Yesterday we met a Canadian woman named Lisa. She is starting up a tour around her Cambodian friend Sokai’s village. She asked us to be her “guinea pigs” to see what we thought of the tour.
So today we went to the village on tuk tuks and walked around the markets and rice paddies and watched handicrafts being made including miniature ox carts made from timber, bracelets, boxes made of palm leaves and Cambodian violins made from timber and cow bone. Lily enjoyed helping make the boxes and the boys had a wonderful time playing soccer with the children from the village. It took the boys from the village a while to join in, but once they did, they all had a lot of fun. They enjoyed giving the boys the ball donated from the Marrickville Red Devils Academy before we left.
We also got to eat some Khmer food cooked by Sokai’s cousin inside their timber hut. The hut was basically two levels of a flat timber floor (that had quite a few holes) that they slept and ate on.
The village is in one sense quite primitive. There’s no running water only an old iron hand pump that brings up water from a well. There’s lots of rubbish around. There’s no mains electricity only generators and car batteries but they power the television that everyone watches at night. Sokai told us lots of the men get up at all hours of the morning to watch the soccer.
Tomorrow we are off to Phnom Penh. We’ll be sad to leave Siem Reap and the friends we have made in such a short time. We’re not sure what to expect of Phnom Penh, but it’ll be good to spend some time settling in before we start working. Bek is still unwell, so we’re hoping and praying she’ll be okay for the 5 hrs bus trip.
Hi Blairs- So great to see fun photos and hear the stories of your adventures! Praying you’re feeling much better soon Bek- not fun being sick so far from home! You guys are all in our prayers at salt!
From Fi and the salty crew.
Hi everyone,
We enjoyed hearing about village life. Lily did you make that house and are you allowed to keep it and bring it home? We are sure the boys would have enjoyed playing soccer. Sorry to hear you are still feeling unwell, Rebekah…hope you made the trip to Phnom Penh OK. We will be interested to hear all about the school you will be helping in.
Don’t know if you get any world news over there but in case you didn’t hear Kate and William have a boy, born yesterday, 8lb 3ozs but no name yet. No other intertesting news.
Our love to you all.
Grandma and Grandpa.
Hi Blairs!
Really enjoyed reading of yesterday’s adventures. What enjoyment making the little house Lil, and Boys congratulations on being able to involve the local lads in a game, and then to hand over a beautiful soccer ball to those with much, much less than you have – great work guys!
Bec we are concerned about you although we are sure Mum will be keeping up the electrolytes (very important). Do hope it’s not Gardia!
We are on our way now to visit your 3 cousins but will continue to read and enjoy your informative blog – we will definitely show your cousins your great pics!
Lots of love, PP+GP