Camparis in Cambodia

Campari time again.

2011-10-21T02:54:00.000-07:00

It has been quite a while between camparis!! This one was enjoyed at Cafe Eden in Battambang ... campari served in a recycled glass jar with a plate of freshly cooked potato chips ... delicious.

Campari and Chips

I returned here in October for a six month stay to support our projects with Banyan Learning Tree http://banyanlearningtree.blogspot.com and A Mine Free World www.aminefreeworld.org check these sites for our newsy updates. Presently I am in Battambang with Lisa McCoy working in the villages of Koh Kralor, unfortunately we are being severely restricted due to severe flooding. We returned to our hotel yesterday, after a day on the motorbikes in flooded villages, the staff looked somewhat surprised at these two bedraggled women asking for their keys.

This is the area where, last year, we delivered many bicycles and small businesses to landmine affected families. It is good to be back here and to visit these people to see how they have managed to support themselves with a new business, some have done amazingly well, they are an inspiration.

A few years ago most people came to Cambodia to visit Siem Reap for a brief three day stay to see the famous Angkor Temples, now things are changing, fortunately for the Cambodia culture, the country has many options open to travellers with good cheap accommodation and endless opportunities to volunteer your time to help these delightful people.

lunch with Lisa at Anise, Phnom Penh

In December, the Round Square Organisation, will be sending over 24 students from various countries to build a school for Banyan Learning Tree in Takeo Province, very exciting ... should make for some very interesting stories ... stay posted.

Back in Cambodia

2011-03-09T04:20:00.000-08:00

Have been back here for a week now after a busy time with family at home. It was so nice to have a holiday with them at my house in Bangalow. Lisa has been working hard on our projects while I've been relaxing on Byron beaches, so it looks like time to get busy again.

Robin and Clair George are here for a week and we have been showing them our projects. A little out of their comfort zone at times, but they do say they are loving every minute. It's so nice to be sharing my experiences here with friends, you are all welcome you just have to be prepared to come along and join in with whatever is happening at the time.

Sharing a village meal

Enjoying a meal cooked in a village house is not an experience many visitors to this country can write home about. We travelled to the villages by tuk-tuk so this is ideal to see the countryside and talk to the people. In the Takeo province westerners are quite a novelty as there are very few Non-Government Organizations working in this area. Khmer people consider it a great honor to offer food to visitors, this can sometimes produce very awkward moments.

In January the family was given a sewing machine and chicken business, a gift from Amanda and Ella Fox ... they are working very hard to make a success of these. The daughter-in-law had learnt to sew in a factory, as she is due to have a baby soon she is very happy to be working at home. Sewing in a factory in Phnom Penh is a very difficult life for a village girl.

Clair has made a generous donation to this family to have their house repaired. We will give them a metal roof and new grass panels for the walls, the metal roof will also assist in the collection of rain water. This family all sleep on 2 large bamboo slatted beds which are broken, these will be repaired and we have some mattresses for them - they would never have slept on a mattress before.

New village in Laos

2011-01-08T23:50:00.000-08:00

We were invited to visit, with the Governor of Luang Prabang, the new village of Ban Nong Bue Kon, to celebrate their first anniversary. We donated to the poorest families, on behalf of A Mine Free World Foundation together with Steve Rutledge from Adopt a Village in Laos, 80 mosquito nets along with the donation from Bel Air Resort of 100 blankets.

The Government is in the process of relocating over 300 families from 4 villages in the hills and valleys to this new site. They are from Mong and Khmu tribes and, to date 100 families have made the move and are awaiting for land to be given to them for purposes of farming. Until this happens the villagers need to travel the long distances back to their farmlands where they have their rice crops. I am amazed they could move 100 families to an area like this without anything to sustain them, many of the families are extremely poor.

They have three water tanks in use, although the underground piping has not been completed. Construction of the primary school has started and there are plans to build a secondary school, also hygienic toilets and a market. The villagers are extremely poor, some worse than others - most do not have latrines of any kind and just go in the bush. Steve said it reminded him of a poster he had seen in a village showing the Government trying to teach the children not to poop in the middle of the street and directing them to a nearby bush! Check Steve's blog to see his plans to raise funds to assist these people http://adoptavillageinlaos.blogspot.com.

