Tuesday 26 July 2011

Isaac on the last day in Takeo


 Today we up for breakfast as per usual, unfortunately a few of our group were sick, the symptoms of which were horrible enough to make anyone feel sick. Today would be the day we say goodbye to the kids and none of us were in a rush to do so.  But we went anyway and hung out until lunch, which was had at the centre.

On our return to the orphanage later on, many of took on the role of distracting the kids while Brandon and Lynne filled up 150 water balloons to be used later on.  The distractions turned into a big lucky dip in which everyone was given two free prizes.

Brandon and I strategically placed the many water balloons on the upper level of the main building in preparation for the water bomb fight. Soon after, we had Lynne gather the kids in the open area in front of the upper porch. The massive water fight then began. The water bomb’s did not last very long so many resorted to the use of plastic bags and oversized bowl’s to soak each other with, the highlight of the conflict was when Brandon used a huge bowl (used to carry all 150 water bomb’s) full of water to drench Lynne Noack, she then had went home to dry off and change.  After the excitement of the fight had finished, many of us decided to play either soccer or chasey in the playground.

After a big group photo and a skipping competition, we performed the huge hokey pokey with the kids. This was very lively and some of the adults got a bit worried someone would get hurt. (nobody got hurt)

The extensive and emotional goodbyes that followed the hokey pokey lasted quite a while, and when we finally left the gates we all wanted to go back to see them again, and I am sure some of us one day will.

Sunday 24 July 2011

Photos are coming

We have nearly 5,000 photos - all of which have a great deal of meaning. Too many to post but they will all be available to the tour participants by the end of week 1, term 3 - most likely on 2 DVDs. Showing of photos will be in SS4 later this week. Look out for the notices. Laugh and cry together....

The journey home

Today we had two choices of how to spend our morning, to wake up early in order to go to the markets at 7am or the more popular choice of sleeping in, packing or just relaxing at the hotel. At 10:30 we set off for the airport, all very excited to come home to our family and friends.
The flight to Kuala Lumpur went smoothly and the time seemed to just fly by. When we arrived we all went in our separate ways to shop around and get refreshments and within an hour and a half we were all heading to our last flight, the one that would take us home. By the time we took off the sun was setting giving the right side of the plane an impeccable view.
We are currently on our way back to Perth and have 5 hours till we arrive with nothing but one laptop, one iPad and our iPods to keep us entertained.


-Megan

Temples anyone?

Day 14 21st of July


Today we had a reasonable sleep in compared to yesterday but we were out the door by 8.30, on our way to Ta Prohm. After a quick trip in the mini bus we arrived at our destination. The temple was made famous because Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie was filmed there. When we got there it was a small walk through the jungle to the main part, which is covered in moss and old trees growing through the buildings. Ta Prohm was very overwhelming because it was so secluded in the jungle. After taking many photos and exploring it we were off to another temple.

The drive between temples was beautiful because of the jungle and the architecture. We arrived at Takeo temple feeling nostalgic for the orphanage. The temple was amazing because we had to climb very steep steps to reach the top but the view was worth it. The carvings and details on the rocks were mesmerizing. After admiring the view we had to climb back down and go to lunch, so it was back into the mini bus. After a short trip we were back in the city and we went to the small restaurant where we had lunch. The place was quite small and it took a while for everyone's food to come. So long in fact that Jamie, Brandon and Isaac decided to eat chillies that were so hot Jamie had to stuff his face with rice.

After lunch we went back to the hotel for an afternoon nap so we were refreshed for our next outing. Feeling refreshed we piled into the mini bus and traveled to the museum. Whilst there we learned more about the temples we had seen and the Cambodia culture. Then we went back to My Home to get ready for dinner. That night we went to the Cambodian barbecue where we chose our meals of chicken, crocodile, beef and snake and then cooked it ourselves at the table. It was an odd experience but it was quite cool when you got the hang of it.

After dinner it was off to the night markets for some serious haggling and souvenir shopping. After the long day we had it was off the sleep and rest for the next day.

Hollie Gibbons

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Our first day in Siem Reap

Day 13, Wednesday 20th July

This morning, after a long awaited rest we were up at the crack of dawn in the hotel lobby, all in preparation for a viewing of Angkor Wat's world renowned sunrise. Sleepy eyed, we all managed to clamber into the bus and make our way to the historic temple complex.

