Today is Sunday 22 March 2015. We had an interesting night. We were entertained by local music, we think, most of the night. I'm not 100% sure, but everytime I woke up, I heard the same tune. It became a little torturous after a while. In saying that, I had a decent sleep and awoke feeling reasonably refreshed and ready for another adventure in the provinces. My roomie reminded me of her presence and sent a noisy but confident message packing her suitcase for the day. We had breakfast at 6.45am. Some of our team mates were suffering a little, with various ailments: snuffly noses, headaches and bloated stomachs. The joy of being in a different environment and eating new and interesting food.
Two of our team decided to have protein shakes in mango juice. We all salivated whilst eating our plain omelets and bread.
I am the chief "looker-afterer" of the money, so dutifully paid in a timely fashion.
Heidi made a comment at breakfast that for the next trip she was going to designate a team member to perform certain tasks during the trip. For example, the team will have a designated "blog coordinator" who will look after the entire blog including pictures etc, for the entire trip. Sounds good to me. Personally, I would prefer to have a specific role.
I decided to wear my "boomerang" hat today. I have left it in a few places during the trip and it always seems to find it's way back to me.
We left the hotel at approximately 7.30am and arrived at the Kuy Village at 10.30am. The journey consisted of a van, boat, and iron cow ride. Let me tell you more about the journey to the village. The van ride was uneventful, with expert drivers, Korn and Rodney negotiating the traffic with ease. When we arrived for the boat ride, that was another story. Apparently the boat from last year was not available so Hi (our lovely translator) negotiated another boat when we arrived at the docks. Getting onto the boat was a challenge. We had to carry our clinic supplies down a reasonably steep descent to get onto a long boat. Jack (another of our translators) informed me that the boat is called a "bala boat". The supplies were loaded onto the bala boat and we seated ourselves on the floor. We traversed the "Kampongchnang River".
Jack explained to me about the Kamponchnang river flooding during the wet season. I would estimate that the level of the river rises about 5 metres. There are many houseboats on the river. I also noticed many buildings below the 5 metre mark. Rodney (our trip coordinator and great friend to the team) explained that the buildings that are constructed below the 5 metre level, can be dismantled during the floods and reconstructed when the water level recedes. It seems that every bit of available space is useful to the Cambodian people.
Just before we left the docks, Caz and Heidi navigated the markets to find fruit and bread. They were unsuccessful in finding any fruit, but managed to procure some bread rolls for lunch.
As we cruised down the river, I reflected on my journey thus far. From my perspective, the Cambodian people are very entrepreneurial. Every where we travel there are many stalls set up on the side of the road with many different goods for sale. I was also amazed when I arrived at the way in which power distribution is managed. Running through the cities are power poles with hundreds of strands of power cables. I have been told that people who live nearby to the power pole will tap into it in order to get power for their business/home. Unfortunately, a lot of the villages in the provinces do not have mains power and manage with battery power that is recharged using generators. Rodney informed me that the battery power is used for lights, fan and sometimes a TV. More on that later.
During our river trip, we passed a cruise boat called the "RV Amaloths" (I think - my notes are a bit scrawly). Alongside this cruise boat was a similar boat to the one we were in. I noticed that the passengers were all wearing life vests. Uh oh!!! Who needs life vests.
I also noticed that alongside the river are many floating lilly-type plants. Sok Eng explained that the flowers of these plants can be eaten and the roots can be made into Khmer Sour Soup.
There were also sticks sticking up out of the water near the river bank. Sok Eng explained what this was. Apparently, this is a fishing technique. This is complicated but I'll do my best to explain it. The sticks are placed in a circle in the river with fish feed and cow skins placed at the centre in a cage-like structure made of branches where in the fish can enter. When it is time to retrieve the fish, a net is laid around the sticks and three or four labourers will get into the centre and remove the cage-like structure. They will place the branches next to the sticks to use to catch fish next time. One of the labourers will stay in the boat and the man at the centre of the sticks (in the river) will put mud on the net to keep the net on the bottom of the river and to keep it closed. The other men who have taken out the cage-like structure come onto the boat with one in the middle and two on the ends of the boat. The men on the ends will hold the net high so that fish cannot escape. The man in the middle will slowly pull out the net using a twisting technique so that fish cannot escape as the net is being pulled in. The man in the water will continue to hold it closed at the bottom. They continue this process until the bottom edge has been pulled out and the fish are contained within the net and can't escape. The fish are then scooped into another boat. The fish are caught using this process every 3-4 months. A new structure is put into place next to where the old structure was, then returned to the original place in 3-4 months time.
