Party time

Veasna (left) and his bride, Sopheap

Sophoin (right) and yours truly giving money, best wishes and tying string around the wrists of the newly-weds

The wedding party was a great success. However, it took nearly 4 hours to get to Kompong Cham by bus and guess what, the air-conditioning failed. I needed a lie down after that but there was no time. Wedding parties in the provinces start earlier than in Phnom Penh, so it was straight to the event - held in the village of Rokar Krom - to be welcomed at the door by Veasna and his new bride, Sopheap, both resplendent in yellow. 200 guests arrived over the next hour and the usual round of drinking, eating, more drinking, dancing, fruit-cutting and covering the bride and groom in foam, more drinking and more dancing followed. Great fun and as the only foreigner there, I was in big demand on the dance-floor. I didn't let them down. The bride is the younger sister of my good friend Sophoin. I returned to the capital by share-taxi early this morning, leaving at the ungodly hour of 5.30am. It took just 2 hours and only one near-death experience!

Ah, the foam moment for the happy couple

Two of the younger party-goers in their best party frocks

Three more of the younger crowd, who seemed to take a shine to me

I'm a sucker for a pretty girl, so 4 in one photo will do nicely