Unfortunately for us, our passes required photo identification (This was four o'clock in the morning)

After the security process, ours and many other tour buses drove towards the temple. We sat and waited for the sun to rise ... we waited ... and waited. After a while, we were getting quite annoyed as we were up at this insane time in the morning, only to have intense cloud cover ruin the display. However, Lynne assured us that the usual sunrise is breathtaking, and that she would show us photos of her last visit. (Still doesn't make up for the 4 o'clock start!)

After a much needed breakfast of fresh bread and fruit, we began exploring the temple. The temple of Angkor Wat, a centuries year old complex is an astounding experience, mainly as a result of the visual presence, impact, the history and all of the ornate and intricate carvings located throughout. Highlights of the tour included, being blessed by a Monk, climbing the main central tower and observing the stories told through the carvings which surround the temple.

Once we had commenced our tour of the Angkor Wat temple complex, we continued onto another temple, a little further out, named Bayon. Here at Bayon, much like the temple of Angkor Wat, it is thick with history and intricate carvings. We climbed to the central tower, which is topped by an impressive four faced figure carved from stone. Once we were drenched with sweat and had cherry red faces we got back on the bus and were greeted with refreshing air conditioning.

After our tour of the second temple, a lucky four of us travelled via tuk-tuk back to the hotel ... In a tropical rain downpour. However, I must admit the refreshing rain was a change from sweltering humidity.

We went out for dinner that night in a nice little restaurant in the heart of Siem Reap. Once we had had our dinner, we continued onto the night markets (where many of us picked up some amazing bargains), then at long last back to the hotel.

We all slept extremely well that night ... Most likely due to the 4:00 a.m. start.

David Parker



Location:Siem Reap, Cambodia

Our Last Day

Our 16 day whirlwind tour of Cambodia has all but come to an end. We have done everything possible, particularly yesterday. Our day began on the bus and tuktuk at 8am.

We went off to a local orphanage in the jungle where the kids are taught a great deal but particularly painting and dancing. These children are in the care of an Australian lady from Melbourne and a Khmer man (and his wife) who was separated from his family in 1975 at the age of 5. When he was able to make his way back to Phnom Penh in 1979, he was wandering the streets and a surviving Uncle recognised him, took him in and educated him. When an adult, he decided to help other children on the street, believing his rescue meant he had to repay society. He began the Orphanage we visited. The children learn art and sell their paintings at Ta Prohm temple, where we met our first young person from this orphanage. We were touched by the children, their gentle demeanor, their dancing skills and their art gallery. Naturally we bought art-the only way they are able to support themselves.

Next off to a Palm Sugar village, we watched the process of making palm sugar, had a talk of the various uses for all parts of the tree/vine, ate palm sugar sweets, bought and continued on our way. Next stop was the fantastic "Bantey Shrey" temple. This is further out than most temples and was built in the ninth century of pink sandstone. The decorations are beautiful, although the temple itself quite small. Lunch was at a local restaurant near the jungle - an amazingly small price negotiated by our ever present saviour - Chong Ang. As a tuktuk driver he is great, as a translator he is fabulous and as a person he is wonderful.

Then off to the Land Mine Museum. This was fantastic, an American living here for the last few years helps the Khmer man who established it when he began his self styled 'de-mining' process some years ago. He has been removing and blowing up land mines around the Siem Reap region for many years. We were not lucky enough to meet him this week, as he was in Phnom Penh on a land mine course. In the process of helping the villages he also found many children, victims of land mines without arms, legs, feet etc.. They started another orphanage for these victims. They are helped with adjusting to society, prosthetics, learning a trade and in some cases helping with 'de-mining'. They have just set up a scholarship fund and hope to have their first young girl go through to uni next year with a scholarship. The talk we had was absolutely fantastic, he was engaging, entertaining and passionate about helping the Khmer victims in this region. He and his wife sold up everything in the states and moved here to work for at least 2 years. His description was great, but very sad and intense.

It was here we thought - too tired now, back to the hotel before our farewell dinner....but Chong Ang had other ideas and before we knew it we were heading to the Silk Farm....to die for silks! The credit cards got a work out here - no bargain hunting here, just indulgence...oh well its only once.

