Cambodia

CAMBODIA

Contrary to what I just said, I don't expect this to be scary at all, I will be gone by nightfall. And how scary can kids be!

I am heading to a village where I will see inside some houses, visit the temple, be blessed by the monks & visit the school.

I don't expect any kids to be in school as this is a Sunday.

Then we head to a resort on the beach, wander round a market & back to the ship.

We drive out of Sihanoukville & into the countryside....

passing a few water buffalo in the field.

Turn right at the bar & into the village...pity we did not stop for a beer...

but this youngster seems happy to see us...

& the older folks get ready to leave....

We cross over to the residential quarter...

& go up the stairs & into a house....

The white cloth covers a basket of rice...

The living room... No one wants to stay inside too long for fear of the floor collapsing with too many large tourists trying to nose inside.

Mum is taking it easy in the hammock under the house...

More & more little kids appear & don't mind having their photo taken...

Up some more stairs & into the store room of the house...

Then outside & into a ground floor room which is the kitchen.....

with Grandmother presiding..

Very, very basic living accommodation but also very clean.

Time for Sandy ( in Blue)to distribute her gifts to the kids, with Bertrand from Montreal looking on. Paper & pencils. Still cannot make up my mind if this is a good thing to do or not but the kids like it. & what gift is appropriate?

Sandy obviously enjoyed it.

We head back across the square, pass the cows,

towards the temple...

Passing some more houses...I regret not going over & talking to her.

& Mary chatting to the kids...Not the only little kid without underwear. Perhaps that would be a gift to give.

The temple is quite nice.. Most of the group go inside but I do not want to take my shoes off so I stay outside...

A shot of Sandy taking a shot of Mary with Mary's camera..

I was on a few excursions with Mary but never spoke till we got off the boat. Then we chatted quite often on the 5 days around Beijing. Her husband was with her but not always on the excursions as he is quite ill. He had a hard time of it on the Wall.

Just thought I'd drop that little bit in. On the Wall - as in The Wall. Later!

Brother & sister I guess. I tried to get them to take pictures with my camera but they were only interested in my taking their picture..

Then it was off to the blessing with the Monks.

No photos as I had my hands together.

We all got sprayed with flowers & water.

But no - School is in session, or they just filled it up for us.

Kids must have loved us.

Bringing them into school on a Sunday..

Doesn't come much more basic than this. Could be my mums classroom.

See the little girls on the right. Can't contain their giggles..

.... & Them again.

Sandy taking more photos..

Kids have no idea what to make of this...

Great hair..

Teacher did not seem too strict. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves

The Head teacher I think

That was good fun. Not just for tourists.

Off to the beach now.. Passing through the countryside

and a gas station...

This is the dragons head at one end of the resort...

and some entertainment at reception...

Still Chinese new year decorations..

onto the beach..

with the dragons tail at the other end of the resort. Pity about the girl getting in the way, but what can you do!.

a bite to eat & a nice view of the beach....

Oops!

I mean, a nice view of the beach & the dragons tail without distractions..

a beachside massage if you feel like it..

or a relax in a bungalow on the lagoon..

or a swim?

& real life on the outskirts of the resort.

back to dreamland...

enough laying about. Time to shop....

On to the market. Did not stay long as it was like an inferno..

Waiting for the bus I noticed some food but declined.. Song birds, what might be crickets, beetles & grubs at the end.

Finally - something scary.

& those ladies with stuff on their heads

A wonderful day out...and a couple of random people on board, supposedly listening to some violin playing but having a nap really.

I wasn't too sure about visiting Cambodia.

It gets some terrible reviews on-line. But I would go back.

People seem quite nice & they can use the tourist cash.

Has a terrible history with lots of bloodshed what with the Vietnam war overlapping Cambodia & the Khmer Rouge & Pol Pots genocide.

Hard to recover from all that.

Talking of Vietnam - tomorrows Wednesday so we must be in Vietnam.

THIS ENTRY WILL NOT BE APPRECIATED BY EVERYONE AS SOME OF THE PHOTOS ARE DISTURBING ...

