My absolute favourite thing to do here is to ride my bike early in the mornings down to the markets to purchase fresh fruit or bread for the following mornings. I usually go alone as I’m the only one with a bike, but sometimes the kids meet me half way and double (or triple) on the back of my bike. It’s a sight in itself. Here in Pursat, most people’s days start at 5:30 (my host mum starts sewing at 6- after Zumba) and all the children start school at 7, and the temperature is just right for market trawling, so the market is filled to the bring with every man and his dog (literally) and motorbikes and bicycles with large baskets strapped to their backs filling them with spices, vegetables and fruits needed for the following days meals. The freshest of quality (the fish are literally still squirming) and though the smell is something else, the food you pick up here is to die for.

As I’ve learnt, this girl is in fact my neighbour. If it were possible, I would smuggle her into my backpack and bring her home she’s just that adorable. I gave her my flower crown today, and this is her equally as cute brother, both of which love recording themselves try to speak English on my iPad, send them through to Jay (unknowingly) and then play them on repeat back to themselves.

The kids handed us these “lollies” and said “Cher EAT”… It was the spiciest and strangest sweet I’ve ever eaten, even the kids were coughing from the spice (and Cambodia’s love their chilli!)

Colouring in is the children’s favourite activity, and one we do for a solid hour a day because they’re very well behaved when this happens, and also really amazing drawers. They’re all obsessed (boys too!) with Disney Princesses (do you know how hard it is to meet these requests in Cambodia!). Here I am colouring in like the little kid I am.

The older boys (14-17) rarely come out at the orphanage, but today we witnessed a few of them preparing the firewood for dinner tonight.

I don’t like all the stray dogs here, one growled at me on a morning walk and the sheer number of them is just scary. But this one is different, and I wouldn’t have gone near it if it were not. The teeniest, tiniest puppy I’ve ever seen!

The girls made Emma and I flower crowns and Borin put flowers all through my hair and the same from the kids all through Emma’s. Sokvy, one of the little naughty boys rescued this puppy from the river this morning and now the puppy won’t leave the orphanage. It’s so cute but extremely timid and nervous, and most definitely heat exhausted (but weren’t we all today).

I’m not sure who this girl is entirely, or her name. I think she may live next door but occasionally she is in my classes. She loves to be the center of attention, and prance around (remind you of anyone…?) she must always have things her way but her brothers are quite the menaces and all 4 of them are the biggest distractions for the kids. But she is a cutie pie who will happily sing and dance for the camera.

The kids took my camera this afternoon and from what I can tell did a bit of a photo shoot. None of the following photos are taken by me.