Saturday 23 July 2011

The 8 hour trip


Our day began with an early rise, quick breakfast, last minute packing And then we all piled into the mini bus which would transport us from Takeo to Siem Reap. The bus ride was scheduled to be 8 hours with 2 stops. Our first stop was at a fruit and vegetable market about 2.5 hours out of Takeo. Here we were bombarded with locals trying to sell us everything form dragon fruit to cockroaches. We stayed at the markets for about 15 minutes - enough time for all of us to grab an ice-cream and for most of us to try some spider. Despite the taste (fury teriyaki) the experience was well worth it - and now we can all say we have eaten spider. We then drove for another 4 hours before stopping off for lunch. Here we ate at a lovely restaurant overlooking a lake with water buffalo in it. We ordered a few dishes and then shared them all, it was our first taste of "sour soup" a traditional Khmer dish that involves fish (or chicken) and vegetables cooked in broth and then served with rice. After lunch we had another 1.5 hours in the bus. Needless to say we were all very relieved when we pulled up outside the hotel we would be spending the next 4 nights in. After settling in we went for a walk down the main street and ate dinner at one of the restaurants about a 15 minute walk from the hotel This was a lovely restaurant with great food and very friendly staff. After dinner we had a quick look around the night markets across the road and then walked back home all very tired and ready for bed.

-Kirsten

Location:The bus

Saturday 16 July 2011

SATURDAY


Once again we sluggishly arose from our sleeping chambers for another early start. The early start was in need as we were summoned for more computer and English teaching at the orphanage. After an interesting and fulfilling morning for both us and the kids we ‘tuk tuked’ it back to the house for lunch and our long awaited resting time. At 3:00pm we made our way back to the orphanage for some thoroughly enjoyable bonding time. We started with friendship bracelet making. Lynne had bought special string for the kids so they could teach us how to make the bracelets. There are a number of different colours and patterns for us to be mesmerized with. Some say that the more you have the more children you’re loved by, and once again Megan ‘mother Theresa’ Sawyer took the crown with an almost full forearm of bracelets. Another game of chasey was undertaken in the mega playground, whilst some continued with bracelets and story telling. I was beaten up continuously by 4 boys, they may be smaller than me but boy they ‘pack a punch’ – all in the name of play! As we settled into dinner for some scrumsish battered prawn the dinner conversations once again became interesting and most likely seen as inappropriate but very humorous none the less. We have finished the evening with a run through of our ‘intriguing’ puppet show and are now watching the latest edition to the ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean’ saga.

Jamie

Friday 15 July 2011

Day 7

This morning we went back to an early rise. We arose at 6.15 am to go to the markets at 6.30 am in order to make it back in time for breakfast. At the markets we experienced the confronting aroma of freshly slaughtered animals and also empathy for those who had their fate yet to come. Going to the markets at this early time gave us more of an idea of the culture of Cambodia.

After breakfast those who were not given the opportunity to visit little poe yesterday had the chance to do so today and the rest of the group spent their time relaxing at the guest house. At 2.00pm we all made our way to the orphanage some choose to take the bikes through the pouring rain and others chose the dryer option and took the tuk tuk. When we arrived at the orphanage we got the computers out and began our computer lessons teaching the kids basic computer skills, helping them to write stories on microsoft word, teaching them how to make a power points and how to use paint.

We  then went to play with the kids. Some of us played football and volleyball while others danced, sung, played fighting games and the girls braided each others hair. We then gave the kids strings to make bracelets with. Everyone came home with at least one bracelet and we all enjoyed watching the kids make them for us.

Cecilia     

This is a post of Lynne's 'musings' heard from the kids

I am hoping now as parents you should not have trouble getting the kids to school (It may last a little while at least). They have been to 2 village schools, a govt school that operates in the mornings only and is leased by NFO in the afternoon for the kids who cannot afford school, the orphanage classrooms, a 'dump' school along a railway road.....all with 6am starts, no airconditioning, no computers, no walls, no seats, tables of split bamboo, no books or pens, no papers, broken white boards, old blackboards, dirty children with the biggest and most beautiful smiles.....

Some quotes to take to heart...and I will try to add to these...but I must admit my times on the computer are few and far between as I am kept busy by our kids and every other kid in town I am sure...I am sure you will all hear stories about that....quotes include.....

"Lynne is on boot camp..."...........6am get up (what will they say with the 4.20 get up?)

