Wow.. I do not even know how to start to explain this last week.
Ko Samet was a little frustrating to say the least.
We had a very long day traveling to Ko Samet on Monday. It nears the east side of Thailand.
Unfortunately the group i booked through is very very unorganized. To anyone who is thinking of booking a trip with Real gap by the way--RETHINK RIGHT NOW. Anyways, we had a bus ride from a hotel a little outside Singburi at 8 30 in the morning. Now, normally, it would take about four hours to get to the ferry that takes us over to the Island of Ko Samet. Instead, we wait on the bus to fill up for gas and for people to switch their travellers cheques (which are completely pointless haha) which put us back about an hour. We waited at the ferry for about another hour and then yet another hour on the other side once reaching the Island. It seemed that because we were traveling with a massive group of about fourty people it took twice as long as it should have to get to our "resort". We were so relieved to just arrive to beds and an ocean awaiting us. Real Gap had informed us before leaving Thailand that we would be staying in "Resorts". Well. what they took us to was just about a 1 star hotel. I wouldn't even call it a hotel. Maybe more of a hostel? One clunky old fan and a sewage smelling room. Anyways, perhaps i am so negative because of what follows next.
We have to eat at this restaurant called "Joes" because all our food is included with the overall package. The food wasn't bad! we were so happy to have fruit shakes of every kinds possible! But our excitement didn't last long. The next three days consisted of pure sickness. I am not just talking a few of us.. in the group of 40 that came there were about 10 that were lucky enough NOT to get sick.. me included. I was feeling a little sick one day with the runs and stomach pains but nothing like the others had to experience. Some couldn't walk and one girl actually lost her eye sight for a few hours. Most of them were taken to the clinic for injections and a few had to be taken to the hospital in Bangkok.
I think that this past week has kind of taken us of track in a negative way. We are feeling discouraged and frustrated. Nikki, Elyse and I are just looking forward to being on our own. We are looking into traveling to Malaysia for about five days and then off to Khao Lak to work with the Tsunami Volunteer Centre.
The Beach was beautiful and we got one full day of wonderful sun. Nikki got pretty burnt and Elyse is just as tanned as our Thai friend Palm haha. Unfortunately i didn't get to go in the water much because my mosquito bites got infected and they have been pussy. Ive been taking antibiotics.
I apologize for my negativity and maybe after this next week with volunteering at the Orphanage we will feel rejuvenated and ready to experience some more!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Week Three - Temple Stay.
So week three! This week we learn about The Buddhist Culture.
It been so interesting. Only midway through and i feel i have learned so much. There is so much to learn in the Buddhist religion.
I just got back from staying in a temple an hour north of Singburi. We slept on Cold cement which at first we thought would be a relief as it would keep us cool at night. But, we quickly learned how uncomfortable it was. They had blankets, a hard pillow and a thin mat for us to lay on. We were a little worried when we got there that we wouldn't be able to eat supper. Monks do not eat after noon so luckily we were able to get a ride into the town that had a Dairy Queen and KFC (the Asians love love LOVE their KFC). We crammed 18 people into a five seater truck. there was about9 of us in the cap (including the driver) and then another 9 in the back .. which stenched like urine. It was worth it ... we didn't want to go to bed with empty stomachs. I am disappointed to say that i had a moolatte at Dairy Queen and a chicken burger at KFC. I never felt quite so fat in my life. Especially knowing that there were monks back home that couldn't eat!
So we arrived back just in time for evening chanting and meditation. It was such a cool experience. We had to wear all white with clothes covering our shoulders and past our knees. The color white represents a few things in the Buddhist culture. It is a color of purity or a yearning for purity where a person is "half human and half monk". It also represents the nuns in a temple who take care of the monks. The Buddhists believe a woman is sensitive and are easily affected by things around them --just like the color white which gets dirty quite quickly. One of the monks taught us to meditate laying down, sitting, standing up and walking. Meditation is a way of purifying the mind. For some it is the ultimate goal of "enlightenment" which very few are able to attain. This is the deepest mind control in meditation and causes a complete separation from the world making you feel a pure happiness and contentment. You are able to reject any impurities in your mind and can have a feeling of utter peace and tranquility.
