Day 12 - Swimming with CFC

On the last of our full days in Cambodia we were up bright and early to meet the kids at CFC for 9 am.
After a few group pictures with our new friends, we crammed 21 of us in to a 14 seater mini-bus... Something they do a LOT here and set off for the water park in Phnom Penh!
The children spent the whole time looking out the window at a city they have seen very little of! and when we got there every one said WOW! and were split into groups of ten and we spent the whole day swimming and enjoying the huge water slides. The boys including Frank spent the whole time racing each other to the bottom... and back up again!
CFC had provided us with a very english dinner of rolls and salad... with some PROPER cheese! (something we have missed alot from home) whilst everyone esle was eating rice!
We left the park at 3pm had everyone went back to CFC where we said our last goodbyes.
Me and jess were by far the most emotional as we all have grown quite attached to our own little bast friend!
we waved goodbye..........AHHHHHH! Flight calling we have to go pronto! see you face to face very soon!! CHUM REIP LEA!
Gem and Jess! xx

Day 11 - Rubbish Dump

This morning was going to be a very moving day for some of us, as Kevin, rachel and Debs had found out about a man called David who came to Cambodia to retire. david visited a rubish dump and saw how children were scaverging around looking for food and things to sell. He then out of the kindness of his heart, went and to feed the children. So if people want to help these children they give money and all the money goes towards buying the food for the children at the rubbish dump.

So Today we were going with him to Feed The Children, he picked us up in his truck that has a banner accross it saying "Feed The Children". David takes two paramedics with him when he visites the dump so that if they are injured they can provide the medical care needed. David and his paramedics are all volenteers they do it just because they want to.

We gave $150 to spend on food, which we bought from this total mad and crazy market, 400 loaves of bread, 800 bananas, 400 mangos, and 800 oranges!

Then we drove to the rubish dump with us and all the food in the back of the truck.

As soon as the children saw us coming they chased the truck, while we were parking, we had to keep them back or they would have got killed. In the end David and some of us jumped out and held them back, I had never seen anything like it in my life.

Then we told the children to form two lines, one for girls another for boys. We had to make sure they were two meters away from the truck while handing out the food else they would push and get squashed by the truck.

Flight called more coming soon!!

Hannah
x

Day 10 - Out in the country

Good evening


OK, well...where to start in this crazy place of Cambodia! And when I say crazy, I really do mean crazy! In a good way of course! All the sights, all the smells, all the people, all the traffic, all the markets, all the street stalls, I don’t think I can actually explain the full content in which this country functions but it somehow works. It’s been quite a touching couple of days for me. Last night, we stayed in one of the villages on the Vietnam boarder. It’s only really hit me now as I’m lying in my bed, with the light on and air con on full, how difficult it really can be for people out in remote areas as we were.


On the way back to Phnom Penh, we stopped off at two other villages along the way. They were very remote and desolate villages surrounded by miles and miles, as far as you could see, of rice paddy fields with the odd palm tree scattered in between. We passed many animals, including cattle, pigs, goats, ducks and water buffalo (which the children would look after). These were all extremely difficult to take pictures of when bouncing around in a mini bus, driving along a raised footpath! This was also quite a hair-raising experience at times. On one occasion, we had to try and pass another vehicle which just seemed impossible, but these crazy Cambodian drivers will go anywhere. I used a typical dad trait here, when I advised everyone to sit on the higher side of the bus to keep it from rolling over. Haha


