As expected we were overweight by some 55 kilos but we're not worried because this year the DO Cambodia team has grown and we split into two groups, so the excess baggage will be shared amongst the second team when they join us in two weeks time.

The synergy of the group is vital as we'll be living in each others pockets for the next couple of weeks, but the laugher and general buzz of the team is very encouraging and we're all getting on smashingly.

The excitement of the group is palpable - for some this is their very first venture outside Europe - but our focus remains clear: we're here to offer a developmental programme through drama, song and dance as well as teach English through drama.

However, our NGO goes beyond just teaching, because the well-being of the children and the institutions that support them need to be operating effectively, and to do so they need our support. And by "our", I mean your support: our sponsors and benefactors.

Ok, so seven hours have passed since I wrote the first bit of this blog, and travel fatigue is beginning to kick in. We arrived at Bangkok Airport which is massive and must have gone up and down the same escalators at least three times in a large arc to find our gate.  One of the girls (I swore I wouldn't say who) spilt a glass of cola all over her, and I walked into a life sized cardboard cutout of a Bangkok Airlines air hostess ... and apologised.

The final leg to Phnom Penh was uneventful and we were relieved that all 22 pieces of luggage weighing in at 320 kilos, made it in one piece. Surprisingly, going through customs was completely hassle-free and the young officials seemed more keen to practice their English than to grill us on the mountain of packages we were dragging behind us. Fine by us. 

And then, as always, the Cambodians struck!

As soon as we walked through the air conditioned arrivals lounge into the stifling humidity we heard our names being called out and a group of children came hurtling towards us, arms out-stretched. If anyone was going to rob us, that would have been a good time to do it because we just dropped everything to give the children our undivided attention. Of course there were tears of joy, and not just Gaby this time.  We must have been quite a sight because random people - foreign and local - we're taking pictures of the impromptu reunion. 

How wonderful it is to see our friends and the children we work with again. How absolutely breathtaking is their unconditional love and appreciation of what we do. How right everything feels. 

We separated again so that some of us went in an air conditioned van, but a few of us wanted to go with the children by tuk-tuk (which, incidentally, we had provided). Big mistake! 

The traffic was at a gridlock and a Phnom Penh gridlock is like no other - buses, trucks, tuk-tuks and motorbikes belching exhaust fumes. I may as well have chain smoked a pack of French cigarettes.

We eventually arrived at VCDO were more children greeted us and this time put garlands around our necks and we were treated to a delicious welcome meal before settling down, exhausted, for the night.

It's good to be home.