Nikki had found a kitten in the temple who had hopped in her lap for the entire evening chant and meditation lesson. It also followed us back to the room where it stayed the whole night on our laps. It had a ghost face on its head so we called it Ghost.
Speaking of Ghosts... The temple is a lot different at night. Me and Elyse went to check out some of the surrounding buildings and came to find a crematorium. It looked pretty old but we want to explore a little. Elyse looked inside the oven and found ashes at the bottom.. i wouldn't dare look! We walked to the back of the building where we notices one of the temple's blind dogs was fallowing us. We continued to walk an began to talk about how we were feeling this heaviness.. the dog began to cry and yelp. It was just too creepy for us so we ran back to our room. There is always something creepy about an animals intuition. I trust their senses better than my own.
One of the older monks had told Jolein, our room mate, of stories where he thinks he had encounters with ghosts. Scary!! I am glad we stayed only one night!
I think we all had an average of three hours sleep, except for Palm -- our Thai coordinator, who snored most of the night. The floor was just too hard and our backs ached in the morning. We woke up at 5:30 to collect food with the monks.
This is their source for food as monks are not aloud to prepare or buy any food themselves. The villages around them fully support them.
They had everything from noodles to rice cakes... all sorts of fruit and spicy curries. It is so cool to see a country that supports each other so well. They may not have a lot, but no one is left behind. They are so family oriented and have such great respect for everyone and everything. The monks even found a turtle in the well this morning and let us throw into the lake and make a wish. A turtle is seen as very Chock Dii (Good Luck).
I think i need a shower now! I was so eager to spill what was fresh in my mind that i came right from the temple to here! I don't think people want to smell or look at me at this point haha.
It been so interesting. Only midway through and i feel i have learned so much. There is so much to learn in the Buddhist religion.
I just got back from staying in a temple an hour north of Singburi. We slept on Cold cement which at first we thought would be a relief as it would keep us cool at night. But, we quickly learned how uncomfortable it was. They had blankets, a hard pillow and a thin mat for us to lay on. We were a little worried when we got there that we wouldn't be able to eat supper. Monks do not eat after noon so luckily we were able to get a ride into the town that had a Dairy Queen and KFC (the Asians love love LOVE their KFC). We crammed 18 people into a five seater truck. there was about9 of us in the cap (including the driver) and then another 9 in the back .. which stenched like urine. It was worth it ... we didn't want to go to bed with empty stomachs. I am disappointed to say that i had a moolatte at Dairy Queen and a chicken burger at KFC. I never felt quite so fat in my life. Especially knowing that there were monks back home that couldn't eat!
So we arrived back just in time for evening chanting and meditation. It was such a cool experience. We had to wear all white with clothes covering our shoulders and past our knees. The color white represents a few things in the Buddhist culture. It is a color of purity or a yearning for purity where a person is "half human and half monk". It also represents the nuns in a temple who take care of the monks. The Buddhists believe a woman is sensitive and are easily affected by things around them --just like the color white which gets dirty quite quickly. One of the monks taught us to meditate laying down, sitting, standing up and walking. Meditation is a way of purifying the mind. For some it is the ultimate goal of "enlightenment" which very few are able to attain. This is the deepest mind control in meditation and causes a complete separation from the world making you feel a pure happiness and contentment. You are able to reject any impurities in your mind and can have a feeling of utter peace and tranquility.
Nikki had found a kitten in the temple who had hopped in her lap for the entire evening chant and meditation lesson. It also followed us back to the room where it stayed the whole night on our laps. It had a ghost face on its head so we called it Ghost.