"2500 years old and my arse is on it!" (while sitting on a 2500year old artifact dug up at the French archaelogical dig from Angkor Borei)

"Was that a rat???!!!!" (while cleaning out a rubbish dump at the orphanage...you should not have any trouble getting them to take out the rubbish now)

"Tell us in 20 words or less, what is your opinion of Julia Gillard?" (while hanging out the bus window and stuck in a traffic jam - said to the moto driver adjacent)

"There is a lot of mud" (after a monsoon downpour)

"She's a frog murderer!" (after stepping on one-that no one saw- in a mud patch)

"Why might minesweeper not be a good game to play on the laptop with Cambodians?" (as 2 kids play through the game at the orphanage)

I will add to these as I can, there are so many I forget them all, David is going to write a book. The kids have been fantastic. They are really helpful and have really made a bond with the kids and I am really pleased to say ours do not even shy away from the 'dirty' ones in the village schools - they all have a story and want to learn and talk. The manager of the orphanage is really happy with a couple of boys in particular as they are strong and helpful - get in there and 'muck about'. Two days ago we had a big clean up around the orphanage and made 2 huge piles of bagged rubbish - today a truck came around and our kids loaded it. We should all be proud of them, no one shied away (except me, I was doing deliveries-very well timed David said).

Each day they are mesmerised by the sights and sites.

Thursday 14 July 2011

Little Poe

Yesterday we were all extremely pleased have had the pleasure of a sleep in which we needed very much after the previous early rises!

At 12.30 pm Kirsten, Isaac, Brandon and I went by Tuk Tuk to a village school called Little Po whilst the rest of us went to the orphanage. The ride to the school was quite uncomfortable as the roads were very bumpy and the bridges incredibly sloped. Once we arrived we had to trek through a few meters of mud in order to reach the sheltered hut, the school which holds 130 children but that day only 100 due to the rain which must have made it too difficult to get to school.

We were all extremely impressed with the teacher who had such control of the class and a natural ability to teach the students who had an immense will to learn.

We taught the children the nursery rhymes Three Blind Mice, Old McDonald and 10 Green Bottles. The childrens enthusiasm towards learning the songs touched our hearts and allowed us to understand how learning is happiness for them.

The children were at first hesitant to come and speak to us but once they did you could tell that they had been practising the questions and were making an effort to engage in a conversation with us. Most of the questions were "What's your favourite fruit?", "What's your favourite animal?" and "How many brothers and sisters do you have?" I couldn't help but smile as I told about 40 kids how I like mango, dogs and have 3 siblings.

Both the teacher and the children inspired us and altered our perspective on education, something which we sometimes take for granted. 

Sylvia

Wednesday 13 July 2011

Early Rise!

After a scheduled bed time of 10.00 enforced by Ms Noack the previous night, we rose this morning at 6.00 to go to the musuem and temple. We took a boat ride along the Mekong River to visit these attractions. Sok, a teenager from the orphage, was our tour guide for the day. The artifacts were over 2500 years old and demonstrated the cultural history of the country.

We then continued down the river to visit temples that were ruined by American bombers during the Vietnam war. The reason behind this was because Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge soldiers hid out in the temples. We found that the temples had three fake doors to trick people, the real door faced the sun. As you stand up on the rock, you have a view that looks like its off a postcard of all the fields and a few villages. The children in the village were really friendly and made us all flower arrangements which was very kind. 

We went to the orphanage for the third time this week at 1 pm to help them with computer skills and English lessons. They are always so eager to learn and appreciate an education, something that we can take for granted in Australia. I even had a private soccer lesson with one of the kids. He had to much energy and didnt know why I needed a rest.

Monday 11 July 2011

Day 3-Geese are the enemies!

Today started with a late rise, as it was our first full day in Takeo and we were all exhausted from the trip and not prepared to wake up at 6.

We were served breakfast at 8am, with the most delicious bread rolls, and for most of us we got to experience the sensation of the fruit rambutan for the very first time along with eggs and bananas.

We then set of to the markets, making a stop at the bank to exchange our money into reel, to get there some of us traveled by tuk tuk and the more adventurous of us rode on the push bikes, most of which got lost on the way and we had to send for a search.
 We then finally got to the markets where i for one saw more bananas than I've ever seen in my life. We first stopped for a refreshment at Lynne's favorite coffee shop. We all went in separate groups and wondered round, and in the mean time Ms Noak was buying more wierd and wonderful fruit for us to try, which most of us all ended up loving.