When entering the villages, when we visited the schools, the children would often be lined up, as if on best behaviour to greet us. They had a look of anticipation and excitement on their faces. The older people were fascinated by the colour of our skin and blonde hair that they would want to touch or stroke our skin. This sounds intimidating but I really didn’t for one minute feel uncomfortable, as they were so humble and gentle. The CFC (Care for Cambodia) leaders would normally start by doing a very simple song with the children. This would include actions that the children had to follow. This was used as an ice breaker activity so that the children felt happier to communicate with us. After this, we played games to get to know the children better. You have no idea how the simplest of things like playing catch would make a child smile so much.
In one of the villages we went to the day previously, one boy was on crutches. I later found out on the way home, his story. When he was younger, he had a fever. His parents didn’t know how to make him better but remembered that the boys’ uncle used to give his pigs an injection when they were ill and it would make them better. So they decided to give their son the same injection as the pigs. This caused the boy to lose his ability to use his legs. This was a very upsetting thing to hear and the bus to the next village was very quiet. Chris said that maybe we could look into raising money to buy the boy a bike, as he said that he would be able to ride it and go to University. Up to now he wasn’t able to go to University.


We gave the children, from the villages on the way home, jelly sweets and bread as a gift from CFC. They were so grateful, their little faces lit up when we gave them their sweets. I personally found them....not nice!


Earlier in the week, I found one of the villages particularly moving. The children just seemed to want to connect to us quicker and in the games and craft activities that they would almost fight to hold our hands. The whole village came to see us. One girl, who was 19, really caught my attention. Every time I turned around, she would be looking at me. One time, Jess and I were cornered by a number of older women and children, all speaking Cammi, touching our faces and our hair. As I looked out over the crowd, the girl, whose name I can’t remember, was looking from a distance. She seemed very shy and very fascinated. I noticed that she was very covered up in clothing and I asked why. Apparently, she wanted to keep her skin as pale as possible, as it is seen as a sign of wealth in Cambodia. I found this so sad as the 19 year old had hardly anything and was living in a little hut with her one year old daughter and her mother in the middle of nowhere. I asked if she would like me to french plat her hair, as i had platted mine that day, but she shook her head. I knew she would have loved to have had it done really but she was obviously too nervous. When we left, I asked if I could have a picture taken with her. After much persuasion from her family, she agreed. I showed her the picture afterwards and she had the biggest smile. It was a very happy moment for her and myself. She had always wanted to be an actress and this for her, was a glimpse of hope.


After leaving the villages, many children would run after the bus. I found the heat in the villages really hard to bear for long periods and getting back on the bus was a very relieving moment. I found the children running slightly awkward for two reasons. One: The children and their families couldn’t escape the heat like we could, and Two: How could they possible want to run in such hot conditions without shoes on their feet!


Woah....OK Sam, Its three minutes to twelve, I think I have to be ready by nine o’clock tomorrow so I better stop babbling now. Over the road in the very posh house the light are off, and right next to the hotel in the slum-like area, I can see out of my window, they have just pulled their piece of plastic sheeting over the window. I assume that this means it’s time for bed.
I wish I could write more and tell you about the craziness of this diverse country, but I have a feeling I would be here all night. I will never forget my experiences I have had in Cambodia. It truly is a very special place with VERY special people.

Sam x

Day 9 - In da village

Hi its Frank here finally, it has been a very moving day here in Cambodia. We had to get up very early to travel to a village only 60km from the Vietnam border, where we were staying overnight. This journey would take us 3 hours and involve a ferry ride over the Mekong river. While we were waiting to board, we were all of a sudden surrounded by people selling lots of different things.

We got to the village and had lunch which they had made for us then we were showed two villages that are part of the edukid programme. At the first village I met a boy who was on crutches, this is because when he was 4 years old he became ill and his mother said that he should take some pills and see a doctor but his father said no so his uncle talked to the father and said that when his pigs got ill he give them an injection. So he was given the injection and from that lost the use of his lower legs.

When we had finished visting villages we went back to the village we were staying at where we had dinner and then when to bed. The house we were staying in was better then we were thinking it was going to be with beds but same still had to sleep on the floor. Me being a outdoor boy was hopeing to be outside on not in a room with lights!

I think staying in the village was a great think to do because it showed us what it is like to live in the middle of no where every day of are lives.

