Just a short entry - Nunny's thoughts

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I'm writing this just to get it down, and is more about my feelings at the moment rather than places we've seen and things we've done.

I guess a summary of my first impressions of Cambodia: desperation, extremes, injustice, tension. The people here are SO poor. And yet you can tell there's money here. When we drove in yesterday you should have seen the size of the hotels that lined Route no 6, and the number of monstrosities going up either side of them.

We've been told that the international aid workers are staying at the Sofitel hotel at $350 a night, and yet there is a hospital chain run by a swiss doctor that provides complelety free services to the local people and who has 200 women with their children lined up outside each night to get in the next day, most with Denghi Fever or TB. The doctor personally plays the cello each Sat night at a free concert to let people know about the current situation and to ask for donations. Those that can't provide monetary donations are encouraged to give blood which we hope to do a couple of times while we're hear.

It's hard to make head or tail of the place at this stage.

I really don't know what the best way is to actively help, on one hand I honestly feel the need to do something if I can, on the other hand I'm kind of scared to leave my safe and cosy guesthouse where I can indulge in western food, drink bear and hide up on the 2nd story balcony in a hammock reading books about the problems but not having to be hasseled directly by the people walking by. Very hypocritical.

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Comments

[SKI BUNNY]

WOOO HOOO
hi guys, Sounds like you are having more great times. you guys are very good at keeping us informed, your blogs are very informative. you guys should be used to the 4wd camery, you used to do the same thing to your one. lucky thats gone now. so has monty arrived yet? the wizz fizz tour meets the nunny nunchucker tour. Lucky i have a big map because i have no idea where you are most of the time. hope you have a great time, Newcastle are into the finals but johns isnt captain fro fear of swearing at the ref again. in more news, Steve irwin died yesterday by a sting ray sting off the coast near cairns. honestly thought it would of been a snake that got him end......but no it was a sting ray. The environment lost another great ambassador. anyway you guys look after yourself, hope you have fun with monty this week, always good to catch up with people you know. see ya T+A

[Nunny]

Hi guys
Yes mont arrived safe Mark met him at the airport this morning, with ropehead in tow now were off to see temples.