On Saturday 14th August our little VSO team (Jeltje, Chak and I) set about helping the community of Pu Trom Cha to finish the school’s well. It was dug by members of the local community after a community meeting where the School Director identified the lack of water at the school as a major issue preventing the children from attending. Many children would walk home as they were thirsty and then not return to classes as it was too far. Now the school has a well and a water filter they no longer need to do this so can stay in class for longer and have a more conducive learning atmosphere. The well has also enabled the school to set about creating a garden for growing vegetables and medicinal plants. These will be used to help support the students either by giving them additional food or by using the proceeds from any sales to buy resources for the school.
When we arrived at the school the first thing I noticed was the new fence built around the well and an area soon to be a garden, the wood and labour for which were donated by the community and school director. This was great as the school and community had worked together, without my direct involvement, in order to achieve this after it was suggested in a previous meeting. This fence will keep the buffalo and cows out of the garden area, which is always good when you’re trying to grown plants!
The well was hand dug to a depth of 35 meters, a meter wide. Looking down to the reflective water at the bottom is a vertigo inducing experience and I can’t think of anything worse than being at the bottom!
So, what was now necessary was building a low circular wall around the well to prevent unsuspecting animals and children from falling down a 35m hole and contaminating the water. With the money raised from home I was able to purchase 300 bricks, concrete, sand and tools in order to build this structure. As there was to be a blessing ceremony I also provided food for the community members and the eponymous ‘jar wine’. This is fermented rice mixed with leaves and herbs and is the traditional celebration drink for the local indigenous Bunong people. It is also very, very strong.
Once we had completed the first foundation level and a ring of bricks a break was taken to eat the food and begin the ceremony. A chicken had been killed (somewhere in the village fortunately) and its cooked body was brought and it’s liver mixed with rice and given as an offering to the spirits of the well. They also gave fruit and some of the wine along with small pieces of charcoal wrapped in wool. The air was thick with incense sticks and chanting during the ceremony to wish luck on the well and the school, urging bad spirits to stay away. The religion of the Bunong is one of worshipping the spirits of the forest and is not Buddhism, although the incense, chanting and offerings make it seem similar.
After the ceremony we were asked to join in the rice wine drinking, which I tried and failed to get out of with the excuse of having to ride my motorbike back across the dodgy roads. Jeltje and I were plonked in front of the communal straws sticking out of the jars with the wine made from rain water. There was no way out other than to drink the required cup full, after which I stood up and immediately felt the alcohol go straight to my head!
So after some more wine drinking the work resumed on the wall building and we now had a ring of bricks started. At this point Jeltje and I decided to chip in and help with the brick laying and although it is definitely seen as ‘mans work’ we were allowed to join and after a while the men accepted us into the team and we all worked together to complete it. It was also at this point that the rain began, causing all us brick layers to get soaked to the skin while the rest of the community wisely retreated back into the school!
It took around 5 hours to complete the structure and cover it in concrete. When the concrete has dried out in a couple of weeks, the children and school director will paint the names of all those who contributed to the well building project onto the outside of the well.
This project has been a great success for this tiny school in rural Cambodia. The community have supported and worked with the school in order to improve the learning environment for their children, which will in turn enable them to access better education.
Now the Community and School Director are completely on board they are keen to get going on the next project here which is the community garden and hopefully a library too!
So thank you again to those who gave funds to this great cause, your help has really improved the lives of the children attending this school and given them an increased opportunity to stay in education.
Thursday, 19 August 2010
Friday, 6 August 2010
And so It Begins...
The rainy season has now officially started making everything exceedingly green and more importantly, exceedingly muddy!
This change has been gratefully received by the people here as the rains have been very late arriving this year. Wells have been running dry and paddy fields unable to yield rice.
I have seen the awful flooding experienced in China and Pakistan and am hoping Cambodia is spared this tragedy. During the end of the rainy season last year Cambodia suffered greatly from severe flooding. This was especially prominent in North East Cambodia, in Rattanakiri Province. Here many villages were washed away entirely and then cut off by flooding caused by Vietnam opening its overwhelmed flood gates when Typhoon Ketsana hit. Vietnam paid for a significant amount of aid for the region, along with support from the UN and CARE, however, it will takes years for it to fully recover.