We also passed fishermen with little boxed shaped pots. Sok Eng explained that these were mainly used for catching river prawns.
When we arrived at the destination, Hi negotiated for a van and an Iron Cow. How about that!! The Iron Cow is like a miniature tractor at the front with long metal arms for manoeuvring. This contraption then tows a wooden kart. The clinic supplies were put into the van and most of the team climbed onto the kart and went for a long ride to the village. I estimate it took us just under an hour in travelling time. During the kart ride, we past the mountain called "Korngrey" mountain. In English this is called The Woman. Hi provided us with the sad legend associated with the naming of this mountain.
Also, during the ride, we past many village houses. These were mostly on stilts and made with a variety of materials, such as, dried palm leaves, wood, corrugated iron, bricks and concrete.
When we arrived at Village Kuy, we set about unloading and organising the clinic, We felt very privileged that the clinic was being held in the church/orphanage. I was curious about the local housing so asked Rodney a few questions. Rodney informed us that kids, parents, and grandparents, all sleep on the floor on a mat. He told us about the batteries and said that there were no refrigerators. The women use charcoal wood for cooking and will visit the market daily to purchase fresh goods for their families.
Interestingly, he also made the comment that he came to the village only 3 years ago and on the way he saw local people harvesting by hand using bullocks and karts. He said it was like looking back in time.
I have also dubbed myself one of the "dispenser crew". Whilst the nurses are doing their 'nursey' thing, the dispenser crew will make sure that there are enough medications and supplies ready for use. Today, we focused on Vitamin C and cutting up medicated soap used for scabies. We were able to cut up 2 boxes of soap which will be enough for over 500 people. Pretty good going!
During one of my breaks, I headed over to Caz and Gabby's table. Caz had just informed me of a sad story. She described a young girl who was attending the clinic by herself. Another grandmother (who was looking after her own three grandchildren) was looking out for her. This young girl was living with her great grandmother, who was too frail to come to the clinic. Through the interpreter it was explained that the young girl was caring for her great grandmother, and that the father went to Thailand 15 years before and never returned, and the Mother went to work in the fields at night and one night never came home. The grandmother attending the clinic was cooking for the young girl and her great grandmother. Medicine was dispensed for the young girl and her great grandmother. The Grandmother who attended the clinic gave Caz, Gabby, and Satya a blessing. This was a very humbling and emotional experience for Caz and Gabby.
To help reduce the tension associated with such an emotional story, Caz and Gabby took one of the soccer balls outside and played with the kids for about 20 minutes. Sok Eng and Rachel joined the fun.
The village treated us with a delicious lunch. We had rice, chicken, fried vegetables, mango salad, fried fish (treyroh) and beef (saichkor). For dessert we had longans and coconut milk (yummy!!).
Just after lunch, the team brought out some clothing and bags of goodies for the kids. The bags contained toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, washer, and coloured pencils. The bags were made by the Tully Ladies Craft Group. A big thank you to the Tully Ladies. A gift well received. About 20 children stood in line patiently waiting for clothing. These were made by Deb Hudson's Mum. A big thank you to Deb's Mum.
The team left a few things for the village. These included soaps, toothbrushes, toothpaste, washers, tiger balm, 6 soccer balls, pencils and coloured pencils, bubbles, 2 sets of badminton, and donated clothes.
We left the village at 1.50pm and arrived back at the hotel at 3.45pm.
Many of the clinic crew mosied on down to the 2500 riel shop and markets for some retail therapy. The 2500 riel shop is the Cambodian version of Crazy Clarks, Reject Shop and Pound Land (for the Poms) all rolled up into one. I received a gift of a cerated knife in order to continue with my soap cutting duties during the clinics.