Bye Bye

Frank

Day 9 - A slower pace

And then it was quiet. Well as quiet as it can be with a two-year old around. 9 of us have gone to brave the toughest part of our trip. 5 of us remain to have maybe the gentlest part of our trip.



Myself, Stan and Solly have stayed due to the village stay-over being in a malarial area and Rach and Kev have stayed with us to share the care of the boys and also to have maybe a few hours of actual holiday time to themselves. We have had a restful easy day of market, tuk-tuks, cafes, elephant ride, sleeps and lazy conversation.


Maybe a good time to take stock and look ahead too.


The stay so far has been a slow journeying, an introduction to a truly developing country. No longer grinding poverty and dirt track instead of tarmac in the capital city. In just four years since I was last here there has been so much growth, Phnom Penh seems like any other large East Asian city on the surfce. Blink though (as our young people have been doing) and the poverty is shocking. There is hope in the progress but still so much to change.


The group are beginning to grapple with these issues, to wonder at the gaps between skyscrapers and wooden huts, between SUVs and cycles, between $1.50 a day wages and big business. But most of all why was that monkey so fat? (see day 7). As the group has visited more and more remote areas, more and more questions and wonderings are emerging. The “Well this isn’t too bad a city” of a week ago is becoming “Well, what is this place?” Why did all those people die? Why are limbless people having to beg? Why are some things sooo cheap and others expensive? Why are the villages full of wooden huts on stilts? Is is OK to buy DVDs for $1.50 in the markets... oh, my mistake, no one’s asking that one!!


So tomorrow they return from the most rural and undeveloped villages they will visit. Friday we go and take food and spend some time with children living on the local rubbish dump. I think these final days will crystallise the different things that are affecting each young person and am really looking forward to being with them again and seeing where each one takes this journey.

Debs

Day 8 - A city of staggering contrasts

After a hot shower and cooked breakfast, we leave the protective cocoon of our double glazed hotel room and start Tuesday by taking our air conditioned Mercedes minibus to a second impoverished village on the outskirts of the city.

It’s surprising me a lot, quite how quickly we’ve all become accustomed to the entirely different way of city life here. As we weave our way through the early morning traffic, we pass thousands of scooters, some with a family of 5 or 6 on the back, others carrying an array of different precariously balanced goods. We also dodge the numerous glossy black Lexus and Hummer people carriers - the outward symbol of power and affluence. Despite the obvious and immense differences to home, Phnom Penh is a lot more developed than I had expected. Things do seem to be developing very rapidly; tarmac roads and traffic lights are new in the past few years, designer labels are commonplace, and many cultural aspects of life, such as leaving your footwear outside a building or shop when entering it, are being ridden roughshod over by the force of progress and westernisation.

For once, our driver seems to obey the traffic lights and road markings, in stark contrast to most other journeys we’ve made. Indeed, as I jumped on the back of a moto last night, paying the driver less than a dollar to be driven across town, haring the wrong way down a one way street weaving in and out of oncoming traffic, I wondered again quite how quickly it’s possible to become immune to such craziness. I’ve only ridden pillion on a motorbike once before coming here, and then I was terrified, but here I am now engaging in this extreme sport on a daily basis.



The village we are visiting is a relatively new one; the inhabitants are former slum dwellers forcibly relocated by the government seven year ago to new land on the city outskirts after their old homes were burnt to the ground – twice. Family groups have each been allocated a small 7 x 15m plot and have built corrugated iron huts from whatever they managed to salvage from the remains of their previous homes. Surprisingly, this enforced relocation was described as a blessing by some of the villagers we spoke to rather than with words of sadness, pain and remorse I’d expected.

One of the students that Edukid has supported through university and medical school lives in this village, as does the lovely young woman who is responsible for the education program in all 56 villages that Care for Cambodia works in.



Although it’s the summer holidays, as we arrive three groups of different aged children are all having English lessons. The little ones are singing, whilst a group of nine or ten year olds are spelling by rote, excitedly using a new laptop which has just arrived from England.



