Cambodia - Village School

One of the highlights of the village tour was definitely the village school for us.  The kids were absolutely gorgeous.  Ever smiling and despite the language barrier, we got on like a house on fire. Especially after I let them have free reign  over my Iphone.  They went mental snapping photos of each other and of themselves, amused with the results.

 Notice that little boy peering through in the middle there...

 This little girl had the prettiest dimples.

 This little girl has the neatest and most skillful handwriting I have ever seen.  She was the youngest and tiniest student in that group.

The little girl on the right is from our host family at the village from my previous blog.

Most of the kids do not have footwear.  Footwear is not considered a necessity.  Many can't afford them and others just do not like how footwear makes their feet hot and uncomfortable.

 This was a cute little shy boy peering into a classroom of older boys and girls.  Perhaps he had an older sibling in that class.

 Curious on-lookers from a different class.

 Here's the shy boy again...

Having fun with my Iphone.  Snapping images of each other and having a laugh.

 Teachers enjoying their afternoon break.

 Break time.  Barefeet over sharp pebbles and dirt.

 Running after us to say goodbye...

We were not ready to go when we did.  We were having so much fun with the kids.  We had overcome our language barrier and were having lots of fun gesticulating our intentions and attempting to make conversations.  They were most amused when I whipped out my packet of tissue papers to wipe my perspiration in the 40 deg heat.  Everyone put out their hand for one.  I had just 2 pieces left and split up the three ply pieces of tissue to distribute them out much to their excitement.  They are happy little kids existing with the barest essentials.  No mod cons and other luxuries that our kids are laden with.  Education is a start at trying to break out of their poverty stricken lives although it is a given that it will be a long hard struggle for every one of those kids.  I have booked my next holiday to Cambodia in December this year and I hope to see them all again...  Watch this space.

Cambodia - Village Life

My friend, Irene and I spent a day in the life of a villager. Village is called Kompheim, 16km from Siem Reap made up of farmers and itinerant workers. These families are graded into three tiers. Tier 1 being the poorest of the poor who live in the most basic thatch houses they call home. They struggle to meet daily needs, often struggling even to put food on the table. There is no electricity so they go to sleep pretty much as soon as the sun sets.

With little or no electricity in most homes, ice is a valuable form of refrigeration.

Even the chicken has a lack of feed.

Our guide, Sokha shows us how recyling is helping the village. Empty mineral water bottles are cleaned and dried and stuffed with dry waste. Every bagful of these bottles earns them a bag of rice. The bottles are then used instead of bricks. It takes 12,000 of such bottles to build a small toilet block for a family.

The village recycling bin.

Our bullock cart which took us to right up to the front of our host family's home. Our octogenarian bullock cart driver could not stop mumbling and scolding her four-legged charges.

Bundles of thatch all ready for threading.

Our host family showing us how to thread the thatch.  These will replace their present run down thatch in time for the rainy season.

Our guide, Sokha giving us some pointers.

Mother and son.

Mother and daughter.

 Manually drawing water from a well.

Our lunch consisted of boiled rice with freshly caught fish and vegetable from their garden.  And the piece de resistance?  The piece de resistance?  Red bull ants and larvae mixed in garlic, lemongrass & fish paste.

 Wrapped by fresh banana leaf.

Wedged between a splity bamboo, delicacy is ready to be grilled over an open fire.

 One of their prized possession - the TV powered by a portable battery pack.

 It's time to go off to school with their school books inside plastic shopping bags.

Girls spending carefree time climbing trees.

A water pump built by the travel company, Beyond Unique Experiences which we did our day tour with.  20% of our fee goes back to the community. 

An 87 year old female monk we met at the village temple.  She showed us the scars on  her head sustained from a land mine incident as a child.  This same incident killed a sister.