Cambodia snapshot

Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are two great places to visit. The traffic is chaotic! One would have to be a defensive driver to survive the traffic conditions. The road is used by cars, motorbikes, trucks, buses, bicycles and the tuktuks!! I loved the experience though!! The people are so warm and friendly.

One lesson learnt from riding the tuktuks is, there's no need to rush! You will get to your destination eventually.

To visit the common sights around Phonm Penh, I travelled by tuktuk. The driver was very helpful and he spoke enough English to understand the instructions given to him.

Another place I found interesting was the Tuol Sleng Museum. I went out of curiosity to see what the High School turned 'Detention Centre' looked like. After going through just one of the many rooms opened for tourists, I had to go out again. The photos of prisoners and their stories were too depressing for me.   I walked around the premises instead and found a few survivors of the genocide who were selling their own books so I decided to chat to one of them (with an interpreter).

The markets are a must to visit!!!  If you're looking for souvenirs to take back home then visit the Russian Market and the Central Market. One thing I learnt while bargaining with one of the market vendors was, if you're their first customer for the day then they will have to give you the price that you've asked for!! Unfortunately I learnt that on my last day!! If I had known earlier then all my souvenir shopping would have  been in the morning:)

Cambodia is home to some spectacular temples.  They may all look similar to an outsider but they each have a story behind them. These temples are a reflection of the Cambodian culture, the skills of its people and their history.
 
One of the highlights of my trip was meeting Mrs Cinavou, a missionary who has been working in Cambodia for the last five years. She and her late husband work/worked with the Kuy  people. I had never met Mrs Cinavou before but had heard of their work in Cambodia. Since I was in Phonm Penh, I decided to make contact. Listening to her work experiences and the goals she hopes to achieve, I admire her faith, perseverance  and commitment to the Lord's work out in the harvest field.

LOVE in ACTION!
Not only does Mrs Cinavou work with the Kuy people, she also co-ordinates a feeding ministry where they feed and clothe people who live in the rubbish dump area. From what I understand, the people who live in the rubbish dump  survive on whatever they can find there..that is food, clothes etc. I was moved to tears when I heard about their living conditions!!Just before Christmas each year they organise a party and give out presents to children from the rubbish dump area and the children from the neighbourhood. They organise transport to bring these children into the city and after the party they are taken back home.

One of her goals for next year- 2013 is to start English classes for underprivileged children from the Kuy community, rubbish dump community and the local neighbourhood. She desires to train and equip these young people to be future leaders within their own communities.Once the English classes are up and running then a similar program will be set up closer to the Kuy community (which is about 5 hours drive from Phonm Penh).

Planning has started for setting up the English classes but they are still in desperate need of learning resources such as reading books, magazines, posters, pens, and also financial support.

If you would like to help out with the work in Cambodia, please contact Mrs Cinavou at  mscinavous@gmail.com