...one dollar country...

...siemreap/cambodia :: 11 aug 2007 - 14 aug 2007...

the most overused words in siem reap is one dollar! every kid there knows how to say one dollar! even in the most remote of all places, the worst of the kind place to stay at the edge of tonle sap lake where edision’s failed to position his most famous creation knows how to say one dollar.

armed with my 400d and a telephoto lens, i was sitting at the edge of the boat tucked quietly at a corner and position my leg as my tripod and took pictures of life in tonle sap. i was given the impression that tonle sap lake is much similar with floating market in bangkok where the floating minimarts and hawker food are much available right to the side of your boat. yes indeed it was. it was indeed unsimilar. kids were seen hopping from one boat to another shouting one dollar and holding up a can of coke. i was still into my telephoto lens and dlsr composition that i felt so guilty for not parting with my prize one dollar from my possession. i got a glimpse of sunset at tonle sap.

the following day we went and visit angkor wat. entrance fee was usd20 for a one-day pass. not too sure which is which, angkor wat to angkor thom to bayorn to all sorts of temple ruins in angkor wat. gotta check the book for the correct names.

the 65m climb of 75 degree up the sky was horrifying. my fear of heights suddenly become apparent. but the view up there is simply magnificent. i was so intrigued by the beauty from the top that i totally lost count of time and thought everyone has left for the bus. i hurriedly rushed to the bus only to find it empty. thus, i walked back to angkor wat. this short stint of hide and seek made me panic and i spent the next half hour wandering around the temple looking for the group. but still managed some nice composition. kids were also seen hovering all over angkor wat with their famous one dollar. and what other better times then having to pay one dollar for 2 cans of coke chilled in ice for hours!

at bayorn where we saw the famous face and inside the temple ruins itself was the remains of what tomb raiders has to offer the world. while my mind was wandering on the magnificence of the roots and the total darkness in between the ruins, suddenly i saw this old woman handing me 3 joss sticks. she was staring right at me with the joss sticks that i had to take this picture of her. and i think this was the best shot.

at night my legs were shouting and screaming. i was twisting and turning in bed. my head was wandering about the one dollar kid who sold me 25 bracelet. and the kid who came to my rescue with 2 cans of coke for a dollar. just at the right time.

the next day was the highlight of the entire trip; an enlightening visit to 2 homes. one orphanage and another home for the street kids. both homes are run by some australians. at the first home, which was more well off with many supports from many people as it is situated downtown. met a kid with heart problem who just did a bypass and another dwarf little boy whose shoes have strings that replaces the ankle guard. some of the kids cried when we left the home and it was an indeed touching moment. the kids are just so beautiful.

the other home for the street kids was less fortunate but they seems so much happier. due to the location of the home which is way way out of reach and the bus is notable to access due to low hanging cables, we had to walk for about 1km on the orangy soiled road with mud and soft soils. this home called the green gecko, this home is for the kids who are not orphan but with parents who are not fit to raise these kids. we were told that kids in australia do not want to go to school but in cambodia, everyone wants to go to school. yes, indeed every kid in cambodia wants to go to school. our donation drive back home for these homes really paid off well where we raised more than rm10k.

later was the visit to the silk farm. nothing much to see there anyway. just like any other ordinary silk farm.

the day ended with tired feet and tones of memories of the orphanage home. the face of the down syndrome kid who showed me a hifi still lingers in my memory until today. simple ordinary life of the cambodian. torn apart by the war, cambodia has a special place in my heart – the one dollar country. next time i am back in cambodia, i will be well equipped with one dollar instead of my cf card!