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Connie, Rosie and me
We went by taxi to the ruins of a magnifcent temple at Beng Melia, about 65 kilometers from Siem Reap. No restoration has been done, and the jungle is encroaching. It is very much the way the entire complex at Angkor must have been when it was first discovered about 150 years ago. Day 5 - Kratie
Yesterday, after my lazy morning we went to lunch at an amazing cafe called "Friends"just near the Royal Palace. It was started by someone to help street kids- orphans, prostitutes,etc. It is a classy cafe that would be impressive in Kirribilli or Bronte. Excellent tapas. Friendly service.
Behind is a great complex of facilities-rehab, school, life skills workshop, hospitality school with several grades, and craft workshop. Most impressive and inspirational.
Poor Cambodia is in a very wretched situation. It is almost as though the whole nation is in a depression of guilt and frustration going back several decades. However, there isan enorous amount of aid coming in from everywhere , as well as foreign investment. A lot of evidence of Korean companies. And the Japanese are building a bridge up to the north.
In addition , there is a great deal of corruption and incompetence. A lot of the aid though well meaning can be misdirected or inappropriate.
We were talking to a retired Australian doctor friend last night. He has been trying to get started on a few projects large and small, with considerable difficuty. He told us of a resettlement camp where
Red sun falling
Sunset across the Mekong at Kratie in central Cambodia. he is introducng an infant welfare program 22 kms fro PP> 8000 peope were forcibly moved by army trucks from their shanty homes on the river bank to a new location equipped only with tents, 12 latrines and no fresh water. So far from town means no-one can get a job even
Anyway..back to the saga of our travels. Today we took a 7 hour bus ride to the north east through shanty towns of incredible deprivation. So much garbage every where even out side market stalls, shops and houses. MAny with no electricity and only a well for water.
But here we are on the mighty Mekong in this small town which is beginning to show signs of prosperity in parts on account of the largest remaining pod of Irrawaddy freshwater dolphins in the world. Of course they are now sadly endangered and down to about 100. We found a nice clean new and impressive guesthouse overlooking the river for $5 a night and our host summoned two friends and they took us by motor cycle about half an hour's ride to catch a long boat out across the river for an hour where we were surrounded
Beng Melia
This temple is still as it was discovered. by the obliging creatures. So it was worth the journey. Tourism is having an amazing effect on the town. But in the back streets it is still in a very bad state.
This hostel has 5 internet computers including one with Skype. But two don't work and this one is bad. I fear there are no technicians in town. Opposite is a very noisy enterprise which consists of a shop space set up like a cinema with lots of young people watching three different TVs simultaneously!
So here we are. Not quite sure whether we wil lgo back tomorrow or Saturday. Then on to Battembang and Angkor Wat thence overland back to Thailand.
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