For the love of the fields...

When dad and I were invited to see the fields and a rural village a hour and a half outside of siem reap we did not know what we were getting ourselves into...

It started with meeting this little guy at breakfast with a traditional meal of rice and pork. Thats right we eat rice and pork for breakfast next to this guy.

We were then told that we will take the truck to the village (let me remind you a hour and a half away from siem reap). Oh no we weren't riding in the front seat, all 30 some of us are pilling in the back of the truck like were a herd of cattle. The ride there was a scenic splendor but the ride home was another story.

An hour and a half later we ended up at a local school to donate clothes, soap, and cookies to the children that lived in the village. These children are no ordinary children. They live in the fields, therefore they go to school 7am-11am. Then they go home to work with there families in the fields until sun down...every day. This is there life.

Every child was ecstatic to receive the gifts and gratefully bowed their heads in respect for the gift they were receiving.

After a blessing from a local monk we head to the fields where our NGO has a conservation project currently making headway in a forest that's trees were dying from invasive species. No one mentioned to us that it was many many many kilometers away. After the torturous hike, and lunch. We come to find out our day is still not over.

Although my camera died after meeting my new friend (so many here in cambodia) we watched the rest of the group make kites to fly with a local family and learn how to build roofing for straw huts that can sustain the rain. 

Until we meet again fields, I think one visit will suffice for this cambodia trip.

For the love of Phnom Penh...

Hello Cambodia! Dad and I have had a full week starting with a 13-hour flight to Seoul followed by a 6-hour flight to Phnom Penh. We were exhausted but found the energy to visit the beautiful sites of the city. We started out with a “tuk tuk” tour with our newfound Cambodian friend/tour guide. The first stop was the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh. It has not been occupied sense the reign of Khmer Rouge.

Our fun out look from the back of the #1 way to get around in Cambodia, a "tuk-tuk". 

We headed off to our second stop, Wat Phnom. Wat Phnom is a buddhist temple that is known for being the tallest religious structure in the city. We found many friends along the roofs and in cages waiting for the next tourist to pay for there freedom. 

We finished our day by visiting the National Museum, which contained many priceless statues of Hindu gods, ancient tablets with Sanskrit and old Khmer, and artifacts from prehistoric burial sites. 

Our second day was packed full with orientation, a tour of Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a visit to the crazy Russian market and a needed massage to ease my aching feet! 

This was the view from our orientation in Phnom Penh. *Fun Fact* Cambodians don't use toilet paper and use a hose that is called the "bum water". 

The Tuol Sleng was one of the 150 execution centers in the country. It was formally a school that they turned into a prison for 20,000 Cambodians. Only seven were documented to survive out of the 20,000.  This weighed heavy on all of the volunteers and helped bring perspective to just how recent this country was in turmoil. 

Until we meet again, Phnom Penh was an amazing beginning to our adventure in Cambodia. Cannot wait for what is to come.