The village classroom is in one of the homes; the family sleep upstairs. It is one of the nicest buildings in the village, but together with the outbuildings and yard, it covers three plots of land. These small plots were selling for about US $10,000 each a year or so ago, a figure that is fantastically unobtainable to anyone living here. It’s clearly only been possible to build like this with a lot of outside help.

During the few short hours of our visit, we interview one of the older students who has just finished university. We also play ball games and do some craft work with some of the younger children. I really am becoming quite a dab hand at friendship bracelets!



One of the main reasons for coming here today is to give out school packs to several children recently sponsored by supporters back home. The fluorescent pink and blue rucksacks each contain a school uniform - a pair of trousers, shirt and belt, exercise books, pens, a ruler, eraser, protractor, and pair of compasses. It’s only with these items that the kids can attend the local primary and secondary schools which are about a kilometre away. The excitement on the faces of the children receiving these packs is infectious.



Whilst there’s a lot of progress being made, it’s a long way from where it could be though. Initially when some families moved here, they were so poor that they sold their small plot of land for just $300 as they couldn’t afford to build on it. With this money, they built homes above the rancid river, but they are now again facing eviction for having built in the wrong place.



Today was the hottest day we’ve experienced so far; mainly because the skies were free from cloud and haze which has somewhat protected us from the heat thus far, and so before lunch we head back to the city.



Back in our palatial hotel rooms, we wash off the dirt and grime of poverty, before heading out for lunch. The heat has got to us, and since we can afford to escape from it so easily, we head for another cool, air-conditioned cafe.



There’s something about this trip that really is feeling uncomfortably like a holiday. Back home we’re quite used to hearing and talking about abject poverty. But it’s a very different thing to experience it in such close proximity. Perhaps the hardest part of this visit so far has been the contrast between it, and such outward signs of wealth.

A question that is haunting me now, is whether I’m allowing it to get under my skin or not?

Kevin

Day 7 - A challenging day

Monday began with a relaxed morning and a bit of a lie in. After we were all ready, the group set off for Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. This is something that I really wanted to do as although it would be distressing, I feel it is important to find out about the not so distant history of the country to enable us to better understand the present. The museum is located in the former S-21, which until the mid ‘70’s was a school.

I feel this makes the actions which occurred here even more violent and disturbing. As before it was full of screaming and bloodshed, it was full of innocent laughter and playing. It is still evident that it was a school as there are still playing bars, these were used as an instrument of torture by the Khmer Rouge.


Everything that was used for fun was turned into something sadistic. S-21 was used for detention, interrogation, inhuman torture and murder. The museum is divided into four sections, Section A shows the rooms used for torture on three levels, these contain a bare metal bed.


Section B shows the photos of some of the people held there. There are countless photographs, on one side of one board I counted 65 faces, and there are many, many boards and some contained more than I counted. The faces included men, women, children and some women were holding their babies. There are also some shots of them after interrogation and killing; this was very upsetting for all of us. On the next level was information about the hundreds of different mass grave sites. On a few of these where it said “pits” and “bodies found” it says “tens of thousands”, but on others it simply says “too many to count”. The list was endless. It also had information on how the country was working at the time; rural and in cooperatives, not families.

Section C covered three floors, the first two floors contained hundreds of tiny cells – 0.8 x 2m. The first floor was made of brick, and the second of wood. The second floor also had barbed wire from top to bottom of the balcony to stop people from committing suicide by jumping. The third floor had a story of someone’s thoughts who visited Cambodia in ‘78 and also thoughts from now. His opinion had changed dramatically as before he agreed and now he sees the error in his judgement. One thought of his that stayed with me was “was anything a coincidence or was it all planned”, as he had met someone he had known from the city which at the time proved to him that all the city dwellers had not been killed and a lone man not wearing the regulation clothes travelling along a road.

Section D contained paintings of whipping, and babies being taken away from mothers, also there were some of the torture weapons, and bones and skulls.