Saibadee (hullo) from Luang Prabang

2011-01-02T03:18:00.000-08:00

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, the town of Luang Prabang is known for its mix of Lao and French colonial architecture and Wats (Buddhist temples). Since my last visit in 2005 there has been major restoration of these beautiful buildings.

Laos has the dubious honor of being the most bombed country in the world. The US waged a secret war, between 1964 and 1973, as part of their conflict with North Vietnam. It is said they dropped more bombs on this small country than all the bombs that were dropped on Europe by all countries combined during World War II.

The main street, Sisavangvong, runs through the old town of Luang Prabang, and is transformed each night into a market. The Hmong people, the largest of the Laos ethnic minority tribes, sell silks, weavings and many kinds of handicrafts. At around 5 pm, they erect their brightly-lit red and blue cannopies and fill the street. The bargaining is great fun, it seems the seller enjoys the process as much as the buyer., It's a great place to be, and it's almost impossible to pass through after dinner and not be tempted to join in.

Visiting Northern Laos Villages

2010-12-28T05:14:00.000-08:00

On Christmas Day Lisa and I travelled to Luang Prabang, Laos to meet up with Steve Rutledge, from Canada, who is doing wonderful work here, read his blog - http://adoptavillageinlaos.blogspot.com
Steve is doing an amazing job building schools and providing clean water to these remote villages.

Laos is a very beautiful country, lush valleys, mountains and rivers, so different from the countryside and heat of Cambodia. Unfortunately the many volunteer organizations that do so much work in neighbouring countries do not seem to have the same involvement with Laos.

Yesterday we visited 3 projects that Steve is working on. First, Na Dad village where he is looking for a clean water source for the people. At present their water comes from a source that is polluted by a pig farm further upstream. Our next stop was Xieng Nguen District School where 1300 students attend a school infested with termites. This school is overcrowded and completely unsafe for the children. Thirdly a visit to a clinic in this district that was in an unbelievably disgusting condition. Hard to imagine they can treat people with the lack equipment and cleanliness.

As A Mine Free World Foundation Board Members, Lisa and I are also investigating the needs of landmine victims here. We have been told there is a village here of landmine survivors that we will visit.

Back to Battambang

2010-12-23T18:07:00.000-08:00

We travelled back to Battambang to deliver 56 bicycles for Rotary Wheels for Learning, http://schoolsforcambodia.blogspot.com

A big thank you to Shirley and David Wilson of Bowral for their generosity. Their donation to Green Tara Cambodia supplied 8 families with a business. They chose to do this as xmas gifts for their family members. I was very happy to hand these over while in Battambang, families received 7 chicken businesses and 1 sewing-machine business.

Battambang is always a shock to me whenever I arrive, the poverty is incredible. So many of the families have been affected by a landmine accident, usually the father when he is working in the fields. So much of the land is not used as there are so many landmines still there. In the wet season it becomes so much more dangerous, as the surface soil is washed away by the torrential rain. Many mines were laid just below the surface, it only takes a child's footstep to detonate.

De-miners will work in the areas around villages and beside the roads, but the fields are left to the people to clear. A village family, who do not own their own land, can use land owned by the State to grow rice for the family but they have the perilous task of clearing it of mines. This is often the only way a family can survive, with the rice and fish from the pond.

Khmer people never show anger, as difficult as their lives are they still smile. Except when you put a camera in front of them, for some reason they will not smile for the camera, except the children of course.

Trapeang Thum

2010-12-15T21:26:00.000-08:00

Have been living in Trapeang Thum village for 3 weeks, time to go back to Phnom Penh and a hot shower. Bucket showering is ok, but there is a limit! Our last delivery of water came from the pagoda pond, not a good choice for washing and cleaning. Needless to say a good hair wash is long overdue.

It has been an interesting time adapting to village life, the children were constant visitors until the rice harvest started, then it's all hands on deck. They go to school in the mornings and help in the fields in the afternoons. Went to sleep each night listening to the rhythmic sound of neighbours threshing the rice by hand. They all go to each others houses late in the day to help with this, a real community activity.

