Sen Monorom

What a journey… Like the weekend trip to Kampot, we went out the night before and having only a few hours sleep got up with omelette sarnies to get the coach to Kampon Cham, then we planned to get a pick up truck for the rest of the journey to Sen Monoron, in the very east of Cambodia. I had the worst moment of 6 months during his journey, I actually overheated. Our bus broke down at around 1pm, the hottest part of the day. We sat on the bus for ages silently hoping that the engine would eventually start after so many times of trying. I had to get off and sit under a tree across the road as I was so so hot. Finally another bus comes along and all the passengers from our broken down bus get onto this other one, which was already full. I was squished right in the back basically sitting above the engine which was boiling, I had a family squished next to me. Not the nicest for me who is pretty claustrophobic. The others had to sit on the floor down the isle. I actually overheated and got pretty stressed when we arrived and had no idea where we could get a pick up truck from to take the second half of our journey. Randomly we asked a Khmer man for a taxi, at that second a minibus was driving passed, he put out his hand and there it was. We hopped in, arranged a pretty good price and we were off, the 4 of us in our own minibus to a place called Snoul, apparently this was where the pick up trucks left from. By then we were starving so the minibus stopped and old ladies shoved hard baguettes and overpriced bottles of water in at us through the window. We were all feeling a little delirious after little sleep, the commotion of breaking down, hunger and the heat. But. We were on our way! It took a lot longer that anticipated, trying to communicate with the two men in the front by using the LP phrase book we learnt to say ‘HELP!’ and other ‘emergency phrases’. Not really useful, we really needed to ask them how long till we arrive and where we can stay when we got to Snoul. All they kept saying to us was ‘Knam Bai’ which translates as ‘Eat rice’. I think they wanted a little rice party with us when we got there. It was a pretty funny journey with miscommunication and language barriers with these two men. We realised that we wouldn’t be able to make it to Sen Monorom till the morning as the broken down bus had delayed our journey so we ended up staying in Snoul. We looked it up in the LP and weren’t too excited to hear that quote ‘the best thing about Snoul is the new road which offers a quick way out’. Great. Found some ‘hotel’ that was just weird, covered in beetles and only served pot noodle for breakfast. Had an interesting moto ride to a restaurant with a guy wearing a lovely blue string vest drenched in a dodgey after shave. The whole time in this Snoul place was just so ridiculous I just couldn’t really stop laughing.

So we booked a pick up for the next morning to sit inside with noone else as we were offered to sit on the outside (no thank you) or inside with as many Khmers as they could fit in. Had a slight break down en route, the truck, not me, but I didn’t expect any different! The driver tied something under the van back with a piece of rope while Sandeep and Nina climbed on the outside of the truck to pose for photos!! Next thing we knew a Khmer family were next to us staring as and intrigued by our cameras, white skin and blonde hair. We really were in the middle of nowhere so thank god the truck was fixed and we were back en route. Interesting bumpy and very dusty orange road but we made it!

The east of Cambodia seems like a completely different country to what I am used to, the countryside is a lot more baron with no green rice fields, but brown trees and orangey brown roads. We wandered a little, had some noodles and bought some ‘gay’ cushions that were recommended for the elephant trek. We thought we’d head to a place that was recommended in the LP for dinner and a drinkie, the map/my map reading was so wrong that we wandered for a while before we finally found the sign, pointing into the woods!! It was pitch black by this time, and there were no lights, we followed the little trail in between the trees and 2 pitbulls came running out at us. We had ended up at this ladies wooden house that she claims is a restaurant. Well, the food was incredible, and it was a nice atmosphere sitting outside in her garden. It was a bit of a surreal night as this lady was pretty crazy, she was Dutch and had lived in Cambodia for years and years. . She had many stories to tell and I have included some quotes that she dropped into conversation whereby Sanna and I would glance at each other quickly to see that we were both worried about her ‘drugging, killing and stuffing us to keep in her bedroom’. These were the thoughts running through my head while Nina was chatting away to her!

Some quotes from the crazy lady…

‘Geckos, they love their booze’
‘Have you ever dealt with snake shit?’
‘Surprisingly many tourists fall off their elephants’
‘Just wee out in the front garden, everyone else does’
‘Have you ever dealt with a python?’
‘If you ever see anyone being strangled by their pet…cold water. Cold water’

While we were there a couple came in, had a drink and left pretty quickly. Wihn, from Indonesia and Crystal from Belgium.

