Hi all,

Well once again we have had a very interesting and busy week. On Friday we went to the wedding of one of the teachers at the Blind School. Thankfully we hired a bus to take everyone. The original plan was for us to go on the back of a moto with some of the other teachers. The road was unbelievable. I have never seen such dust and can imagine what state we would have been in by the time we got there. The dust clung to everything - the trees, the roadside vegetation, the ever hopeful stall owners, the thatched houses with no doors or windows, the children walking home from school through the fields, the motos with live pigs strapped (legs flaying) to the back of them, were all equally coated in a layer of thick, red dirt. The village was 50 km from Siem Reap and because of the road conditions, it took us nearly 2 hours each way! Very interesting though to see some of the countryside. It is very, very dry at the moment and the rice paddies were bare dust bowls. What water there was, was polluted with green slime. People were carrying water long distances by hand using the traditional yolk across the shoulders. The villagers looked very poor, but despite this, there were many houses under construction using pretty crude "bush" construction methods. There were about 500 people at the wedding and the food was really delicious. The bride looked stunning in her traditional dress. The guests were all dressed beautifully. Much pride is taken in looking their best. One of the teachers hand made her outfit which was stitched with thousands of sequins. She made this during her "spare"time at school. We felt very honoured to be included.

Last night we went to a Beatocello concert at the Cambodian Children's Hospital. This is a weekly cello recital by Dr Beat Richner. Dr Richner is from Switzerland and has been in Cambodia for 50 years. He is the Director of 3 large private hospitals in Cambodia and is the most amazing man. A real entrepreneur! Every year he raises $17 million dollars through private donations to keep the hospitals running. At one of these recitals recently a man donated $1 million - such is his powers of persuasion! Between each musical piece, he informs the audience about the health system in Cambodia and it's decimation since 1975. Beginning with the Kissinger/Nixon invasion, which gave rise to the Khmer Rouge and the civil war. In 1975 there were 600 trained doctors in Cambodia. After Pol Pot, only 50 doctors survived. One of the major health problems in Cambodia is TB which spread rapidly in the poor sanitary conditions in the refugee camps. 65% of the population are now infected. There is no immunisation that can be given against TB, which lowers the immune system of the children who are then subject to other serious illnesses such as dengue fever, menangitus and encephalitis. There is currently an epidemic of dengue fever in Cambodia. The cure for this is to be hospitalised and given oxygen, followed by a series of 12 blood transfusions. The only problem is that 17% of the population are infected with HIV and Hep B. Therefore there is an urgent need for blood. Hence one of the reasons for the concerts is to raise awareness and encourage tourists to give, not just money, but much needed blood donations. Without this organisation (Kantha Bopha Coundation) 75,000 children a year would die. These 3 private hospitals are the only free health services in Cambodia and the only corruption free services. To gain access to the public hospitals or drugs, you must pay as the service is full of corruption. If you do not have money, you do not receive a service. 95% of the Cambodian population have no money to pay for health care. Dr Richter, is an inspiring man who is obviously passionate about his work and the driving force behind the Kantha Bopha Foundation. After the performance he looked tired and spent.

Today I went shopping with Chorda, a Cambodian friend from Interweave who we are working through. We went to a large market where there are no tourists to buy some silk. Unfortunately Chorda had her purse stolen with US$400 in it. This was money that she had collected the night before from the hotels where she delivers meat each evening. It is a small fortune here and will take her many, many months to pay back to her boss. As well as this she lost her identity card that allows her to bank the money she collects each day. Without this she cannot do her job. It will take her 3 months to replace the card, so she will have no income until she can fix this problem. Life is certainly not easy here!

Tomorrow we start another week. Two new volunteers have arrived and will take over our program when we leave. Good to know that there will be some continuity after we have gone.

As usual our week has been full of highs and lows and continues to amaze and challenge us.

Hope that you are all well. Thinking of you all................

Love and best wishes.....................Barry & Rhon xxxxxxxxxxxxxx