Tuesday 8th Nov Memo to Self – do a count of the amount of public holidays each year in Cambodia (...just counted – 22). By the end of this week, my eighth here, I will have had the pleasure of having 7 public holidays. Three when I first arrived, for the P’Chum Ben Festival........one 2 weeks ago for the King’s Birthday........and three this week for Independence Day (tomorrow) and two for the Water Festival. It’s amazing. The Water Festival is historically a huge event and something like 2 million people come to Phnom Penh to celebrate it. Due to the floods this year, and some also say because of the deaths at last year’s festival (tragic event where people were crushed on a bridge), the festival has been considerably scaled back. The official line is that ... read more

It’s been just under 3 years since my last visit to Phnom Penh, but since my return, I’ve noticed subtle and some not-so-subtle changes around the city - some good, some I’ve yet to form an opinion on, and some obviously life-changing ones for a number of the inhabitants. Probably insignificant to some people, but I’m saddened by the reduction in numbers of cyclos and their riders, around town. The ones that remain are obviously suffering financially, as many of the cyclos appear in relatively poor condition. Progress? Yes.....but I feel for the cyclo riders and their potential to earn an income. What are these guys doing now to support their families? They aren’t the most educated men, and many appear quite old now...they aren’t retiring gracefully and enjoying a pension, as there is no pension ... read more

Monday 24th Oct Since when did I become a fragile specimen??? What with the chest infection before I left home, and now into my third week with a tummy bug, I’ve also come down with a head cold that I must have picked up from my junior students that spent last coughing, sneezing and sniffling all around me..........my “woe is me” meter is registering in the red !!! I rarely get sick when I travel, so felt it was a bit of over-kill when I picked up the antibiotics my doctor told me to bring, but I’ve been on them now for two weeks. The tummy bug is determined to win this battle though, and is doing just that at the moment and bringing my immune system down with it. I’m on vitamin C and zinc, ... read more

I'm stuck at Greetings cafe because I didn't bring an umbrella etc, and it's decided to bucket down all of a sudden....so I'm going nowhere for a little while, though I do have to be home by 5.30pm to go for another fish pedicure and then dinner with a group of Aussie volunteers so I hope it stops soon. Suzanne (Danish volunteer) and I came up here last night for a catch up, and as we were walking home along the street, a huge rat dashed past and Suzanne screamed so loud and so long, that the security guard from Greetings came running, as it sounded like we'd either been mugged or hit by a car!!! The Drink Mart was crowded as usual, and the crowd went desperately quiet as they tried to work out what ... read more

This really has been a big and challenging week..............full of good, bad, and a few uglies........grab a coffee and read on... I guess part of the bad/ugly component started last Saturday night when I realised I had my first tummy bug for the trip, oh joy – though I was hoping that I’d avoid them and I guess I’m pretty pleased that I survived 3 weeks before getting one (I have mentioned in previous blogs about the market where cook buys our food...). Anyway, I laid low on Sunday and just tried to ride it out, but sad to say that I got progressively worse so opted to start taking Imodium. It helped somewhat, but by that time, there was a secondary infection and I came very close to calling the Projects Abroad staff and asking ... read more