There are also many problems in Phnom Penh with flooding as many natural water reservoirs and reclaimed for development. During heavy downpours in the Capital the drainage system is quickly overwhelmed and it is not unusual to be wading through streets with water up to your knees, whilst trying not to think about how disgusting the water is and whether that was in fact a rat which just floated past.
Many residents are also experiencing increased problems with flooding in Phnom Penh. Especially in the areas surrounding the Boeung Kang Keng Lake in the North of the city, where most has been filled in order to build tower blocks. I remember last year, shortly after I arrived in Cambodia, reading about an entire family who were killed when electrical cables came into contact with the flood water in their house and they attempted to save each other from the live water.
So although the monsoon season brings joy for agriculture and a break from the blistering heat it also brings issues of its own which can have tragic results.
Things are very slow for me at the moment here in Mondulkiri as the schools are now closed and it is a busy agricultural period for the communities. The muddy and carved up state of the roads also seriously limits where I can go on the motorbike (I am not a motocross driver!).
The rain has also returned the jungle to its lush green state which is beautiful. I wish a photograph could do it justice and convey the beauty and scale but it simply cannot.
I was also recently involved in a meeting to discuss the planning of a community involvement and National Volunteering (NV) project in Cambodia. This was a very interesting exercise and gave us the opportunity to share our experiences and discuss strategies and objectives for the project.
For me it was a good opportunity to look back at the work I have done here so far. It has also helped me to write some very constructive notes for my replacement!
10 weeks to go....
This change has been gratefully received by the people here as the rains have been very late arriving this year. Wells have been running dry and paddy fields unable to yield rice.
I have seen the awful flooding experienced in China and Pakistan and am hoping Cambodia is spared this tragedy. During the end of the rainy season last year Cambodia suffered greatly from severe flooding. This was especially prominent in North East Cambodia, in Rattanakiri Province. Here many villages were washed away entirely and then cut off by flooding caused by Vietnam opening its overwhelmed flood gates when Typhoon Ketsana hit. Vietnam paid for a significant amount of aid for the region, along with support from the UN and CARE, however, it will takes years for it to fully recover.
There are also many problems in Phnom Penh with flooding as many natural water reservoirs and reclaimed for development. During heavy downpours in the Capital the drainage system is quickly overwhelmed and it is not unusual to be wading through streets with water up to your knees, whilst trying not to think about how disgusting the water is and whether that was in fact a rat which just floated past.
Many residents are also experiencing increased problems with flooding in Phnom Penh. Especially in the areas surrounding the Boeung Kang Keng Lake in the North of the city, where most has been filled in order to build tower blocks. I remember last year, shortly after I arrived in Cambodia, reading about an entire family who were killed when electrical cables came into contact with the flood water in their house and they attempted to save each other from the live water.
So although the monsoon season brings joy for agriculture and a break from the blistering heat it also brings issues of its own which can have tragic results.
Things are very slow for me at the moment here in Mondulkiri as the schools are now closed and it is a busy agricultural period for the communities. The muddy and carved up state of the roads also seriously limits where I can go on the motorbike (I am not a motocross driver!).
The rain has also returned the jungle to its lush green state which is beautiful. I wish a photograph could do it justice and convey the beauty and scale but it simply cannot.
I was also recently involved in a meeting to discuss the planning of a community involvement and National Volunteering (NV) project in Cambodia. This was a very interesting exercise and gave us the opportunity to share our experiences and discuss strategies and objectives for the project.
For me it was a good opportunity to look back at the work I have done here so far. It has also helped me to write some very constructive notes for my replacement!
10 weeks to go....
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Things you should know about working in Cambodia
· Rubber soled shoes should be worn at all times in the office to prevent electric shocks from unearthed, dodgy wiring. Seriously. It took several shocks and a numb arm to learn this lesson.
·Your Khmer colleagues will often mysteriously disappear from the office without a word. You later learn this was to go to an important meeting no one thought of inviting you to. Again.
· It is possible for someone’s job to appear to be cutting and gluing. The occasional bit of writing is sometimes involved, along with reorganising photographs.
·Rats break photocopy machines and then die inside them until someone starts to wonder what the smell is. This also shows how often the machine is used...
· Your boss will randomly enter the office, stating that no matter how much you like the current office set up he thinks it is most important that you have your own desk with your own drawer.