This was a terrible time for Cambodia and i think it will always affect the country. There did not seem to be any reason for this brutality and this will make it harder for the country to move on from this time in their past. The museum is very important for teaching and the memories of the people held there and at the other security offices. The museum is obviously in need of renovation, as the ceiling are falling down, however how would this be done without disrespecting the memories as it is now as it was left.

After a light lunch, we put our challenge into action, we had to make a video which took up the whole tape, we had to be both in front and behind the camera at some point. And we had to get from the Russian market to the Wat Phnom temple and back to the hotel by 6:30pm when it gets dark. When we got to the temple, we saw an ELEPHANT!


We went up the hill to the temple.


When we were up there Sam held and released a tiny bird. In the temple there were hundreds of gianormous candles and flashing neon lights as a halo around the Buddha. It was rather colourful and a bit like an arcade. When we left, Gemma and I decided to release a bird too and ours were a bit nibbly.


On our way down, we saw MONKEYS!


There was a proper fat one.


I personally thought it was a bit mean as the reason some of them were fat and unable to climb trees is because they are always getting fed by tourists. We found tuk-tuks and headed home.

Geri.

Day 6 - Church and splashing around in the river

We woke up at 7:30am, lovely and early! As we had to be at CFC (Cafe For Cambodia) at 9am for church. Surprisingly we arrived a little earlier. Worship was held in a room with a cross, guitar and keyboard at the front.

We started with singing “light of the world”, “Over the Mountains and the Sea”, I was so surprised that they sang songs that we sing at “Inspire” and “Spring Harvest”! Also the children had such a strong faith, they were so happy and really believed everything they were singing and when everyone prayed all of CFC prayed out loud together, and the children just didn’t stop it seemed that they had so much to thank God for.

When we were singing, the room was just filled with voices, it was magical and very emotional, and Gemma started crying. Then we sang two songs to them, which were “Lord I lift Your Name on High” and “Blessed be the name of the Lord”.

After worship we played with the children, one of them French platted Gemma’s, Jess’s and my hair. Another girl did Sam’s hair. Others went and played volley ball, we had England Vs Cambodia match! England badly lost! We also brought games for the children to play with. Then we went and ate lunch with them!

In the afternoon we went to a village, which was an hours’ drive from the city. When we got there it was total different from what we had already experienced. All the houses were on stilts and they would have 1 room upstairs where a family including 6 children would sleep. Underneath the room would be were the family spent most of their day, as they would eat and play underneath the house.

When we reached the village the children smiled, but it was hard to communicate as they knew very little English. So we got out Scooby strings and made bracelets, but they just wanted us to make them for them. We brought a blow up dingy and the children had great fun playing in the dirty river.

Whilst I was with the children It made me think that some of them will never know what we know. In England we have such luxury, they will never know how other people live, some of them may never see Phnom Penh, which is the capital of Cambodia and the closest city to them.


But yet even though they don’t know what the rest of the world is like,they still have bright big eyes that shine, and beautiful smiles that just make you think wow your just so happy.

As I stood by the river that the children had been playing in I saw a man washing his cows, and women bathing. It really did feel like I was on another planet. How can they have such different lives to us, it really does seem impossible, but yet it is so true.

One more thing I have to mention is that on the way home from the village we stopped at a service station. Rachel went to the loo and me and the older Rachel waited to use the loo (as there was only 1 toilet). However when Rachel tried to get out she couldn’t as the lock was stuck, we tried pulling the door pushing the lock back in, then we called for backup and asked Kevin and Michael to help, it was quite amusing watching, in the end Kevin left to go and ask someone who works in the service station, as he left Rachel then realised that you had to press a button to release the lock! It was the funniest thing ever, and we called Kevin back. :)

