Elephants &Circus. Best Cambodia day

Undoubtedly my best day in Cambodia 🇰🇭 !
Cambodia was not in the original plan, until I saw the chance to visit an elephant sanctuary and walk with them. I am so glad I came.
The disappointment of not going to an elephant sanctuary yesterday was soon forgotten , once I arrived at the alternative sanctuary ,arranged by the fabulous staff at my accommodation
I had an interesting conversation with the driver who grew up in the paddy fields area , he asked his mum, if he could go to school and was told no...he is one of 9 .he remembers the rice being ruined and not having food.
He has learnt his very good English from tourists
When I asked about health care ,he said its ok for rich people and the doctors expect payment for information. He hasn't got the money and the doctors made him wait 2days for his health information. He had a motorbike accident and would have faced amputation but for a French surgeon.
Education is free or private. The driver says state education isn't enough, morning only but if you can pay ,you can go to extra lessons
There is obvious poverty. The driver works in the region of 12 to 15hrs a day , as do others from what I'm seeing with the staff at the accommodation, particularly the tuk tuk drivers.The driver earns 8 dollars a day (£6.27) for his contract with the company I went with. He has to live away from home and rent a room ,because its too far to commute on top of his working hours ...an interesting but sobering chat..
He.wasnt whinging just answered my questions and volunteered some of the information.He was lovely
The driving here is fairly sane and sensible compared to some countries and its overall cleaner than I'd anticipated.
The standard of English outstrips the Japanese! by miles..funny one that ,as I'd naively have thought it would be more of an issue here than in Japan. Not had to use Google translate once here
They ,like Morroco and Bangkok carry anything and everything on scooters , tonight I saw a lady getting the dog! To sit in.front of her on the scooter. The dog looked neither comfortable or safe
The driver remembers him and siblings being on a push bike with his mum
The elephant sanctuary experience was incredible..to be able to feed them and walk with them even tho 3km in 30degrees heat and ultimately touch and observe them was fantastic. These elephants are rescued from the tourist industry where they were used for rides, including up a steep local hill.
The elephants had right of way on our walk and we had to stand back ....not least as sand or water spray by the elephants would come our way if got too close..
This evening I have been what the staff here call a circus ,It was an incredible show, without words but an artist painted the story throughout the one hour show ..the performers were talented acrobats ...but they told the story of the genocide here and the impact and flashbacks people had ...and how art and music and acting are helping people to overcome the trauma of that time...it was like nothing Iv ever experienced, no words spoken but so well done was hugely moving and made me cry ..I'd no idea what to expect but it wasn't that ...it was phenomenonal. I was able to hv a photo with the performers and told them how good it was.
Today I have spoken with people from Tahiti and Taiwan ..Cambodia seems to attract a wider tourist population than your standard yanks and aussies ! Also Brits here from Brighton and London. One of whom thought i had a Manchester accent ...which I took issue with ,until he said i sound like someone from Hale ,where he'd worked for few years ...let him off at that point
There's so many pics from today! I had great experiences in Japan,but I prefer the Cambodia vibe .Read more