Still blogging! (15/11/10)

Well, it’s been a week now and I’m still here! Arrived last Saturday after a couple of days mooching round a very quiet Kuala Lumpur. Divali (the Hindu festival of lights) had come to an end the night before so it felt like Christmas Day walking around the city with most shops shut and very few people around.

I spent most of the day looking up as Kuala Lumpur boasts some of the tallest buildings in the world. Somehow, though, I managed to get lost walking to the famous twin towers which are head and shoulders above the rest. Not sure how it happened. I had them in my sights but wandered off at a tangent and an hour later, found myself almost 2 kilometres away. Thankfully one of the few taxis operating came by just as I realised my mistake so weary-footed but relieved, I jumped in and got there in minutes. A lesson therein no doubt!

In comparison to the majestic shiny calm of Kuala Lumpur, Phnom Penh was like entering dusty psychedelic mayhem with the streets as chaotic as ever and noise, colour and activity all around. Arriving at the Care for Cambodia (CFC) orphanage for tea was a welcome relief after the sensory overload of that first journey. SO good to see the kids again and catch up over sticky rice and soup. Some of the older ones have moved out to places in the city so there were some faces missing. Some new ones though with 5 children having arrived in the past few months.

Since then I’ve visited some of the older ones living and working in Cafe Eden – a cafe and craft project near the city centre – and have hung out mainly with Srey Rohm who runs the craft side of things. Have also caught up with friends from the World Horizons (WH) team and written up a couple of stories for a book WH is putting together to celebrate its 30^th birthday in 2012. One of them is about the couple, Michael and Elizabeth, who I stayed with for a while last time and the other is Srey Rohm’s story. Both very inspiring to listen to and write up. Will post some excerpts soon.

Living-wise I’ve been staying in the team office which is also a small flat. It’s been OK though I’ve missed immediate company having been on a social whirl for the past few months in the UK! Originally I was meant to be staying at Cafe Eden for my first few months but that’s not worked out for various reasons. So for now the office is just a temporary arrangement and am looking out for something more permenant.

Anyway, am excited about tomorrow as am joining a  group from a church in Swansea who support a family living in Phnom Penh who are involved in projects throughout the country. I’ll be travelling with them over the next 10 days as the official carer for Meri who’s in a wheelchair. I’ve known Meri for 20 years and she's a good friend so I’m looking forward to spending time with her and going up north to Siem Reap to see what’s happening up there.

So that’s it for now. I’ll write again after my travels. Hoping to start language studies next month and crack on with more stories. Will look into teaching opportunities too but that’s likely to come off earlier next year when I’ve settled in a bit more. And then there’s finding a new place to live so please pray! Thanks :-)

So til then, bye for now and God bless,

love Fiona XX