I TOYED WITH THE IDEA OF NOT TAKING THIS TOUR TODAY BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, I DECIDED TO GO & AM GLAD I DID ...

WE DROVE THROUGH PHNOM PENN TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE KILLING FIELDS .. HERE WE WAITED FOR THE GROUP TO GATHER ...

SEEN THROUGH THE TREEES, WHAT APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER PLEASANT PAGODA ...

UP CLOSE IT DOES NOT LOOK SO PLEASANT .. HUNDREDS OF SKULLS OF THE VICTIMS OF THE KILLING FIELDS . I WILL NOT BE SAYING TOO MUCH ABOUT IT. YOU CAN LOOK IT UP ON LINE .. CHILLING IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT

THE FIELDS ARE STILL LITTERED WITH PARTS OF PEOPLE ...

THE ENCLOSURE ARE WHERE SOME KILLINGS TOOK PLACE ...

GRISLY REMINDERS OF ATROCITIES - OFTEN BY CHILDREN AGAINST CHILDREN ..

INSIDE THE PAGODA NOW - I SQUEEZED MY WAY AROUND THE VERY NARROW WALKWAY THAT WINDS ITS WAY AROUND INSIDE .. BONES & SKULLS PILED ON TOP OF EACH OTHER, REACHING UP THE HEIGHT OF THE PAGODA ..

ON THE STEPS OUTSIDE & TIME TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH ... PHEWW!

BACK IN THE BUS - RIDING THROUGH PHNOM PENN ..

NOW TIME FOR SOME MORE HORROR INSIDE THE GROUNDS OF THE GENOCIDE MUSEUM .. A FORMER SCHOOL USED AS A TERROR CAMP BY THE REGIME ..

PHOTOGRAPHS OF VICTIMS ...

PHOTOGRAPHS OF KILLERS .. CHILDREN INDOCTRINATED TO KILL ..

TORTURE EQUIPMENT ..

THE ELDERLY MAN IS A SURVIVOR OF THE 'SCHOOL' ..

A SHRINE SURROUNDED BY RAZOR WIRE ...

HARD TO BELIEVE THIS ALL HAPPENED IN CAMBODIA BY CAMBODIANS - WHO I FOUND TO BE SUCH A GENTLE PEOPLE. THE NEED FOR SURVIVAL CAN TURN GOOD PEOPLE BAD.

NOT THE BEST DAY OUT I HAVE HAD BUT AN EXPERIENCE I AM GLAD TO HAVE GIVEN MYSELF ..

STILL IN PHNOM PENH, TODAY WE SEE A LOT OF GOLDEN PAGODAS ..

FIRST THE RIDE THERE ..

NOT GOT OFF THE BIKE YET, THERE ARE GLIMPSES OF GOLD BETWEEN THE BALLOONS ..

OFF THE BIKE & A SHORT WALK TO THE COMPLEX ...

AND WE HAVE ARRIVED ..

EVERYONE HAS TO WAIT IN LINE ...

WE DID GET TO ENTER MANY OF THE BUILDINGS BUT NO PHOTOS ALLOWED INSIDE .. LOTS MORE GOLD & SILVER INSIDE ..

LOTS OF TOURISTS BUT IT IS SO BIG THAT THEY GET SPREAD OUT, UNTIL ITS TIME TO ENTER A BUILDING WHEN WE ALL GET SQUISHED TOGETHER AGAIN ..

IT'S A VERY PHOTOGENIC PLACE BUT SO BRIGHT IT IS DIFFICULT TO PHOTOGRAPH ..

PAGODA AFTER PAGODA ...

THERE WAS A MUSEUM VISIT AFTER THIS BUT I DUCKED OUT AND TOOK THE BIKE BACK TO THE BOAT

IT WOULD BE BETTER TO GO HERE WHEN IT IS NOT SO BRIGHT OR EARLIER IN THE DAY - & IT WAS HOT, HOT, HOT.

