A few notes about new gear, which is my enduring obsession. 1. Tiny s-biners. Use these to latch zippers that you want to secure but don't want to keep locking and unlocking. Deters theft, though not as well as a lock. These worked pretty well, though they have a certain tendency to spring off. The variety that's got a plastic component seemed particularly prone to this. Double-check that they're secured. http://www.rei.com/product/860182/nite-ize-s-biner-microlock-keychain-2-pack 2. Double-cable luggage locks. Intended to keep thieves from prying open and then resealing a continuous loop zipper by affixing the lock to a handle. They work pretty well in this regard, but are hard to read in low light, prone to resetting themselves at a new combination (both K and I had this experience on this trip), and are easily cut with wire clippers. ... read more

When I ask what's missing in my life, the answer is almost always dol sot bibimbap with a side of spicy kimchi, so other than missing my partner and cats, I am, at the moment, complete. Those of us not going to Thailand flew out last night on an 11:50 from Siem Reap. REP may need the award for Most Improved Airport--compared to my first flight out, there are actually places to sit that aren't molded plastic chairs, and there are things to eat or read. A much nicer wait than it used to be. We arrived at 7:00ish AM at ICN, called Seoul but actually Incheon (I used to teach groups of university students from Incheon, so this is an important distinction). Like Hong Kong and Bangkok (BKK), this is a huge, modern airport that ... read more

We visited the Landmine Museum this morning (http://www.cambodialandminemuseum.org). It might have been better economically to combine this with a multi-day temple pass and a visit to the beautiful Banteay Srei temple, but that didn't work well with our schedule. The ride out was rural and interesting as we passed water buffalo, rice fields, children in school uniforms on bicycles, and houses with clay over brick stoves in front. The museum is small but information-rich. I think some of my students really understood the bigger problems caused by UXOs for the first time (including exploring the question of why the US, China, and Russia won't sign the landmine ban treaty). The central ordnance display is reminiscent of the memorial stupa at Choeung Ek with its glass-fronted piles of skulls. <... read more

We spent a fantastic morning with Trailblazer Foundation, arriving at their office in the morning for an overview, then visiting a village with them. Trailblazer has many related projects, several involving clean water. In addition to digging wells, they sell inexpensive bio-sand water filters. I've seen these around Siem Reap over time at sites including an orphanage and the Peace Cafe, so I was eager to visit homes that used these filters. After showing us their production area, a test garden, a well, and a mushroom shed similar to one I've visited in Kampot, Scott and Sey jumped in our tuk-tuks and we headed to a village. On the way, Scott described infrastructure changes over the last few years. Not least of these is his ability to call the village chief's cell phone to say we ... read more

Between travel, electrical outages, and activities, I haven't been able to write for a couple of days. I'm sitting at the Blue Pumpkin cafe with 5 of my students, drinking coffee and, in theory, charging my computer (which is to say, it's buzzing at the wall, where I have constructed the normal stack o' shimming objects to hold the plug in, and the icon on my screen, though not animating, shows I'm plugged in). Apparently a chunk of town is either dark or on emergency generators. I'm just thrilled to have had 5 minutes of hot water this morning, and, if it's necessary to be wired, to have easy, convivial alternative venues. Now everyone's here. Several are making their travel arrangements for Thailand after this trip, while others are blogging, writing, or uploading their photos. The ... read more