PeterLomas

Good day everyone Has been a while since my last post, but I've been pretty busy - honest! So, what's new with you? Here in Kampuchea, things are going very well...though the Rainy Season is in full effect - 24hr rainathons a regular occurrence. Thought you'd UK based family & friends would enjoy this knowledge, given that I'm in the tropics but you've just had the hottest ever recorded day in October! In September I was in Phnom Penh for 2 weeks for extra language training, which was both great and awful! Great, in that I could catch up and see my friends whom I came in-country with, and spend some time with a special someone. Also, having ready access to steaks, cheese and red wine was pretty awesome! Awful, however, in that I was in ... read more

Heellloooo!!! Good day dear friends, has indeed been a while - a combination of business, laziness, internet issues and power cuts have conspired to ensure a somewhat long delay in updates! Alas, no more, will be on it like Sonic from hereonin, promise! So, what's been going on? Well, loads really! Don't worry, I won't be giving a day-by-day account of the past 2.5months or so! I am feeling very settled at work and in my village, and enjoying every day - of course there are no shortages of challenges, frustrations and WTFs, but nothing could sully the wonderful experiences I am having. Work has been interesting, and as I've been in placement now since April, I am making some good connections with the staff. From here on out is the time that I can start ... read more

Howdy So, I'm now into Week 3 of my actual job – man, those 2 months of In-Country Training flew by! I am very sorry such a delay since my last post, but in-between moving to my house, having no electricity, finding my way around work and being laid-up in Phnom Penh with suspected acute appendicitis for a week over Ka'mai New Year, I've been really busy! So, I left Phnom Penh with Louise on Saturday 2nd April, our minivan loaded to the gills with motorbikes, bicycles, pillows, bedsheets, clothes, laptops, hammocks, a wardrobe (Louise's), a punchbag (mine) and a whole host of other crap to make our new houses homely! Funny thing happened as we approached Lou's house, which is about an hour down a 'red road' – basically a non-paved, dusty track. It has ... read more

Hello! Well the week so far has been brilliant! I boarded my bus from Kompang Cham on Sunday morning, all set for the 8hr bus journey - however, I was not set for 8hrs of Ka'mai karaoke videos on the flat screen above my head! Either as a joke or as a courtesy, I'm still not sure, the bus ticket lady gave me the seat directly behind the driver...thus allowing an adrenaline fuelled trip along the Cambodian roads coupled with a prime viewing spot for the music videos! Thank God/Allah/Budda/Ganesh for my for ancient iPod and for my Kindle (no, thank you Manisha!). I arrived into Sisophon thoroughly knackered, but thanks to the help of another fellow volunteer Oly, I had a helpful Tuk Tuk driver on standby to take me to my hotel (thanks ... read more

Hello family, friends, lovers and enemies! How are we all? I hope that you are happy and healthy. Well, Saturday night bought a new experience to my life...a Ka'mai nightclub! Seriously, two of the most surreal, funny, bizarre and disturbing hours of my life! But, that's a story for another time! Yesterday we spent the afternoon on a boat trip, venturing North up the Mekong...think less Apocalypse Now, and more country dandy up the Mississippi! We set off at about 14:30, with the plan to be heading home for the sunset....lovely! We boarded our raft down the most rickety gangplank you can ever imagine - suffice to say, the swaying boat, lapping waves and nervousness did make for some amusing embarkations! I was able to sit at the very front of the boat (Kate-Winslet-Titanic-esque!), making the ... read more