Wat Hanchey, also known as “The Fruit Temple” because of the large statues of colourful fruit garnishing it’s grounds, is a beautiful collection of small temples on a flat hilltop about 25km north of Kampong Cham town, in rural Kampong Cham Province. It could just as easily be dubbed the “Animal Temple” as there are … More Idyllic Days
These are wise words from a good friend and ex-colleague from MSF who works with me on the Board at Phter Koma. About ten years older than me, he was a young boy when the Khmer Rouge took control of Cambodia in 1975. When Lisa visited me in July last year she purchased a book … More Two Plus Two Does Not Equal Four
The more global citizens there are, and the more active and effective they are, the more progress the world will make. We hope you will show your support by signing up, because we believe that people can and must work together more to make the world a more equitable place. In fact, we’re betting on … More Toilet Village to Tuk Tuk City
Today Bea and KT from MSF came with Chom and I to Dara’s grandparents’ village for a toilet inspection. Chom was on his moto with 3yo Microphone (because he’s so loud!) at the handlebars. The three expats were on our bicycles. Thirty kilometers and a sore rear end later, we made it home with new … More Generosity and Skilful Infants
While I base myself in Cambodia on leave-at-half-pay, unsure what exactly 2015 will bring as I “stress” about how to spend my year off work, three of my colleagues from Australia’s Northern Territory are in Sierra Leone, working in an Ebola Treatment Centre. The standard duration of Ebola missions is six weeks. Considered to be … More My Nurses Are Already Dead
Today the normally-clear, blue skies above us in Kampong Cham seemed to reflect the murky brown waters of the Mekong. As the sun slowly set, I cycled back from my afternoon teaching session surrounded by motos purring around me in disorganised politeness. A tourist riverboat slowly made it’s way out from the shore and cruised … More Early Days as a Volunteer
It’s really difficult to know how it would feel to be a person living in poverty, or how people in poverty perceive the “rich” people they occasionally encounter. These thoughts regularly occur to me as I cycle or drive my way through remote villages being smiled, stared and even laughed at like the alien that … More Perceptions of the Poor
Strangely enough I started this blog days ago, before the Charlie Hebdo massacre. Of the many dozens of cartoons I’ve seen in the past couple of days, perhaps my favourite is this, which translates as “Mahomet overwhelmed by fundamentalists” and the prophet saying “It’s hard to be loved by idiots”. I think it’s perfectly fitting … More Loving to Hate
Needing a bus ticket to Kampong Cham, I asked the hotel receptionist in Phnom Penh to organise one for me. Soon enough, via an agency, my ticket arrived by motorbike courier. Phnom Penh to Kampong Cham, 2-15pm, Seat 15. With no record of which bus company, I asked “Is this Capitol Bus?” and she replied … More You Know You’re Back in Cambodia When…
Leaving Manhattan was nowhere near as sad as it might have been due to my freedom to return anytime during this year combined with my excitement at returning to Cambodia. The cab picked me up at nightfall and we crackled our way over the ice cold cobblestones of SoHo, past people wrapped from head to … More Jet Lagged in Phnom Penh
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