Trip to Cambodia

Being a breast cancer survivor, it has never come to my mind to visit Cambodia, until I heard from my friend who did a good course tour by helping the poor and at the same time visiting one of the seventh wonders of the world, Angkor Wat. A group of 16 of us, consisting nurses and breast cancer survivors started to set up for this good course tour since it has been introduced to us. We contacted a Malaysian lady, Ms. Esther Ding, who arranged a mini bus and our 6 days itinery. Our aim is to bring breast cancer awareness and distributing food ration to the poor.

We really thanked her for her good and trustworthy job. She helped us to contact the local Municipal Hospital in Phnom Penh and interpreted pamphlets about breast self-examination. She also helped us to prepare @USD6 food ratio to 150 old folks in Baray district.

We had boat ride infront of the Palace and with delicious homecooked food prepared. Visiting The Killing Fields, very sad site to visit. We visited and supported the Khmerlife products located next to the Toul Slang musuem. The products were handmade by polio victims, orphans and poor students. Our group donated 5 sewing machines to the Khmerlife.

We too, dropped by the Russia and Central Markets. Our group of ladies started to busy themselves and had a good harvest from the markets. Pop by the casino, but nothing compared to Las Vegas. I donated USD10 to the machine (should have donated to the khmerlife products).

Left Phnom Penh and proceed to Baray for the Khmerhomestay. This homestay is run by Ms. Esther who welcomed us with wonderful homecooked lunch and drinks. We had a pony ride to the inner village to see the poor villagers. It was really sad to see the broken atap houses and children with no clothing running about. The little children started to run after us and we had to pull the pony to a shady place where we started to distribute biscuits and hairclips for them. We proceed our ride to a village where we saw a school with broken roof tiles and we donated USD150 for the estimated cost to get it repaired and passed it to Ms Esther to arrange with the headmaster. We also paid a visit to the handicraft workshops, weaving of materials, wood carving and sewing.

In the evening, Esther arranged ox carts ride to see the sunset at a nearby padi field. Wow......that is the most memorable view for sunset and the sky is specially huge with lovely palm trees and the greenery really took our stress away. The sunset view was fantastic !!! We were entertained by a group of students performing the cultural dance after our dinner. Bravo to them !! We stayed in a "million stars" hotel. We relaxed on the hysen hammocks watching the beautiful bright stars. We had a wonderful experience sleeping under mosquito netting just like Cambodians livelihood. It was so breezy and cool in the night under the atap roof. We were really in the 3rd world country.. no electricity. But of course, there is a generator but it was switched off at 10 pm.

The following day, we brought breast cancer awareness to the community in a another village, a church, and also to workers at the Girls Brigade which is run by Singaporean now but was ministered by Esther earlier. Hygiene packs were distributed to all who attended the talks. We were very proud of ourselves by doing this little contributions. Thanks to all who have helped to donate in one way or another to make this a successful trip.

We then proceeded to Siem Reap to visit the Angkor Wat and enjoyed the food and itinery arranged.

You can visit the Khmer Village Homestay at http://www.khmerhomestay.com/ and I strongly recommend Ms. Esther Ding to be your host. Her email address: dsiewbing@yahoo.com

Have a nice trip to Cambodia, a country where you will not complain your blessings after the visit.