We Have Arrived!

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Hello again,
At last we have arrived in this beautfiul land of Cambodia! We had a short stop in Singapore on the way, but have arrived safely. More on that later...
The last seven weeks before we left Australia were a bit of a blur. We managed to raise the amount of money we needed for our trip and the resources we wish to provide for the Khmer people, thanks to many generous people (my brother Brendan, mum and dad, Katie, Lisa in the UK, Gloria and Ken, Young Discoverers Child Care Centre, Sian and the tuppaware ladies, and those who supported our fundraising efforts). A big thank you to you all, and many others I have not named here! It is by His grace that we have these funds, and it is another confirmation that our journey is blessed by Him. Another reason that the past few weeks were a blur was due to having multiple infections all at once two weeks prior to leaving the country. It was quite ironic that I suffered from laryngitis and a chest infection prior to going to Cambodia, as the last time I had this I was actually IN Cambodia three years ago! It actually brought back memories of the time I tried to do a workshop in Cambodia without much of a voice! I am feeling much better now, just slight problems with the chest and energy levels - however at least I now have a voice to communicate with people and try out my Khmer!
Unfortunately I think I share a wee bit too much with others as now Jacina is unwell with almost the same problems! In Singapore we had to delay our flight to Siem Reap due to Jacina's painfully blocked ear and sinus problems. We managed to find a doctor in the airport who prescribed lots of drugs (legal ones of course) but dashed our hopes when he suggested Jacina could suffer a burst eardrum if she decided to fly out as we had planned. So, we made the decision to stay the night in Singpore and hurried around trying to cancel and reschedule our flights not only to Siem Reap but also our domestic flight to Phnom Penh. We had to push everything back one day, including our tour we had booked in Siem Reap (to see the temples). It seems quite comical now thinking about that time as we had to stop rushing around the airport at different times so Jacina could sit and rest and try not to throw up. (Not comical at the time however). I think finding out how to best contact those we needed to was the biggest challenge, but thank goodness for technology! Internet and phone cards saved the day. Along with very friendly and helpful airport staff - Singaporean hospitality at it's best. We were very thankful and impressed. We collapsed in the airport hotel, and enjoyed having the needed rest for the night prior to boarding our rescheduled flight the next morning. Jacina and I suddenly realised when we were in the hotel that we had both packed a two-day supply of everything we needed in our carry-on luggage. We had both only planned to take a one day supply. We both stared at each other as we said that this was something neither of us usually do when we fly anywhere. We realised at this point that He knew what we needed before we even left Oz. It lightened our hearts and minds!
Earlier in the day when we had arrived in Singapore we were met at the airport by Clarence, a worker from MTI HQ. As it was 7am he took us for an authentic Singaporean breakfast at a local food market. We enjoyed our meal of coconut rice, curry fish paste, deep-fried anchovies, and other delicacies. Can't remember the name of the meal, but apparently it is very popular with the locals. We also had some yummy ginger tea - also a staple in the Singaporean diet.
Our flight to Siem Reap was the smoothest I had ever been on - hardly any turbulance. We didn't have a full flight and therefore had a spare seat next to us which was just beaut! We arrived in Siem Reap on Tuesday 24th in the morning and enjoyed the heat that hit us as we disembarked! (We had come from a very cold winter in Oz). The airport had changed the last time I had been there and was more flash than I had remembered. We got through customs without much difficulty although not understanding the process with having a business visa caused some minor heart palpitations.
We were collected at the airport by our guide and would you believe it our driver as well! What luxury. They took us to the airport, which again was more flash than we had expected, where we rested up and got ready for an afternoon of sightseeing. Our guide's name is Mom Traypich who asked us to call her Pich (sounds like "Peach") and she was very knowledgeable, friendly, and very helpful. Our driver's name was Mr Trey who was a humble Cambodian man who was an excellent driver and smiled and laughed a lot. We learnt from Pich that she was 26 years old and had come from a life of collecting cans on the street to survive. Her mother owns a pancake shop here in Siem Reap and their family all live in one house. Pich completed her education and then trained to become a tour guide. She knows the history of the temples like the back of her hand, and shared many historical facts with us as we journeyed around the temples.

