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 ...

Sunday, 16 January 2011

What the Taxi Driver Told Us

We often like to ask taxi-drivers for tips on the best sights in their city.  A buzzing market perhaps, or a district that really hums.  But that's not what the taxi driver who drove us from Phnom Penh airport to our hotel had in mind when we sought his advice.

His name is Kim San, and he is about the same age as my older sister.  I calculated this because of what he breezily told us as we drove through the streets of Phnom Penh.  He himself had had a sister, and a brother too, but they both died of starvation during the regime under Pol Pot.  His father was executed.  His grandmother was forced to work in the rice-fields.  So he eagerly recommended that we pop along to the Museum of Genocide -- he'd take us there, tomorrow perhaps? -- and then follow it up with an afternoon outing to the Killing Fields.  We'd be able to see the tree where thousands of children's little lives had been smashed, watched by their parents as they awaited their turn.

A Killing Field
That evening, as we strolled along the river bank to our beer and our dinner, the smiles and laughter of the Cambodian people crowding around us proved to be the first mystery of this mystical country.  We suspect it will not be the last.

John
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3 comments:

  1. mum16 January 2011 at 16:30

    john that was staggering in it's impact. Don't quite know what to say.....your words silence me.

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  2. Nicola17 January 2011 at 12:08

    Dear John and Henry,
    Just grabbing a moment to catch up with your news and whereabouts. Really enjoyed looking through the photos that you've put on - truly stunning.
    Well, it seems like a whole new adventure has started, quite a contrast to where you were before but no less inspiring.
    Hope you are keeping well and enjoying the travels.
    I'd avoid asking taxi drivers too much if it was me . . . always had an instinctive mistrust of them (perhaps unfairly), probably a female thing!
    Stay safe, keep well, and look forward to reading more soon.
    Lots of love, Nicky, Peter and boys.
    P.S. Peter is out with some work colleagues showing them the sights and delights of Ramsgate this evening . . I'll leave any comments to you! xxxx

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  3. Unknown20 January 2011 at 06:04

    speechless - puts our own worries and concerns into sharp contrast. Hope you are having a wonderful time. Keep safe and healthy - lots of Love - the Wiltshire rabble

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