· You will only be informed of meetings you are supposed to attend either five minutes before, half way through or several days later when someone asks why you weren’t there.
·The above mentioned very important meetings will always be on days your translator is unavailable.
·Every meeting will involved several hours (not a joke) of speeches where officials repeat the same thing as each other, then read a speech from the PM saying the exact same.
·Pate (sandwiches involving an unidentifiable slab of processed meat) and bottled water are usually the only reason people turn up. When not provided general resentment ensues.
·One of the office computers will be so riddled with virus’s it can no longer save documents, the other one will not be able to type in Khmer any longer. One of these will always be in the computer repair shop (someone’s garage).
· Lack of the correct tools or materials will never stop a Khmer person. Where there is a will there is always a way.
·The statistics charts on the walls will be at least two years behind.
·No-one knows where anyone else is, what they’re doing or when they’ll be back. This counts for you too even though you write your weekly agenda on a board in the office and get in translated.
·Your Khmer colleagues will often mysteriously disappear from the office without a word. You later learn this was to go to an important meeting no one thought of inviting you to. Again.
· It is possible for someone’s job to appear to be cutting and gluing. The occasional bit of writing is sometimes involved, along with reorganising photographs.
·Rats break photocopy machines and then die inside them until someone starts to wonder what the smell is. This also shows how often the machine is used...
· Your boss will randomly enter the office, stating that no matter how much you like the current office set up he thinks it is most important that you have your own desk with your own drawer.
· You will only be informed of meetings you are supposed to attend either five minutes before, half way through or several days later when someone asks why you weren’t there.
·The above mentioned very important meetings will always be on days your translator is unavailable.
·Every meeting will involved several hours (not a joke) of speeches where officials repeat the same thing as each other, then read a speech from the PM saying the exact same.
·Pate (sandwiches involving an unidentifiable slab of processed meat) and bottled water are usually the only reason people turn up. When not provided general resentment ensues.
·One of the office computers will be so riddled with virus’s it can no longer save documents, the other one will not be able to type in Khmer any longer. One of these will always be in the computer repair shop (someone’s garage).
· Lack of the correct tools or materials will never stop a Khmer person. Where there is a will there is always a way.
·The statistics charts on the walls will be at least two years behind.
·No-one knows where anyone else is, what they’re doing or when they’ll be back. This counts for you too even though you write your weekly agenda on a board in the office and get in translated.
Thursday, 24 June 2010
The Temples of Angkor
After being in Cambodia for ten months I felt it was about time for me to visit the biggest tourist attraction here, the ancient Angkorian Temples in Siem Reap. Two of my friends, Sophie and Steph, decided to visit me so I knew this was the perfect opportunity for me to see them for myself.
I had heard many things about the area and seen lots of pictures; however, it did not stop me from being amazed by the scale, magnificence and scope of the Temples. Building started in around 900BC and the site was still occupied until the 14th Century, with the religious focus changing gradually from Hinduism brought from India to Buddhism brought from China.
The Temple complex is on a scale difficult to describe, with the entire region covering miles and miles of rolling hills, flat plains, lakes and jungle. In most cases the Temples have in fact been reclaimed by the jungle, with many having trees growing over, on top or off the crumbling stone structures. This is famously shown in the ‘Tomb Raider’ movie with Angelina Jolie (incidentally, whilst filming in Cambodia she adopted her first child, a local Cambodian).
The architecture is amazing and the attention to detail is breathtaking, with every stone carved by hand with beautiful images. A visit to the Museum in Siem Reap is a must to try and understand the history of the place. Our brilliant tuk-tuk driver Ken took us all around and even to some temples off the beaten track which was great. What it is difficult to describe is the intense heat of place, I seriously don’t think I’ve ever been so hot! I have to admit, when it got too much a lot of ‘culture absorption’ stops were needed (this basically consists of us sitting in the shade in a temple, drinking water and trying to stop sweating profusely...nice!).
The town of Siem Reap is also a pleasant place, with lots going on for tourists and many restaurants and bars which were a nice change from the provincial Cambodia I am used to!
The Temples of Angkor are definitely worth a visit if you’re ever in SE Asia, I cannot recommend them highly enough. It is difficult to try and describe them and no matter how many pictures you see it does not capture the feeling of actually walking around these ancient wonders.