Managed to find homes for the 7 puppies born at the house. Am reasonably certain they will be well looked after, hard to tell, but I'm sure at least they won't be eaten!

Trapeang Thum village life

2010-12-03T22:20:00.001-08:00

Have been in the village house for one week now and settled into a routine, we will stay here until Jan 15. Wake up with the sun and go to bed at sundown, quite nice really. My bed is set up with a mosquito net and I take the kindle to read and the phone to play sudoku and happily settle for the night in my ‘tent’ I think Lisa has a party in her ‘tent’ with all her snacks.

Larch is a girl from a nearby village who lives in the house, she cleans, shops and cooks. This morning I made an attempt, using charades, to teach her to wash her hands before cooking. After showing her the food in the iceboxes and a bowl with soap and water, while miming hand-washing, she promptly emptied and washed the iceboxes. Maybe the hygiene class will have to wait until I have a khmer/english person to give her a lesson. In the meantime I am swallowing pro-biotics and hope for the best.

We spend many hours on the computer sorting the forms and photos from the Battambang projects, all necessary but so time-consuming. The village children sneak in the gate to check on the strange Barang (foreign) women. Lisa has just received news of a donation for another 51 bicycles for the children of land-mine families, so it will be back to Battambang and more forms and photos. It is wonderful to see so many children receiving bicycles, it makes a huge difference to the families to have this means of transport. We still have many families on our list waiting to receive a business, keep this in mind ... could be a good xmas present.

Battambang

2010-11-21T04:33:00.000-08:00

We drove from Phnom Penh to Battambang Province to distribute 34 small businesses and 46 bicycles to families affected by land mines. The money for these projects has been donated by The Canadian Landmine Foundation (CLMF) and Rotary Wheels for Learning (RWFL). Businesses supplied included Chickens, Bicycle repair, Clock repair, Barber, Food sellers, TV repair. This will make a great difference to the lives of these families who have no other income. Some children have also received money for school meals, uniforms, books and a bicycle. What a humbling experience to meet these lovely, smiling people who suffer incredibly difficult hardships in their lives without complaint.

One couple received a chicken business He is 89 years old, was injured by land-mines while in the army and is cared for by his 90 year old wife. She is amazing so bright and sprightly, laughing and telling stories. She is tired of looking after him but hopes they will die together. He cannot use his legs, can only squat on his heels.

Dr Pisal is travelling with us and volunteering her time to teach dental hygiene to the families. We have raised funds for toothbrushes and toothpaste and had great fun giving these to the adults and children.

Went for a ride on a bamboo train, called a Norrie. These were first used after the Pol Pot regime when people needed a way to transport stock and supplies. Cambodia will have a new rail system in the next few years so these will be abolished. Up 'til now the few trains that ran travelled at speeds of 15km per hour, this gave the Norries plenty of time to get off the track. The driver would lift the platform from the Norrie and remove the axels off the track. This ride was not the most comfortable experience as the sense of speed is heightened by the low centre of gravity, and the noise is deafening. Still its all part of the Cambodian experience.

Garment workers in Phnom Penh

2010-11-05T23:35:00.000-07:00

For Cambodia's garment workers, the ride to work is just the first hurdle of the day. They travel from the rural pastures to the urbanized sprawl and muggy air of the industrial zones that skirt Phnom Penh. At 4.30am each morning, thousands of young women who work in garment factories, leave their homes in the provinces to travel in small trucks to work in the city, returning at 8pm, they only see their homes in daylight on the weekends.

Up to 80 women on one truck, some pregnant, stand for the long trip. There have been many incidents of people falling from the trucks as they travel the rough roads, the girls say they are concerned for their safety each day.

The government recently lifted the monthly wage from $50 to $61, well below the $94 asked for by the unions, $10 of this is used to pay for the transport.

Around 7am a line of women meanders through the factory gates, after a perilous journey, work has begun.

Phnom Penh

2010-11-05T01:38:00.000-07:00

I have been busy moving into the house at Bangalow for the past 2 months and am now happy to be back in Cambodia to begin our many projects.