Hannah xx

Day 5 - A relaxing day

Today was a more relaxing day in Cambodia. After a nice lie in after a busy Friday, we headed off to the "Russian Market" in Phnom Penh. We thought an hour in the market would be enough but we ended up spending the rest of the morning and afternoon at the market. It was amazing! You could buy designer clothes, DVDs, games etc. really cheap. As well as this, we could buy all sorts of Kamer souvenirs such as wooden elephants and bed throws. Jess was defiantly the big shopper of all of us, coming away from the market with about 6 bags! We had great fun bartering in the market. I bought a painting which was originally £15, but I managed to barter the price down to £10. What a bargain! As we went around the market and the city, there were so many different and "interesting" smells. Raw squid and fish is not a great smell.

During our time at the market, we saw many poor and homeless people on the streets begging. One man was very disabled, using a skateboard to pull himself along the floor. It was very sad and upsetting to see.

We finished our time at the market at the insect stall where you could buy spiders etc. to eat! Chris told us that we couldn't try any of them until the last day of the trip, in case our stomachs complained.

In the evening, we took a "Took Took" to the Royal Palace where the King of Cambodia lives. It was very amazing and the area was more set up for tourists, not like where we are situated. There were many people lining the streets, some very rich and some very poor. We couldn’t really see the palace very well at night, but hopefully we will be visiting it next week during the day. We had dinner in "Bopha" which is a restaurant alongside the Mekong river.

We had traditional Kamer food such as Curry, stir-fry and Lok Lak. Rachel ate water buffalo. While we ate there was traditional dancing accompanied by a Marimba player. I particularly enjoyed this and found it very interesting to see and hear traditional Kamer music. I found out half way through the meal that I was being watched by a Gekko (lizard)

who was relaxing on a lantern.

Up to now, I have been amazed by the culture of Cambodia. It is so diverse and different from home. I was surprised to see the contrast between the buildings as we went down the streets. One would be very posh, but then next to it would be a Slum. It was very odd to see. I am looking forward to going to the villages next week and helping the children.

Ash

Day 4 - Back in the orphanage

Hello!

Well it’s been an eventful day here in Cambodia... one of the most exciting yet crazy days so far.

It was an early start today... early for me anyway (as the people who know me will know, I don't do mornings very well). We were heading off to CFC (Care for Cambodia) today and had to be there by 9:00am. This meant getting up at 7:30am. However by the time we had all rolled out of bed at different times and decided which very precarious looking moped to ride, we eventually arrived there 20 minutes late.

Being in CFC is one of the most amazing experiences i think i have ever had. All the children of all ages were so enthusiastic about meeting us and so happy that we were back for the second day. Some would come up to you and grab your hand and just want you to come and play with them. They could even remember all our names which was a very good effort on their part.

The morning was planned out for us. English teaching with the young ones for an hour with games to make them actually listen. Today they were learning the different items of clothing. socks, coats, t-shirts, shorts etc. then we all played a game with boys vs. girls to put these items of clothing on when they were called out. Unfortunately the boys won... but only through cheating carried out by Johnny.

Then the Children sang to us, two english songs they had learnt through Johnny and Jill (volunteers with Edukid who have been working out here for 8 weeks). They had actions and everything.

After this i went off with Hannah, Geri and Chris to help 7 of the children with their further english on the laptops brought over by Johnny and Jill. They loved this, it was a very simple programme which helped them to find the first letter of the images they could see... for example we had pictures of carrots and they had to type in the letter C. I didnt think this could be so exciting for any person to do this but they refused to turn them off when lessons were over as they were having so much fun.

After this we just chilled with the children, playing games and making bracelets from the day before. Again we had to leave as its was extremely hot and we all needed some rest. This is always a very sad time of the visit.

We then had the whole afternoon to explore the city which is totally manic and very crazy. We headed off for some tea and again chose to go on mopeds. We all arrived safely but some had a more exciting journey than others (we will talk about this at a later date).

