Roberta was felled by tourista overnight, not sure if it was the chicken wing at lunch or the spring rolls. She stayed in bed with the blanket over her head. I soldiered on with a more mild case. We first visited Bantay Srei, a small but magnificent temple about 45 minutes from town with most magnificent carvings that are in remarkable shape. This temple is from around 900AD. The trip through the country side was also fabulous, very lush, able to see how some of the villagers live in houses on stilts to keep the water away, many children everywhere, some schools. Education is not mandatory in Cambodia, only about 60% of the population finish the 6th grade. Learning English is a big issue. We talked a lot about the ways in which we could be helpful, perhaps another Global Volunteers site?????
Onwards after a quick rain storm to Ta Prohm. The pictures tell the tale of this wonderful temple, it's the one with the trees growing out of the top, and with roots growing down. It is gradually being restored but hopefully they will keep the trees. It gives a wonderful feel for what it may have been like when the temples were first discovered deep in the forests. The carvings here are more simple, but also in remarkable shape.
Back to the hotel for a swim, shower, packing up and a late lunch before heading for the airport. Roberta , now rehydrated, and even with lipstick on, looked and felt much better. By some miracle I was able to squeeze all our treasures into our bags(well....ok....so we have one more shopping bag to carry on than we had planned!). Goodbyes shared with the hotel staff and our local guide and driver. On arrival in Hanoi we had an enthusiastic guide for our transfer to the hotel who gave us a very succinct overview of the whole history of Hanoi! We shared a tearful goodbye with Terry & Roberta: how could this long anticipated adventure be drawing to a close? We arrived back at the Sunway Hotel(remember we dropped our bags here just last week) in a comfortable van and well dressed: our reception quite different than last week. A drink, a snack, some more organizing and we are ready for the long and tedious journey home.
I know that Phil, Roberta & Terry all have stories and memories from the last 3 weeks. For me, I will always remember the warm smiles of the Vietnamese, the crowded streets, the honking of horns, the Old Quarter(our neighborhood for 2 weeks), the sights and sounds of markets, people, produce and history all around us. The warmth, curiosity, smiles and humor of our students will not be forgotten. In Vietnam we learned about war, recovery, and forgiveness. In Cambodia the lessons of ancient civilization and the enduring art of stone work and carvings will be engraved in my memory for a lifetime.
I know this isn't a book, but still seems in order at the end of this once in a lifetime trip to say a few thank yous(trite I suppose, but sincerely appreciated), so here goes:
Global Volunteers(and especially Francoise) for laying the foundation and providing the opportunity to provide service
The medical center team at Wind Crest for their enthusiastic support during the planning stages, and for taking care of all of our patients while I was gone and for keeping the residents well informed about our progress
Terry & Roberta for being our willing partners in service and travel, for their strength of mind & character, their incredible sense of right & wrong, their willingness to go beyond the usual, and of course to Roberta for her willingness to shop anywhere, anytime
My family at home(and especially Alice) for keeping us well connected and informed of everything that was going on , and Martine for keeping the Genesee house visited and looked after
Evan & Shari our two incredible kids, who are thriving in their own lives, very independent, and made it possible for us to leave the country without any worries(well....ok....we did manage to worry a little bit)
Phil my partner in life, service, and travel, always willing to venture into new places and new ideas, always teaching as he goes
That's all for now. Pictures to follow when we get home,
Barbara
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