Day 107 - Quiet before the storm

Why not?

Day 107 - 08th October

Just another Thursday but this one came with a hangover! Yeah, I'd had one to many beerios last night but had fun in spite of my morning tiredness and burning in the stomach!

I headed down for breakfast and then relaxed, organising my visa for Australia and just reading up on news. Good to hear that something is finally being done with the crooks at FIFA. Better late than never!

At 1pm, the sports for social impact meeting had been cancelled so I had a Khmer language lesson with Vith. We exchanged words before I gave him some English tips for his university dissertation. He's a great guy, always willing to learn and be constructive. As with DK, he has a bright future ahead of him!

After trying to crack the password to my sitcom for the thousandth time, and failing AGAIN, I headed back to Bou Savy and psyched myself up for the big game. I had nerves, I don't know why but I wanted to win this game so badly so we could reach the playoffs.

When we first started playing my legs were like jelly and I felt light headed but once I settled, it was just wave of adrenaline after wave of adrenaline. All my flicks were coming off, my passes were making the man and my shots were on target.

We ended up winning 11-0. Charlie and I scored three each whilst Nico shifted 4. All round it was a faultless performance and great to be a part of. Up the Willies!

As The Four Seasons said, 'Oh What A Night!'

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Day 106 - It's all about stamina on Wednesday and Don's birthday

Ah, the fun and games!

Day 106 - 07th October

Wednesday means all day at Project C. It's such a great place, an hour away from Siem Reap and I love going out to volunteer with these kids. Of course all the kids are great but this project has a real village vibe to it and I like that.

The morning consisted of only one session so by 10:30 we had a two and a half hour slot to feel. Of course I did some editing whilst DK learned some more English. You could say it's two guys working on their passions, or not! It depends how you think really.

My lunch and writing.

DK's fish was tasty.

DK and one of the teachers took a nap whilst I continued to walk and be badged by the local dogs. They saw my leg as a licking post which had me gently shooing them away before we did the whole act all of over again three minutes later.

Somewhere in there is a teacher!

The afternoon saw us really testing the older kids, having them keep the volleyball off the ground in every game. Any dropping was penalised with ten squats or push-ups. They don't tend to push up and down with their arms, instead opting to push their pelvises into the ground and back up again. It's quite comical to say the least.

On the hour's journey back, DK and I were sitting in silence, tired and worn out from a long day in the sun.

But night was just beginning. It was Don's birthday (Don being a volunteer from Project B). He'd kindly invited me along to his 50th at the Triangle Club and I met some old faces from Project B, a team mate of mine from Big Willy F.C and some new faces from Australia and The Netherlands.

We sat for a good five hours, enjoying beers, eating cake and helping Don celebrate in style. He bought all the beer and wine and everyone dinner so it was so cheap! Thanks Don.

We all gravitated to Pub Street and The Temple Club for dancing. By then, Don was done and dusted but he kept up the celebrations to the end. Top man.

I made my way back to Bou Savy, walking I might add, doing the fifteen minute journey with 15 or so beers inside me and crashed out.

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Day 78 - Pagodas, Putting and BBQ Indecisions

Putt me out of my misery. I lost!

Day 78 - 09th September

Wednesday's always bring a busy morning, with chaos and a more relaxed afternoon, with more chaos. Ha!

The progression of our lesson plan for the week was going well, with the kids recognising that education is a pivotal part of their childhood. It may sound mundane to us as adults but to them, when they lack guidance sometimes, good work like the kind DK, Srey Mom and all at Globalteer can make the difference here, believe me!

One of the many beautiful pagodas in Siem Reap.

I was running around so much that I forgot all about our (Dan and Abigail with me) visit to the pagodas with Vith and Becca. That Vith knows his stuff, answering most of our questions without hesitation. I threw him a couple of curve balls, which I apologise for, and he said he come back to me on them. He really is a good guy.

