Cambodia like a picture book

We arrived in Cambodia and when I looked out the window of the plane to Phnom Penh it was looking like into a picture book of an unknown world; a feeling of what is this going to be? Can the plane please turn around?
But this was real and happening.
The first experience was with Customs, where the visa cost us $20. My passport went past a row of custom officers and I never got my change back from the $50 I gave to the first one! I paid for both of us,so I lost only $10. Later that day I heard that this happens a lot to tourists coming in. So be aware..
The last two days have been a roller coaster of emotions: from amazing to sad, fear of the unknown, gratitude to be here, anything you can feel stepping into this country.
We had two amazing days so far and visited many places with help of our English speaking driver Sok, a genuinly lovely and helpful man. We visited the palace and national museum, but also the killings fields.
I will write more about this later, have to go now, we are leaving for Wat Opot in an hour and I have to pack my bag!
hope to write later and show some photographs.

on our way to cambodia

Just one day to go and then Fiona and me are on our way to Cambodia.

We leave on monday 13th July with Singapore Airlines and stay one night in Singapore,nice hotel and a little sightseeing and then on our way to Phnom Penh,Cambodia.

We will stay two days in Phnom Penh and with help from Sok,our guide,try to find some suppliers for beads and some outlets were hopefully we can sell some of the jewellery made by the children of Wat Opot.

Then we travel to Wat Opot on the 16th of July and meet up with Jena and her daughter,now staying in Wat Opot. Jena took already 15kg of gifts and supplies with her to Wat Opot.

I have packed my backpack and bags,more medication then clothes,but what I don't need I will leave behind for the children.

Our adventure can begin and we feel supported by all the prayers and good thoughts travelling with us on this journey.

Looking up at the mountain.

A while ago I found my little travelling book from 10 years ago. The family did a bit of tramping then and I took it with me to write down my thoughts on the way and do little sketches of the surroundings.

I still do this now and fill little notebooks with writing and sketches when I am travelling and will do again when going to Cambodia in two weeks time. I already bought a lovely little book with a blank page on the left side and a lined page on the right side when opening the book.

The last few weeks so many more little blessings have happened and lovely friends have donated money towards my trip to Cambodia.

Two old friends Jo and Jean gave me both a generous amount tucked in lovely cards with their good wishes,so unexpected. I feel really blessed by their friendship.

When I was reading my thoughts of ten years ago written at the foot of glorious Mount Cook I like to share these thoughts,because again they will follow me as a prayer to Cambodia.

Mount Cook 24.5.1999

It is a sunny and warm morning and I look at the mountains.

Not everyone of the family is happy this morning,the night was not as comfortable as we had hoped for.

But the mountains look glorious and the river runs deep through the valley of peace.

Would it not be wonderful to just have peace and harmony in our life and not be afraid of the storms,because we can stand still and strong as the mountain.

Our daily struggle and anger will just pass as clouds drifting away from the mountain top and we accept and live the passage of time given to us.

We are here only once! This time will never come again.