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One of the reasons for visiting Cambodia was to enable Isobel to do some research into the shady business of child prostitution for a book she has in the wings.

She visited an agency responsible for looking after young girls who are victims of abuse - orphans forced into the sex industry, or sold by their families into the same for twenty to fifty dollars a time. She arranged with their manager to visit the orphanage.

In preparation, we visited the Russian Market to stock up on some essentials we knew they would need - notebooks, pens, soft toys, chocolates...

The market was quite and eye opener - within it held virtually every form of part for building or repairing the thousands of motos on the street, hardware stalls stacked high with wares, pirate software outlets, clothes, appliances - everything one needs at a fraction of the usual price!

Clearly the local kids had rarely seen two tall westerners - we were followed by a small procession of kids who ran away screaming and giggling each time I looked around at them.

That evening, we headed out to Tamcoc street, the centre for prostitution on the outskirts of town. Here we discovered that most of the outlandish in-your-face parades of girls has been stopped - and that only a handful of brothels are now visible. These brothels being the ones which pay the most to the local police who quite openly visit them each night for their 'take'.

At the orphanage we were met by the lady who looks after the kids, and they have clearly been expecting us... A few minutes later, all of the young girls are arranged around us, dressed in their finest. They pose for a few pictures.

They are delighted with the gifts, especially the shampoo and soap. Isobel has a tough job getting away from them as they cling to her and compare their height to hers.

Its an odd meeting, and humbling. With all our worldly goods, here are sitting with a group of children who have had everything taken from them.

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