Pigs sweat, ladies perspire

It's way too easy to live a sedentary life in South-East Asia. The pervasive heat and humidity make exercise hard, and the cheap alcohol and good food mean you can let it slip very quickly. In Phnom Penh, there are some good gyms but they are expensive. It's also possible to use hotel swimming pools but generally speaking they're not very good for laps (being more designed for lounging and occasionally ordering a cocktail from a passing waitress). Although we've taken to cycling around, I doubt the exercise value of cycling due to the terrible traffic and our rickety single speed bikes. So, to avoid our slide into lard-land, Em & I have been trying to go for a run at our local park (Independence Monument) 2 - 3 times per week. It's about a kilometre lap, and i'm up to 5 laps which generally leaves me over-heated, and absolutely soaked with sweat. I figure the exercise value in this heat must be very good however. The best thing about the park is that in the evening it comes alive with locals walking, stretching, playing badminton and hack but with an odd shuttlecock - beanbag hybrid. There aren't many joggers and I frequently get laughed at, especially as my face looks like a tomato in the heat. It's a great spot for people watching as well as exercise, and best of all it's free !