Speaking of Ghosts... The temple is a lot different at night. Me and Elyse went to check out some of the surrounding buildings and came to find a crematorium. It looked pretty old but we want to explore a little. Elyse looked inside the oven and found ashes at the bottom.. i wouldn't dare look! We walked to the back of the building where we notices one of the temple's blind dogs was fallowing us. We continued to walk an began to talk about how we were feeling this heaviness.. the dog began to cry and yelp. It was just too creepy for us so we ran back to our room. There is always something creepy about an animals intuition. I trust their senses better than my own.
One of the older monks had told Jolein, our room mate, of stories where he thinks he had encounters with ghosts. Scary!! I am glad we stayed only one night!
I think we all had an average of three hours sleep, except for Palm -- our Thai coordinator, who snored most of the night. The floor was just too hard and our backs ached in the morning. We woke up at 5:30 to collect food with the monks.
This is their source for food as monks are not aloud to prepare or buy any food themselves. The villages around them fully support them.
They had everything from noodles to rice cakes... all sorts of fruit and spicy curries. It is so cool to see a country that supports each other so well. They may not have a lot, but no one is left behind. They are so family oriented and have such great respect for everyone and everything. The monks even found a turtle in the well this morning and let us throw into the lake and make a wish. A turtle is seen as very Chock Dii (Good Luck).
I think i need a shower now! I was so eager to spill what was fresh in my mind that i came right from the temple to here! I don't think people want to smell or look at me at this point haha.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Teaching English to Thai Police
So this week has pretty much flown by.
We have been Teaching Thai Policeman this week. Elyse, Nikki and I were so nervouse that first day. We were to teach right at the police station.
We originally had planned to teach Kids English but there wasn't any kids as its their summer holidays for another few weeks. So we agreed that Police would be the next option. It was definitly going to be a completely different experience and a challenge for all three of us.
Its not like you can think of a few games to play and a small lesson like you would with kids, with adults you have to come at a totally different approach. We were so scared that we wouldnt be able to teach them and they would all give us blank stares.
When we walked into the station that first day, my hands were shaking, and I was sweating even in an airconditioned room. They had even made an opening ceremony for us with a podium and a speach from a few of the very important directors and the chief of the Station in Singburi. In one of the speaches, they introduced us as educated English teachers that have been working in the Singburi schools. None of us had tought in the schools in Singburi, None of us had ever even tought english at all!
But they made us feel very welcome. We ended up splitting the class into two different groups which gave the police a chance to feel a lot less attimidated to speak english openly. Some were very hesitant to speak at first, but Elyse, Nikki and I were surprised how easily we ourselves became relaxed as they did as well. That first day, we went over basic conversation and tested to see how much english they cops knew. We were taken to lunch with the cheif (which is a huge honour in Thai culture) and he even treated us to a little icecream!
As the days progressed, we felt more and more comfortable with them. They were no longer scary thai cops, but kind faces and fun laughter.
Our hardest challenge was when we would plan what we would teach for that day and come to class and realize that we had no students the same from the previouse lesson the day before. This made it difficult with the levels of understanding. We had a few that had come to every class and they followed the lessons easily as we always seemed to have to review and review so that we could catch everyone up. By the last day, the police officers had brought their wives and children to learn english as well. So we decided to split up the group.. kids from adults. It was great fun but there wasnt a moment that we weren't on our toes.
Speaking of toes... we even managed to teach the police how to sing "Head Shoulders, knees and toes knees and toes" with the actions. They went a long with it and actually enjoyed it! haha It was such a funny thing to see. Its the last thing you would expect them to be doing as grown men in police uniform.
The Director, Chat, took us out as a thank you at the end of the week. He had asked us what kind of music we enjoyed a few days earlier and we told him Rock music without thinking much of it. We drove an hour from Singburi that night to arrive at this beautiful restaurant that played any rock song requested from a little band outside in a garden. He had gone so out of his way to please us. We had a wonderful dinner and the waitresses topped our beer glasses every minute, even if it wasnt even close to being done. Hanging out with the Thai Police made us all feel like we were living the lives of Kings and Queens. Maybe Nikki had felt it more than the rest of us... hahaha. She fully took advantage of the free beer!
