more photos and more details

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Back again after our dinner in a French restaurant in Battambang called "La Villa", which is an old colonial house reminding me very much of a house in the film "Indochine".

Thanks for your comments and messages. In reply to a question about climate, it's been really quite pleasant. We had grey skies and some rain the first day, but otherwise it's been sunny and warm, about 26 or 28 degrees celsius with bearable humidity and a north wind from China (it seems). As for the food, the menus have been set for our group so they haven't been too varied. This being said, they've been good and healthy. Usually a starter of "nems" (egg-rolls), seafood salad or soup, followed by a curry or fish or pork with rice, and then plates of tropical fruit. Most of us have been drinking the local beer, Anghor.

Here are some more photos of our trip to Battambang from Phnom Penh.

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Photos

Cambodian fishermen in Kompong-Chang
KC is located at the mouth of the Tonle Sap lake and the Sangkae River

our group on boat on river
We're on our way to the Vietnamese church (!) where we'll be spending the night

Vietnamese church
The agency had arranged for us to sleep at this church cum school which is run by a Vietnamese nun. The agency supports sustainable tourism and makes a donation to the sister, as did we upon leaving (for notebooks for the children).

our meal in the church
About 25 of us sat around these mats for dinner--including our guide, two reps from the agency, the sister, three school teachers and several orphans housed by the church.

our beds for the night!
no sink or shower -- just a wc that emptied into the river. We had mosquito nets. Surprisingly enough, I actually slept most of the night.

one of the three classrooms
These Vietnamese children learn the Khmer language as well as their own, plus some math and drawing. They began the day ( 7 am) with gymnastics. The kids and their families live on the lake all year round. Apparently, NGOs help support the school and church.

funeral possession in Battambang
This is the second city of Cambodia

Comments

[Sandra]

bon voyage
I was there in January 1969 - 3 months pregnant with Pamela - there the was only one hotel in Angkhor and Pnom Penh I remember as a lovely colonial city. About 6 weeks after we left, all hell broke loose and things were never the same again. I hear things are picking up though...

[Marco]

Nice pics!!
Hi mum's thanx for the pics and the comments, so interesting!!! it seems like a great trip!!! Have fun, take care, Marlène and Marco

[paris]

rendezvous
hilary, aline wrote and said that you have been able to meet her there and that she was so happy to have done so ... wonderful! ... i think that you both have so much in common with your loving and generous hearts ... have a fantastic time! w/much love