The next big holiday stop was one which was far less full of culture, but equally as enjoyable-the beach! The white sand, blue sea and cocktails were just what was needed after a week of Temple bagging. Other than the odd monsoon (helpfully at 12am...just as we were about to leave the bar which meant we got stuck there until 5:30am. Honest!) the weather was beautiful and we had a very enjoyable trip.
So now it is back to work and I have lots to be getting on with in my final months here in Cambodia. I am hopefully off to a Battambang at the end of July and I’m quite excited as I haven’t been there yet and have heard that it is lovely and has a Bamboo Train, which sounds like fun.
The rains are yet to really start, we are getting the odd shower but nothing on the scale I’ve been expecting here so I feel as though I am almost waiting for it to break. On the up side the weather has seriously cooled off now, with jumpers, jeans and socks needed during the day and blankets and quilts and night which feels great!
I had heard many things about the area and seen lots of pictures; however, it did not stop me from being amazed by the scale, magnificence and scope of the Temples. Building started in around 900BC and the site was still occupied until the 14th Century, with the religious focus changing gradually from Hinduism brought from India to Buddhism brought from China.
The Temple complex is on a scale difficult to describe, with the entire region covering miles and miles of rolling hills, flat plains, lakes and jungle. In most cases the Temples have in fact been reclaimed by the jungle, with many having trees growing over, on top or off the crumbling stone structures. This is famously shown in the ‘Tomb Raider’ movie with Angelina Jolie (incidentally, whilst filming in Cambodia she adopted her first child, a local Cambodian).
The architecture is amazing and the attention to detail is breathtaking, with every stone carved by hand with beautiful images. A visit to the Museum in Siem Reap is a must to try and understand the history of the place. Our brilliant tuk-tuk driver Ken took us all around and even to some temples off the beaten track which was great. What it is difficult to describe is the intense heat of place, I seriously don’t think I’ve ever been so hot! I have to admit, when it got too much a lot of ‘culture absorption’ stops were needed (this basically consists of us sitting in the shade in a temple, drinking water and trying to stop sweating profusely...nice!).
The town of Siem Reap is also a pleasant place, with lots going on for tourists and many restaurants and bars which were a nice change from the provincial Cambodia I am used to!
The Temples of Angkor are definitely worth a visit if you’re ever in SE Asia, I cannot recommend them highly enough. It is difficult to try and describe them and no matter how many pictures you see it does not capture the feeling of actually walking around these ancient wonders.
The next big holiday stop was one which was far less full of culture, but equally as enjoyable-the beach! The white sand, blue sea and cocktails were just what was needed after a week of Temple bagging. Other than the odd monsoon (helpfully at 12am...just as we were about to leave the bar which meant we got stuck there until 5:30am. Honest!) the weather was beautiful and we had a very enjoyable trip.
So now it is back to work and I have lots to be getting on with in my final months here in Cambodia. I am hopefully off to a Battambang at the end of July and I’m quite excited as I haven’t been there yet and have heard that it is lovely and has a Bamboo Train, which sounds like fun.
The rains are yet to really start, we are getting the odd shower but nothing on the scale I’ve been expecting here so I feel as though I am almost waiting for it to break. On the up side the weather has seriously cooled off now, with jumpers, jeans and socks needed during the day and blankets and quilts and night which feels great!
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Month 10
So I have just entered the tenth month I have been in Cambodia and eight month of working here and I have been looking back a little in order to look forward and plan my last four months.
When I first arrived in Cambodia I was faced with culture shock, home sickness and the dawning realisation of what I had let myself in for. On top of that there was the heat and humidity along with feeling massively out of my depths, having never travelled or been to Asia.
Now I can’t imagine not having lived here.
I have had the opportunity to work in such a different and interesting environment, with people who really want to make a difference and change Cambodia. What makes this great is that these people are Cambodians. There is a great sense of ownership here with many Cambodians working at the ground roots to improve the system. However, it cannot be overlooked that there are serious issues in Cambodia which are working against the process of development and those seeking change and improvement.