A Mine Free World Foundation has the funds to provide small self-sustainable businesses and educational support to 50 families in Koas Krala, Battambang district, this is thanks to Lisa McCoy's amazing skills in receiving grants and raising funds through Rotary International in Canada. We are in for a busy and exciting few months.

For 240usd a woman can have a sewing business in her home so she can earn an income to support the family. Chicken farming costs 142usd to establish and Bicycle Repair 576usd. A primary school student can be supported with uniform and supplies for 55usd and a bicycle costs 50usd. Anyone looking for ideas for birthdays or Christmas why not consider the above options. I can be contacted at paulinej1@mac.com if any information is required. It is not difficult to make someone's life better:-)

The meal plan at Big Love School is progressing well, will be there next week to see for myself ... apparently the children are putting on weight .. amazing what one regular meal per day can achieve.

Trapeng Thum is one of 13 villages in this commune. There are 2,800 children under 15 years of age in these villages and very few volunteer organisations. This week the furniture and supplies will go to the house I have rented to make it habitable ... should be an interesting adventure living in a village. Keep an eye on the blog ... there will be so much news to share. Don't forget to check Lisa's blog http://schoolsforcambodia.blogspot.com

Byron Bay

2010-08-07T04:22:00.000-07:00

Here is my very belated update!! The retreat was great, so beneficial to spend a whole month without any outside intrusions, couldn't believe I wasn't even tempted to turn my phone on or check emails for the entire month and when I eventually did there wasn't anything of major importance waiting to be dealt with. It was a bit like breaking a habit, of course in all honesty, it didn't take long for the habit to kick back in. But I do highly recommend taking time away from everyday activities to look at what is really important in your life.

My daughter Amanda is home on holiday from China with granddaughter Ella. We have had a wonderful 10 days together, including grandson Charlie from Bowral who had his first long holiday away from his mama and dadda.

All is going well in Cambodia, building has commenced for our new school classroom for Big Love School and we now have the money for the meal-a-day project from the Rotary Club in Canada. This funding will last for 4 months and we hope to raise the money to keep this project ongoing.

Due to Mr Vanthon's hard work we have completed the re-building of 5 houses in the villages so these families are feeling alot happier now the wet-season has arrived. Vanthon has also found a house to rent close to our projects in the villages. It will be good to have our own place to stay in and our plan is to use it also as a clinic so doctors/nurses and dentists can make regular visits to the area. This is something that is desperately needed and of course we are always looking for ways to fund these projects .... if you have, or know anyone with good ideas ... please let us know.

Byron Bay

2010-06-21T03:26:00.000-07:00

Back in Australia and in the process of buying a house in Bangalow, NSW. Contracts are to be exchanged this week and all going well I will have my own house once again. It has been more than two years since I started my gypsy life, after living in the same place for thirty years!! It has been a wonderfully liberating and challenging experience and I've discovered many things about myself that have been most surprising, but, now is the time to have a place of my own and not be looking for somewhere to live each time I return from Cambodia.

Tomorrow I commence a month long meditation retreat at Chenrezig Institute in Queensland. I have not committed to a retreat of this duration before - so looking forward to the experience. My daughter calls it 'Buddhist Boot Camp' - my release date will be July 19 - will be back in contact then.

New Projects

2010-06-20T03:36:00.000-07:00

Due to a kind donation from Robert Johns, we have the funds to build another school for 'Big Love' Ven Ban is very happy as there are seventy-six children that now cram into the original classroom, so the plan is to build another classroom on some land three kilometers away, this will make it possible for many children to attend that are unable to at present due to the long distance from their homes.

Thanks to the hard work of Lisa McCoy, who has been busy writing proposals for our projects, we have a donation from World Vision of 2500usd to fund a 'Meal a day' program. This will ensure that the children receive a nutritious meal each day. This will last a few months, it is a fantastic program and we're hoping it will lead to other funding so we can keep the children well fed. Many of them come to school without having eaten that morning, this will ensure they are having a nutritious meal each day.

Thanks to a generous donation from the Myatt family in Queensland we have just constructed two village wells, go to http://greentaracambodia.blogspot.com to see these details.

