Blogs from Takéo, South, Cambodia, Asia - page 2

I had no problems on the flights and finally arrived in Phnom Penh which is 6 hours ahead of BST. I was very impressed with Incheon airport in Seoul, South Korea, where I had to change flights. Phnom Penh airport was also much better organised than I had anticipated, well certainly better than Kathmandu and Accra. Getting a visa on arrival was very straight forward, you just need one passport photo and 20 dollars in cash. The currency in Cambodia is the Cambodian Real (currently about 6000 reals for one pound sterling) but US dollars are effectively a second parallel currency here and just about everywhere happily accepts either. I finally arrived at my hotel in Phnom Penh at about midnight local time, 20 hours after leaving home. I had a short walk outside then went ... read more

Soo I’ve come to the end of my time in the village.. To live in the countryside with the teachers and the students was a beautiful experience.. and it’s them that I will remember for a long time. The baking heat and torrential rain added to the difficulties but it made even more rewarding. I want to thank the organization for allowing me this opportunity from which I gained the confidence to feel I could teach and it was the interest and gratefulness of the young people I taught that gave it to me. On my last day I took the students on a trip to Phnom Da a temple on a hill surrounded by flooded rice pains built in the 6th century. It was only a couple of hours away but from the excitement of ... read more

Returning to Cambodia was like opening a long lost book. A book cherished and missed, one where you don’t want to let go of any of the characters, where you want the journey to simply continue, forever. All of a sudden my book has reappeared and somehow, two and a half year later all the familiar emotions of past times come flooding back. A few characters have been left behind (travel is not the same without you sweetheart), some, like me dear Totla, I hope to be reunited with and new once are soon to be greeted. Let the journey begin, or should I say continue! I had had trouble relating to the fact that I was finally returning. Towards every holiday, and as a student we have plenty of them, I have dreamt and planned ... read more

Hey guys! I've finally made it back... I think it took about four months for them to finish all my dental work, but they did and it was free. so it was worth it all in the end. I just want to say thank you for all the people who helped me when I was back in the U.K especially Polly and her family for letting me live with them! I wouldn't be here with out you guys.. So anyway! I've been back about two weeks and a bit.. Im living at the same school out in the sticks of Takeo province. Its beautiful flat countryside with the odd hill dotted here and there, Im trying to get out of the habit of saying this but its sooooooo hot and sooo humid. i wont say it ... read more

The Children of Wat Opot --- The Angels of Wat Opot ----- They have amazing strength, they are much more stronger than any of us. I went to Wat Opot to help out but really.. they helped me. My experience there was life changing, truly humbling and a real eye opener. The pain and suffering that these children have been through and are still going through is nothing compared to what we seem as 'pain & suffering'. Who am i to complain about my so called "hard" life. You never hear any complaints from these children, they have accepted, they are learning, they are laughing, loving and moving forward. To some of us.. this is hard to do. The Children of Wat Opot are happy, full of energy.... its infectious. I love being around them. The ... read more