This issue of corruption in high government levels seeps all the way down to the grass roots and affects every person living and working in Cambodia. Until this is resolved, development in Cambodia is seriously limited by the integral system of corruption currently in operation. This system breeds dissention, discontent and causes a huge divide between the have and have-nots. Mostly, those with money and power are those most willing to use others wrongly, behave in a corrupt manner and take from those who need it more. It is a strange situation but one which is not uncommon in post conflict developing countries.
However, I have discussed the above issue before a few times in my blog and for all the bad things happening in Cambodia, there are also some good. A change of government does not look likely any time soon so therefore it is necessary to work with what is available and try to increase government awareness of the issues in Cambodia.
During my time here so far most of my job has been relationship building with local communities. I am the first VSO volunteer here who has been working in community involvement and have had to spend a considerable amount of time meeting the communities I’m working with and explaining how I am here to support them and how VSO works. A major barrier here is previous NGO involvement. Many Cambodians just see NGO’s as being able to provide funding but VSO is actively against this and instead we volunteers provide our skills and experience. So explaining this was my first major hurdle.
The second aspect of my work so far has been to consult with the communities to establish what it is that they actually need. This need analysis has been vital so as to effectively calculate where my efforts are best placed and so the community can get what is most needed.
So armed with these relationships and need assessments I have established that to increase community involvement with schools a relationship needs to be built and sustained. To do this I am planning on running a series of workshops throughout September with the community, schools and local NGO’s on the importance of continued involvement in the school, the role of the community and different aspects of this, such as student councils and school support committees. There will also be an opportunity for other NGO’s to come along and speak with the community on a range of important topics such as malaria, health care, nutrition, family planning and medicinal herb gardens.
I am really hoping these workshops are a success and I feel that this will have a lasting effect on the community. These sessions will be sustainable as they can be followed up by other local NGO’s and the school and community members.
So this is what I will be working on for the four months until my return home in October. Well, if the rains don’t prevent me that is!
When I first arrived in Cambodia I was faced with culture shock, home sickness and the dawning realisation of what I had let myself in for. On top of that there was the heat and humidity along with feeling massively out of my depths, having never travelled or been to Asia.
Now I can’t imagine not having lived here.
I have had the opportunity to work in such a different and interesting environment, with people who really want to make a difference and change Cambodia. What makes this great is that these people are Cambodians. There is a great sense of ownership here with many Cambodians working at the ground roots to improve the system. However, it cannot be overlooked that there are serious issues in Cambodia which are working against the process of development and those seeking change and improvement.
This issue of corruption in high government levels seeps all the way down to the grass roots and affects every person living and working in Cambodia. Until this is resolved, development in Cambodia is seriously limited by the integral system of corruption currently in operation. This system breeds dissention, discontent and causes a huge divide between the have and have-nots. Mostly, those with money and power are those most willing to use others wrongly, behave in a corrupt manner and take from those who need it more. It is a strange situation but one which is not uncommon in post conflict developing countries.
However, I have discussed the above issue before a few times in my blog and for all the bad things happening in Cambodia, there are also some good. A change of government does not look likely any time soon so therefore it is necessary to work with what is available and try to increase government awareness of the issues in Cambodia.
During my time here so far most of my job has been relationship building with local communities. I am the first VSO volunteer here who has been working in community involvement and have had to spend a considerable amount of time meeting the communities I’m working with and explaining how I am here to support them and how VSO works. A major barrier here is previous NGO involvement. Many Cambodians just see NGO’s as being able to provide funding but VSO is actively against this and instead we volunteers provide our skills and experience. So explaining this was my first major hurdle.
The second aspect of my work so far has been to consult with the communities to establish what it is that they actually need. This need analysis has been vital so as to effectively calculate where my efforts are best placed and so the community can get what is most needed.
So armed with these relationships and need assessments I have established that to increase community involvement with schools a relationship needs to be built and sustained. To do this I am planning on running a series of workshops throughout September with the community, schools and local NGO’s on the importance of continued involvement in the school, the role of the community and different aspects of this, such as student councils and school support committees. There will also be an opportunity for other NGO’s to come along and speak with the community on a range of important topics such as malaria, health care, nutrition, family planning and medicinal herb gardens.
I am really hoping these workshops are a success and I feel that this will have a lasting effect on the community. These sessions will be sustainable as they can be followed up by other local NGO’s and the school and community members.
So this is what I will be working on for the four months until my return home in October. Well, if the rains don’t prevent me that is!
