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Farewell dinner

My last night in Siem Reap we decided to go out for dinner: me, Savuth, Sophea, Khong Khea, Odom, Vannak, Srei Khong, Chov and Mau. We were going to go to what's called Cambodian BBQ but the place we went to had quite a bit of attitude clearly not so happy to have a Khmer family amongst its tourist clientèle. So we went to one of the many places that serves a big buffet dinner with a traditional Khmer dance performance. The kids had seen dance performances before but had never been to one of these huge buffet dinner dance shows so this was as much a treat for them as the Cambodian BBQ would have been. And I quite enjoyed the dance show as well.

Nov 16, 2010

Photos: 28

West Baray

Nov 14, 2010

Photos: 20

Banteay Srei Butterfly Center

On the road to Banteay Srei there is a small butterfly enclosure which is actually SE Asia's largest butterfly enclosure according the center's website. It seemed a bit hokey at first but I decided to check it out and I am very glad I did. A young guide, who was quite enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the butterfly process, gave a great 1-on-1 tour and explanation. And I spent a lot of time trying to get that perfect butterfly picture, especially of some of the species that seem to have ADHD and never sit still. Check out their website: http://www.angkorbutterfly.com/abchome.html

Nov 11, 2010

Photos: 9

Fun fair, pizza and ice cream

Last night was the kind of night kids live for. After hanging out at home we hit the local fun fair for rides and the kids' first exposure to pizza. It was endearing and a bit funny watching them struggle to eat pizza slices with a fork and knife, two utensils they never use. I then showed them how to hold a slice of pizza in your hand, supporting the point of it with the other hand while taking bites. That met with only minimal success. It reminded me of the first times I was shown how to eat Asian style with my hands. One would think, "What could be easier?" but there really is a practiced technique you need command if you want to do it with efficiency, effectiveness and a minimum of grace. Well, the same goes for pizza slices. After the pizza we went to one of the new modern ice cream parlors in town which was a real special first-time treat for the kids. And as suits all kids, after the fun fair, pizza and ice cream they were happy and tired and we only had one case of tummy ache.

Nov 8, 2010

Photos: 29

Visiting Chov's village and his graduation ceremony

Chov Lann is a young Cambodian I have had the distinct privilege and honor to sponsor for the past couple of years. Through a wonderful NGO called Journeys Within Our Community, I sponsored Chov's university fees for 2 years. Over those 2 years we have grown quite close through our emails and my visits. This year I had the incredible double-dip of joy to visit his home village where I met some of his family and saw where and how Chov grew up and my visit coincided with Chov's graduation ceremony from university. It is an enriching experience getting to know such a promising and delightful young Cambodian like Chov and it is a deep and humbling privilege to be able to make a small contribution in seeing someone achieve a huge dream. I know that Chov will have a large impact on his family's future as well as that of his community and country. If you are interested in something like this, check out Journeys Within Our Community or send me an email at Leonard{at-symbol}angkortuktuk.net.

Nov 6, 2010

Photos: 26

Birthday at Savuth's

The day I arrived in Siem Reap, November 1, was a public holiday so the kids were off from school. It was the King's birthday and coincidentally it was my birthday also. Savuth had a bunch of his mates that I also know over to the house along with some of his wife's family and we had a small dinner and impromptu party.

Nov 1, 2010

Photos: 21

Into the heart of darkness

Today we made a visit to Johnny Ounchanh's hometown village of Khoknang. He comes from what we could call a small village of about 100 families but which in this area is considered a large village. For a period of 18 months his village was connected to the outside world by a dirt trail. During this year's rainy season the trail washed out so its back to the 1.5 - 2 hour river trip as the only way in and out of the village to the nearest town on the paved road. Johnny is a Lao college student who I sponsor by paying his annual college fees and related study costs. For a quite 'humble' sum of a few hundred dollars a year a young 'high-potential' person like Johnny gets the chance to radically change his life and therefore the life of his family, his community and through the ripple effect, his country.

Oct 31, 2010

Photos: 45

Plain of Jars, Xieng Khuang, Laos

Here's the story of my four days in Phonsavan, Laos. This area is fascinating primarily for two things. It is the area of the Plain of Jars and it is the area of Laos that remains still the most scarred from the secret war in Laos during the 2nd Indochina War. The Plain of Jars, actually several different locations in the area, are the sites where hundreds of stone jars are to be found. No one is sure when the jars date from or what their purpose was but it is kind of like a Stonehenge thing. It is also the area where one can visibly see the damage caused by B-52 carpet bombing during the 2nd Indochina War.

Nov 1, 2009

Photos: 41

Santi Cheidy - Luang Prabang

Oct 25, 2009

Photos: 11

Thru Children's Eyes

While in Siem Reap I gave Savuth's three oldest kids single-use cameras. I am a big believer in the value of encouraging creativity and am always curious to see what interests kids when they have a camera in their hands. Here is a selection of what they came up with. Lots of friends and of each other, Mom and Dad, some nature and as you will see, it seems boys everywhere love power cars.

