The Story So Far ...

We said farewell to our work friends at the RSPCA and BBC on 14 September, farewell to our families on 3 October, and set off for Africa to save cheetahs, decorate school buildings, and look around a bit. After a trip home for Christmas, we headed for South East Asia on 6 January -- where we were stunned by Qatar and Cambodia, taught novice monks in Laos, and acted as security guards at an Elephant Festival. It was back home for four weeks to look after John's dad, before we tangoed our way through five South American countries in fifteen days. We then snooped our way through New Zealand, dipped our toes into Fiji, drove-thru California and were home from home with family in Vancouver.

Now, we are home itself. Fulfilled, happy, and ready to earn the respect of our friends and family by knuckling down and earning some money once again ...

Wednesday, 26 January 2011

Cambodia, Inside & Out

Mr Vey, our Tuc Tuc driver, not going far

The moment I said it, I wished I had not.

She was the most timid of hotel staff, meekly submitting the bill as we prepared to leave Cambodia.  Her English was poor, her features flat.  But she had asked me where we were going to next, and I wanted to encourage her English by keeping the conversation going.

"We - go - to - Laos", I smiled, anticipating our 50 minute flight to the neighbouring country.  "You have been there?"

The sadness of her smile was all the answer she needed to give.  Cambodian hotel staff don't go abroad.  I'm not sure many of them leave their city.  Just as the tuc tuc driver who'd served us loyally for three days never stepped into our hotel lobby when he picked us up.  I doubt he'd ever dared cross such an air-conditioned threshold in his life.

In South East Asia, as in Africa it seems, there are those who go, and those who stay; those who serve, and those who are served.

John

No comments:

Post a Comment