Destination: Phnom Penh – Accommodations: Sun and Moon Urban Hotel
This morning after breakfast we flew to Phnom Penh in Cambodia. The flight was very nice and when we arrived in Cambodia, we presented our visas and everything went smoothly. Are said that because he’s from Thailand and the border dispute is going on with Cambodia, he said he might be detained. But all worked out fine and we were on our way to meet our new local guide.
Cambodia is a nation of about 16.2 million people in a country about the size of Missouri. Khmer is the official language, but English and French are also spoken. The capital of Cambodia is Phnom Penh.
Our first stop when we arrived was to visit the Champey Academy of Arts (CAA). Champey Academy is a small art school where disadvantaged students can learn traditional dancing, music, drawing and painting for free. The mission at the CAA, is to provide a safe space for disadvantaged young people where they are introduced to their nation’s rich arts culture while helping them to experience the pride, self confidence and poise which come from mastering difficult skills.
The children gave a dance performance as well as a musical performance and then they invited us to join them to learn to dance including the intricate hand movements. They dressed us in traditional garb and it was a lot of fun. We also saw the kids doing some beautiful paintings and sketching. It’s an amazing program and visiting the school is exclusive to O.A.T. travelers, as few American tour companies go there.
After visiting with the kids, we had a short orientation walk and then we went off for a delicious Cambodian dinner. After the dinner we rode Rimoks back to the hotel which was an experience! The drivers are insane and no one knows who has the right of way. It’s a free for all and we came close to smashing into other vehicles numerous times.
Tomorrow will be a very poignant day so we need a good night’s rest.
At the Champey academy
The boys doing the monkey performance
Girl painting at the academy
Buddhist hotel across from the academy
Man selling birds for 1 dollar a piece. You are supposed to free them after you purchase them and it is supposed to bring health and luck. (Our guide said however, the birds are trained to fly back to the cage so no birds are really freed.)
Mekong river
Vender selling grasshoppers, worms, and fish. They also sell eggs with the embryo inside… Feathers and all. Our guide said they are excellent with a little salt. I didn’t have time to take a photo but I could see the chick hatching out of the shell. I think I’ll pass.
Dinner.
Riding in the Rimok.