Oct 20, 2009

Photos: 32

Angkor Future, Angkor Past

Oct 19, 2009

Photos: 59

Kompong Khleang

Welcome to Kompong Khleang which is a stilted village on Asia's largest fresh water lake. Actually it is the largest lake only for the rainy season when it triples in size due to the Mekong River reversing course and inundating the lake's flood plains. I have been to two similar places on the lake in the past but this village is the most interesting, open and extensive. Today we took a 3 hour boat tour here. All the homes in the village are on 8 - 10 meter poles. During the rainy season it looks like this. During the dry season the water recedes about 10 - 20 km in this area and these homes tower 8 - 10 meters above the dry lake bed. In the rainy season the people earn their living with fishing and in the dry season with farming as they plant the rich soil of the dry lake bed with rice and soy beans. The photos are mostly of the stilted village and a few are on the way there and a few are of the village on the single road that leads out to this part of the lake.

Oct 19, 2009

Photos: 46

Education is the sweetest revenge

Meet Ponheary Ly, tour guide, human being and philanthropist extraordinaire. A survivor of the Pol Pot terror regime who lost many family members and saw the suffering of those indescribable terror years first-hand, Ponheary has made it her life's work to to rebuild Cambodia thru education. The foundation that bears her name is keeping more than 2,000 destitute children in school. I was fortunate enough to attend the opening day of a local school where 600 children supported by the foundation received the school supplies, uniforms and in some cases bicycles that are necessary to allow these kids to attend school. Ponheary wants to revenge Pol Pot's crimes against humanity by bringing education to every poor Cambodian. Where Pol Pot killed the intelligentsia to make all people equal to the peasants, Ponheary wants to to educate all the peasants so they can learn about Pol Pot and become the intelligentsia that Pol Pot wiped out. This was one of the most inspiring days of my life.

Oct 16, 2009

Photos: 25

Cambodia: Parting Shots

Oct 13, 2009

Photos: 19

The Lingas and the Lady

We had a great day going to Kbal Spean and Banteay Srei. Kbal Spean, also known as the river of 1000 Lingas, is one section of river that is adorned with riverbed carvings for tens of kilometers of deities and mythical figures. The ancient Khmer believed that the holy waters emanating from Mount Kulen would flow over these figures and carry blessings to the valley below. Banteay Srei is a small yet beautiful temple around a 45 minute drive away from the main area of temples. The countryside drive is itself quite enjoyable. The temple is a smallish reddish sandstone temple with some of the most intricate and beautiful carvings of any of the temples.

Oct 12, 2009

Photos: 38

Krom and Chong

Oct 11, 2009

Photos: 36

October 10 - Family visit

Today was spent visiting with my friend Savuth and his family. After three tiring days I am going to let some pictures tell today's stories (Let's see, 24 pictures, should be worth about 24,000 words if my math is correct). It was great, albeit tiring, to see the kids again given their nearly boundless energy. I always love the food his wife cooks and it was very exciting to see the plot of land Savuth has recently purchased to move his family from tenants to landowners, a status which in a place like Cambodia still means a lot to an individual, his family and the society at large. It was cool when he showed me the sale and registration documents which still bear thumb prints versus signatures as the primary proof. And I discovered today that kids all over the world do love Dr Suess' "Cat in the Hat" series even if they don't quite understand the words. I guess my gestures and acting was better than I thought. Maybe a career on Sesame Street? Enjoy the pictures.

Oct 10, 2009

Photos: 24

Local wat (pagoda)

Nov 30, 2008

Photos: 14

Squatters Village Outside of Siem Reap Supported By JWOC

I spent an afternoon in this squatters village with Brandon from Journeys Within Our Community. This great organization provide health, sanitation and micro finance services to the residents of this extremely poor place.

Nov 28, 2008

Photos: 14

Through the bus window Phnom Penh to Siem Reap

These pictures I took mostly from inside the bus as we traveled between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap

Nov 28, 2008

Photos: 25

With Savuth's Family in village and Angkor Wat

Some pictures of Savuth's family at home in their village and while we toured together Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm

Nov 28, 2008

Photos: 20

Phnom Kulen with Savuth's and Freng's Family

One day I hired a minivan and went to the holy pilgrimage and recreation site of Phnom (Mount) Kulen.

Nov 28, 2008

Photos: 28

Kampong Phluk

We went to this stilted village in the flood plains of Tonle Sap on the national and religious holiday of Pchum Ben.

Nov 28, 2008

Photos: 20

Beang Mealea

Nov 28, 2008

Photos: 27

Hotels I stayed in

Some pics of the hotels I stayed in on my Sept '08 trip. I can recommend each of them.

Nov 28, 2008

Photos: 35

Views around Phnom Penh

These are a small selection of some Phnom Penh sights.

Nov 27, 2008

Photos: 49

"Art for Life" Progam

Through my guest house, The Villa Siem Reap, I led a group of kids at an orphanage in a painting project one half day. It was fun, the kids are great and its for a very good cause.

Sep 23, 2008

Photos: 21

Chong Khneas

Some pictures of the floating villages at Chong Khneas

Oct 3, 2007

Photos: 14

Cambodia and Laos
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