Chat went up to the band playing and sang to songs in Thai and dedicated them to us! He spoke so proudly and clearly, "Dis is Fo Miss Alees, Miss Cowie, Miss Nikki, Miss Helan and Mista Adam". We almost felt that it was just too much for us. They were so greatful for only a short week of teaching.
They took us to a connected rock club from the restaurant afterwards and there was a line up outside with a guard at the door checking ID. We worried as the age limit in Thailand for drinking is apparently 20 (even though barely anyone checks anyways). We were escorted passed the line and the gaurd checking ID and was walked right in upstairs to get a great view of the club and the Thai band playing cover bands.
They went so out of their way to make us feel welcomed and thanked. They were so greatful for our volunteer work. I think we all felt a little undeserving of this attention. But that is definitly one thing i have found so different here in Thailand. When they are thankful, or want to show their appreciation, they go so out of their way and sacrifice so much to make you feel happy. They are such generouse and full hearted people. They gave us a lovely picture with a frame of us with the chief and director, Chat. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking of all their kindness this week.
We have been Teaching Thai Policeman this week. Elyse, Nikki and I were so nervouse that first day. We were to teach right at the police station.
We originally had planned to teach Kids English but there wasn't any kids as its their summer holidays for another few weeks. So we agreed that Police would be the next option. It was definitly going to be a completely different experience and a challenge for all three of us.
Its not like you can think of a few games to play and a small lesson like you would with kids, with adults you have to come at a totally different approach. We were so scared that we wouldnt be able to teach them and they would all give us blank stares.
When we walked into the station that first day, my hands were shaking, and I was sweating even in an airconditioned room. They had even made an opening ceremony for us with a podium and a speach from a few of the very important directors and the chief of the Station in Singburi. In one of the speaches, they introduced us as educated English teachers that have been working in the Singburi schools. None of us had tought in the schools in Singburi, None of us had ever even tought english at all!
But they made us feel very welcome. We ended up splitting the class into two different groups which gave the police a chance to feel a lot less attimidated to speak english openly. Some were very hesitant to speak at first, but Elyse, Nikki and I were surprised how easily we ourselves became relaxed as they did as well. That first day, we went over basic conversation and tested to see how much english they cops knew. We were taken to lunch with the cheif (which is a huge honour in Thai culture) and he even treated us to a little icecream!
As the days progressed, we felt more and more comfortable with them. They were no longer scary thai cops, but kind faces and fun laughter.
Our hardest challenge was when we would plan what we would teach for that day and come to class and realize that we had no students the same from the previouse lesson the day before. This made it difficult with the levels of understanding. We had a few that had come to every class and they followed the lessons easily as we always seemed to have to review and review so that we could catch everyone up. By the last day, the police officers had brought their wives and children to learn english as well. So we decided to split up the group.. kids from adults. It was great fun but there wasnt a moment that we weren't on our toes.
Speaking of toes... we even managed to teach the police how to sing "Head Shoulders, knees and toes knees and toes" with the actions. They went a long with it and actually enjoyed it! haha It was such a funny thing to see. Its the last thing you would expect them to be doing as grown men in police uniform.
The Director, Chat, took us out as a thank you at the end of the week. He had asked us what kind of music we enjoyed a few days earlier and we told him Rock music without thinking much of it. We drove an hour from Singburi that night to arrive at this beautiful restaurant that played any rock song requested from a little band outside in a garden. He had gone so out of his way to please us. We had a wonderful dinner and the waitresses topped our beer glasses every minute, even if it wasnt even close to being done. Hanging out with the Thai Police made us all feel like we were living the lives of Kings and Queens. Maybe Nikki had felt it more than the rest of us... hahaha. She fully took advantage of the free beer!
Chat went up to the band playing and sang to songs in Thai and dedicated them to us! He spoke so proudly and clearly, "Dis is Fo Miss Alees, Miss Cowie, Miss Nikki, Miss Helan and Mista Adam". We almost felt that it was just too much for us. They were so greatful for only a short week of teaching.
