Friday, 31 May 2013

Chilling at Phuket, Thailand

It’s great to see the sea again, put on the swimsuit and soak up the sun.  Took the opportunity to venture out around the islands off the coast, snorkelling, canoeing, swimming and spent the night on an island, waking up to the sound of only the birds singing.  It’s a beautiful thing!!!  And having nearly a whole beach to myself for a few hours in the morning, what a way to appreciate nature at its best.  It has been a great few days of relaxation .... time to move on .... and I get to see my baby girl!!! Yay!!!
me on the Phang Nga Bay Day Trip

bay around James Bond Island

Elephant Trekking
snorkelling at Koh Racha

Panak Island Phang Nga Bay
Karon Bay, one of Phuket's beaches



Saturday, 25 May 2013

Goodbye Cambodia

And it's time to farewell another group of fantastic people that I have met.  Peter and Yim and the villagers and students of Phum Veal.  And to say goodbye to Cambodia, a country striving to move ahead and leave behind the injustices and brutality of the past, yet still entangled with the consequences and the memories of what corruption and hate can do to common man.  May peace, prosperity and integrity govern and reign in this great land.
Yim


Intermediate class

beginners class
The Killing Fields - a sobering reminder of persecution and injustice


Wednesday, 22 May 2013

Everyday memories of Cambodian village life ....


The simple necessities of life; water, firewood, feed for the stock, and rice for the family.  An open fire for cooking under a lean to, a scoop for washing and carrying water from the urns, huge stacks of rice straw, and large bags of rice stored to last through until the next harvest.  Water buffalo and cows sheltering under the houses at night, with fires creating smoke to fend off the mosquitoes, dogs roaming around, chickens and roosters free range in every backyard, dirt roads and open drains.  Oxcarts heading off with a load of buffalo manure stored in the corner of the yard, to fertilise the ricepaddies ready for planting after the rains have come, cows led off for a few hours in the day to find some grass to graze on, and naked little children running around and playing in the yards of their homes.  A world away from life as I knew it, yet how quickly it has become life as I know it.   I guess it’s an example of how experiences change the way we view the world.  Farewell Phum Veal, I am richer for having been here.

Village Children


Village Pagoda

Cows off to graze

Neighbour working in his backyard

Off to work

ploughing ready for planting

Water Supply
Today I have my clothes on! Usually they are off!!
Water Buffalo and the fire to ward off the mossies!

Backyard feeding



Sunday, 12 May 2013

A Three Day Adventure to Kep


A five hour drive brought us to the seaside fishing town of Kep located in the Gulf of Thailand.  Not a surf beach, or particularly clean by NZ standards, but a great getaway for a few days.  Had the best feed of seafood; prawns, fish, crab and squid right on the waterfront, and a great walk in the jungle area of the National Park overlooking the coastline.  And I can’t forget to mention the cute little bamboo hut I stayed in up in the treetop.  Like Robinson Crusoe!!!
My little bamboo hut in the treetops

Surrounding area in the hills

Kep Waterfront

Sunset from our lodge

Durian fruit

Buddhist monks by the crab market

Friday, 3 May 2013

Four Winds Cambodia Project


The Computer and English Literacy Learning Centre (CELL Centre)  is where I have been helping out in every day except Friday.  The CELL Centre is a place where students from poor families, come to class in the afternoons after their government school classes have finished, and  those in the top group, come on Sundays.  Here they learn English and Computer and it is funded by Four Winds Cambodia. I have been helping the teacher with his computer studies on Microsoft Office in the mornings, and in the classes each afternoon  with grammar, pronunciation and spelling.  It is good fun, mainly because the young people who are attending are there because they want to learn, and try really hard.  They may not get it right every time but they give it a go.
The last couple of days I have seen some other things that Four Winds Cambodia do.  One is help the poor with healthcare and medical assistance. While Peter runs a day clinic from his house each day in the mornings, help is also given as the need arises.  This week we visited a man in his 30’s, dying from TB with respiratory disease.  Breathing had become difficult, so the Project gave money to the family to purchase some oxygen for him.  He was given other medication to relieve some side effects of the drugs he was on, and we heard today he had some sleep last night for the first time in two weeks.  We also visited a widow with a small child who had lost her husband 6 weeks ago.  She is living in a small hut by the river stopbank (dike), that leaks when it rains.  The project is funding and building her a new  home.  To those who give and support Four Winds Cambodia, know that your money is making a difference in the lives of the poor in Cambodia, and they are very grateful for the help.

CELL Centre

CELL Centre Class

Widows Hut

Project Garden