Welcome Reception

As is usual, we were treated to a fine welcome dinner accompanied with a traditional Cambodian dancing performance. Greetings were given by Habitat Cambodia staff folks and also one of the country's government officials. I lost count of the countries represented here: New Zealand, U.S., Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Australia, Korea, Germany and many others. It is an international group of volunteers.

The setting sun presented a perfect glow to the event.

The reception was held on a large patio overlooking the river. It was a clear night with a gentle breeze blowing. Tables of ten and a homeowner joining the volunteers at every table. A lovely mother of two young children at our table. The building work begins tomorrow morning, Tuesday.

L TO R: NANCY, HOMEOWNER, MARCY AND STAN

In and around Phnom Penh

Many beautiful sights to visit in this capital city. At the entrance to the Cambodiana hotel, a Habitat banner welcomes the teams.

Here are some views of the highlight spots in the city:

WAT PHNOM

NATIONAL MUSEUM COMPLEX
CONTAINS IMPORTANT ANGKOR ARTIFACTS

NATIONAL MUSEUM COURTYARD AND BUDDHA

PAVILLION IN THE ROYAL PALACE GROUNDS

LOGO OF THE KING, ON A DOOR DECORATION
IN THE THRONE BUILDING

And from a sad time in the country's history, photos of the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, the famous S-21. It had been a school and the classrooms were converted to a prison during the Pol Pot years 1975-79. Now a museum and a testament to the madness of the Khmer Rouge regime.

PHOTOGRAPHS FROM EXTENSIVE RECORDS SHOWING
THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS WHO BECAME THE
 ULTIMATE VICTIMS OF THE EXECUTIONS
 AT THE NEARBY "KILLING FIELDS".

Many of the thousands of Cambodians who perished under the Khmer Regime were dumped in mass graves scattered around the country. Prior to 1975, Choeung Ek ws an orchard, but under Pol Pot this particular killing field was the site of brutal executions of nearly 17,000, most of whom had suffered torture at S-21. A memorial stupa now stands in memory of those buried here.

CHOEUNG EK MEMORIAL,
PHOTO BY VOLUNTEER CHARLES ZWICK.

Welcome volunteers

PHOTO: HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL

Habitat for Humanity Cambodia and home partner families welcome volunteers for the Khmer Harvest Build. “I want to build my own house with volunteers from overseas. I have no experience but I am willing to learn. The thought of having a house that belongs to me makes me happy,” said Kim Keomheng, a 42-year-old cake seller.

At the build site in Oudong, Kandal province, thousands of soil blocks are waiting in neat stacks. Some 350 international volunteers from New Zealand, the United States, Korea, Germany and Hong Kong will build alongside 22 families. The volunteers will also make bricks and work on a nearby farm which will provide a source of livelihood for some families.

Independence Day Cambodian style

No additional team members arrived today. More coming in on the 11th.

But much festivities as November 9 marks a national celebration for the country. And it lasts from the 9th through the next two days. Three in all. His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni presided in the morning at the Independence Monument in a celebration to mark the 58th anniversary of national independence from France. Parades and fireworks. And a holiday from work and jobs for many Cambodians.

Photo at right by Habitat
team member Gary Tan

Hello Phnom Penh

Bernard Tan and Gary Tan of Singapore, win the prize for first arrival in the city. Next to arrive, Nancy DeVries and then James Vargo. And so we are beginning to gather and make acquaintances of our team.

The city is like many of the Asian ones, busy with a traffic mix of cars and motorbikes and tuk tuks. You must have to focus to safely ride your bike as all vehicles drive along within 12 inches of the each other. Helmets for the bikes are required, but not always worn, and the regulation is loosely applied.

First night here,  Nov 9th, and a few days ahead of the official Habitat work. Bernard and Gary plus Nancy and Nancy's cousin, Ellie, visiting from Chiang Mai, Thailand, joined for dinner at a local Khmer/Thai restaurant.

Touch down in Cambodia

Hello from Siem Reap, home of the most fabulous architecture from 10th century through the 13th and now a UNESCO world heritage site. In all, a considerable number of temples, seven of which we visited  in three days. Build to honor kings and queens and pay respect to Buddha.

The best know of these is Angkor Wat. There is some restoration going on now and for protection, green tarps are now shrouding large parts of the best photographic persepective. There is a better sunset photo  posted last summer. You can find it in the first post of this blog.

Photo above is the "Smiling Buddha", at Angkor Thom in the temple, Bayon. The image also appears on one of the units of Cambodian currency.

Next stop is Phnom Penh and the the Habitat Build. I'm flying there Wednesday and really looking forward to meeting the other volunteers on our team and getting to know them. From the bios, they all sound like great folks!

Goodbye Vietnam

It has been a most interesting 6 days in the northern part of Vietnam. Hanoi for 2 days, Sapa and the ethnic minority villages 2 days, and finally, 2 days cruising on Halong Bay in a chinese junk.

Such a variety. There are many tourists in the area, European, Asian and a sprinkling of Americans. Everyone is welcomed and I felt very comfortable being here. My last evening (Sat) was spent at dinner with an American Maryknoll priest from the Bronx.!!

Here are a few more photos in the villages:

TWO HMONG MINORITY WOMEN AT WORK.
TYPICAL IN THE RURAL AREAS AND SMALL VILLAGES
WOMEN DO IT ALL, INCLUDING THRASHING
THE RICE AS WELL AS THEIR DOMESTIC CHORES

DAO MINORITY VILLAGE WOMAN WITH NANCY

Children have to walk long distances in the countryside to attend school. Classrooms look like any other: with desks, blackboard and books. But here, their books stay overnight in the schooldesks because the children's homes are very basic and families are still learning to respect books.

THIS SCHOOL WITH ITS STORYBOOK EXTERIOR WALLS
WAS BUILT WITH FUNDS FROM OXFAM..

CHILDREN BRING LUNCHPAIL
WITH RICE AND THE SCHOOL
TEACHER ADDS SOUP TO
MAKE NUTRITIOUS LUNCH

THIS CLASSROOM HAS ABOUT
15 STUDENTS WITH 1 TEACHER