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
The Kings Birthday
Another month, another public holiday... So this time it was for King Sihamoni’s birthday and we have had three days off in total around a weekend.
A group of us decided to head to Phnom Penh for the weekend as it is easy to get to and there was a lot going on to keep us occupied.
On Thursday night there was a free concert given by the American band Dengue Fever in the Vietnamese Friendship Park, sponsored by the US Embassy to celebrate 60 years of involvement in Cambodia (yes, I’m sure there is irony here). Dengue Fever are based in LA and formed after having several trips to Cambodia and discovering 60s and 70s Cambodian music, which I have to admit, is actually quite great! So they set about reviving it and managed to recruit an amazing Cambodian singer to the band and now enjoy worldwide success. In fact, one of the girls I was with had actually already seen them at a festival in the UK.
The one thing which was obvious at the concert was the clear cultural differences between Cambodians and us Barangs. The Cambodians didn’t move during the concert, in fact, most of them didn’t even smile. Yet here were us foreigners cheering, clapping, dancing and singing along. I do not envy any band playing to a Cambodian audience, talk about a tough crowd!
I do feel that I and the group I was with are probably famous on the Cambodian social networking site as it seemed that everyone was taking photos and videos of us. We weren’t the only ones either, once glance around and you could spot many pockets of dancing Barangs causing a stir in the otherwise mostly Cambodian crowd.
The band themselves were great, particularly the lead singer who had an amazing and original voice. I have included a video link here to youtube if you would like to check them out and if they ever come to a venue near you I would definitely recommend that you go!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQYOGkCk2DA
On Friday night we went to a modern dance performance which also included a section by Epic Arts, which is an organisation based in Kampot. They work with children with disabilities helping to support their social development and education, in a country which barely recognises disability. The four young men involved in the piece were amazing, two were in wheelchairs and the other two are deaf. Their performance was brilliant, one of the best modern dance pieces I have seen and it was easily as good as the professionals who followed them.
The main piece was by Belle Chumvan Sodhachivy who is a modern Cambodian choreographer who uses the traditional Khmer Apsara dancing in her modern dance pieces. It was very beautiful and the choreographer herself was an amazing dancer. The themes explored in the piece ranged from playfulness to quite dark group dances. Again, if she ever comes to a venue near you I would definitely recommend going.
http://khmerbird.com/entertainment/contemporary-dancer-belle-chumvan-sodhachivy.html
The weekend was very enjoyable and a definite break from the jungle. However, I was more than happy to head back to Mondulkiri as it is incredibly hot in Cambodia at the moment with high temperatures and humidity causing discomfort and sleep loss in the city! In the mountains the temperature is so much cooler, hitting 30c max during the day and dropping down to low 20c’s at night meaning it is a far nicer climate to live in. In Mondulkiri the rains have also started which make a welcome break to the intense sun.
I’m also looking forward to checking up on several projects I have been working on and am beginning to plan the holiday clubs I am planning on running during the rainy season holiday.
A group of us decided to head to Phnom Penh for the weekend as it is easy to get to and there was a lot going on to keep us occupied.
On Thursday night there was a free concert given by the American band Dengue Fever in the Vietnamese Friendship Park, sponsored by the US Embassy to celebrate 60 years of involvement in Cambodia (yes, I’m sure there is irony here). Dengue Fever are based in LA and formed after having several trips to Cambodia and discovering 60s and 70s Cambodian music, which I have to admit, is actually quite great! So they set about reviving it and managed to recruit an amazing Cambodian singer to the band and now enjoy worldwide success. In fact, one of the girls I was with had actually already seen them at a festival in the UK.
The one thing which was obvious at the concert was the clear cultural differences between Cambodians and us Barangs. The Cambodians didn’t move during the concert, in fact, most of them didn’t even smile. Yet here were us foreigners cheering, clapping, dancing and singing along. I do not envy any band playing to a Cambodian audience, talk about a tough crowd!
I do feel that I and the group I was with are probably famous on the Cambodian social networking site as it seemed that everyone was taking photos and videos of us. We weren’t the only ones either, once glance around and you could spot many pockets of dancing Barangs causing a stir in the otherwise mostly Cambodian crowd.
