Becy

Have not updated this in ages after it stopped working but felt I should do a wee update. Been staying in takeo, cambodia now for just over 4 weeks. Our first week we just got used to orphanage and got to know the kids, and tried to learn all their names. We were lucky enough on our first weekend to be given opportunity to take the children to kep to the beach. It was an amazing experience and best twenty five dollars spent on my trip. Children loved the water and were eager to learn to swim. In our second week we got more into a routine as were given our own class to teach. We have five girls in our class who are all lovely. Sometimes they dont even want class to end as very ... read more

Last night we all sat up on balcony talking, some eating crickets...good job im vegetarian. Today I had really sore head so skipped breakfast but joined el and alice for lunch before we headed to orphanage. Had a shot in soft play area today and then we just wondered around. I ended up spending most afternoon in beauty room, where a three year old boy did my make up then older kids insisted I washed it off as looked a mess. One of the girls then did my nails for me, and some make up and then another did my make up again. A good day of absolute pampering. Back to house for dinner which was yummy, and back to balcony to wind down the evening.... read more

Had good sleep last night and headed for breakfast in morning, we then headed to market to kill sometime before lunch and when kids are at school. Lost our bikes when we came out of market and had to wander for a while. After lunch we headed to orphanage, most children were still at school. Played some games and then some other volunteers arrived with hula hoops so all had fun with them. When kids came back from school we joined them for two classes before heading back for dinner. Got laundry back too, one bra missing though and all my pants are now branded with the number 2!.... read more

Got taken to our accommodation for orphanage early this morning. Nice big house. Had lunch when we arrived then headed to orphanage. Had brief tour before taking a child who spoke english to help us buy bicycles. Waited in afternoon for girl who was arriving and then headed back to orphanage. Kids all very friendly and have good english. About fifteen volunteers at moment in the house. All had dinner together then some of us sat on balcony and talked. No air con but we do have fan on full blast. Already had to cause fuss as my sheets had blood on them but have nice clean sheets now :-). ... read more

Up early this morning to catch boat to cambodia. Nice group of people on boat and not too packed. Had to get off boat for border check but was nice to stretch out. Got our visa ok but only for four weeks so may need to head out cambodia to renew it at some point. Really hot and humid here. Had dinner at nice wee restaurant. Lots of child labour here with kids selling books, really hard not to feel sorry for them and buy things. Unfortunately buying things just encourages it though, the kids have def mastered every technique to make you crack though. Wee bit of lie in tomorrow compared to what we are used too as heading to orphanage at 10. Cambodian people all very friendly and very eager to be your friend ... read more

Up early this morning to catch bus to chou doc. Woke up to a total blackout. Good job we packed last night and showered. Bus was six hours long but not too bad as watched couple of films. Had wee wonder round chou doc this afternoon and some street cafe food. Heading to cambodia early tomorrow and stars at orphanage on monday.... read more

Came back to saigon yesterday, and headed to war museum. Never been so upset by a museum, graphic descriptions of torture and pictures of the genetic effects still ongoing from agent orange that was spread through vietnam by the americans in the war. Today we had a tour of the chu chi tunnels where the vietnamese hid out during war. Got to head through one of the tunnels and learn bit more about it. This afternoon went and found new sunglasses in debenhams of all places as had broke mine. Tomorrow we start making our way to cambodia.... read more

Had lazy day today. Whilst el was on her trek I headed to beach and relaxed whilst reading my book. Had a wee swim too, was so nice having whole beach to myself in nice warm weather. Met el later and we had lunch at local hotel. Ended up having swim in their pool and using their sun loungers. The resort is always so empty but so nice. Went to see prison in afternoon where the vietnamese political prisoners were tortured. Some quite horrible images of it all. Back to hotel for tea. Up early tomorrow for market and then to catch our flight back to saigon.... read more

Yesterday we went on trek through national park to a beach. We never really expected beach to be covered in rocks but it was still really good. We went for a snorkle, and enjoyed lying in hammocks. There were random animals too like the black squirrel. I also managed to have a monkey try pull off my clothes and get into my pockets. Spent afternoon at museum, really interesting but showed french in horrible light. Not sure I would come here if french given war not long ago. We then went to beach where the french shot their version of survivor (you can still see town from the beach!) and we got bit by ants so not that great. Another meal at the resort before early night. El is away on a trek today whilst I ... read more

Went diving this morning. Really good dives but never saw anything of great interest, just fish and coral. Found out our hosts are catholic, so not some weird cult but def new side of catholicness I have never seen. Found a nice deserted beach this afternoon so lay and enjoyed view. Unfortunately our time was spoilt when a soldier kept talking to us in vietnamese and we had to tell him to go away after he started tapping us. He then walked a few metres away and took off all his clothes!. So we had to grab our things and walk off as not very safe ourselves. Unsure if same guy who we saw on first day naked shaking his package at us on first day (in the middle of town!). All a bit weird. Totally ... read more