STILL PARKED IN PHNOM PENH - THOSE PEOPLE ARE ON ANOTHER CRUISE SHIP DOCKED BETWEEN US & SHORE. LUCKILY, I WAS ALREADY ABOARD BUT THOSE PEOPLE WHO WENT TO THE MUSEUM WILL HAVE TO CROSS THAT BOAT TO GET TO OURS. THEY DID NOT GET ANY FREE DRINKS WHILE THEY WERE WAITING & SHOUTED UP TO ME TO SEND SOME OVER..

THEY DID ARRIVE IN TIME FOR THE EVENING SHOW GIVEN BY SOME YOUNGSTERS WHO CAME ON BOARD ..

HERE ARE SOME WARMING UP ..

HARD TO PHOTOGRAPH BUT YOU CAN SEE THE CLASSIC FINGER MOVEMENTS ..

AND HERE IS THE END OF THE MONKEY DANCE ..

THE BAMBOO DANCE ..

AND A YOUNG LADY RELAXING BY THE SNOOKER TABLE. YES - WE HAD A SNOOKER TABLE ON DECK.

NOW WE ARE OFF UP A SIDE RIVER, THE TONLE SAP, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE LAKE OF THE SAME NAME.

IT WAS NICE TO BE BACK ON THE WATER AFTER THE HEAT & BUSTEL OF THE CITY. A BIT COOLER & THIS RIVER IS MORE LIKE I WAS EXPECTING. NARROW & A BIT OF A JUNGLE FEEL TO THE BANKS. NOT AFRICAN QUEEN JUNGLE BUT NICE ALL THE SAME

GOOD TO GET UP CLOSE TO THE BANKS & SEE PEOPLE & PLACES.

THERE'S A NICE LOOKING PLACE. BELONGS TO THE MAYORS UNCLE MAYBE.

NICE HAPPY PEOPLE ...

ANY IDEA WHAT THE RED STUFF IS? ME NEITHER...

ROGER! I'LL HAVE ONE OF THOSE, WHATEVER IT IS YOU ARE CONCOCTING ..

SAW THIS A FEW TIMES, WHERE YOUNGSTERS PEDDLED ALONGSIDE US ...

TIME FOR LUNCH & YOU SHOULD CHECK THE MENU - A MENU WITH A SENSE OF HUMOUR ..

HALFWAY THROUGH LUNCH AND WE CAN STEP OUTSIDE THE DINING ROOM ..

PEOPLE HAPPY TO SEE US ..

COWS - NOT SO HAPPY. PERHAPS THEY READ THE MENU ..

THIS SHOWS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRAVELING ON OUR BOAT & A LOCAL BOAT - THEY ARE FASTER BUT WAY MORE CROWDED ..

TIME TO ADD SOME COKE TO MY RUM ..

THAT WAS A THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE DAY .. AND WE HAVE TO GO BACK DOWN THE SAME STRETCH AGAIN TO REJOIN THE MEKONG. PITY IT WILL BE AT NIGHT ..

EARLY EVENING & THERE IS TO BE A PARTY ON SHORE

HOSTED BY THE SHIPS COMPANY, TABLES WERE SET UP FOR DRINKS & FOOD & THE VILLAGERS ATTENDED ...

SOME SAT IT OUT & WATCHED FROM THEIR HOUSES ..

A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL I THINK, ALTHOUGH I DID NOT FEEL WELL ENOUGH TO GO ASHORE & ALL THOSE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN FROM ON DECK ... QUITE A WAYS AWAY.

A MISTY START TO THE DAY ..

KIDS ARE ASSEMBLING TO FOLLOW US AROUND ON OUR VILLAGE WALK ... TRYING TO SELL US SOUVENIRS ..

WE GO INTO A SILK WEAVING CENTER & THE KIDS WAIT ON THE STREET ..

I TRY A LOCAL DRINK .. WHITE FUNGUS, Mmm - MY FAVOURITE ..

THE GIRL ON THE LEFT HAD BEEN MY UNOFFICIAL GUIDE FOR A WHILE & NOW WE ARRIVE AT WHERE HERE STUFF IS LAID OUT FOR SALE. SHE WORKS AT ONE OF THE FANCIEST HOTELS AROUND AS A TRAINEE FOR THE PRINCELY SUM OF 30 DOLLARS A MONTH. I BUY THREE NICE SCARFS FROM HER .. & HER SISTER ON THE RIGHT.

