I have been offered another week working here in Cambodia. Some friends have said I can stay with them. I don’t know what to do; on one hand I really love it here, but I feel ready to go home.
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A blog of exploration, wanderlust and life-affirming adventure. last.fm
I’m just waiting to meet Andy (who I’m filming with), sippin’ on iced lemon tea. It’s a cafe that is run by young Cambodian women, some of whom have been rescued from trafficking. It’s a brilliant little place, and has air-con and wifi, so. It’s about 35 degrees in the shade today, so it’s good to have an hour out of the sun. I’ve been to the market this morning as because we’re filming from 2-7 I had the morning off, I love it there. It’s also Chinese New Year which is big over here and so as a result I was awoken by drums, and a gigantic dragon running through the streets!
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Today has been excellent. I use that word quite a lot, probably too much, but it’s been unbelievable. We went to a friend’s house this morning where they were teaching some local children. Following that I had a walk around the village and took a few photographs and had somewhat of a conversation with a shopkeeper (with the little khmer that I have learnt). We had lunch and then went to a rural village with some educational resources, teddy bears and the such for the children. We did some dancing, played games, and I taught some english. It’s very easy to say how rewarding it was, but it didn’t feel as though you were doing this in any part to make yourself feel better, you purely wanted to help these families. These people have nothing, and you feel compelled to give them everything. It’s heartbreaking. I don’t know, I feel it would be extremely difficult to go on holiday and sit by a pool for two weeks after this.
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At Ta Prohm yesterday. It’s one of the many temples of Angkor Wat, most of them have been taken over by the roots of gigantic trees.
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I am alive, I’ve just been extremely busy. I have been writing in my journal, so when I have time I will update this properly. It’s extremely hot but I’ve just about got used to it (provided it doesn’t get any warmer). I’ve started work with an American guy on a film highlighting the issues with Cambodian orphanages, the more successful alternatives and failing that, the integration projects run by charities in Phnom Penh. It’s been a great trip so far and I have visited both Tuol Sleng ‘genocide museum’ and Choeung Ek aka. ‘The Killing Fields - both quite disturbing experiences. I am working tomorrow and Wednesday before we leave for Siem Reap on Thursday via bus which should be fun. ahem. I will try and write up everything else tomorrow.
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It’s my last day in amsterdam, I’d be sad but I have waffles, green tea and funeral for a friend.
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Filed ↓ definitely no beyonce
In two minds. Prague on wednesday is 55 euros, Paris is 33 and London is 30. I don’t know what to do, I’d prefer to visit prague in the winter as I can imagine it being quite beautiful and I’ve heard paris is really expensive. I don’t want to go home yet but it would mean I can go to bon iver. It’s so cheap to come and go anywhere so it would be easy to go home and go to prague in november/december when my brother would probably come with me. I just don’t know what to do.
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I’m just relaxing outside the campsite bar/restaurant. They play the best music here, not surprisingly because it’s a stoner’s paradise. It’s mostly jazz, reggae with some excellent surprises thrown in - think otis redding and bjork.
I have a pint of heineken, in a tankard, it looks much bigger than a pint. I’ve got another beer mat for the collection too, it has a gnome on it. I’m actually sat in the corner outside, it’s the coolest set up too - although with my hood up I feel like strider in the fellowship of the ring.
I must be the only person here who doesn’t smoke pot. It’s excellent though.
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