Siem Reap

2010-06-02T00:49:00.000-07:00

I mentioned Hom Trop in a previous blog and his desperate need for a new well - happy to say this has been achieved and he now has his new well, everyone is happy to have clean water. Fortunately in this area we did not have to dig very deep to reach good water, unlike most areas where it is a much more expensive project. This has made a huge difference to the patients who attend his clinic, many have to stay for a week or two so need to bring their children and live under his house in the dormitory.

They were busy painting new murals in the Pagoda when we arrived. Attempted to take a photo of the mural artist in front of his work but everyone joined in - so here you are - a photo of everyone!

I have rented a house in Siem Reap for Socheat and her husband, Phearom, to live with their extended family of two sisters, cousin and Sampous and Theary who are the daughters of a very poor family and have been sponsored to attend school. Socheat is an excellent house mother and works very hard for us on our projects, but still seems to find the time to study her english and accounting courses.

Socheat manages Lisa's bicycle program here and looks after the finances for all our projects in Siem Reap, we would be lost without her. This house will now be our main base to work from and will make it easier for all (maybe!!)

Hopefully there will be some room for Lisa and I to stay there when we are in Siem Reap, will be so much nicer than staying in hotels and will also save money that we can put to much better use.

Takeo Province

2010-05-28T21:33:00.000-07:00

Have been in Australia since my last blog, hopefully I have found a house in Bangalow but will now wait for the auction in June - fingers crossed! Time the gypsy had somewhere to put a bed and pillow.

I am now back in Cambodia for a short visit of two weeks - don't think I could manage to stay much longer the weather is extremely hot and makes it very difficult to travel in the villages. We start our day at sunrise as by noon it is far too hot to travel by motorbike.

Ban Ven's school is a great success with numbers growing at a rapid rate - the children are so eager to learn. Many travel a great distance for their lessons, which is a big problem when the weather is so hot. They leave their homes in the morning to go to lessons at the government school then travel to their english lesson with Ven in the afternoon - it is too far for them to travel home for lunch. We have some land available to build another classroom that will be more central for many. The same teachers will give the lessons at both schools and hopefully we can have this project started next month.

We also plan two wells in the villages around these schools, this is a particularly arid area of Cambodia and water is carted a great distance. This lack of water is also a major reason for health problems, particularly among the children.

Anyone interested in helping either of these projects I would be very happy to hear from you.

Takeo Province

2010-04-22T05:43:00.000-07:00

Two days travelling on Vanthon's motorbike has left me feeling decidedly saddle-sore. We can cover a wider area so much quicker on the bike, but not so comfortable as there are usually three of us sharing one bike. The Khmer people travel three and four on one bike without any problem and tiny children hang on where they can - no such thing as a booster seat here!

While enjoying a meal in Takeo I had a front row view of a traditional Khmer funeral. This style of funeral is chosen for people of wealth. Oversize speakers amplified the monks chanting and could be heard all over the town - very loud music is popular here for weddings, funerals or any reason at all it doesn't matter.

The coffin had been placed in a structure adorned with flashing lights and as evening came a fire was lit underneath and fireworks set off - I imagine to send the deceased on the journey to his next life. When my time comes, without doubt, I will prefer a more tranquil send-off.

Happy Khmer New Year

2010-04-18T02:20:00.000-07:00

April 14 is the day of the new year and I spent the day with friend Vanthon and his family. What a wonderful day. We took food and offerings to the Pagoda close to their house and washed the Buddhas. They also like to visit a poorer Pagoda in the countryside that does not see as many people. This pagoda I really liked, everyone sitting around sharing food and so happy that they have this short holiday after so much work.

The next day we went by ferry across the Mekong to Ary Skat to visit their friends. Cambodians make you so welcome into their homes and love to cook for you. So this was a day of lots of food, chat and lying around snoozing. I am making a strong effort to learn the language as I miss out on half the fun - but it's certainly not an easy language.

On the third day of new year we travelled by motorbike to Takeo with Khemra, Socheat and Phearom, who assist Lisa and I with our work in Siem Reap.

