We have travelled 483 kilometres so about half-way of the
1,000 kilometre event. Ray, Tania and Veasna are well and still
coping very well with the conditions. About half of the distance
from Siem Reap to Sisophon (about 104 kilometres) was on roads
in the process of being constructed so there was tons of dust,
heavy equipment and the odd water truck that gave everyone
an unexpected shower!!!! All of the cyclists wear masks and
glasses so most of their faces are protected. Nevertheless
they could probably start a vegetable patch with all the dust
and dirt they collect along the way.
The scenery was similar to previous days - houses of wood
and thatch - close to the road, generally with a pond in front
for the ducks and water for the vegetable plots - chickens
and dogs meandering around and plenty of activity with kids
playing or coming/going to school - women sweeping and stalls
all along the way selling produce, petrol and whatever.
On our last evening in Siem Reap we were asked to share a
meal with Prum Bun Thai and his family in their home on the
outskirts of Siem Reap. They have an area of land, a very modest
home (two rooms and an outside kitchen) and have planted lots
of fruit trees and vegetables. The four children, Bun Thai
and his wife and two grandparents have settled into this new
life after spending most of their lives in Phnom Penh.
Bun Thai was a great help to us in Siem Reap helping to arrange
meetings and other work including mobilising the media. Ten
cyclists from Siem Reap joined us with a support vehicle. All
of these riders were amputees, mainly lower limb. It was quite
a sight seeing the group cycling out of the town, with waves
from the people in the street and the TV man following in the
back of the ute. Rick, of course, who is making our video is
on the job all of the time. Rick himself is an amputee so is
able to understand the feelings of other amputees.
We were due to stop for the night between Siem Reap and Sisophon
but the team decided to do the distance in one day!!!! as I
mentioned about 104 kms. Wow - certainly determined fit people.
We visited one of the projects being implemented by Handicap
International (Belgium) and met a sixteen year old lass who
was a polio victim. Having lost her father, killed by a rocket,
and a mother who died from cancer she is now living with a
married sister and two children. She had to leave school but
now with assistance from the HI project she has resumed school
through help with a bicycle and school materials. But she has
rather a busy life!!! When she gets home from school she chops
the wood, does the washing and cooking and looks after the
children and then does her homework by candle light or a small
oil burner. Her sister and her husband are day labourers, as
they do not own any land. This is seasonal work and at the
best of times their combined incomes are between 5,000 - 8,000
riels a day - in US$ 1½ to 2 dollars. The whole family
live in one room which is open at one end. Rather a hard life
but the young lass was a very determined young lady and wanted
to attend school (about three kilometres away).
We are continuing to stay in modest guest houses or hotels
(with the odd cockroach or two) but most are quite comfortable
and some even have TV (though all have cold water only and
it is rather cool in the mornings for a cold dip but after
an initial gasp it is quite bracing - at least you tell yourself
so!!!!!).
At Sisophon we took some time finding accommodation as the
hotel recommended to us had kareoke and available massage so
we decided to seek somewhere a little quieter without the additional
services. All par of the experience - and we have had quite
a few!!!
At Sisophon we were joined by a different group of cyclists,
again amputees and we travelled the 62 kms to Battambang in
rather quick time, despite some dusty sections. Then these
same cyclists had a three hour wheelchair basketball session
!!!!! And what a performance they gave us. It was quite exciting
as many of the team members were women. It is not common for
women to be involved in sports in Cambodia so it was quite
a sight to see them strongly competing with their male counterparts.
This AM we went to a village with staff from an organisation
called Operations Enfants de Battambang. A very impressive
organisation that works in some of the most poverty stricken
areas in Cambodia. We visited two homes and talked with the
families and children and once again met some remarkable kids
- one young lad who was born without hands and one lower leg
but wow was he determined - did everything for himself. Again
the resilience of these people continues to amaze us all.More
about these particular folk later.
Now off to have an evening meal. We are consuming a lot of
fried rice and vegetables and the odd beer or two at the end
of the day - to wash the dust away!!!!!!!
We are having good times and people are very impressed with
Ray, Tania and Veasna for what they are doing.
