights on and walked back through the jungle with all the stars out sparkling. Back on the main beach headed to Happy Bar and had dessert and asked the guy to get our boat from the resort to pick us up, this was not a scheduled trip and another couple had asked for it too at the same time, we gave the guy $10 and he was happy.

I booked my flight back to Spain leaving Bangkok on the 11th around 01:00 with Qatar, there were cheaper ones with Egypt Air, Air Europa and Aeroflot I read the reviews and they all failed miserably. Last full day tomorrow.

The dive boat come and picked us up at 10:00 we met the other 2 divers a young lady from Denmark and a guy who was not sociable at all. It was a 30 minute cruise to the first dive site we all got dressed in and dived down to 10 meters the visibility was not great 8 meters at the most. There were various types of corals but nothing startling as I was concerned. Just under an hour we reached surface got undressed and had some lunch. Moved to another location and it was 10 meters deep there again same visibility and I found it boring, same looking corals. Penny loved it and is happy so that counts. The PADI diver took some photos and videos which I paid $10 for them. We went back to the main beach Penny filled out her log book and we had a late lunch snack. We walked along the beach sure is a lovely place to relax and everyone there is chilled. We had a boat due at 19:00 to take us back to the resort. Had dinner at Happy Place on the beach it is dark just after 18:30. Trying to find our boat is difficult as it has no lights 20 minutes later we located the guy he had picked up new guest and he beached his boat 400 meters away. Good to be back in our bungalow showed and chill time.

After settling in we went down to the beach, the shells on the beach took Penny’s interest. There is canoes and snorkeling gear which we can use. Went into the water which was lovely but unfortunately as we walked out to the deeper water our feet sunk into half a meter of mud, not a full white sandy beach and the water was murky, this was not mentioned in any reviews. There were some hammocks strung above the water on posts and I chilled there for a while. I went up to the pool to check it out and a few people were in there they probably don’t like the beach. Spoke to a Swiss couple and due to a late flight they had to stay in Sihanoukville and the hotel they found was basically a whore house, noisy and they were glad to get out of there yesterday morning, they totally agreed with me that the place is a shit hole.

We prepared for dinner and wondered down to the restaurant 1 other couple there. We ordered drinks and gave the waitress our order. 6 chicken and 6 beef sate sticks as a starter and seafood platter for 2 for our main. Penny’s drink was not what she expected. Out come the seafood platter 8 small baby squid, 8 prawns various sizes, a piece of fish and a crab. Asked where the starters were and they arrived but all chicken no beef told them to change it to their annoyance. Had to ask where was the accompanying salads the sauces and plates were, that followed shortly. Told the girl that a starter should be bought out first and once we finished it bring out the main. I don’t think it sunk in! The squid and prawns were good the fish very tough and the crab bugger all meat inside it. The sate chicken and beef very tough. There was no finger bowls to wash our hands with after eating the seafood. I signed the bill and we walked away from there disappointed. For a place where we are paying very good money there is a lot of improvement which needs to be made. Dinning should be intimate with soft lighting not full glaring lights, the staff should be trained on dining etiquette and the quality of the meats and fish need to be improved as they are charging top dollar.

Up at 06:00 went out on to the balcony with my PC weather warm looking out to sea can’t see much as there are alot of trees. Looking down we have Cambodians living in a make shift house a tarpaulin with alot of rubble around it not a pretty site. can hear boats passing by on the water. Was speaking with the manager and he said the guys below us are the workers sucking sand a 100m away from us and the are placing more sand on the beach. I told him the beach frontage now had mud up to my calves and do they have divers to see what they are sucking up, no they don’t and it left him puzzled. I told him I have 5 years experience in dredging and with not much current he will have mud off his beach for a long time.

We caught the 11:00 boat into the main beach a 7 minute ride by boat. Found the Dive shop and we have booked for 2 dives tomorrow Penny has her PADI certs and I told them my diving experience and I will show them my AODC dive cert and they are happy with that just show them a copy tomorrow morning when they pick us up. We then headed over to Lazy Beach they said 1.5km and takes 20 minutes, Going a good pace took 30 minutes and longer than quoted. Walking through the jungle it was very pleasant one biggish hill to negotiate. Hit the beach and we surveyed it about 50 people on it and in the only bar. The water was lovely and crystal clear. Could see a series of huts back from the beach an ideal place to stay no aircon or hot water and no internet, We spent 3 hours there and headed back to the Dive Shop to confirm everything for tomorrow and pay for it . We then went and I had a coconut massage for an hour and Penny had a manicure and pedicure. Our boat was to pick us up at 19:00 and it is dark then, so we had an hour to kill, went bought a few things from the one and only shop on the beach left me $6 and the bars don’t take credit cards so we had a snack, the quality of the food and prices put this resort to shame. The boat picked us up and another couple, when we reached the beach at our resort the guy from the couple slipped getting off and he could not get up and the boat guy was struggling with him. Took all my strength to get him up he was over 280 pounds in weight, he thanked me very much.