They took us to a connected rock club from the restaurant afterwards and there was a line up outside with a guard at the door checking ID. We worried as the age limit in Thailand for drinking is apparently 20 (even though barely anyone checks anyways). We were escorted passed the line and the gaurd checking ID and was walked right in upstairs to get a great view of the club and the Thai band playing cover bands.
They went so out of their way to make us feel welcomed and thanked. They were so greatful for our volunteer work. I think we all felt a little undeserving of this attention. But that is definitly one thing i have found so different here in Thailand. When they are thankful, or want to show their appreciation, they go so out of their way and sacrifice so much to make you feel happy. They are such generouse and full hearted people. They gave us a lovely picture with a frame of us with the chief and director, Chat. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking of all their kindness this week.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
First Week with Volunteer Organization
This first week was such a different experience with people back from home.
As much as Nikki and Elyse distract me, and make me even more happy and less alone,
we end up talking about home a lot. It makes me think about everything i have left... my family and friends..wes... my securities... in some ways its a good thing that I am able to talk about home. In other ways its just making me more homesick!
The first week has been great though.
We were taken to Singburi in airconditioned vans. We met a nineteen year old girl named Famke who was from the Netherlands. She was working in Australia all ready for six months and then doing thailand for another couple months. We met a German guy named Dominic who was going to do a temple stay with the monks for 2 months! We have met all sorts of people in our first week. Its nice to have a good group to share the experiences.
Our Accomodation that will become our home for the next four weeks, is very relaxing. We have really enjoyed being away from the big city and in a small village next to little huts and howling dogs... well maybe not enjoying the howling dogs... nikki hates it. We are surrounded with gardens. Our room is small with three bunk beds. Its supposed to fit six people but having four is plenty! Especially us girls who love to spread everything everywhere. We have a leaky sink that smells a little like sewage and geckos crawling all over our walls. We actually have one that has never left us. We called him Joe the gecko. we can tell its him because he has no tail!
The days have been full of events. We were taken into town to shop in the markets and to the pool to cool off in this absolutely boiling weather.
We have learned So much thai in our lessons. Elyse was so proud of her self when she managed to have a pretty full conversation with our cook at the Twin house. We are finding it very useful when bardering in the Tuesday market in the local village.
I must head out for dinner.. we have dinner at 5:00? its a little hard to adjust to ... we are never really hungry at 5:00!
As much as Nikki and Elyse distract me, and make me even more happy and less alone,
we end up talking about home a lot. It makes me think about everything i have left... my family and friends..wes... my securities... in some ways its a good thing that I am able to talk about home. In other ways its just making me more homesick!
The first week has been great though.
We were taken to Singburi in airconditioned vans. We met a nineteen year old girl named Famke who was from the Netherlands. She was working in Australia all ready for six months and then doing thailand for another couple months. We met a German guy named Dominic who was going to do a temple stay with the monks for 2 months! We have met all sorts of people in our first week. Its nice to have a good group to share the experiences.
Our Accomodation that will become our home for the next four weeks, is very relaxing. We have really enjoyed being away from the big city and in a small village next to little huts and howling dogs... well maybe not enjoying the howling dogs... nikki hates it. We are surrounded with gardens. Our room is small with three bunk beds. Its supposed to fit six people but having four is plenty! Especially us girls who love to spread everything everywhere. We have a leaky sink that smells a little like sewage and geckos crawling all over our walls. We actually have one that has never left us. We called him Joe the gecko. we can tell its him because he has no tail!
The days have been full of events. We were taken into town to shop in the markets and to the pool to cool off in this absolutely boiling weather.
We have learned So much thai in our lessons. Elyse was so proud of her self when she managed to have a pretty full conversation with our cook at the Twin house. We are finding it very useful when bardering in the Tuesday market in the local village.
I must head out for dinner.. we have dinner at 5:00? its a little hard to adjust to ... we are never really hungry at 5:00!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Meeting Nikki and Elyse in Bangkok!
I never would have thought it would have been such a relief coming back to Bangkok.