Two weeks ago I was telling them stories about our work in the remote Takeo village and told them about the monks and the water pump (see below) When I showed them some photos - Socheat said "that is my grandfather" I was amazed to find this connection between our projects that are so far apart. So we all met in the village with all her family to celebrate the new year with her grandfather.

The girls had raised some money at their work and bought toothbrushes/paste/pencils/books to share with the children. Socheat gave them a lesson in sanitation - the importance of keeping their hands and nails clean. This is an example of these young women and their willingness to help in the education of their country.

Happy Khmer New Year to all in this Year of the Tiger ..... may all be well, happy and have peace in their hearts.

Siem Reap

2010-04-10T23:07:00.000-07:00

So quiet here, it is Khmer New Year and most people travel to their homes in the countryside for a weeks holiday. The rice harvest is complete and they enjoy a break before the new crop needs to be planted. This is also a slower tourist period as the weather becomes uncomfortably hot and then the rains will arrive.

Yesterday, with friends and helpers Sokha and Khemra, I visited Phom Kok Chan village to meet a man very famous in the area for his ability to heal broken bones. Hom Trop treats people who have travelled great distances to see him. Patients live dormitory style under his house and bring a family member to cook and care for them during treatment. They pay whatever they can afford and some of this money is used by Mr Trop's wife to buy food and cook for the monks in the local pagoda.

I don't know how he does his healing, except he only treats broken bones and only uses his hands. The patient then repeatedly bathes the area with herbal remedies. The patients had amazing stories to tell - one man was to have his leg amputated but chose to come to Mr Trop for treatment and is now walking again. I suppose you just need to have faith it will work - and it will!

There are 80 families living in this area and they are in desperate need of water. There are only two wells in the area that I am aware of - one is at Mr Trop's house but it is unusable, the water is dirty and smells very bad. So looks like we have a new project to get a new well for them and also a couple of toilets. The weather is extremely dry - the Mekong is at it's lowest level for 50 years.

Phnom Penh

2010-04-03T05:07:00.000-07:00

Lisa is now back in Canada in a cold 10 degrees and I'm in Phnom Penh in 35 degree heat. Would not even know it is easter - not a chocolate bunny in sight.

I am having a lazy weekend - going walking and reading books. Have spent a lot of time in Phnom Penh this trip and it is growing on me - it's nice to be a tourist again for a few days. Weekends are good as the traffic is less chaotic and crossing the road seems less terrifying.

I have visited Tuol Sleng Prison, which was a school used to torture prisoners during the Pol Pot regime, and the Killing Fields. In our lifetimes these kinds of genocide persist - Cambodia - Rwanda- Bosnia - Somalia and places we don't even understand. Seeing this helps with understanding the human condition and our malicious nature. It is heart-wrenching but eye-opening and it happened while we were singing Beatles songs.

Now sitting enjoying my evening drink and watching the world go by on the waterfront and making good use of the free wi-fi .

Ban Ven's 'Big Love' School

2010-03-26T22:36:00.000-07:00

Lisa and I have met a wonderful young man Ban Ven while visiting Takeo Villages. He recently returned from a rural improvement training course in Japan and has chosen to come back to his very poor area to teach english and educate the villagers in environmental farming practices. Ven's only imcome is from his farm, he grew up in this area and comes from a family of 15 brothers and sisters.

With the help of some local dads and the children he has built a small bamboo structured school and also some desks and started teaching one week ago. He already has 56 students with more coming every day. A local widow donated the land and these children can now study Khmer literacy and english for free. Thanks to Robert Johns's donation Ven can now purchase further requirements for his classroom.

Ven is married with 2 children, has established his own organic garden and will educate the farmers to stop the use of pesticides and to successfully farm chickens. His portable loo is a novel idea!! I admire this intelligent, young man who has the benefit of some education and is prepared to put all his training back into the land and his people.

The mothers have asked me if they can have a new pond - as their water for home use needs to be carted a long distance. I am waiting for Ven to give me a costing on bringing in the necessary equipment to achieve this - so is anyone interested in maybe funding this little project?

from Phnom Penh

2010-03-24T23:09:00.000-07:00

As I have been back here since March 13 it's time I did an update!

