Thursday, June 15, 2006
This trip to Cambodia was both a meaningful and most memorable trip as compared to those I have been to. Not only did we see the good side of Cambodia, but also the bad side. We met at the airport on Friday's late afternoon and boarded the plane at around 6.45p.m. Reach Cambodia at around evening (I forgot the time). We were welcomed by a weird smell from the hotel when we check-in that night. Put down out stuff and went for late dinner. It was almost 12a.m, when we finished out dinner.
Woke up early next morning, we had a long day ahead of us. First we went to Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA), for commissioning of library books. Then to COSI and Tuan Oh Primary School to tour the school, presentation of books and view the water filter installed by TP's student. After lunch, some went to Healthcare center for Children, Villageworks Songkhem Shoppe or Canaan Technical School. I went for the Canaan Technical School. That's a brieft summary of the second day. When we first arrived at RUFA, we were shocked to see some small and run down buildings were actually a University! We toured around and had chance to interact with some of the students there. Aren't we fortunate to have good schools with good things for us to use? Then came the next shock of the Primary School, everything was run-down and simple. Though I always see those sights in Television, but seeing them in real life gave me a whole new different feeling. Singaporeans are so fortunate.
Day 3, a relaxing day; cause it's shopping day! Went to Russian market and did most of our shopping there. Jesher is the bargain king of GCC; he bargain and bargain and bargain! I bought a lot of things there. Spend half a day there and went over for comissioning of CTS' library and Villageworks Songkhem Shoppe's library in the afternoon. After the last commisioning was done at the Villageworks Songkhem Shoppe, we went to Tuol Sleng Museum: known as the Museum of Genocidal Crimes. It was used by the Khmer Rouge as a detention and torture center in the late 1970. Today the building houses exhibits, paintings and photographs of many of the victims. Visitors can see the crude cells built in the classrooms and the torture devices used to extract confessions in Stalinesque purges of the regime. It was a disturbing place to go to. The worse place I have been to; what make it worse is the pictures of the victims that was being held there. I saw a picture of a woman carrying a baby; there was tears in her eyes. I asked one of the local there, she said once people go in, they will never come out. Both Gerald and me felt it was disturbing just looking at the victims' photographs. I took so video, but had to overwrite them; it was way too much. You won't want to know how they are tortured and killed; worse then what was done during Japanese Invasion in Singapore. Visit there if you are not easily scared of faint hearted. I took quite a long time to get over it. It's hard to accept that such things have happened or is happening. Some of us are happily enjoying life, where others are suffering.
Additional information on Tuol Sleng Museum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuol_Sleng_Museum
Day 4, we took a three hours long bus ride to Barray for commisioning of the mobile Library there. Met a lot of VIPs there; eye opening. I was already feeling sick on Day 4's morning. Ate medicine and went on for the trip. Journey there was alright, it was the coming back that's killing me. Took the front seat as Alvin wanted me to do some filming. The children in Barray was very cute and innocent. Saw some naked babies tool they are just too poor to even have shoes on. My fever came back in the evening; I didn't want to join the rest for Dinner. Told Jonah to tell Alvin that I'm not going for dinner and news spread. Many came to my room to see how I was; but I was too sick to do anything; I only remembered a lot came to my room. Howe Luen and April even stayed to look after me and didn't join the rest for dinner. Thanks guys, thanks to all who came to my room and for the prayers and concern!
Day 5, I was well enough to fly. Off I went home.
Those few days in Cambodia, not that good life but I tasted life in a whole new way. Saw many beggers, some without legs, with arms, children, mother with young children and one whose face is totally disfigured. Wanted to give them money, but how many can I help in this way? Once I start giving, a lot will come asking from me! My heart hurts when I see them and when I turn them down when they asked for money. Deep inside me, I was wondering where do they live, what do they eat and how do they carry on with life? There I was sleeping in a air conditioned hotel and still complained that the air con wasn't cold enough and water pressure was too small. Life is good for us man.. All I can do now is to pray for you guys. I look forward to going there again, or any other places. This time, I make sure I have enough water, vitamins and rest.