It has come to the end of another day. As Kathy so aptly said at dinner tonight, "I feel humbled by this experience".
Choum reap ea (Goodbye),
Liz Buikstra
Two of our team decided to have protein shakes in mango juice. We all salivated whilst eating our plain omelets and bread.
I am the chief "looker-afterer" of the money, so dutifully paid in a timely fashion.
Heidi made a comment at breakfast that for the next trip she was going to designate a team member to perform certain tasks during the trip. For example, the team will have a designated "blog coordinator" who will look after the entire blog including pictures etc, for the entire trip. Sounds good to me. Personally, I would prefer to have a specific role.
I decided to wear my "boomerang" hat today. I have left it in a few places during the trip and it always seems to find it's way back to me.
We left the hotel at approximately 7.30am and arrived at the Kuy Village at 10.30am. The journey consisted of a van, boat, and iron cow ride. Let me tell you more about the journey to the village. The van ride was uneventful, with expert drivers, Korn and Rodney negotiating the traffic with ease. When we arrived for the boat ride, that was another story. Apparently the boat from last year was not available so Hi (our lovely translator) negotiated another boat when we arrived at the docks. Getting onto the boat was a challenge. We had to carry our clinic supplies down a reasonably steep descent to get onto a long boat. Jack (another of our translators) informed me that the boat is called a "bala boat". The supplies were loaded onto the bala boat and we seated ourselves on the floor. We traversed the "Kampongchnang River".
Jack explained to me about the Kamponchnang river flooding during the wet season. I would estimate that the level of the river rises about 5 metres. There are many houseboats on the river. I also noticed many buildings below the 5 metre mark. Rodney (our trip coordinator and great friend to the team) explained that the buildings that are constructed below the 5 metre level, can be dismantled during the floods and reconstructed when the water level recedes. It seems that every bit of available space is useful to the Cambodian people.
Just before we left the docks, Caz and Heidi navigated the markets to find fruit and bread. They were unsuccessful in finding any fruit, but managed to procure some bread rolls for lunch.
As we cruised down the river, I reflected on my journey thus far. From my perspective, the Cambodian people are very entrepreneurial. Every where we travel there are many stalls set up on the side of the road with many different goods for sale. I was also amazed when I arrived at the way in which power distribution is managed. Running through the cities are power poles with hundreds of strands of power cables. I have been told that people who live nearby to the power pole will tap into it in order to get power for their business/home. Unfortunately, a lot of the villages in the provinces do not have mains power and manage with battery power that is recharged using generators. Rodney informed me that the battery power is used for lights, fan and sometimes a TV. More on that later.
During our river trip, we passed a cruise boat called the "RV Amaloths" (I think - my notes are a bit scrawly). Alongside this cruise boat was a similar boat to the one we were in. I noticed that the passengers were all wearing life vests. Uh oh!!! Who needs life vests.
I also noticed that alongside the river are many floating lilly-type plants. Sok Eng explained that the flowers of these plants can be eaten and the roots can be made into Khmer Sour Soup.
There were also sticks sticking up out of the water near the river bank. Sok Eng explained what this was. Apparently, this is a fishing technique. This is complicated but I'll do my best to explain it. The sticks are placed in a circle in the river with fish feed and cow skins placed at the centre in a cage-like structure made of branches where in the fish can enter. When it is time to retrieve the fish, a net is laid around the sticks and three or four labourers will get into the centre and remove the cage-like structure. They will place the branches next to the sticks to use to catch fish next time. One of the labourers will stay in the boat and the man at the centre of the sticks (in the river) will put mud on the net to keep the net on the bottom of the river and to keep it closed. The other men who have taken out the cage-like structure come onto the boat with one in the middle and two on the ends of the boat. The men on the ends will hold the net high so that fish cannot escape. The man in the middle will slowly pull out the net using a twisting technique so that fish cannot escape as the net is being pulled in. The man in the water will continue to hold it closed at the bottom. They continue this process until the bottom edge has been pulled out and the fish are contained within the net and can't escape. The fish are then scooped into another boat. The fish are caught using this process every 3-4 months. A new structure is put into place next to where the old structure was, then returned to the original place in 3-4 months time.