We have not had any luck getting our NGO registered with the Ministry of Interior - this is not unusual as to put anything through the right channels requires time and money! I have other projects here and if registration is not approved by end of April I will move on, there is plenty to keep me busy. It is very disappointing when we see so many children that can benefit from our small schools, but it's not possible to open without approval as the government would then insist the children pay to come to school and they do not have the 25c necessary for this.

Am spending my days at hospitals with some children from the Takeo Province. We have bought them to Phnom Penh for assessment. It is a very slow process getting scans and blood tests in these hospitals - everything is run on Cambodian time, check the new blog .... http://greentaracambodia.blogspot.com

By the time these children are found in the poor villages their problems are very advanced as the parents do not have any money to seek medical help. The abuse of women is also a huge problem, men drink alot and wives are often beaten. Maybe an idea to create support groups among the village women so they don't feel so isolated - yet another project in the making!

I bought a pump for the monks in Tra Som Village - they have been struggling to carry the water to grow their own vegetables - they are very happy. It is amazing how little they need to live and be happy - there's another lesson learned!

from Queensland

2010-03-01T02:25:00.000-08:00

It is sunny Queensland, or so I thought, it has not stopped raining since I arrived! The countryside has been desperately dry so it is very welcome. Have had a wonderful week here at Chenrezig.

Lisa and our Director, Chamnap, are busy with the school registration. We will now need to have our base in Phnom Penh as the obstacles of the original plan, opening in Kep Province, has proved too difficult. But that is Cambodia and we need to look at other ways of achieving the same goal. It is a lesson for me in patience, slowly I am learning to understand how things work here...must admit I've been badly burnt a couple of times and maybe would have given up if I did not have Lisa's support.

Would have been nice to post a photo of a Queensland sunset.....but not possible!

from Australia

2010-02-19T00:37:00.000-08:00

Have been to Byron Bay to look for a house to rent for the next 12 months - no luck!!! It's very difficult to find rentals in that area so I'll remain homeless and look again in April.

Leaving on Monday to travel to Chenrezig Institute, in Queensland, for a 10 day course with Geshe Tashi Tsering. So looking forward to this, and seeing my friends there that I studied with last year. Geshela now teaches in India so we are very happy to have him back in Aus for a short time.

So grateful with the assistance friend Sokha is giving with his work in Siem Reap while I'm not there. He will be speaking with Davoan's family tomorrow to ask their permission for him to have the operation. I hope this goes well as the prognosis is not great if he isn't treated and without their signed approval we won't be able to proceed.

Our school, Banyan Learning Tree, is progressing slowly - all going well we will be ready to open in 4 weeks. Lisa and Chamnap (our director) are working diligently on getting approvals. Going back to Cambodia on March 13 to help them with getting the school up and running, it's proving too difficult to make any progress while I'm here in Aus and my time is more productive working over there.

from Kep

2010-02-07T03:42:00.000-08:00

Leaving Kep today for Phnom Penh then on my way back to Sydney tomorrow, can't believe how quickly the time goes while I'm here! Am sorry to be leaving as usual, there is so much to be done.

We are in the process of establishing our own non-government organisation 'Banyan Learning Tree' and our first project is a small, rural school - check the blog http://banyanlearningtree.blogspot.com It takes quite some time to get the permits needed from all the officials - village leader, commune leader, provincial governor, the ministry......etc, so I will come back to Kep when all is ready.
My friend Lisa McKoy, from Canada, has very good information about this area and our school - please read her blog .... http://schoolsforcambodia.blogspot.com

Lisa will have to enjoy the campari sunsets without me for a few months. Am getting a little old to be living like a gypsy, so it's time to find a house - and Bangalow is my choice so I hope there's a perfect little cottage there waiting for me.

from Phnom Penh

2010-02-02T21:49:00.000-08:00

Back in Phnom Penh to take my young friend Seng Davoan to the doctor. He has meningoencephalocele (look if up!!) this has caused swellings like tumors on his face and will become more of a problem as he gets older. Took him to the clinic here and had scan - looks like something can be done to help him.

Last December I tried to get an operation for him with a plastic surgeon from US but he was unable to help. In March a team of surgeons will be here from Taiwan, if that doesn't happen maybe the Canadians can do when they come in November -I'm hopeful but nothing is easy here.