I wasnt big on the big city of Bangkok... but it has begun to be a second home. I know it. the people just seem easier to talk to.. there isnt always a language barrier.
This time coming into Bangkok was even more exiting. My friends from home were going to come for the remaining two months. Nicole and Elyse came in at about 2 in the morning. Nikki was exhausted. They were bickering with eachother. I dont blame them! They came so prepared. They had even brought me a little something from home from my parents, marni and wes.. I teared up. It was so weird having all these things suddenly reminding me of home. Mom and dad (thankyou by the way ;).. ) baught me candy that i cant get in Thailand... fun dip which i am addicted to haha and a little note. Wes gave me his journal which made me feel so much closer to home. All three of us stayed up talking until we passed out. We woke up only a few hours later and explored Bangkok. I was so surprised they didnt sleep all day! We walked through the Grande palace (my second time) and then fed pigeons (that turned out to be a scam.. i should have known better). They crashed at about 1 and fell asleep all afternoon until about 7. Nikki was feeling really homesick but Elyse seemed pretty excited.
We went onto Khao San Road and had some famous Pad Thai for supper. Afterwards, we got our hair wrapped and shopped alittle.
I wasnt big on the big city of Bangkok... but it has begun to be a second home. I know it. the people just seem easier to talk to.. there isnt always a language barrier.
This time coming into Bangkok was even more exiting. My friends from home were going to come for the remaining two months. Nicole and Elyse came in at about 2 in the morning. Nikki was exhausted. They were bickering with eachother. I dont blame them! They came so prepared. They had even brought me a little something from home from my parents, marni and wes.. I teared up. It was so weird having all these things suddenly reminding me of home. Mom and dad (thankyou by the way ;).. ) baught me candy that i cant get in Thailand... fun dip which i am addicted to haha and a little note. Wes gave me his journal which made me feel so much closer to home. All three of us stayed up talking until we passed out. We woke up only a few hours later and explored Bangkok. I was so surprised they didnt sleep all day! We walked through the Grande palace (my second time) and then fed pigeons (that turned out to be a scam.. i should have known better). They crashed at about 1 and fell asleep all afternoon until about 7. Nikki was feeling really homesick but Elyse seemed pretty excited.
We went onto Khao San Road and had some famous Pad Thai for supper. Afterwards, we got our hair wrapped and shopped alittle.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Cambodia- Siam Reap and Pnohm Pehn
Wow..
I think its been a little too long since my last blog.
Unfortunately i donot have a lot of time to write this.
Cambodia was beautiful
I feel that this country gave me the most culture shock though. As we entered the country in our big air conditioned local bus, i was fixed at looking out the window. I must have just starred out the window for hours as we waited for a ferry that wasnt even a kilometer distance across a little river. There were trucks carrying all sorts of interesting things in the back of them.. Pigs, cows, monkeys... you name it. It was sad seeing the monkeys tied up witha chain on their foot. Maybe they were selling them, I am not too sure.
The people were fantastic. When we arrived at the small hotel down a narrow road in the capital city of Pnohm Pehn, we went out to get milkshakes... Honestly, you end up craving cold fuit shakes ALL the time. There were kids that bombarded us with books in baskets. They must have been no older than 8 and they broke your heart just looking at them. We told them we were from Canada and they were smart! they started talking in French. But being the terrible canadian that i am.. i didnt even understand.
The Heat was almost unbearable. The moment we walked outside of our airconditioned hotel room, we were sweating. I carried a big bottle of water as i ended up getting dehydrated so quickly.
Going to the prison from the Khmer Rouge was extremely emotional. The prison was originally built as a school. But in 1970, the classrooms were turned into torture chambers and prison cells.
Each room on the main floor had a single wirey bed frame with a little metal box and prison chains for the prisoners feet. The people who were taken here was anyone educated or consisting of the middle or upper class. If anyone doesnt know what happened during this period, it was very similar to the Nazi regime. The ideals of the Khmere Rouge were to bring Cambodia to its original existence and to execute a class system where everyone become equal. The cambodians were all to work in farms and they were killed if they disobeyed the laws. It was absolutely discusting what they did to poeple. The regime that lasted five years caused the death of over 2 million cambodians. It was so sad seeing the ways in which they were tortured. It was so inhumane.