THE MASSAGE GIRLS & THE BOOT CLEANING GUY GET THE SCARVES THE SECOND I STEP ON BOARD ..

NOW WE HEAD OFF TO ANOTHER VILLAGE ...

A STEEP WALK UP THE RIVER BANK ..

A STROLL THROUGH THE MONASTERY ..

KIDS KEEPING A LOOK OUT FOR STRAY TOURISTS ..

INTO THE VILLAGE .. PEOPLE KEEP THEIR LIVESTOCK CLOSE BY ..

MEN MAKING CART WHEELS ..

KIDS GIVING THEM INSTRUCTIONS ..

BRIEFLY UP ONTO THE ROAD & A DRINK OF SOMETHING COLD ..

NOW WE ARE AT THE SCHOOL ..

PASSENGERS CHATTING TO THE KIDS - NOT TOO MUCH WORK GETTING DONE ..

HERE'S MISS CAMBODIA 2015 .. & HER SISTER. TAKE YOUR PICK OF WHICH IS WHICH ..

TEACHER TEACHING ..

AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE ..

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS HERE, THROWING BUILDING MATERIAL INSTEAD OF USING A HOIST.

PASSING A SMALL MARKET ..

AND A PAGODA .. OF COURSE

SHAKIRA'S SISTER?

AND THE STEEP WALK BACK DOWN TO THE BOAT. MAYBE TIME FOR A GAME OF SNOOKER & A COCKTAIL BEFORE DINNER..

THE END OF YET ANOTHER ENJOYABLE DAY IN CAMBODIA ...

We have moved up the Mekong a little & are having a bit of trouble finding a mooring. This is the searchlight roaming over the bank ...

Kim, the on board Massuese with fingers like iron, up early to see what's what.

and the souvenir kids are up early too ...

Srey Leak up early too but then she had to work at our breakfast ..

These monks had come on board to give a blessing to those who wanted blessing. I found an envelope full of cash on my way up that hill - it had 'Monks Donations' on the front. I gave it to one of the crew & expect it found it's way to the monks ..

We assembled at the lily pond before climbing to the Pagoda strewn hill-top ...

There are the two kids we saw on the river bank - sister taking care of little brother.

The green bag contains at least one dog, yelping away like crazy ...

it's a very colourful spot ..

Many local tourists & the locals all seem to have paper & pens to sell so they can be given to the kids. I did that for two little boys & had them follow me around for the rest of the morning. I made a donation to a monk for him to give a blessing to the boys. They stood very respectfully with palms together while the monk chanted over them.

We walked back down to the ship & the little girl no longer has her brother. She must have walked his little feet off. It was quite the hike up & down the hill ..

Back on board & a chance to watch the local fishermen, & fisherwomen, & fisherkids - a couple of fisherfamilies by the looks of it.

Here's the Jahan - we have been following each other around for days ...

Fisher folk are still looking for a bite but I never did see any fish on the nets ..

This is a fine mansion on the river & I was told that it does indeed belong to a relative of the mayor or some politician ..

Roger - last orders before we get off tomorrow ..

A bit of a party with the crew saying goodbye ..

Fireworks - but on the other side of the river, not for us.

More crew than passengers ..

The following day now & it is disembarkation day ...

KIm here - Seems a bit concerned, maybe looking for me, she broke into her wonderful smile when she spotted me & waved me goodbye.

Very sad to get off.

Bye young lady - perhaps we will meet again. Perhaps we will - I might just do this again.

The lady is the laundress ..

A fine crew & I highly recommend the Pandaw as a way of seeing a bit of Cambodia - or Myanmar. It was a great experience for my first river excursion ...

Now the long bus ride to Siem Reap where I will stay in the Saem Siem Reap hotel for ten days. Stay tuned for photos of the an ANGHOR WAT, which is right next door.

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