After lunch we went back to the orphanage with the laptops for the children, we spent half of the afternoon teaching them how to use them, from turning them on to making slide shows on power point, by this point we were all ready to play with the children. Many of us went to play volley ball with the boys,  despite our hardest efforts...we lost, and as a result had to do 50 push ups whilst the other team cheered in victory. After the game most of us went on  the jungle gym, which included a ball pit, where everyone had their share of ball attacks and being buried alive in balls.

Towards the end of our time at the orphanage today, many of us faced  the terror of the geese! I for one was calmly walking over to the others when three geese turned to me, one opened its mouth, stuck its neck out and charged at me! It began to flap its wings whilst chasing me as i ran for cover. As we left a few of us along with the encouragement of the children faced the geese and courageously scared them away.

When we came back to our shelter we met other volunteers that were working at the orphanage as well, and they shared our company for dinner.

Tomorrow we are all off to visit another temple, this time by boat!

Sunday 10 July 2011

Day two

 The Imperial Palace compound is a magnificent place with a lot of gold and green....

After accidentally waking up an hour early due to the time zone on our phones we had breakfast at Bojangles. We then head out to the Kings Palace. The palace was amazing despite the fact that it was uber humid. Our tour showed us around the decorative temples and museums. The silver pagoda was amazing, the tiles were made from silver, the center piece was an emerald Buddha and a solid gold statue.


After taking photos of the roaming monkeys we left and made way via tuk tuk to S-21. Thousands of Cambodians were imprisoned and tortured in what used to be a school due to the infamous Pol Pot. We saw blood stains on the floor and the tiny cells they were kept in. Overall it was depressing but lunch cheered everyone up. We were visited by Pom and '007'; two cambodian children that attempted to sell us books and bracelets. They were adorable and really cheeky and got heaps of money out of us. The killing fields were next. It is estimated that 20,000 people were murdered there. We saw bones, scraps of clothing and most devastating skulls of the beheaded victims. It was scary and disgusting. We headed home and relaxed until our dinner next-door. We went to blue pumpkin after and had the yummiest ice creams and chilled for a bit. After that we head out for a massive walk and sung the whole way. We ran soo enthusiastically to a playground but were kicked out by the police because we were too old :). It was a really great day exploring the city.









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Friday 8 July 2011

Day 1...very inventive


 The roads are interesting to say the least-traffic is constant in the streets, not sure why there are rocks on the main road.
 I wish I knew why people cannot put their rubbish in the bin!
 This is a quiet street
 Sisowath Quay, this is the main road outside our hotel with the Mighty Mekong river opposite our hotel - brown!!! This side walk is alive with people by 5.30 each morning and again at 5.30pm. Community exercise is the way to go.

 A traffic jam in the main street of PP
First Icecream stop................................................>

Our tour kicked off at 1:15am on Friday 8th July (today).  12 highly excited students along with Lynne, David and 3 other volunteers, bid their parents goodbye at Perth International Airport and set out on a journey that would last just over 16 days. After a 5 hour long plane trip, a short stop over at Kuala Lumpur and then another 2 hour flight we finally reached our destination of Phnom Penh. The humidity hit us all by shock, sweaty, tired and exhausted the boys packed into a bus with all of the luggage and donations, whilst the girls filed into two separate Tuk Tuks. After a 20minute drive we arrived at Mekong Palace, the hotel that we will be staying at for the next two nights. After freshening up a bit with some showers and naps we headed down the rode and ate lunch in a lovely restaurant/café. After a decent feed we headed off to what is called the “indoor markets”, really it is just a shopping centre with makeshift walls that separate store from store. After some successful retail therapy, we headed back home, still trying to recover from the lack of sleep of the previous night; we all had an afternoon rest. Dinner tonight was at a place called “friends”. Run by a charity called “Choice”, it employs homeless and disadvantaged people and trains them as chefs and waiters. This was a fantastic experience and was topped of by two of the volunteers from “choice” talking to us over dinner about what their roll is in the Cambodian community.  Today was a huge culture shock for all of us, seeing all of the homeless families with no money and no food makes us think twice about our place in the world.  I am sure tomorrow will be as full of surprises as today was, hopefully we won’t be as tired and will be able to appreciate a lot more of it. The following video was taken from inside a tuk tuk travelling through the streets:




Kirsten Chick