It was really hard walking amungst the killing fields where so many were buried.. some even buried alive.
There were mass graves and their bones were stilll scattered on thepaths we walked on. I ran upon a tiny jaw belonging to a child and it was overwhelming. You really do feel helpless. Even now, 50 percent of the population is under 18 as most of the older people that lived through the 70's were exterminated.
We flew to Siam Reap where we saw the amazing ancient ruins. The trees were my favourite part...they grew amungst it the roots like tendrils from an octopus rapping around the crumbled walls.
I even got to see the very spot that angelina ran in the movie Tomb Raider!!
I will remember one night forever when we went for supper at a womans home. There were children everywhere from nearby village homes and after an amazing feast we danced for hours. My hair became soaked with sweat but i continued to dance. The children showed us traditional Cambodian dancing and then we jived all night. Ill never forget their faces, smiles and laughter.
Overall, Cambodia was one of my favourite places. The thing i will remember most are the people. They were so open and friendly.
I think its been a little too long since my last blog.
Unfortunately i donot have a lot of time to write this.
Cambodia was beautiful
I feel that this country gave me the most culture shock though. As we entered the country in our big air conditioned local bus, i was fixed at looking out the window. I must have just starred out the window for hours as we waited for a ferry that wasnt even a kilometer distance across a little river. There were trucks carrying all sorts of interesting things in the back of them.. Pigs, cows, monkeys... you name it. It was sad seeing the monkeys tied up witha chain on their foot. Maybe they were selling them, I am not too sure.
The people were fantastic. When we arrived at the small hotel down a narrow road in the capital city of Pnohm Pehn, we went out to get milkshakes... Honestly, you end up craving cold fuit shakes ALL the time. There were kids that bombarded us with books in baskets. They must have been no older than 8 and they broke your heart just looking at them. We told them we were from Canada and they were smart! they started talking in French. But being the terrible canadian that i am.. i didnt even understand.
The Heat was almost unbearable. The moment we walked outside of our airconditioned hotel room, we were sweating. I carried a big bottle of water as i ended up getting dehydrated so quickly.
Going to the prison from the Khmer Rouge was extremely emotional. The prison was originally built as a school. But in 1970, the classrooms were turned into torture chambers and prison cells.
Each room on the main floor had a single wirey bed frame with a little metal box and prison chains for the prisoners feet. The people who were taken here was anyone educated or consisting of the middle or upper class. If anyone doesnt know what happened during this period, it was very similar to the Nazi regime. The ideals of the Khmere Rouge were to bring Cambodia to its original existence and to execute a class system where everyone become equal. The cambodians were all to work in farms and they were killed if they disobeyed the laws. It was absolutely discusting what they did to poeple. The regime that lasted five years caused the death of over 2 million cambodians. It was so sad seeing the ways in which they were tortured. It was so inhumane.
It was really hard walking amungst the killing fields where so many were buried.. some even buried alive.
There were mass graves and their bones were stilll scattered on thepaths we walked on. I ran upon a tiny jaw belonging to a child and it was overwhelming. You really do feel helpless. Even now, 50 percent of the population is under 18 as most of the older people that lived through the 70's were exterminated.
We flew to Siam Reap where we saw the amazing ancient ruins. The trees were my favourite part...they grew amungst it the roots like tendrils from an octopus rapping around the crumbled walls.
I even got to see the very spot that angelina ran in the movie Tomb Raider!!
I will remember one night forever when we went for supper at a womans home. There were children everywhere from nearby village homes and after an amazing feast we danced for hours. My hair became soaked with sweat but i continued to dance. The children showed us traditional Cambodian dancing and then we jived all night. Ill never forget their faces, smiles and laughter.
Overall, Cambodia was one of my favourite places. The thing i will remember most are the people. They were so open and friendly.
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