I had to go pick up some pictures which I got printed for a present I’m making for the orphanage and the girls wanted to come for a ride. They made poor Lhakana run along side us, even though I insisted I would take 3 on my bike… 😦

Lhakana and the coconut I bought for 30cents. I use to hate coconut water at home, but it’s heavenly here from freshly cut green coconuts, chilled to perfection. It’s also better at hydrating they say….

Caught in the act…

Eeeeeeeey baby!

This morning was a very special morning at the orphanage, we had a re-returning volunteer (something I hope to do also). This man, Frank volunteered for 2 weeks last year, he bought and constructed them a new roof for the “classroom” as well as 5 bunk beds. He has come back to help set up sponsorship for the 10/16 children who aren’t sponsored as well as get Internet and computer programs up and running with the aim of teaching the children skills like bracelet weaving, painting and sewing so they can fundraise using these things back in Australia. He’s looking for a permanent teacher to work with the kids and volunteers will still come in and help. This weekend he’s taking all the kids and teachers out for dinner. After frank went off to the markets with Borin to get food supplies, another bus of people came through… This time a team of doctors and nurses from the USA. They have been travelling around Cambodia running health checks and handing out free toothbrushes, tooth paste and instructions as well as any other health and hygiene requirements like vitamins needed. They were so lovely to talk to and so impressed by what we were doing. One of them actually sponsors one of the girls from this orphanage and so he came to visit her, see how she was going and took her for an excursion to Siem Reap for the day (this is a huge deal for the kids). Frank bought the kids this flag.

My absolute favourite thing to do here is to ride my bike early in the mornings down to the markets to purchase fresh fruit or bread for the following mornings. I usually go alone as I’m the only one with a bike, but sometimes the kids meet me half way and double (or triple) on the back of my bike. It’s a sight in itself. Here in Pursat, most people’s days start at 5:30 (my host mum starts sewing at 6- after Zumba) and all the children start school at 7, and the temperature is just right for market trawling, so the market is filled to the bring with every man and his dog (literally) and motorbikes and bicycles with large baskets strapped to their backs filling them with spices, vegetables and fruits needed for the following days meals. The freshest of quality (the fish are literally still squirming) and though the smell is something else, the food you pick up here is to die for.

As I’ve learnt, this girl is in fact my neighbour. If it were possible, I would smuggle her into my backpack and bring her home she’s just that adorable. I gave her my flower crown today, and this is her equally as cute brother, both of which love recording themselves try to speak English on my iPad, send them through to Jay (unknowingly) and then play them on repeat back to themselves.

The kids handed us these “lollies” and said “Cher EAT”… It was the spiciest and strangest sweet I’ve ever eaten, even the kids were coughing from the spice (and Cambodia’s love their chilli!)