Back at the hotel we had a quiet worship time together which lead to a calm disscussion (calm due to the fact we were given ground rules from Rachel and Debs!) We recieved a phone call from the hotel manager inviting us out for a cambodian evening (again this will be spoken about at a further date) but it was very exciting for everyone who chose to go.

We will keep you posted :) speak soon!

gemma xxx

Day 3 - Work starts!

Wow what a full day. Quite a number of us are still jet lagged, so it took us a while to get going this morning. Rachel was the third person in the party to get ill. So far we have been lucky, as everyone has just been ill for a morning/afternoon.

We spent the morning discussing our plans for the week, and having worship. Then it was all hands to the pump to get all the craft things ready in time for our trip to the orphanage - this will be our main way of getting alongside the Khmer people and understanding the issues they face. Jess, and Rachel went to the internet café with me to do the blogs and download pictures. Two hours later, five computers and two internet cafes later, we had only managed to do a very basic blog. Broadband hasn’t arrived here so to send pictures takes forever.

We caught tuk-tuks over to the orphanage. The sights were amazing. There are mopeds pulling huge trailers of metal piping, or whole families on one bike. We past little run down shacks and run down shops, and go through the newly built area with modern buildings, the new supermarket with escalators (people travel from miles around just to try it out). Sometimes we drive past the huge “snooker halls” or “Kareoke bars”, that are not what they sound at all. Usually they are huge red light buildings, with expensive cars outside.


On arrival at the orphanage both us and the children meet each other with great excitement and awkwardness. What do we say? How do we behave? The formalities seemed to make it worse, but then we got the crafts and games out and suddenly there was screaming and laughter and instant success.


There are 44 children at the orphanage. Most are orphans, or from poor or abusive backgrounds. Some have HIV. The centre is so happy and caring it feels detached and miles away from the life outside it’s gates. I met a young boy and his sister. There older brother died two weeks ago. It was so sad. He had contracted meningitis and by the time they got him to a hospital he was on a life support. The staff at the orphanage took it in three hour shifts to pump his oxygen manually. It went on for four days before he died. The brother and sister showed no outward signs of being affected. I can’t quite get my head round it, but as one of the staff explained, “death is a regular thing in Cambodia”. I suppose it is just part of life. I am looking forward to interviewing people for our filming, as there are many amazing stories to be told. The laughter and play is nice, but there is a depth and strength to the people here that they hide well.


We left there as best friends, laughing and waving. We are back tomorrow and now have a full itinerary planned. It’s going to be a very full week. We are back here tomorrow and then hopefully off to our first village on Saturday.

With everyone dripping and red faced from the heat we head out to eat. It was air conditioned. I can’t tell you how nice that was. Small portions though, we had to order two meals each just to fill up – just as well it was cheap here.

Chris

Day 2 - A relaxing day getting over the journey

We all woke up late after a long journey; some people like Geri didn’t get up till 11. As we came down for breakfast the first thing that hit us was the heat (it’s slightly warmer over here than back home). At breakfast we saw our first glimpse of the Cambodian culture a monk (there’s loads of them here dressed in orange) each morning they go door to door asking for money so they can feed themselves in return the person who gives them money gets a blessing. All the males at some point in their lives will become a monk.

The first thing we did was go for a walk down the street we were staying at to get to know our surroundings. Along our way we saw loads of street stands, people selling anything to get some money. The scariest thing though was the roads. In Cambodia there are no road laws. There are one way streets but people drive both ways down it so the traffic is a bit hectic people just drive. Crossing the road is always fun as people just start walking across the road, and the traffic just goes around them.

The main way we get around the city is tuk-tuks. They are mopeds that pull a carriage for four people. Being in the traffic is even scary as the drivers just drive weaving in and out of each other. Our first trip in a tuk-tuk lead us to the central market which was soooo busy - puts Barnstaple market to shame. The slightest look and they’re ready to pounce on you with their cambodian charm. I personally didn’t fall for it, but you always get one and the one was Geri and before she knew it she was trying on 10 pairs of sunglasses.

