Some big temple thing!

Finally we got around to going to visit Angkor Wat as well as a few others. We decided a guide was probably a good idea as well as a tuk tuk for the day. Very happy we had both.
Our day started very early for a 5 am pickup in order to watch the sun rise over Angkor Wat. Unfortunately this is not the best time of year for those spectacular sun rises but it was really cool to go, along with about 1000 others.



There was no chance of getting near the reflection pool, that photo would have to wait.
We then left Angkor Wat to the masses and went for breakfast at a little shop. A young girl trying to tell postcards asked where we were from. When we replied Australia she promptly rattled off the prime minister ( had to update her to Kevin) the leader of the opposition, Tony Abbott, our population etc. All very robotic until she said; "Julia Gillard, she a ranga!" Funny!
Had the strongest iced coffee I've ever had. The spoon almost stood up.



After breakfast we did The entrance gates to Angkor Thom and Bayon Temple with all the carved faces.






Both amazing places and our guide knew how to avoid the crowds and show us some special things.
Then it was onto Ta Phrom (tomb raider) temple. You could almost smell Angelina running around shooting at stuff.
Our guide pointed out a carving of great interest. Keep in mind these were done around 1100 AD.



Can you see the dinosaur? What gives with that? Even our guide had no answer there.
Here are a few special tree photos from Ta Phrom.












Cool hey! It's no wonder it was used as a movie set. It feels like there would still be so many hidden entrances and treasures. Here is one more that our guide pointed out.


And of course here is the obligatory Angkor Wat, reflection pool image.



just to finish my temples blog, here is a sneaky image I captured of a monk. I stalked him a bit but the orange is such a lovely contrast to the stone.



uke complete me!

Location:Battambang,Cambodia

Temples,tuk tuks and quad bikes!

So most people associate Cambodia with that huge temple know as Angkor Wat. Allegedly it's magnificent and a must see. But you know me, I like to see and do other things not just the touristy stuff.
Our accommodation was able to book us on the sunset quad bike tour so off we go.
When we arrive we got a two minute intro on the bike and asked if we needed any further training. Then the only other advice we got was, in Australia you drive on left, here on right. Stay in middle and move over for truck!!!
So we just rode straight out of the gate onto the roads toward the open country but not before we got our helmets and face masks.



Off we went. The guide rode an off road solo while we two followed behind. I was behind Sue and I can tell you those quad bikes kick up a lot of dust.



We got off the main roads and travelled through small villages and rice fields, very nice scenery with all the children waving. You just had to dodge the patches of buffalo poop.
We visited a lovely monastery and met with some cheeky locals.



Like our wheels?



Meet the local poopers.
Our guide made us stop and pose for a puddle. Sue thought he said go easy through it for the photo.



I thought he said to go fast.



Now I had the water to mix with the dust. Lovely. So after hanging in the rice fields for a bit we headed back. Was a great afternoon and at $28 each you really can't complain about that.
Tomorrow it's off to visit some temple around here they all keep talking about!

Uke complete me!

Location:Siem Reap

Peace home complete and blessed

Fortunately for us mouse of the peace home was already completed when we arrived. So once the floors were nailed down and the walls up there was not much more to be done.
These are the two boys who's home it will now be. They are so cute. When we arrived each day they quickly ran up to welcome us and sompiahed as did their parents.



Their mum was always smiling at us. She is aware we were her sponsors but at the same time we felt so humbled to be a part of their community and their home.

Once the house is complete the family do not live in it until it has been blessed by the Buddhist monks. We also paid for a sack of rice, some other cooking stuff, Mosquito nets, some floor matting and blankets and cushions and a bicycle(the monks may have paid for the bike )to be blessed and given to the family. All these items except the bike are placed in front of the monks and the family sit beyond it for the blessing.



Sue and I were invited to take an josh stick each and spend a minute of two in silence reflecting on the good we had done, had done for our ancestors and for others. How we have made good for ourselves and so on. Everyone else sat in silence. There are many people behind and to the side of us.
The blessing then began with the monks reminding the family that in receiving this they are to follow the five rules.
No gambling
No drinking
No smoking
The children must go to school
There will be no domestic violence.
I believe that was what he explained to us. They will continue to receive support from the monks as long as the family is good.
After the talking the monks went into musical prayer that went for some time. Lovely to be a part of and both Sue and I got emotional. Only problem was we had to be seated with our feet not pointed at the monks and in a deep sompai for the duration. Not a position I can easily do and the sweat poured off. Much to the amusement of the girls to my left. They took great delight in watching it drip from my nose.
We were then invited to place all the items in the arms of the family and I tied a piece of blessed string around the fathers wrist.



Here we are after the blessing with the extended family.