The elephant trek was great, Nina and I named ours Roy and he was a bit of a funny one, he had some itching problems and likes to stop and itch his bum up against the trees, sending Nina and I to one side of the tiny wooden seat, holding on to the front and each other so not to fall out!! We had a little boy mahout, he must have been about 8…there was an older boy but he disappeared after 5 minutes into a hut so we were left with Roy, the little rascal and the little boy to keep control of him. He was a very hungry ellie and liked to pull huge branches off trees and green bamboo out of the ground along the way! Sanna and Sandeep’s ellie just wandered along with no itching or hunger problems.

We stopped off half way for some ant/rice/veg and a swim in the river fully clothes, khmer style. The elephants were led into the river by the mahouts and Nina and I went in with them, helping to wash them down. It was such an amazing experience!! The elephants stood up with us sitting bareback on them and walked back up the bank into the jungle. I actually felt safer bareback on the elephant as when I was sitting on it in the wooden carriage I noticed that the palm that was holding it onto the elephant was so close to snapping, I was pretty scared as the elephants were trekking up a hill through the jungle and I had images of Sandeep and I flying off the back. When we got off at the end, the girls said that I had turned white from fear!

We stayed in the village, in a ‘mushroom hut’ which was made from wood and leaves. We had a bit of a rice wine party with the villagers, whereby if they pour you another shot, you can’t say no! ‘Chol Moy’ ‘Cheers’ ‘Post’ ‘Scholl’ shot after shot after shot. The men went for some late night snacks and came back with whole frogs and peanuts. Interesting combination. They just chewed on the frogs, crunching on the bones. I’ve had frog before but these smelt so bad, I think they must have been cooked the day or two before… I opted out and stuck with peanuts!

Bed time was interesting, we were staying in the chief of the villages mushroom hut, it was getting cold and was nice to find a open fire in the middle of this tiny hut. Half way through the night I woke up to the feeling of ants crawling through my hair, over my face and body. It was such a horrible feeling but there was no light, maybe that was a good thing. I guessed that there was a trail of ants on my pillow! I put my head at the other end of the ‘bed’ and got back to sleep, waking up now and again to the footsteps of rats running our ‘bed’….

A Sunday Outing

After such a lovely time with my children at the water festival I decided to take them out for a sunday afternoon to a nearby.......well I'm not sure what to call it. It was a very dry field that we arrived at, we put down a tarpaulin in the shade of the trees and played all afternoon. They loved badminton, it was slightly embarrasing as charrr was not the best player! Hout was very patient though and we just ended up laughing too much that we had to give up! The kids flew a kite, climbed the trees, played duck duck goose (a supersports fave!), took photos of each other with chars camera and sat in the tuk tuk. Yes, they LOVE the tuk tuks so much that a lot of them just enjoyed sitting in it in the field!

Next to the field is a fairground that opens up a bit later when the sun has gone down, we wondered around and I let the children pick two rides that they wanted to go on. The ferris wheel was the same as they went on at the water festival and they all wanted to go on it again and this time I was brave and went with them. I was screaming as loudly as them, dodgey dodgey ferris wheel...

The kids had such a lovely day and were so grateful!

Face your phobia!!

I have been very very very brave and have just given blood!!!!!!

Goodbye needle/blood/something being sucked out of your arm phobia!

The other volunteers had decided to go to the children's hospital today to give blood and I have always said that I could never do it because I am such such a wimp when it comes to needles and blood and anything related. Nina was telling me how she went with her Khmer friend, Peckaday, and how she was so proud of herself as hardly any Khmer people give blood here. So I thought I would be brave and do it today and I feel so proud of myself now!

The others let me go first and Ilona sat next to me and we talked and talked about what I had eaten for breakfast and random forced conversation so I didn't think or look at the bloooodddd being succccccckkkkkkkked out of my arm!!!

When the needle was out I couldn't stop laughing and think I had a little crazy nickered moment!

It's Louzas birthdayyy!!

Happy Birthday Louuuie....the blind children and I have a little message for you...
Lots and lots of love! xxxxx

Ps) Happy Birthday Pinnnnyyyyyy too!!

Purple is NOT an animal

Ooohhh my goodnessssssssss. Teaching really does test your patience. I nearly had a breakdown today when I was teaching the 2 youngest children animals with flashcards , pictures and the word. We had rabbits, lions, tigers, birds, elephants, etc.

