Sihanoukville

We are now in Sihanoukville. We wanted to come past here for the beach and because we wanted to try teach some of the many kids we saw on the beach when we were here a year ago. When we drove into Sihanoukville, we couldn't believe the difference 11 months could make. It was obviously much cleaner and prosperous than before. Many new buildings had gone up including some very nice hotels. The beach has been cleaned up tremendously. Last year we wouldn't swim there, but now we do. Last year the footpath along the beach was just a bunch of rice sacks filled with sand, now it is a proper tiled footpath running along much of the beach with nice restaurants lining it.

Last year, many restaurants were openly selling marijuana laced meals and drinks on their menus. This year, all that has been cleaned up and, while still available, not nearly as evident as before. (We only saw one place which still has the "plus $1 for happy" sign still up).

Another really good thing is that the children for the most part have been cleared off the beach and now attend school. There has been an initiative by the local government and an NGO to give free quality education to the children in this area. There are still a few children selling fireworks and bracelets on the beach at nights, but it is rare to see any during school time. This is great to see, though it did leave us with a little more free time than we had anticipated. There is a Christian orphanage here. It is sponsored by a US church. It has tremendous facilities having access to  funding from generous doners back in the states. I wish our kids in Siem Reap could have access to similar resources. In any case, our help is not needed there.

We have been relaxing and enjoying the fresh seafood on offer here. Every evening we walk to the beach and have a $3 seafood BBQ. Then for the next few hours we are treated to a non-stop fireworks show as all along the beach locals and tourists shoot coloured fireworks to explode above the water.

One of the kid selling fireworks is in the background playing games on Nicole's phone. His fireworks are on the seat next to him.

During the day we can sit out at the beach and go swimming or get massages, manicures, pedicures, or just browse the net and talk to friends on our Google phones.

Nicole getting her legs done.

Stan answering some emails.

Hamburgers for lunch.