On our first afternoon we drove to the Tonle Sap River and took a traditional wooden boat out onto the river to visit the floating village (the name of which escapes me now). What an awesome sight to see wooden houses, schools, and even a church floating on bamboo poles on the river. How ingenious are the Khmer people! We stopped off at the floating market where we saw them feeding the fish in the wire/wooden tanks, and even saw a tank full of crocodiles. The families we saw on this journey were so amazing, and the children so adorable. We even saw homes that had pool tables - big ones! We were often acosted by ingenious drink sellers who would race along beside us in their little boats and get a child to jump from their boat to ours with a tray of drink cans to see if we would buy some! Cute little kids who touched our hearts and our injustice radars just a bit - as these little ones would get so wet because of their job! We ventured into the Tonle Sap Lake which was so big we couldn't see where it began or ended. It is the largest fresh water lake in SE Asia. Later on that night Jacina and I ventured out to a local restaurant on a moto-dop (motorbike) - it was Jacina's first moto trip and she had lots of fun. We went back to our hotel via tuk-tuk (motorbike with trailor/carriage on back) which wasn't as fun as a motorbike!
The next day saw us take in many many temples....Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat, The Bayon, etc. Fascinating temples with intricate carvings - outlining the ancient stories of the Hindu gods and the history of the Angkor people. Some influences from China and India were seen in these carvings. The whole outside wall of the Angkor Wat displays the story of the "Churning of the Milk" - Jacina and I were amazed at the architectual engineering of these people! Many of these temples were in good condition despite wars, forces of nature, and local characters up to no good. Pich had such a thorough knowledge of the history of the Hindu gods, the Angkor kings, and the influence of Buddhism (which was introduced by the 7th Angkor King). It was sad to see many older Khmer persons worshipping the stone Buddhas we came across in many of these temples. It is a way of life for them... Jacina and I spent some time exploring the top of the Angkor Wat Temple which gave beautiful views across the rice fields and to the city. We had to climb about 30-40 steps to get to the top which was a feat, particularly for a scaredy cat like me. These steps were about half the size of our hands and were almost vertical. To get down, we had to hold onto a steel bar and step sideways. We we got to the top of the temple I was on all fours holding on for dear life. It would have been a funny photo had someone thought to take it! We wondered how many tourists had fallen to their deaths! But it didn't seem to phase them much, as there were many of them clampering up and down the stairs just like us.
Yesterday we went to see some more temples. We travelled for 40 mins to see the Banteay Srei temple, then visited a few more before heading to an internet cafe called the Blue Pumpkin for lunch. They have a wireless connection there so we are sitting here today (Friday) with our laptops and using the internet for free - we of course have to buy some drinks though! Very handy however, and seems to be run by a European. Anway, back to yesterday...we visited amongst other temples, the Ta Prohm which was the temple used in the film the Tomb Raider. It was such a magnificent place - somewhere that Jacina and I have seen in books and brochures and have wanted to visit, and it seemed so surreal to be there. The Spong trees that have grown over and through the stone walls are so huge and their roots do not appear to have been damaged at all from their venturing into very hard and jagged surfaces. At the end of yesterday we decided to splurge a bit and take an elephant ride up to Phnom Bakheng which is a hill with a temple on the top, where many tourists go to take sunset photos of the Angkor Wat temple. Unfortunately for us the sun was hidden by rain clouds but we had a nice time taking in the view, the green jungle that surrounded us, and sharing some time with a local monk who we befriended up there.

Today we are flying to Phnom Penh and will be taken to the airport by Pich and Mr Trey. We are giving them both a card and gift and are going to write (or attempt to) Khmer script for Mr Trey (as he doesn't speak English) with "God Loves" on the bottom. Please pray for these two lovely people, that our words and more importantly our actions reflect Christ's love to them both, that while they may not know Him now that very soon they will.

This has been a long one hasn't it?! Sorry!! Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy the photos. Miss you all. Take care, and thanks for your prayers. They are much appreciated and very needed.

Love ya,

Lee-hi!!

Kxx

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Photos

Tomb Raider
Angeline Joile we are not! Poking through the huge Spong Tree roots.

Adorable!
A little Khmer boy with his puppy

On the Tonle Sap River
Taken from floating viewing platform, with Tonle Sap Lake in distance.

Angkor Wat
Standing outside Angkor Wat with reflection in lotus pond.

Up High!
Looking down the stairs we just climbed to get to the Angkor Wat temple.

Comments

[Lou]

You go girl!
Hi K, great to read your blog! So glad you have finally made it - hard to believe you are there right now whole we are enjoying (?) torrential NZ winter rain....! Awesome to hear how God is blessing and guiding you. Praise Him! You have an awesome writing style, very enjoyable to read. Perhaps you should consider publishing your trip some time later... keep up the diary entries! Thought you'd be interested to hear Juliette is recovering well after having emergency op to remove brain tumour last week. Bit of a shock but we are praying for God's glory through it. Lots and lots of love and prayers to you - you amazing woman. Lou