From Angkor Wat to Sihanoukville

It has been awhile since I have had time to publish a new post.  Travel,  action packed days, and funky internet resources are the factors of my daily experience.  I’m resurfacing from the beach resort town of Sihanoukville.  It is a gorgeous day, and I’m ready to catch you up a bit.

11 August

We woke early to beat the crowds and heat, to see the Angkor temples.  Although it was my first visit, due to the many photographs that I have been enthralled with for so many years, mostly those of Kenro Izo, I felt as though I had spent much time there, and it was exquisite to walk amongst the sand stones of my dreams.  It all felt very familiar to me.  The massive beauty is breathtaking.  Built in the 12 th century, it is hard to imagine that it only took 40 years to build.  Engineers have estimated that it would take 300 years to build today.  hmmmm.  After touring Angkor Wat, we also toured the Bayon Temples, (with faces), and Preah Khan temples (known as the Jungle Temples).  I can say with utmost certainty, that at this point Lewis likens temple visits to museums.  From the perspective of a 12 year old boy….BORING.  I will admit that he has seen many temples, and combined with the heat and the humidity, he held up pretty well.  I know he was glad to see Angkor Wat, but at this point, he is happy to be playing in the waves and kicking a soccer ball down the beach with the Palm Tree kids.  He is more focused on the pool and starting to dream of Five Guys cheeseburgers.  He has passed out food to lots of hungry kids, so maybe he feels he now needs to eat enough for all hungry Cambodian children.  One thing he is thrilled about, is the fact that for a Khmer person, he is HUGE.  Everyone takes him for a 15-17 year old, which he absolutely LOVES!!

12 Aug  Boat trip to Chong Kneas, Floating Village on Tonle Sap Lake

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We took the Palm Tree kids for a boat trip to see Chong Kneas, which is a floating village, on Tonle Sap.  Tonle Sap is the largest fresh water lake in Asia. Interestingly, its flow changes direction twice a year.  It is about 2700 square miles in the dry season, and increases to 1600, square miles by the end of the rainy season.  The floating house boats actually drag their homes to two different locations on the river each year, depending on the season and the water level.  The people living here are extremely poor, living in very close quarters.  They are mostly Vietnamese.  We visited a little catfish farm where crocodiles were also being raised for their leather. The fish caught in the lake provide 60 % of Cambodians protein intake, and is one of the most productive inland fisheries in the world.  There are two schools that the kids attend.  The South Koreans seem to have a large NGO presence here, as they do throughout Cambodia.  A good time was had by all.

Friday, 13 August

Friday the 13th, turned out to be a very lucky day for us.  We spent the entire day visiting rural villages, where Cambodia’s Hope is providing English lessons and a daily lunch for the children.  The poverty levels are sobering.  On one hand, Cambodia has made progress, in that they are no longer under the rule of the Khmer Rouge.  But they have a long way to go to come back from the years of oppression and genocide.  The current government is extremely corrupt, so there is a huge contingent of the population that is dependent on the support of NGO’s for education, food and medicine.  There are still 3-5 million undiscovered land mines in Cambodia.  Cambodia has one amputee for every 290 people, one of the highest ratios in the world.  The number of orphans is staggering, at more than 100,000.

The people in the rural villages we visited were thrilled and honored to have us.  Well, actually, the small children were terrified.  They have seen almost no white people, much less with hats on and cameras pointing at them.  Many babies cried and had to be carried away.  But that all changed when we brought out the loaves of baguettes that we poured condensed milk on.  No one in these villages had ever seen or tasted anything like this.  It was a game changer.

Lewis was obviously of HUGE interest.  Everyone couldn’t believe their eyes at seeing the tall, healthy, strong Khmer boy, who lived in America!  He took the attention very well, and enjoyed handing out food and treats to the children.  Terry blew lots of soap bubbles and was clearly honored by everyone from the village chief to the small kids.  Communication was difficult, as we visited villages that CH has no volunteers in, so there was no English spoken.  It was fantastic to witness what a wonderful job the Cambodia’s Hope volunteers have done and what an incredible difference they are making in the lives of so many children.  As some volunteers are leaving to go back to school, we could really use a couple of new volunteers, starting in the fall through the end of spring, 2011.  If you or someone you know, are skilled in teaching, and looking for an adventurous opportunity that will enrich your own life even more than the kids you are working/living with, please feel free to contact us!

I can only imagine Lewis has much to process from all he has seen.  It has been a lot for me to take in.  As we left an orphanage we are working with, I shouted out, “Study hard and BRUSH YOUR TEETH!” The kids would all bow, smile and shout “Aakoon!”, which is Khmer for  Thank You.  Cambodians are gracious and eager to learn.  Lewis is very happy to be here, as he refers to it, “with his people”, and is already planning his next trip back.  While observing the nutrition class being taught at a rural village, Lewis took pride in being used as an example of how a Cambodian child can grow up to be strong and healthy, if given proper nutrition.  He is collecting emails from kids he is meeting, and I can already imagine that the impact his visit will make, will be felt by many for a long time to come.

While I have spent the afternoon working on this blog and resting my overused ankle, Terry, Lewis, the Palm Tree staff, and 60 Palm Tree kids have been playing at the beach, swimming in the pool, and hitting tennis balls.  I just got a call from Terry that we are going to meet for a dinner of fresh barracuda.  We are heading back to Phnom Penh in tomorrow, Monday morning.  It is a 3 1/2 hour drive, if the van doesn’t break down.  (It did twice on the way here.)

Before we head back on Wednesday morning, Lewis wants to visit the original site of the orphanage where we picked him up from in 1998, the Killing Fields, the Russian Market, and hang out some more with the Palm Tree kids.  I also have to squeeze in packing and a big visit with Ben Justus, from EGBOK, who is arriving on Tuesday.  I am very excited to see him and share stories and ideas on all the great things happening for the kids and their hospitality programs.  I’m saving sleep for the long plane ride home.

Thanks again for joining in.  My apologies for the blog delays and thus a long entry today.  Until next time, ck