Decided to have something to eat in the restaurant my burger was a mini one and fries not the best the burger meat was dry. Penny had a rice dish and she could not eat it. The staff are slack we put our order in and after 15 minutes Penny goes up to the guy and said enjoying watching the movie on his phone and the other 2 staff were watching as well. We got the water and Penny does not want to eat there any more so we will spend more time at the main beach and eat there.

Up at 05:00 taken out to the airport and checked in, the flight was 35 minutes arrived at Sihanoukville. The taxi was US$20 to the ferry jetty we found a German couple and we shared the taxi, the road was chaotic with lots of trucks just crawling, our taxi driver on his mobile passing vehicles on the inside of the road. The place is dirty crowded a shit hole. The driver dropped off the Germans at the ferry company office and I wanted to go to the jetty but he said go to their office and they bus you down to the jetty, there is no shops down there what Penny wanted, I did not trust him at all. Go to the office and they said go to the jetty I was pissed off, the lady said take a tuk tuk to the jetty the driver said it will be $3. We went over the hill and down to the jetty a journey of a 1000m, unfortunately I had to give the driver a $5 note and got change, as he was taking the piss and I told him very direct and basically he was an arse hole for over charging. The restaurant on the corner placed our bags there and had BLT and cheese and ham sandwich. Got on the boat at 11:30 and an hour later we were at the jetty. Got off and found our guy and his boat and we got in and across the bay to our hotel with its private beach.

Unpacked chilling catching up on the blogs/photos. Penny having a siesta and off for a swim at the beach soon.

Up at 04:00 and we left at 04:25 in the tuk tuk with our driver and guide. Went to get our entrance tickets and we were one of the first to queue up had our photos taken and they were super imposed on the tickets. Cost about US$37 each, then back into the tuk tuk and headed off to Angkor Wat still very dark and warm. Reached Angkor Wat and we followed our guide our tickets were checked and we made our way over the floating plastic bridge along paths and up and down steps and we came across the lake with Angkor Wat in the background, again it was still dark so we sat down and waited. As it was getting light everyone started taking photos, what annoyed me people started to walk around the other side of the lake right in the view of AW. The photos would have been great with out their bodies in the way. After the sun came up it hid behind clouds and we started our tour with our guide. He was good and knowledgeable gave us the history about AW as we followed him. At times want to take clear photos was impossible people taking selfies or in groups not considering other people wanting to take photos. The Chinese were the worst and stopped the flow of movement numerous times by blocking the walk ways. There is restoration work on going and this is a UNESCO Heritage site. Over the year of wars change of religion, trees with their roots 80% of the damage now and some destruction by the French in the 20th century. Our tuk tuk driver waited for us and then we moved on to Ba Yon temple, and 4 more after that. As the morning progressed the crowds increased mainly the Chinese arriving in bus loads, hate to be here in January when it is packed. But it was great to experience seeing AW with the sun coming up and how they built it is amazing, they use elephants alot. We came across monkeys playing and and grooming each other plus an area at one of the temples where the cicadas were so noisy which I have not experienced before. We got back to the hotel before midday and we showered Penny crashed and I have been catching up on my blog.

We have another early start 05:00 wake up tomorrow morning should be settled into our beach resort late afternoon. We have the WiFi there.

We did not leave the room until after 11:00 just chilled, I had done a bit of research where we are going next. Got the receptionist to get their tuk tuk driver to take us to a travel agent as they know travel better of their own country than I can research more on line. We are flying down to Sihanoukville tomorrow morning early a short flight and then get a ferry at 11:30 to the island of Koh Rong Samloem staying at a lovely resort. We have 5 nights there we both need to relax chill re charge the batteries after this amazing journey we have experienced. On the 9th back to the mainland and a bus up to Phnom Penh and a flight to Bangkok. I will either fly on back to Spain that night or fly out the next day.

Penny is going to stay on in Thailand for up to 2 weeks as she has nothing to rush home for. I am back in Aberdeen on the 17th & in the office on the 18th of this month. Get 5 days back in Spain to sort myself out and get ready for work.

Had a lovely lunch in town and watched the world go by and got a tuk tuk back to the hotel and had a swim in the large pool no one else in it, lovely. At 16:35 we were picked up and we are off to go hot air ballooning. We both have not done it before and Penny has a fear of this and is going for it. Good on her.

What a brilliant experience we drove into the jungle farm area and after 30 minutes we arrive in this large field where 2 balloons were being prepared. Once they were fully inflated we joined our English pilot 12 others in the basket and off we went. I would highly recommend you to experience this in a warm climate. We were up to 200m above the ground and we were given big bag of sweeties to drop done to the kids. We passed over 2 old temples hidden by jungle, then a crocodile farm where we spotted the crocs laying in numbers by the pool and over an army base by then we were meters above their building roofs and not long later we landed smoothly in a paddock. There was the ground team which packed the 2 balloons and equipment into truck and we headed back into town in a minibus. We all got dropped off at the Night Market and had some dinner and headed back to the hotel. Did not manage to get to bed until after midnight and have to be up at 04:00 to go to Angkor Wat and watch the sun rise.