Woke up early next morning, we had a long day ahead of us. First we went to Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA), for commissioning of library books. Then to COSI and Tuan Oh Primary School to tour the school, presentation of books and view the water filter installed by TP's student. After lunch, some went to Healthcare center for Children, Villageworks Songkhem Shoppe or Canaan Technical School. I went for the Canaan Technical School. That's a brieft summary of the second day. When we first arrived at RUFA, we were shocked to see some small and run down buildings were actually a University! We toured around and had chance to interact with some of the students there. Aren't we fortunate to have good schools with good things for us to use? Then came the next shock of the Primary School, everything was run-down and simple. Though I always see those sights in Television, but seeing them in real life gave me a whole new different feeling. Singaporeans are so fortunate.
Day 3, a relaxing day; cause it's shopping day! Went to Russian market and did most of our shopping there. Jesher is the bargain king of GCC; he bargain and bargain and bargain! I bought a lot of things there. Spend half a day there and went over for comissioning of CTS' library and Villageworks Songkhem Shoppe's library in the afternoon. After the last commisioning was done at the Villageworks Songkhem Shoppe, we went to Tuol Sleng Museum: known as the Museum of Genocidal Crimes. It was used by the Khmer Rouge as a detention and torture center in the late 1970. Today the building houses exhibits, paintings and photographs of many of the victims. Visitors can see the crude cells built in the classrooms and the torture devices used to extract confessions in Stalinesque purges of the regime. It was a disturbing place to go to. The worse place I have been to; what make it worse is the pictures of the victims that was being held there. I saw a picture of a woman carrying a baby; there was tears in her eyes. I asked one of the local there, she said once people go in, they will never come out. Both Gerald and me felt it was disturbing just looking at the victims' photographs. I took so video, but had to overwrite them; it was way too much. You won't want to know how they are tortured and killed; worse then what was done during Japanese Invasion in Singapore. Visit there if you are not easily scared of faint hearted. I took quite a long time to get over it. It's hard to accept that such things have happened or is happening. Some of us are happily enjoying life, where others are suffering.
Additional information on Tuol Sleng Museum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuol_Sleng_Museum
Day 4, we took a three hours long bus ride to Barray for commisioning of the mobile Library there. Met a lot of VIPs there; eye opening. I was already feeling sick on Day 4's morning. Ate medicine and went on for the trip. Journey there was alright, it was the coming back that's killing me. Took the front seat as Alvin wanted me to do some filming. The children in Barray was very cute and innocent. Saw some naked babies tool they are just too poor to even have shoes on. My fever came back in the evening; I didn't want to join the rest for Dinner. Told Jonah to tell Alvin that I'm not going for dinner and news spread. Many came to my room to see how I was; but I was too sick to do anything; I only remembered a lot came to my room. Howe Luen and April even stayed to look after me and didn't join the rest for dinner. Thanks guys, thanks to all who came to my room and for the prayers and concern!
Day 5, I was well enough to fly. Off I went home.
Those few days in Cambodia, not that good life but I tasted life in a whole new way. Saw many beggers, some without legs, with arms, children, mother with young children and one whose face is totally disfigured. Wanted to give them money, but how many can I help in this way? Once I start giving, a lot will come asking from me! My heart hurts when I see them and when I turn them down when they asked for money. Deep inside me, I was wondering where do they live, what do they eat and how do they carry on with life? There I was sleeping in a air conditioned hotel and still complained that the air con wasn't cold enough and water pressure was too small. Life is good for us man.. All I can do now is to pray for you guys. I look forward to going there again, or any other places. This time, I make sure I have enough water, vitamins and rest.
# . Grace Eleora Loo : 6/15/2006 02:26:00 PM
