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Published: December 7th 2008
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Hijacking the tuktuk
Lunch is over let's get going already A year ago I decided to go to Vietnam and Cambodia this year for my hols. While researching I stumbled upon the Travelblogs of Claire Hall alias "The Soul Cultivator" (http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Cambodia/North/Angkor/blog-248870.html) and immediately subscribed. I avidly followed her and Stu's adventures around Asia and often found myself engrossed not only in her wonderful way of describing the places they went and the people she met and their experiences but also loved her pictures which are really unique. Claire's blogs really moved me to tears several times and eventually I got in contact and let her know my plans to go to Siem Reap and that I would visit Houn and the kids.
A friend was joining me in Phnom Penh and I emailed her to bring a few things with her for the kids, in particular some magic bubbles (I'm a big kid at heart and knew these would go down a treat. My friend Barb and I made our way up country via Kamport and Pursat and eventually got to Battambang where we went shopping for a few more things for the kids. Some retail therapy was obviously required at this moment in time because I went in to
gate crashing
We're here - gate crashing the lessons a shoping frenzy and nearly baught up all the "Book Shops" entire stock. How cool was this? A box of colouring pencils for only a few hundred Riel - well then we'll have to have at lest 4 of those, how about some rulers, pencil sharpners - of course we need them. What about paints? definately. Text books? throw in a dozen or so. There was no stopping me now and besides we were on "Book Shop" street so we had several shops to choose from. I looked up and suddenly saw some globes on a shelve, oh yeah one of those too! Skipping ropes! throw them in.... A football - oh why not...... and on it went.
The next morning Barb and I got on the boat to Siem Reap with our boxes and bags of goodies - the other passengers were quite intrigued by the globe and ball and so we shared our intentions with them. Luckily we were picked up from the boat station by our guesthouse and booked the tuktuk for the next three days to go along and visit the temples of Angkor Wat. The school/orphanage is located on the huge area of Angkor
gorgeous girl
proudly showing her English book and so easy to visit between temples - besides you need a break.
The previous evening Houn had come to the guesthouse to introduce himself and to double check we knew where we were going.....haha easier said than done. Our guide for the day indicated he knew exactly where we wanted to go and was really impressed that some foreigners were wanting to go and visit an orphanage. We pulled up on the side of the road and I knew we were at the wrong place - "no not here it must be back there near the entrance to the temple we were this morning". How bad did we feel as we pulled away and all these kids were looking so hopefully at us - sorry we're on a mission. Eventually and after asking several locals we finally were on the right track - and what a track it was - we had to get out of the tuktuk cos the potholes were so big in places but eventually passed some children playing who said to just keep following the track.
Before we knew it we had arrived. Houn was so glad to see us and was trying
to keep serious and show how he gave lessons but his huge warm smile gave him away and besides the kids were interested in seeing who was here to visit. What a lovely bunch they are too. Lessons are given in shifts as there is no longer enough room for all the kids at once. Over the previous weeks I'd been in email contact with Houn and he'd mentioned they were teaching 55 kids, then 60, then 65 and then when we arrived it had grown to 70. Word was spreading in the local community and more and more kids were coming for lessons. Even the monks who are co located and building the "New Pagoda" are coming for lessons.
Houn explained that there are so many children from broken families or who had lost one or both parents. It really is heart breaking but on the other hand really uplifting when you see such dedicated individuals giving everything they have just to make sure that other people can have a better start in life.
We eventually started unpacking some of the goodie bags and took the opportunity to ditch class and play ball and get the skipping
mini class
the kids are really eager and are so proud ropes out. Our guide and tuktuk driver really got in to the fun of it all too. We also unpacked the globe which the kids thought was great and they showed us their geography skills. Before we knew it, it was time to leave and continue with our visit to the surrounding temples but we promised to be back the next day.
On our travels the next morning we stopped at a supermarket and got a big box of toothbrushes and several large tubes of toothpaste for the kids too and took a bag of old clothing - we're still sooooo boring - no candy. As we approached the orphanage some of the kids heard us and ambushed the tuktuk, they're so funny so many of them piled in with us. Mr Pearon was there too and he took over class while we chatted with Houn. The kids quickly gathered around us and presented us with some lovely pictures thay had drawn for us. We had a nice group photo too before Houn took us off to meet his lovely wife and daughter - the lovely little Emily.
Houn lives in a row of shops near Angkor Thom
in a small room behind his wife's shop. The sad thing is there are plans to demolish this row and build "nice new shops" which Houn probably cannot afford at around $1000 - the future is bleak. However Houn and his family continue to smile and hope and be positive.
PLEASE; PLEASE; PLEASE, if you are planning a trip to Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor - make a little time in your schedule and visit Houn, Mr Pearon and the kids. It's such an enriching experience.
Their contact details are:
Director: Mr. Houn Sokheng
Email: sokheng_h@yahoo.com
Tel : (855) 12 410 758
Address:
Srah Srang Village
Nokor Thom Commune,
Siem Reap District
Siem Reap Province
Cambodia
To get to the orphanage: Stand facing the East gate of Ta Promh Temple and turn right - go down the dirt track about 200m and just follow the trail around to the right. Ask for the New Pagoda.
p.s. if you do stop by they always can do with old clothes with which to make canvass from to paint on.
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the soul cultivator
Claire Hall
BRAVO...excellent work.
Dear Bev...Well, you got me in tears now! This is a truely wonderful account of how it really is there, and im also really flattered by your kind words. Im so proud of you and I hope that many people drop by to give some time, some clothes, pens or PIZZA!! Much Love Claire xxx