Just a quick warning... some photos in this post are un-savory (and that's just the ones with the b00f™ in them). Seriously... you may feel some discomfort!
So the b00f™ and his wife Bridget have been here nearly a week and have sweated a good bucket or 2 thus far... it rains, the sun comes out, it's hot and humid. We drink water and sweat a lot - that's just how it goes! Not nice but as long as u get your shower before the water runs out u are set!
We bin do a bit of touristy stuff the first few days before getting into the more
Riverview Childrens Foundation stuff. So Friday we had a drive to the water front (mekong river) and couln't see much as they is doing up the drainage - it needs it! Had lunch at the kiwi bakery (nothing to do with NZ but great food) and then had a looker at the new mall that is just around the corner again, the b00f™ was stufferoonied and walked home for a snooze.
Saturday we went to the toul sleng museum... a very sad place with an extremely horrific past (photos below). It makes one wonder what is wrong with the world when noddies like pol pothead get in control and think they know it all... that said there are other noddies in control but fortunatley not all of them are homicidal maniacs - but still noddies! Then there are noddies that are just as bad but get away with it because they are fighting "terrorism"(vague political statement there)... ~
NODDIES! The world has had enough of NODDIES!
they should have never brought him back afther he was banned in the 80's... the b00f™ feels sorry for big ears... he always gets caught up with Noddy...
So it wasn't a nice experience, interesting isn't a word one would use either.. maybe informative? Our guide held nothing back about what happened... he was 15 when pot pot had a go at destroying his country. One could say the wounds are rather deep and still festering a bit... so that is why Cambodia is where it is today.
Sunday we went to church at the New Life Centre run by a US dude who has grown up here and has taken the church from his dad. Was pretty lively and the band was great. Couldn't here much over the drums but that is to be expected - flamin drummers! We then had lunch at the FCC (foreign correspondants club) - very swanky and over priced. The food was ok but at least the b00f™ had a decent coffee.
Today, we went and checked out the
Hagar International project here in PP. First was the house of smiles - where disabled kids get treated as people and the parents see past the disability. Then we had a look at the aftercare and school project on the edge of a slum. With all the building going on, land levels are rising and the water (and/or poo water) just runs down to the lower lying areas, i.e. poor areas! So one building they are leasing for the aftercare is regularly flodded. They have some land funded by the foundation but they are still waiting for some more dosh to be able to build a decent place above the water level. Hagar not only helps the vulnerable but also schools kids from the local community who are disadvantaged.
Then it was off the the Hagar catering thingo run by a Riverview guy Frank Woods (who is 60 ish) which employs 200 or so staff most of which were once on the poverty line - they also make sure that the kids of these women are looked after - keeping them away from the life that would otherwise not be a nice one... if you don't understand check the link out above.
So that's it for now... looking forward to sleep... the b00f™ likes to wake up at 2 am for an hour or 2 these days... stupid england! Check out the photos...
so that's it for now...
have a good one.
b00f out!™
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