Davoan lives with his great-grandma, his parents have both remarried and don't bother with him. They live in Beng Donpa, a very poor village in Siem Reap that needs alot of assistance. He is a very brave, likeable little boy and hopefully I can help hime have a better life in this difficult country.

They travelled on the bus for 6hrs and greatgran had never been to Phnom Penh before so it was quite overwhelming for her - Davoan, in comparison, was so excited to be whizzing around the city in friend Vanthon's tuk-tuk.

The temples of Angkor

2010-01-28T19:33:00.000-08:00

The temples are a point of pilgrimage for all Cambodians - they are what draws most travellers to the region. Gradually more visitors are being encouraged to stay a little longer and explore this wonderful country - and hopefully be a little helpful while they are here.

What we see today is all that remains of Cambodia's ancient Khmer empire - a city that boasted a population of 1 million when London was a little town of 50,000. It's not possible to appreciate the enormity of the task the empire set itself to create these wonders. I have found Angkor needs many visits to even partly appreciate the extravagant beauty.

Well my friends, as I travel to Cambodia every year maybe some of you would like to join me on one of my visits - you'll have to work a little of course, but I'm certain you'll love it!!

Khom Kok Chork

2010-01-24T22:31:00.000-08:00

This morning we have been to a shanty town in Siem Reap where 53 families are living under very poor conditions.

It's not possible to establish wells for water as they are living on a road (and have been there for many years) so we cannot get permission to put anything permanent in the area. We gave bikes, uniforms and shoes so the children can go to school. Government schools here are free but the kids must have a uniform and as they live 5kms from school and the town floods in the wet season, bikes are a must. Also distributed mosquito nets and rice and it's thanks to friend Sokha and that we could do this project. - Sokha has been working here organising everything - I couldn't do this without someone like him here on the ground.

Many Khmer people are very keen to improve the lives of their people, it's very inspiring and makes up for the problem ones we also come across.

Phnom Penh

2010-01-20T20:25:00.000-08:00

Back in Phnom Penh, seem to have an unwelcome germ. The SOS Hospital has a very good name and hopefully I can be fixed.....pronto!

Don't have time to be unwell, busy with attempting to set up a small, free english school down south in the Kep Province. It's not easy getting things achieved in Cambodia, getting permits from numerous departments- and paying on the way of course! We already have a teacher and need to rent a house to hold classes.

Trip to Takeo

2010-01-20T19:50:00.000-08:00

Have spent the past few days in the province of Takeo giving bikes to children in the villages. It's a very poor area and literacy levels are very low, it was good to leave happy children with their new bikes and school supplies.

This weekend we went to Takeo with Mr Vanthon (our tuk-tuk driver from Phnom Penh) and his family, he has worked very hard on the project and Lisa treated his family to a weekend in the country. It was great fun to travel with them, all 11 of us squished in a little mini-van. I don't

think a driving test is a necessity here to acquire a license!!!

Alternate transport.......

2010-01-15T21:20:00.000-08:00

This is Sambo the elephant - he walks through the peak hour Phnom Penh traffic to and from the temple to give rides to tourists....he has had his 50th birthday this month. Sambo has wooden pads on his feet so I do hope this makes his daily walks a little easier.

Lisa and I are enjoying our evening tipple of choice on the balcony of the Foreign Correspondents Club - which is a hangout for ex-pats these days - don't think it's so much a club for journalists anymore. It was very famous in days gone by.

Campari in Phnom Penh

2010-01-13T02:14:00.000-08:00

Day 1 of my blog......back in Cambodia, I was here for 5 weeks before xmas and am now back for another 4 weeks, working with my good friend Lisa (check out her blog - http://schoolsforcambodia.blogspot.com) I have some projects started of my own and also help Lisa with her bike and school projects - plus we manage to fit in time for the odd campari (where else in the world can you buy a bottle for $10!). I have travelled in a few Asian countries but feel a particularly strong connection with the people here....obviously, as this is visit no:6. Well worth adding to your 'places I must visit' list - the temples at Angkor alone are a good enough reason.