I learned more about Buddhism, the teachings, how Monks live their lives in the city and about the different types of praying techniques - different for men and women, of course!

After our visit, Dan, Abigail and I went to a BBQ restaurant based on Becca's recommendation. As Dan and I settled down for a pitcher of beer each, Abigail announced she didn't want to eat any of the food on the menu! Not the best news but life throws up these little challenges I suppose.

Abigail put her ball O.B. Here she's looking for it - don't ask me how, she's a push-shotter!

We decided to go and finish what we'd started at the Angkor Wat Putt golf place before dinner at the same BBQ place from last night. Of course, we ended up getting lost trying to find it again, like last Friday but eventually we found it after a joy ride in the back of a young lad's Tuk Tuk. He called in help from his dad to help him and I had a conversation with his dad to confirm where we wanted to go. He seemed like a nice fella, just from his voice.

The winner at work.

Dan won the golf narrowly, with me coming second and Abigail push shoting her way to third. All great fun I suppose.

It was good for $4.50!

The BBQ food this time was much better and I avoided the noodles like a cheesy pop night with free entry in fancy dress at a UK nightclub. The steak and chicken skewer with my jacket potato was pretty good, the BBQ sauce could do with a rethink.

We were all pretty tired so headed back to Chè Bou Savy. And the rest is history.

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Day 73 - Wet season . . . sure, if it's wet from sweating and night buses, AGAIN!

The magician noodle lady! Penn and Teller eat your heart out.

Day 73 - 04th September

So I bundled up a fruit salad for breakfast and headed out to meet DK at 7:45. I was greeted by an old favourite Tuk Tuk driver, Mr Barang. DK had kindly bought me a cupcake in banana leaf for breakfast. It was tasty.

Our first few sessions were done in the scorching heat. I thought it was supposed to be wet season here. We ran around sweating and trying to keep the kids entertained. They seemed to be content with the drills we put on and after 2 and half hours, and four main child rights done, we headed back for lunch.

I went to the post office to send a number of postcards to friends and family before I had to be back for afternoon lessons.

The owner of the noodle stop. A great guy!

I had a great take away noodles pot, which being just outside Bou Savy, is a convenient stop for lunch.

DK and I met Srey Mom at the same project as the morning. We had three sessions to teach. The teachers and DK wanted me to take the whole lesson, from start to finish in English. I did so, but at times I felt like I was out of my depth, the kids were just staring back at me blankly. I felt like I was on a documentary, giving an eye witness account, which was then translated into Khmer by DK and Srey Mom.

Our last group of kids, ranging from two to eight I think, were working so hard to get involved and one of the older students that I had worked with the previous week at CIC, was extremely helpful in translating and getting the kids to stay in line. A big thank you to her.

Before I knew it, I was back at The Red Piano restaurant, with Dan and Abigail. My Croque Monsieur was tasty and the Tomb Raider, bright blue cocktail went down a treat. 

We grabbed a Tuk Tuk and headed 3 kilometres to Angkor Wat Golf to meet Abigail's colleagues from her school - Don and Kate (the westerners) and Sophie and her friend (teacher's at the school). It he lure of crazy golf was strengthen when we were told every hole in one came with a free beer. I was ready!

Sadly, no holes in one. The closest I managed was three strokes or a birdie on a par 4. Thîs was a tough course. We only finished six holes because we had to run to get our night bus but it was something different on a Friday evening to what I've been used too.

We met DK back at Bou Savy and quickly loaded up onto the back of a truck like a military drill to be transported to our night bus.

We realised the company we booked with, VB, was notorious for bad service and accidents. This wasn't going to go well I felt. Low and behold, an hour in, laying in my double berth with DK and looking out the splintered window, the bus came to an abrupt halt in the middle of nowhere. We'd broken down.

The air conditioning stopped working so it was like an oven in there and after forty minutes or so, the issue was resolved.

Onwards to Phomn Penh!

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