And here is the direct family. I really hope they enjoy the new home. By the way the monk in this photo plans to be a boxer once he finishes being a monk.



Here is there old one. Looks like a shelter from survivor.
After this we visited the children again and went to look at a few homes already built with the family growing crops. Any extra is taken to market.



If I have inspired anyone to do this I can put you in touch with Y Nol. There are many other projects too. We visited PAGE which is a centre for girls as well as an extensive sewing school set up in Siem Reap. I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to know you are really helping someone, actually meeting them not just sending money so some CEO can get rich. We plan to return and maybe do a spell in the language school teaching English.
Next blog, quad bikes through the rice fields.

uke complete me!

Location:20 osaphear,Siemreab,Cambodia

Peace home

For the past few days sue and I have been out in the community about 10 kilometres out of Siem Reap. As I mentioned prior for less money than my bike cost we sponsored a house to be built for a family with nothing.
The local Buddhist monks work tirelessly to help those in need with monthly food supplies and support. There is no centre link out here so if you have nothing you literally have nothing. Your children don't go to school,you survive day to day with malnourishment a serious problem. You cannot work as you have no way to get there and in many cases what little you have is lost by the gambling habit of the fathers. Alcohol and gambling are a major issue. This leads to a loss and anger which also leads to domestic violence as well as child exploitation to obtain money.
The monks work to help the families by providing food and putting in wells for water. If a family is proven to be good with no drinking,smoking,gambling or domestic violence then a better home is built for them, a bicycle given and the children sponsored to go to school so there will be a brighter future. Fathers farm the land around there homes to provide for their family. If the rules are broken then the family may lose the house or food supplies are stopped. It's harsh reality folks.
So our friends Pip and Michael have been here a couple of times, they sponsored a home last year and put us in touch with Y Nol, the Buddhist monk who works at the Life and Hope Association. And after much email chatter, here we are.
We were picked up at 7:30 and driven out on the bumpiest road imaginable to the peace home.
For 5 days a large group had been erecting it so all the frame and roof was up,just the floor to nail down and the walls to go up.



So with small hatchets we assisted in nailing down the floor boards.



That's Y Nol next to me. He is lovely. Did you know under the outer robes is another layer which includes a couple of pen pockets, mobile phone pocket and a large pouch for carrying wallet etc. At one time we were talking about how his name was spent and he turned around and goes 'Y Nol, that's how I spell it on Facebook!!! What tha!
Here's a couple more photos of the house and Susie hammering nails. When ever you bent a nail or hit your thumb you couldn't do the usual swear words, there's monks present, so I grunted a bit and Sue adopted the term, 'aw rats'. Y Nol would giggle every time.






Walls thatched and ready to go up.


Walls up. To make a window, they just saw a hole in the wall and wire on a smaller thatched cover,a wooden prop holds it open.


These guys were putting the roofing on. OH&S anyone!





For lunch we headed off to the local children's centre, where around 40 children live and are supported. Some are orphans, some given up by their families cause they can support them, some have only a mother or father and sadly some have HIV. They are the most beautiful children and everyone of them came to us individually,sompiahed and said hello. They also prostrated to the monks.
You just wanted to take them all home but also realised they were here, in there home, and being supported to go to school and have a future.



We had lunch with them in the mess room, I just didn't photograph them as I felt it was rude.
A number of the children then headed off to afternoon school.



Like children the world over, they were late for the bus!
Tomorrows blog we return to the peace home for the blessing. Spend time with the family and feel the emotions of giving.

Uke complete me!

Location:20 osaphear,Siemreab,Cambodia

Markets and food

After my last very confronting blog it's back to the fun stuff for a while. While in Phnom Penn (apparently pronounced plompen or similar) we visited a few of the local markets. The first one was the night market. No photos I'm afraid but this one can be missed. To begin the night there was major traffic. I love the police here, one was standing on a quietish corner blowing his whistle and waving his arms about, another had barriers blocking a major intersection with cars,bikes,tuk tuks going in every direction. The police man at that location was sitting on a bucket playing with his phone and ignoring the traffic chaos. I spotted another sitting down apparently completely occupied with checking his pens worked. Fantastic, I'm taking some of these ideas home.
The market itself was very busy and I mean really busy. Apparently all the locals go here for dinner and to buy new clothes. There were mats laid out and families sitting down together. Very few foreigners.
The next day we headed off to the Russian Market and central market. Both of which I can recommend.
Anybody want some pork?



Everything is set out in groups so all the stores selling clothing are together, then the souvenirs and the motorcycle repairs, the fruit and veg. It's just beautiful. We were there early so got offered 'best price' cause we were 'first customer' Yeah Right!
Haggling is not as easy here and the prices are not pushed up. They are very good at placing another item with yours then charging a little more but really it's a few bucks. Great T-shirts for about $7 and much better quality than Thailand.



