Strathgets

In Cambodia, don't worry about pedestrian crossings they don't take much notice, just pick a spot and step slowly onto the road. Then walk slowly across but with determination. The cars and motos are going fairly slowly and will slow down or politely swerve around you and you will get across safely. In Saigon, similarly don't worry about pedestrian crossings, nobody takes any notice here at all. They hardly even take any notice of the lights. Just pick a spot and step slowly onto the road. Then walk firmly across but be ready to run because they are going fast and they ain't going to stop for no-one. (This also true sometimes for crossing footpaths where the moto riders also go).... read more

Is an autobiography of Chanrithy Him, a young Khymer girl from a good family who was forced to labour during the Pol Pot era. What I found interesting was that the violence and oppression was not indiscriminate but very systematic and cold. She escaped to Thailand when the Vietnamese liberated Cambodia. Then she went to America. Everybody here has a story. But you don't want to ask and they don't want to tell too much. It can be very confronting for both us and for them. But it can come out in small ways. Neary, the chief trainer at DWA one day showed us a passionfriut vine and said she couldn't eat them anymore because that was all she ate under Pol Pot. Another woman when asked about her family mentioned her husband and 3 children ... read more

Quakers are properly known as the Religious Society of Friends and I've enjoyed traveling with these Friends through the dusty outback to bright lights of Cambodia. Thank you all for a wonderful trip. (didn't get good photos of everybody)... read more

Our itinerary was rearranged before we came so we could be in Pursat for their IWD celebration and trade fair. We were told we needed to dress properly, ie. long trousers and shoulder coverings and that Jane was giving a speech on behalf of QSA, but little did we know what was in store. We arrived at the DWA centre at 4 and was told they would take us to the fair. Then suddenly our buses were part of a motorcade with politicians and other VIP's going to the fair. When we arrived everyone was standing to attention and we were ushered up to take our place on the stage. We were the only foreigners except the USAID director in Cambodia and another aid worker who walked into the wrong part and got put up on ... read more

Veal Veng (Long paddock) is up Chinese Cry Mountain (so named after a Chinese merchant who cried when his goods carried by an elephant up the mountain were broken). It was one of the last strongholds of the Khymer Rouge and so was ignored by government until last 5 years. It has gone from a community centre, a school and an unmanned clinic to a bustling village. DWA Pursat has been working here and QSA paid for permaculture and weaving training and a shelter and looms. ... read more