Riverside pictures

They now have a few bus routes in Phnom Penh

The railway station

An old lady working

Is this a mobile garden centre??

Have they bought those snacks at Tong Garden centre near where I live in the UK

I guess they pray that they never have a fault in any of their cables

Nightime picture scenes from the busy riverside area where locals relax on an evening

The resulting rubbish piles up

Food outlets open 24 hours

Pictures showing some of the construction that has occurred in recent years

Many of the building sites have been left unfinished.

They have remained like that for several years now

These buildings have been constructed by Chinese companies in deals with the Cambodian government.

When I first started visiting Sihanoukville, there were few buildings higher than 3 or 4 stories high (colonial style) and many lived in very basic makeshift accommodation (similar to those pictured far right)

Most of these buildings have been built on land that was full of shrubs and trees and appear to be inhabited only by Chinese nationalities.

There are many, many markets in Cambodian cities

Some of the markets sell anything and almost everything

There is a huge assortment of various foods especially meats (without refrigeration - and therefore in temperatures in excess of 30C), fish, fruits and many dishes.

The markets are busy, vibrant, noisy, colourful places and a joy to watch locals shopping for their needs.

Here are a few pictures of the wonderful family I have known and visited for many years.

Each time I visit, I take them to a local restaurant where they can eat and drink whatever they want  - a treat they all love.

Some of them like to join me in the pool (Ngeang, Snar, Pich and Mao)

Crab works in the market - 6am to 6pm every day - no days off.

Snar and Pich are the two youngest. They are wonderful boys. They are almost inseparable and amazingly, I have never known them argue or fall out

The only sister in the family is Mouy. She is a lovely young lady. 

A nice greeting on my morning coffee cup!

Cambodian version of Evra... only you collect your own parcel - even if you struggle to take it home on your motorbike.

These barber shops are quite popular.

That young child will go far... he tugged at my shorts and when I looked down was clearly wanting money. How could I resist?

The local restaurant/bar that has survived over the years and which I always visit many times.

What Health & Safety? Workers at heights without hard hats and wearing flip-flops - oh, and the floor of my tuk-tuk didn't look too good.

The aftermath of a few hours of big rain. A channel through the beach and flooded fields on my journey back to Phnom Penh.

My coffee cup... write it as you say it!

My second flight back is only 12 hours... oh dear!

These two boys are one of the reasons I have visited Cambodia so many times (24 times so far). Here are two of the earliest pictures I have of them. Then watch the video of the two typical teenage boys.

I have watched them grow up over the years and it is worth the long journey to see them.

They truly are wonderful boys.

A coffee shop I love to visit is opposite the school where Snar and Pich first attended. 

I love to have a coffee on the balcony just before the children finish school at 11:00 and watch them leaving.

A number of children form a human chain across the road so the children can leave safely.

[I got permission from the police officers in the video to film this]

The storm in the first video was a 'show' to watch (count the flashes!). However, just 200 miles away at around the same time, 3 people were killed by lightning at the Angkor Wat World Heritage site and many others injured. Over 150 people have been killed by lightning in the last 2 years in Cambodia.

The second video shows the heavy rains - and this lasted for over 4 hours causing flooding in several parts of Sihanoukville.

A few videos from my visits to the markets.

Always a source of entertainment and intrigue.

The indoor markets do not have air conditioning so imagine the heat inside these buildings.

The crammed conditions can also be a major concern and a fire hazard.

Imagine working in those conditions for 12 hours every day as many oil the workers do.

The traffic can be a source of entertainment and bewilderment.

The first video shows the traffic on a quiet Sunday morning outside the main market in Sihanoukville.

The next two videos show traffic in Phnom Penh where some traffic lights have been installed in the last few years and the locals are starting to obey them (sometimes)

The last video shows the traffic heading into Phnom Penh as I was heading to the airport. This is at 06:30 in the morning.