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Published: March 29th 2007
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Prior to the Killing Fields, we were taken to a firing range. When we first arrived, we were asked to sit down and a we were brought Menu's. These were not your usual menu's with Pad Thai and Tuna Sandwiches, but instead the options looked something like this:
Ak-47- $15 for 15 bullets
Tommy Gun- $15 for 15 bullets
Colt 45 (the gun, not the drink) -$15 for 15 bullets
etc...etc..
Dessert Hand Grenade- 1 for $150
Rocket Launcher- 1 for $250
Coca-Cola- 1 for $.50
Sprite- 1 for $.50
I tried taking a picture, but was quickly stopped by the employees. While I contemplated the tempting thought of being able to say that I fired an AK47, the more I thought about it, the more I was sure that I didn't want to. Thinking about where I was in the world and how much pain and suffering these weapons have caused in the past here and everywhere else, I thought about the flaws in society that make the thought of firing a gun a "cool" thing to do.
Tim did it, and I went in and watched him. He was given a loaded AK47
and we were all taken into a brick alley and he fired of 15 shots, 10 of which were automatic. He was a good shot and hit the bullseye on his target 3 times. A few years ago, if you selected to choose the rocket launcher, you were actually allowed to shoot a cow. IF you hit it, whatever pieces of him were left, you were allowed to take them and cook them up.
Following this, we made our way up to the worlds largest Religious building.....Angkor Wat. Located in Siem Reap this is also the location where they filmed Tomb Raider. Built b/w the 8th and 11th centuries, this was a massive kingdom of more than a million people when little ol' London was a mere 50,000 people. This place is so big and so incredible, the only thing that could possibly make it more beautiful is having Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft running around it in black spandex While we only spent a mere 10 hours walking around, many people come here to explore it for more than a week at a time. The place was actually lost for a few centuries until a French explorer re-discovered
it in the 1870's.
After a full day of exploring we returned for a few days in Phnom Penh. When we were first there, we were out late having a few drinks. At around 1am, a group of kids (ranging in age from 4 to 10) came into the bar/restaurant with a basket full of books that they were selling. This is a common occurance here in Phom Penh, moreso than other places I've been in S.East Asia. We talked about how unfortunate it was for these kids and that buying a book off the kids wouldnt change anything and that their mothers would just reap the profits anyways. During the days, rather than go to school the children would sleep, in order to rest up for the long nights of book selling on the street. Talking to the kids, we asked if they were tired, they would say "NO...not tired! (in a mean voice) I drank lots of coffee!"
Feeling helpless, I spoke with the bartender and learned that we could volunteer at one of many local orphanages. We went the next day and we weren't sure what to expect. We had to go to an incredibly poor
area of the city and walked thru mud and stone to get there. We weren't really sure what to expect, but when we arrived the kids were actually being taught a little bit of English. We helped them with their reading and writing and spent a few hours just playing different games with them. When lunch time came, we thought that we should get going since we wouldnt want to eat what little food they had. However, the little kids insisted that we stay and as we all sat in a circle on the concrete floor, they put bowls infront of us. The kids filled our bowls right up to the top with rice and what little pieces of meat that they had (which were pretty much just bones with fat on them), they also gave to us. I have never seen a group of such unselfish children in my life. As soon as we neared the end of our bowl, they would fill us up again. Not only were they unselfish with us, but they also shared very well with one another.
After lunch we stayed and played more games with them. There are no balls and no
grass anywhere, the orphanage is just one room that is about 12 by 20 feet. This is a leisure area for 27 children when they are all there and is also the dining room and the classroom. The more time spent with these children the easier it was to become attached to them. The kids were very used to having people come visit once but then never return, so I wanted to change that for a bit. I ended up spending 3 days with them and each time I returned they became happier and happier to see a familiar face, which made it more difficult for me each time that I left.
Desperate for any type of English to be taught, they asked me to do some teaching. I was more than happy to help out, but it was frustrating because there was an age range of 5-12 and I was teaching them all the same thing out of a book that they had been learning out of for what was probably months. I did my best by teaching them new words and they would always all volunteer to spell new words that they learned. These kids were so well
Riding
what you cant see is the 2 other kids behind the one standing up. behaved and willing to learn, that after lessons they would come up to me and want to learn new words. Knowing English (even if its a little bit) will help give them a small advantage over others in Phnom Penh.
On my final day at the orphanage, the kids kept asking me what time I was coming back the next day. Sadly I had to say that I had to get going to Thailand and so they all gave me hugs and all offered me bottles of tap water. In a material sense, these children are incredibly disadvantaged and poor, however, after spending some time with them, they are very rich in warmth and care for others and one another. While all this may not be reader friendly, I cant stress enough how much I enjoyed spending time with these kids. I will never forget them as they have humbled me in so many ways and made that experience the one I will remember most from S.E. Asia. Leaving the orphanage, I thought to myself that these kids will all have great opportunities to do great things. It was dark by the time I was walking home on that
Spiders
I'll eat a scorpion..but these things were gross. final night and when its dark, the scum start emerging. I began being offered cocaine, heroin, "boom-boom" etc etc....(if you can think of it, you can buy it over here...obviously none of it appeals to me) by about 15 people on my walk home. With each new offer it made me wonder how long these wonderful children will be able to remain sheltered from the drugs and sex that are overwhelm and smother their community.
Fast Fact-
It takes only $15 per day to feed 60 children in Cambodia.
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non-member comment
aww
you're amazing. def made me tear up a bit!