In the centre at the Russian market is a number of food vendors who speak no english.



So Sue and i tried to see how we would go getting some Khmer noodles. I pointed to a woman sitting and said same. The vendor held up a tin of something with a questioning tone so I said yes.
The best Khmer iced coffee was given to me. The tin was condensed milk and she thought that is what I wanted.
Next Sue pointed and we were given Khmer noodles!
Spectacular!






The lady next to us giggled when I took a photo of my food! crazy tourists! The noodles were wonderful and we felt immersed in the market. Fish was being smoked in front of us. A woman was cutting up jack fruit. The market was vibrant and alive.



The central market is much bigger and we both bought rip off sneakers and some other cool clothes as well as Cambodian scarves. No doubt there will be more market visits before we leave.
Dary our tuk tuk driver dropped us at the foreign correspondence club for happy hour and dinner overlooking the Mekong.



While the crazy traffic goes by,including a huge political demonstration for their upcoming elections.



We have now left Phnom Penn electing to take the bus to Siem Reap. Quite a beautiful trip through the countryside. Next blog will be about the Peace Home we have sponsored and now helped build.

Uke complete me!

Location:20 osaphear,Siemreab,Cambodia

Welcome to Cambodia

Well hello readers,
Finally able to stop for a while to begin a new series of blogs. This time Sue and I are in Cambodia. As a few of you are aware this trip is not all shopping, pool lazing and massages. This time we are putting our money and muscle into improving someone else's life.
In a few days we will be building a Khmer house in a small village not far from Siem Reap. We donated the money for the house and now go help erect it. I can honestly say I spent more money on setting up my push bike than this home cost! It's such a small price to help out a community still recovering from the Pol Pot regime.
Speaking of which some of this blog may not be suitable for young children. Mums you can decide but I'll warn you prior.
Lets begin with the airport! Why is it when there is someone in the check in queue who's annoying you they always end up sitting next to you for the next 6 hours!! Just ask Sue on her return! Very funny.
Other than that a relatively uneventful flight with a quick stop in KL and before you know it........
Cool drinks,hot weather and a pool.




When our room was ready this was how it was presented.




Pretty hey? Until you have to remove all the flowers to lie down. Oh and did I mention we had our own plunge pool?




After a quick catch up on some sleep it was off in our tuktuk, with a lovely man named Dary. He became our personal driver for two days. Waited for us, waved to find us. Hugged Sue. He was a true gentleman and whenever we didn't understand each other we all just laughed.




WARNING!!!! serious stuff for a bit. maybe stop here if children present. Your choice if your happy to try to explain. There are some disturbing pictures.
A visit to Phnom Penn requires travellers to take some time to visit S21 and the Killing Fields. I had read a lot and to know these atrocities took place as I was a teenager growing up was frightening.
S21 was a school turned into a prison and torture was an everyday event. While walking around here the laughter of children can still be felt among the rooms turned into cells. The play equipment modified for torture. And just to give you an idea of the thousands tortured and held here only 7 survived.












The rules are clearly laid out.








Prisoners were chained to the wall, the ammunition box for ablutions.
And yet the school yard still looks like children should be running to class.




Outside the gates of S21 beggars congregated. Missing arms and legs from the land mines. It leads to a real dilemma. These people can't work but you're advised not to give money as it encourages them. It's confronting and real.
After S21 Dary took us on to the killing fields. Tortured prisoners were transported here and slaughtered on arrival. Their bodies thrown into mass graves.
Keep in mind the people we are talking about here are teachers,doctors,lawyers,police,professionals,anyone who wore glasses. I won't go into all the details why,except to say these people were a threat to Pol pots regime and were exterminated.




Each depression is a grave and everyday bones and clothing of the dead are exposed by the weather.




In complete silence we walked around the killing fields listening to a audio guide explaining everything. There were many people here today and yet so silent, all listening,reflecting.
The next photo is a tree where baby's were killed and for Sue and I both the final straw before the emotion was too much and we both sat holding each other in silence. To know people can do these things to each other.




Many of the graves have now been exhumed and the skulls placed in a giant stupa.












So what were you doing between April 17, 1975 till 1979 ? I was 11 to 15 years old. Probably arguing with my parents and complaining that the world wasn't fair. There are very few elderly in Cambodia now as they were all killed. It's a sobering blog I know but it's real and frightening. Tomorrows i'll be talking about the markets and deep fried spiders!!!! As we bus off to Siem Reap. For any mums tomorrow's blog will be a great story I promise. Perfect for bed time reading. Hug each other and be forever thankful for a wonderful life.
Uke complete me!

Location:Phnom Penn