The recce trip started on 26th Dec 2008. Sarou, a Cambodian friend introduced by Collin, picked me and Eugene up from Phnom Penh International Airport. This marks the beginning of the days in Cambodia. The city is not as developed as Singapore but its hustle and bustle is comparable. We first went to the Royal Palace which was flourished with loads of "gold". A very impressive sight as shown in the picture.
After which, we went to the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum. The site was where the Khmer Rouge tortured and interrogated all the high ranking officials and the highly educated. The information and the pictures of the people killed during the Pol Pot Regime, mixed emotions ran in me. I questioned myself, how could such merciless thing happen in Cambodia. How can someone manipulate the minds of the people and commit such acts that cause tremendous fear in the minds of the innocent. A whole generation was being wipe out and the wealth and prosperity of the country was being destroyed together. Whenever the power struggle occurs, it is always the innocent people who are affected the most.
After visiting the museum, we were then brought to meet the director of Sarou’s NGO. I was very pleased with meeting the director where he shared with us the aims and directions of the NGO. I was pleased to learn about the how much influence the monks have within the Cambodian population and also how Man is so dependent on trees for livelihood and other uses. From his words, Man has truly brought about much harm to the environment. By clearing the forest, short term gains has been achieved with the onset of long term aftermaths. The trees are crying yet for Man selfish gains, Man has chose to ignore the cries and howls of the trees. From this, I’ve seen another area of help the people of Cambodia need which has never crossed my mind at all. My impression of helping people all came from education, technology transfer and teaching of new skill. Conservation of natural resources/environment is something new and has long term benefits instead of the usual stuffs like house-building.
The next day, Eugene and I paid visit to the killing fields accompanied by Naro, another of Collin's Cambodian friend. The silence of the place send chills down my spine. This place was an execution ground for the commoners during the Khmer Rouge Regime. I paid my respects to the innocent people who died under the hands of the merciless leaders of the Khmer Rouge. In the afternoon, made trips to the Russian Market to check out on possibility of logistics purchase and went to Singapore Embassy to get their contact details. Day 2 ended with a good meal at Tsar Char(Old Market).
Day 3, the real highlight of the trip. We woke up at 5am in the morning and made our way to Sarou's village. Sarou's mum greeted up and offered us noodles for our breakfast. Next we proceeded to tour around the village. It was a Sunday so there was no school, so the children are all at home helping their family with the newly harvested rice. Then Sarou brought us to his family's rice fields where his siblings are catching mud-crabs in the dried up rice fields. This is something that Singaporeans do not get to experience. We continued walking around the village till it was lunch time where the mud-crabs which were caught was cooked in a soup. Sarou then introduced us to his father, whom is the director of the school of their village. We had a hearty chat, then Eugene and I went to tour around the school. The people living in the village are very happy with their own way of life, but Eugene and I felt that the villagers main source of income come from the rice the grow which could be susceptible to external factors such as market demands and weather. The children would rather go back to help in the rice fields than to further their studies which could better the lives of their family. This spurred the both of us and we certainly feel that to bring in a team to help them better their education will certainly give them great help which Sarou agrees totally and wish that we can come with our team as soon as possible. After which we left for Phnom Penh.
Jiahao and Elmer arrived the next day and all 4 of us proceed to Siam Reap. The following day, we visited the ancient monuments of Cambodia. An eye opener for me and i was really impressed how such a magnificent architectural site can be preserved so nicely. One solid day was spent in the Angkor regions and we went back Siam Reap for dinner and ice cold beer which was really cheap at 50 cents per glass.
We proceeded back to Phnom Penh the next day and count down for the new year. Not as happening as compared to Singapore probably due to their culture. Fireworks were fired at the harbour in front of the Royal Palace which was an awesome sight.
The next day started with Jiahao and Elmer touring Phnom Penh and Eugene and myself recceing for hospitals all over the city. Thank goodness the hospitals provided ambulance services into the villages as well which saves us alot of trouble. Eugene and I also checked out one more NGO which provided training for the people who are injured/crippled by the landmines so as to allow them to get an income for themselves. We meet with Naro for dinner and it marked the end of the recce/travel trip.
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