Siem Reap

This is a different world in Cambodia. Home to about 100,000 Siem Reap caters to almost a 1.5 million tourists so infrastructure is going up fast with hotels larger than any I've seen back home. This is also home to a ridiculous number of street children all vulnerable to drug addictions, sexual and physical abuse, and health risks. I met Leigh (Australian) who has put together the Future Cambodia Fund with other concerned global citizens. She is doing an amazing difference in so many lives in Siem Reap and I look forward to learning more from Leigh and her work.

The Tonle Sap Lake Testing
The lake is one of the largest fresh water lakes in the world and with the monsoon season, the lake swells up form 2500km2 to 12,000km2 (480% increase because of the Mekong River reversing its flow) offering some of the coolest biodiversity. I was out there for an afternoon, testing the water at the clinic, on the shoreline, and out in the lake. Results were somewhat shocking since the floating village of 6,000 use the water to bath, clean dishes, use as sewage disposal, and drink from. The health clinic is priority since Future Cambodia is setting up a day clinic for children on Feb.2nd with a Canadian group of EMS workers (The amazing DMGF). There are so many basic needs that are not met so I'm grateful for the good work being done.

Street Kids
The tourists that come through Siem Reap are hear to see the incredible Angkor temple - one of the most impressive mysticals of the world and the largest temple in the world. It is hard to watch their ignorance and how the children are seen as just objects of poverty - all children are beautiful human beings and should be acknowledged, at the least. There will be a health clinic held for the street kids on Jan.28 and I'm looking into extending my ticket to stay an extra day or two to help out. Once again, Future Cambodia Fund is working in this project. This is the kind of experience that will place my heart with the Cambodian people and because there is so much to do here, it will be hard to ignore once I return home.