We then went on to a shopping centre which was way posh and made me feel bad because we had just came from the market where people hardly have any money, to this shopping centre that has an arcade in it and everything for the people who had money to waste. It was way weird seeing the two very different lives in the same area. At lunchtime I was the first one to need to use the toilet so off I went, when I got there I was confronted with like a hole in the ground and a bucket of water! – “so you do your thing in the hole then tip the water down afterwards”. It was an ok experience apart from sharing the bathroom with ant like creatures.

Back at the market we saw fried spiders and locusts.

Rachel blogging out

Day 1 - Good Morning from Cambodia!

We arrive at the airport, and being my first time EVER in an airport I was, to say the least… fascinated. The various stages of security and procedures were all very exciting to a first-timer, and I was loving every second. It STILL hadn’t sunk in that in 24 hours I was going to be at the other side of the world. Maybe it would hit home when the plane took off? No… It really didn’t.

At 8.30 we boarded the flight to Mumbai, after stopping outside the door to touch the outside of the plane that would be our home for the next 9 hours. “Can we open the window?” I said casually as I fanned myself… “No Jess…. “… Oops!

After the SINGLE most amazing journey of my life and various times of me opening the window shutter to look outside (disturbing EVERYBODY’S sleep) to turn around saying ‘WOOOW…This is the BEST THING EVER!’ we arrived at Mumbai at 11.20 pm [India Time].. this being around 5.30 pm in England.

The Indian Airport staff were strict… confiscating Ashley’s NEW pack of 8 AA batteries and the majority of the groups water supply. After a 2 hour queue to pass through security. and a compliment about my watch from the lady scanning me for weapons… we were off…rushing down the corridors to the next flight. The only part of India I experienced was the short gusts of hot air that hit between the doors and the plane…

It STILL hadn’t quite hit me that we were SO far away from home.

The 5 hour flight to Bangkok began, and what was to be the most uncomfortable sleep of my life. At 7a.m. we arrived in Bangkok [Thai Time]. With 6 hours to waste we made our way to the “MEMBERS LOUNGE”, grabbed lunch in an….INTERESTING… Chinese restaurant during which Chris found a small animal in his soup, and I mistook the sugar for salt. Oh dear. We were all absolutely shattered, and crashed out on every sofa available in the Lounge after tucking in to the COMPLIMENTARY popcorn.

At 12.30pm we left Bangkok on the third plane, the smallest of the three. The taking off and landing were the most exciting thing in HISTORY for me at least… and I managed to dash to the window seat on every flight.

Phnom Penh… Picked up by a retro minibus and the fact we were abroad finally hit home. After a 40 minute ride in the bus, and the most extraordinary views… We arrived at the hotel. The single most divine cold shower was had, by this time we were ALL dying for one. After the shower I discovered that the drain was OUTSIDE the shower door… meaning all my clothes were wet! HOW EXCITING!


Time to relax….falling asleep at 7pm… and waking up at 10 am the next day… 1 hour after the meeting for breakfast! OOPS!

Talk soon! [Joshua 1 : v 9]

Jess x

Cambodia trip 2009 daily updates

On the 4th August a group of young people from North Devon arrive in Cambodia. They have been saving for nearly two years.

Their trip is focused on three things:

• To experience what life is like for children living in poverty. They plan to visit an orphanage, a city slum, and some rural villages.


• Secondly, it is to seek out God within all this suffering. They hope that by exploring the issues, and experiencing the conditions, they will find answers.


• Thirdly, it is to film and promote their findings on their return home. By recording their emotions, and showing the issues they encounter they hope to make things more personal. The group want to make sure their trip makes a difference to Cambodian children’s lives.

To support the young people by booking them to share their findings with your group, just send us an e-mail via the contact section on the website.

To support the children they are visiting go straight to the red donation button at the top of the screen.

Thank you for following their trip. Below is their written unedited daily blog.