Siem Reap

Our guide, Chen, took us to visit a poor area of Siem Reap where the charity New Hope Cambodia has opened a new school for 800 students and a health centre serving approx. 400 villagers.  It was a shock seeing how the villagers live and it soon dawned on me that I had no real concept of poverty until seeing these people - but they have such a wonderful spirit!

Our guide - Chen:

The poor district - the welcoming party!

New Hope Cambodia's previous school has been turned into a safe house for 5 famillies who have had to be separated from their husbands / fathers.  The children were laughing and smiling all the time!

Some of the women at the safe house: 

Saying goodbye:

Children from the new school:

My group at the new school:

Eating crickets at the school restuarant - a way of bringing money into the charity to keep the school and health centre running.  FYI - crickets are LUSH! 

..and so is duck egg: a duck featus still in the shell, boiled, and then eaten with garlic and lime juice - LUSH!

A short trip to the night market.  Only a few kilometres from the poor area and a complete contrast: