This afternoon I was invited to visit one of our cleaners in her village a little way out of town. With 75% humidity and 35C temperatures I decided to be lazy and booked Chom’s tuk tuk for the journey instead of cycling the c.20km round-trip. Just before Chom picked me up I was out on … More Hair Apparent
This afternoon one of my colleagues came to the house and brought his young children to meet me. The cycle home before our meet-up was – as always – interesting. I stopped in at the bank on a corner where crowds were gathering on the road at the roundabout. Through the masses I could see … More A Hungry Ride Home
As my project with Medecins Sans Frontieres draws to a close, reflections about the year laid out behind me prevail. I am only leaving Cambodia briefly but my departure and the end of my work commitment here have me feeling very philosophical about this beautiful and catastrophic nation and the incredible experiences I’ve had here. … More Dealing with DRTB
We only have what we give ~ Isabelle Allende This morning I cycled into Shackville en route to work and the mother of my little amputee friend called to him that I was there. In a flash at high speed from around the corner of their shack he appeared and sprinted up a small hill to … More Ghosts and Giving
Living in a house full of people has it’s joys and it’s woes. We have a big beautiful home with a balcony overlooking the Mekong, our own cook and cleaner and a very comfortable home life. A joy! We each have our own ensuite bathroom – another joy. Except for the poor soul who happened … More Crashing With Courtesy
These are a shortened alteration of words written by Martin Luther King Jr, the famous American Civil Rights leader. They are words that have always struck a chord with me. In quoting them here, I researched where they came from and it’s an interesting story. In Birmingham Alabama in April 1963, during demonstrations against racial segregation, … More Injustice Anywhere Threatens Justice Everywhere
My final long weekend is upon me and I am spending it, as usual, in Phnom Penh. We left Kampong Cham early yesterday morning to visit two DRTB patients in their remote countryside homes before the team delivered me to the station and watched me onto the bus. Two hours later I was on the … More An Assault on the Senses
A few weeks ago Paint, the disabled carpenter I’ve talked of, called my number while my translator was on holiday. Conversation was not possible and so upon Win’s return we called him back. A short conversation ensued before a pause for translation. Poker-faced, Win stated “Paint is not home at the moment because he has … More Chasing Buffalo and Other Cambodian Pursuits
An American friend who worked in Hollywood for years tells some incredible stories about the perils of celebrity. Fame and money can play havoc with the human spirit as much as neglect and destitution can. We all develop behaviours matching what we have learned to believe about ourselves. In destitution, behaviours relate to excessively low … More Ambiguous Expectations
Angkor Wat is the biggest of many historic Khmer temples situated near the tourist resort town of Siem Reap in Cambodia. It is the largest religious monument in the world and has been ranked as one of the Seven man made Wonders of the World. Khmer civilisation came into it’s own and thrived here for centuries … More Angkor Athletes and Apsara Angels
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