Two weeks overdue but better late than never, at last my blog begins. In any case, hindsight is quite a useful thing to have when writing this part, since my Cambodian experience grew on me over my two weeks there, so that in the end it was difficult to leave.

I think it's always hard to jump directly into a culture so different from one's own, rather than making one's way gradually via other less challenging countries such as Thailand or Vietnam. The heat, the traffic, the shouting geckos, the unfamiliar toilet arrangements, the dusty shop fronts, broken footpaths, the ubiquitous rubbish, the difficulties of crossing the road - all of these you no longer notice by the end of a week (with the exception, perhaps, of the heat), but all are strange and new for the first while.

On top of that I had the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Emma, who died a few hours after I left Nelson. Emma, whose work as a language teacher was her passion, gave too much and realised too late that life is short and we have to seize the day. Emma inspired this trip; she thought it was such a great idea. She had something similar planned for herself for next year but sadly that was not to be. Emma, your warmth, compassion and support will be with me throughout my adventures.