I kept thinking that they had FINALLY got it so would hold up a card. It is a rabbit.
'Purple'he says.
'No, purple (pointing to my very purple top) is a colour...R A B B I T rabbit'. 'Rabbit', he says.
I hold up another card. It is a lion.
'Purple' he says.
'No! Purple (pointing to top) Purple (pointing to purple on wall) Purple (pointing to purple on his bag) L I O N....Lion.
'Lion', he says.
I hold up another card. It is a bird.
'Bird', he says.
'Goooood' I hold up another card. It is a dog.
'Cat'
'No'
'Lion'
'No'
'Monkey'
'No'
'Purple'
OOOOOooooooooooooooooooooohhhh myyyyy goooodnessssss. Calm breaths. Take a moment. Smile at the little boy. Look for help. 'Can someone please translate to Piup that PURPLE is a colour NOT an animal...' Srey Deith explains in Khmer to him. He seems to understand.
I hold up a Monkey.

You can just imagine...


On friday, the same boy came to the lesson. We sat down ready to play a game of Bingo when the children start laughing and holding their noses. I ask what's wrong. 'Piup, Piup! Poo' one of the older students says while pointing at his grubby t shirt that has a big lump of chicken poo stuck to the front. I keep my serious mature teacher face on....for about 10 seconds saying maybe he should go and wash it before I crack and I am laughing..a lot. The children find it hilerious that I have just cracked up and are all laughing at the poo and at me. Little Piup, starts to laugh, histerically, I was worried he might have been crying but it was the funniest moment. He just could NOT stop laughing. He takes off his t shirt and washes it under the water pump outside. He spends the rest of the lesson wearing just his shorts. We go to sit outside in a circle to play a game. The children start to giggle...again. I look over and Piup, sitting topless, has a huge hole in the crotch of his shorts. Poor little one. Again, he laughs so much, then gets up and does a dance like a chicken before sitting down with his chicken poo t shirt covering the hole.

I think I might buy him a new pair of shorts.

On my way to school yesterday I cycled past a little boy next to the river, I thought he was making cat noises but I looked down to see a cat swimming and climbing onto the bank of the river. The little boy picked up the cat and hurled it back into the river.... Wasn't quite sure what to do.. (Don't get any ideas Dad).

Why why why did I eat a bug....?

I blame peer pressure...

Kulen Mountain and Waterfall

We get into the pick up Truck where I am offered a square of cardboard to balance on the edge and sit on. We all squish around the side of this open backed pick up very prepared with khramas wrapped around our heads and necks to protect from the sun and dust. True Khmer style except there are 11 of us squished in the back rather than 30. Before we leave Siem Reap we stop to fill up the cool box with blocks of ice that Theavy (the Khmer lady who is our volunteer coordinator) hacks with a small machete. It's a two hour journey and was fantastic! The countryside, as per usual as stunning, and the fact that we were just sitting on the side of a truck with not a lot to hold on to was a lot of fun, especially when we we each half way and get onto the dirt tracks....bumps and orange dust galore. We stop and bargain for a bunch of bananas. The best I've ever eaten. We stop for a toilet shack break where we get involved with the hokie kokie to unnumb our bums.. I think I love it more than the kids!! We arrive and carry our hammocks down to our spot next to a small waterfall, we have hired a kind of gazebo, made from wood, bamboo and leaves. I have a nap in the hammock next to the waterfall and wake up to Nina in the water above the waterfall with Mr Gee and his wife and their two adorable grandchildren, shivering but smiling in the cold water. I get up and join Nina, in my clothes. Khmer style, bikinis are just not worn here, they go in the water with their clothes on so I am wearing long shorts and a vest top. The water is pulling towards the waterfall so we sit by the edge. It really would not be fun to go whizzing down a waterfall however exciting it looks! It is sooo refreshing and lovely but I soon turn a little blue so get out and it's lunch time. The Khmer lady is cooking up a feast in the gazebo on a little gas stove that we have bought with us, we pass around deep fried banana covered in sweet rice, unripe sour mango with chilli and salt and crispy sweet rice pieces. We eat morning glory with chilli and egg and pork with lemon grass and peppers with rice...of course. rice rice everywhere. 'Khnyom bai' 'eat rice'.

When most other Khmer families have left we wander down lots of wooden rickety steps to the main waterfall. Wow. It is absolutely stunning. It is so high and so powerful. The water looks amazing crashing down on the rocks below and the sounds and the spray of the water were incredible. We all go swimming in the water below and climb rocks and jump off. Nina and I perform our song (more will be revealed soon) on a rock in front of the waterfall while Rachel films it from a dry rock. It felt amazing being in this waterfall, one of the best things I have ever seen and done.

We make our way back in the pick up, this time I am not on the edge but sitting on the cool box in the middle. It gets dark quickly and we find ourselves driving through the jungle in the dark.

Kulen is one of the best places I've ever seen and been to, the journey there, the waterfall, the water, the chilled atmosphere. Yet again, what a day...