Arrived in Siem Reap

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We arrived in Siem Reap this afternoon by boat on the Sangkae Rver, and I have lots of photos to post of our time in Battambang and our trip here.

Two things I forgot to mention about our stay in Phnom Penh:

While there, I met with Aline, a French gal of Cambodian descent who is the president of an NGO here called Elephant Blanc and who also helps manage an orphange. My friend Paris Tanish put me in touch with her. Also: Jean-Marc and Annie are very active in France in the NGO we visited in Phnom Pehn called "Pour un Sourire d'Enfant." Jean-Marc actually donated 5 bicycles, which were shipped to the Phnom Penh site a year ago. While we were there last week, he spent a morning at the center training the mechanical students and their teachers how to fix them.

The NGO "Phare" in Battambang was marvelous! It trains kids to be artists and circus performers. What a great performance they gave us!

Now for the photos.

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Photos

bamboo train
Apparently, this small train is going to disappear (it's used for local people and for tourists wishing to support it). The Japanese are building a new train line through Cambodia. Of course, the country needs it. But this charming "folklore" will disappear when it's built.

Visiting a wood sculpture shop
This family business trains and houses young sculpteurs from the countryside.

taking a "Tuk-Tuk" in Battambang
en route for the "Coco House" NGO

"La Maison de Coco" NGO
This particular NGO has lost its foreign backers and is going to start up again in February. There are still a few young girls and boys learning skills, however.

Phare
This is a fantastic NGO. It teaches local, deprived children how to paint and draw or to be circus performers. The latter give performances throughout the world.

Phare talk
One of the Cambodian founders of Phare explaining to us about their work.

Phare circus performers
I wasn't allowed to take photos during the performance, which was wonderful.

sitting on top of our boat
This was at about 9 in the morning. By 10, it was too hot to sit up there, so I went downstairs!

Leaving Battambang for Siem Reap
Our river trip took about 6 hours.

NGO along the river
We stopped here. Local women do wicker-work made from the wild hyacinths growing in the river

Comments

[M&M's]

Hi mum's... Again, nice pics!!! the shadow theater seems amazing!!! is Seam Rap called Siemréab on your blog's map?? Have fun, xxx