Cambodia: Dancing In The Dust.

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My current infatuation with rural Cambodia began as the year 2006 was drawing to a close. The intention to pass through it on my way to Da Nang, in Vietnam, turned into an emotional fling of five months duration and has now settled down into a tumultuous affair.

I miss Cambodia and my Khmer friends when I'm back with my family halfway across the world in California (my place of legal residence). Frustration with the lack of system, intense heat, paucity of amenities and the unending payments of 'Tea Monies' needed to get things done eventually sets me to dreaming of my return to the cool clean State of America. That is until the tedium of my overly comfortable life threatens to dull my senses and makes my feet begin to itch again.

And so, next week I'm off on my fourth visit loaded with clothing for the children abandoned to orphanages, or for those just too poor to afford them. A few basic medical supplies will be delivered to clinics struggling to provide education and care under the worst of conditions, and my teenage son will being making his first appearance before many who have known him only through photographs and narrative.

This is my first attempt at sharing my journeys on a public domain and being a reforming troglodite, it will take a while for me to learn and master the technical aspects of creating and maintaining this site. Questions, comments and helpful advice will always be welcomed

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Photos

Yaek Loam Lake
Crater lake near Banlung. Ratanakiri

Yaek Loam Lake
Cool Contemplation

Big Bird
Often found wandering around Banlung

Our Neighbours
A friendly family living near our 'Nut Farm' about 15 km from Banlung

Rural Realtors
Word of mouth is the best way to find land for sale

Banlung Market
Evening light

Suzuki 250
My first investment for travel on 'No Roads' roads.

Motodop Extraordinaire
My friend and long suffering driver. I spent my first month in Cambodia on and off the 'roads' with Sophat.

Working Elephants
Unlike Laos and Vietnam, many of the elephants here are mainly kept for tourist treks.

Central Banlung
This western movie style town will change before our eyes as the Vietnam road and international border opens.

Kids!
It's a young country and these mischievious imps laugh in the face of conditions that could make me cry.

Banlung Airport
Open sometimes to aircraft. Closed more often than not.

Red Dust
Terres Rouges, Hoi gra-hawm. the dust that envelopes and penetrates everything, taking weeks to cough out of the lungs once back home.

Comments

[barry Jost]

nice dude
great photos looking forward to more posts of your travels