The band themselves were great, particularly the lead singer who had an amazing and original voice. I have included a video link here to youtube if you would like to check them out and if they ever come to a venue near you I would definitely recommend that you go!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQYOGkCk2DA
On Friday night we went to a modern dance performance which also included a section by Epic Arts, which is an organisation based in Kampot. They work with children with disabilities helping to support their social development and education, in a country which barely recognises disability. The four young men involved in the piece were amazing, two were in wheelchairs and the other two are deaf. Their performance was brilliant, one of the best modern dance pieces I have seen and it was easily as good as the professionals who followed them.
The main piece was by Belle Chumvan Sodhachivy who is a modern Cambodian choreographer who uses the traditional Khmer Apsara dancing in her modern dance pieces. It was very beautiful and the choreographer herself was an amazing dancer. The themes explored in the piece ranged from playfulness to quite dark group dances. Again, if she ever comes to a venue near you I would definitely recommend going.
http://khmerbird.com/entertainment/contemporary-dancer-belle-chumvan-sodhachivy.html
The weekend was very enjoyable and a definite break from the jungle. However, I was more than happy to head back to Mondulkiri as it is incredibly hot in Cambodia at the moment with high temperatures and humidity causing discomfort and sleep loss in the city! In the mountains the temperature is so much cooler, hitting 30c max during the day and dropping down to low 20c’s at night meaning it is a far nicer climate to live in. In Mondulkiri the rains have also started which make a welcome break to the intense sun.
I’m also looking forward to checking up on several projects I have been working on and am beginning to plan the holiday clubs I am planning on running during the rainy season holiday.
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
The Mango Rains
Last week saw the beginning of the ‘mango rains’ which means that it doesn’t rain everyday but when it does rain, it pours (and storms). They are so named as we are nearing the end of the mango season, which I will sorely miss. It has just come into avocado season too, which has been marvellous and I have had many VSO’s begging me to bring them a supply when I come to Phnom Penh.
However, this is now day two without any rain but as Chak just reliably informed me, the next time it rains that will be it. The beginning of the rainy season. This means constant rain for days, severely limiting travel and work and general madness caused by being continuously cold/wet and the noise of the rain pummelling the tin roofs.
As you can see from my above description, I am a little apprehensive about the start of the rains. The land here at the moment is parched beyond recognition, with river beds lying empty and waterfalls dry. I cannot wait to see again, Cambodia as it was when I first arrived, a lush green country with rice paddies as far as the eye could see and roaring waterfalls. However, practically, I am not looking forward to the boredom and frustration it is likely to cause (I have been reliably told by other people in Mondulkiri). In the rest of Cambodia during the rainy season it rains for perhaps a couple of hours a day maximum. In the mountainous region of Mondulkiri I have heard that it regularly rains non-stop for a week. I just can’t even begin to imagine what this will be like (apart from wet...) and I think it will certainly be an experience.
So in preparation I have changed my motorbike tyres to mud ones and will be purchasing a high quality poncho next time I’m in Phnom Penh. I may even get some wellies!
Perhaps Cambodia isn’t too far from England then, only, here it only rains for 5 months rather than 12!
However, this is now day two without any rain but as Chak just reliably informed me, the next time it rains that will be it. The beginning of the rainy season. This means constant rain for days, severely limiting travel and work and general madness caused by being continuously cold/wet and the noise of the rain pummelling the tin roofs.
As you can see from my above description, I am a little apprehensive about the start of the rains. The land here at the moment is parched beyond recognition, with river beds lying empty and waterfalls dry. I cannot wait to see again, Cambodia as it was when I first arrived, a lush green country with rice paddies as far as the eye could see and roaring waterfalls. However, practically, I am not looking forward to the boredom and frustration it is likely to cause (I have been reliably told by other people in Mondulkiri). In the rest of Cambodia during the rainy season it rains for perhaps a couple of hours a day maximum. In the mountainous region of Mondulkiri I have heard that it regularly rains non-stop for a week. I just can’t even begin to imagine what this will be like (apart from wet...) and I think it will certainly be an experience.
So in preparation I have changed my motorbike tyres to mud ones and will be purchasing a high quality poncho next time I’m in Phnom Penh. I may even get some wellies!
Perhaps Cambodia isn’t too far from England then, only, here it only rains for 5 months rather than 12!
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