We also passed fishermen with little boxed shaped pots. Sok Eng explained that these were mainly used for catching river prawns.
When we arrived at the destination, Hi negotiated for a van and an Iron Cow. How about that!! The Iron Cow is like a miniature tractor at the front with long metal arms for manoeuvring. This contraption then tows a wooden kart. The clinic supplies were put into the van and most of the team climbed onto the kart and went for a long ride to the village. I estimate it took us just under an hour in travelling time. During the kart ride, we past the mountain called "Korngrey" mountain. In English this is called The Woman. Hi provided us with the sad legend associated with the naming of this mountain.
Also, during the ride, we past many village houses. These were mostly on stilts and made with a variety of materials, such as, dried palm leaves, wood, corrugated iron, bricks and concrete.
When we arrived at Village Kuy, we set about unloading and organising the clinic, We felt very privileged that the clinic was being held in the church/orphanage. I was curious about the local housing so asked Rodney a few questions. Rodney informed us that kids, parents, and grandparents, all sleep on the floor on a mat. He told us about the batteries and said that there were no refrigerators. The women use charcoal wood for cooking and will visit the market daily to purchase fresh goods for their families.
Interestingly, he also made the comment that he came to the village only 3 years ago and on the way he saw local people harvesting by hand using bullocks and karts. He said it was like looking back in time.
I have also dubbed myself one of the "dispenser crew". Whilst the nurses are doing their 'nursey' thing, the dispenser crew will make sure that there are enough medications and supplies ready for use. Today, we focused on Vitamin C and cutting up medicated soap used for scabies. We were able to cut up 2 boxes of soap which will be enough for over 500 people. Pretty good going!
During one of my breaks, I headed over to Caz and Gabby's table. Caz had just informed me of a sad story. She described a young girl who was attending the clinic by herself. Another grandmother (who was looking after her own three grandchildren) was looking out for her. This young girl was living with her great grandmother, who was too frail to come to the clinic. Through the interpreter it was explained that the young girl was caring for her great grandmother, and that the father went to Thailand 15 years before and never returned, and the Mother went to work in the fields at night and one night never came home. The grandmother attending the clinic was cooking for the young girl and her great grandmother. Medicine was dispensed for the young girl and her great grandmother. The Grandmother who attended the clinic gave Caz, Gabby, and Satya a blessing. This was a very humbling and emotional experience for Caz and Gabby.
To help reduce the tension associated with such an emotional story, Caz and Gabby took one of the soccer balls outside and played with the kids for about 20 minutes. Sok Eng and Rachel joined the fun.
The village treated us with a delicious lunch. We had rice, chicken, fried vegetables, mango salad, fried fish (treyroh) and beef (saichkor). For dessert we had longans and coconut milk (yummy!!).
Just after lunch, the team brought out some clothing and bags of goodies for the kids. The bags contained toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, washer, and coloured pencils. The bags were made by the Tully Ladies Craft Group. A big thank you to the Tully Ladies. A gift well received. About 20 children stood in line patiently waiting for clothing. These were made by Deb Hudson's Mum. A big thank you to Deb's Mum.
The team left a few things for the village. These included soaps, toothbrushes, toothpaste, washers, tiger balm, 6 soccer balls, pencils and coloured pencils, bubbles, 2 sets of badminton, and donated clothes.
We left the village at 1.50pm and arrived back at the hotel at 3.45pm.
Many of the clinic crew mosied on down to the 2500 riel shop and markets for some retail therapy. The 2500 riel shop is the Cambodian version of Crazy Clarks, Reject Shop and Pound Land (for the Poms) all rolled up into one. I received a gift of a cerated knife in order to continue with my soap cutting duties during the clinics.
It has come to the end of another day. As Kathy so aptly said at dinner tonight, "I feel humbled by this experience".
Choum reap ea (Goodbye),
Liz Buikstra