Kampot

Hi All,
Sorry for the delay. The web is not so reliable in Cambodia so I lost a previous post.
As some of you will know, we left the island a few days ago. The weather was not that great and the amount of garbage washing onto the beach is just mindblowing! Every day a boy cleans the beach from plasticbottles, fishing gear, lightbulbs and all the rest of it. I estimate the amount he cleans every day on a 500m stretch of beach to be at least 2 trailer loads! Every day. The owner told me the amount is 4 times as much during the monsoon as all the litter from inland washes into the sea! Unbelievable.
The trip on the way back was very full on. Huge waves and a very small boat. 3 hours of agony.
Stayed another night in Sihanoukville and moved to a town called KAMPOT. beautifull town famous for the pepper. We are staying at a french run place by the river. Great place for children and us. high set bungalows in and amongst the rice fields. Canoeing, swimming, motorbikes etc. Last night we went to see the fireflies on a boat on the river. Very nice. We also rented a motorbike and drove to KEP.
Nice place by the sea famous for craps. Guess what we had for lunch? This town used to be the san tropez of asia before the khmer rough chased the upper class and french away. (or worse) Everywehere there are blackened relics of great houses along the coast. abundant forever.
Chloe was ill for a few days but is recovering really well at this very homey place. They have rabbits, a playground, so good for they to process some of the last few weeks, which have been pretty full on for the little ones.
We will be here another 3 nights before leaving for Phnom Pehn.

Lots of love Stephan

Sihanoukville

Hi All,
ALl going well, hope you are too. Took a 14 hour bus trip from Siem Reap to Sihanoukville via Phnom Pehn. The girls and us did really well. We are heading of to an island for a day or 5 and I believe there is no internet there, so may have to wait for some more photos. www.lazybeachcambodia.com/  Really starting the appreciate the Khmer people.
In May the monsoon will start says everyone. Not sure if they mean the first or 31st of may. Time to do NOTHING.

En voor de Hollanders,
We gaan voor 5 dagen naar een eiland en daar is geloof ik geen internet dus heb geduld met het volgende bericht.

groetjes,
Stephan

Still in Siem reap

Hi All,
Not much to write as we are having a break. Went to cooking classes today with the girls while Natalie was doing a Qi gong workshop. They really loved it and we had a great meal afterwards. Still very hot here. 36 degrees and very humid.
Getting into the lifestyle here. Avoid doing anything between 11-3pm. One more day in Siem Reap. Monday we are leaving for Sihanoukville to go to an island for 5 days to do some snorkelling.

Stephan

                                                   nice job for Bob!

                                         hot and bothered!

 Tonse Lap lake where 20% of the Mekong flow gets stored during wet season and the level rises by 8m! The size is enourmous. hundreds of km long. A real bird paradise. This lake has provided everything to build the angkor temples.

                                            awesome food!

Balance

Finding the balance of life here.  Living more a normal everyday life after all our tourist adventures.  We eat out once a day and really enjoy our meals, Khmer, Cambodian food is not as spicy as thai but lots of flavour, lime, coconut, lemongrass, tumeric.  We are finding more the local markets , spent time in a great second hand bookshop and stocked the children up with a few books before we head to an island on monday for Stephans dream holiday.  Hammocks, snorkelling, simple life in a grass hut by the beach.  I will be holding a DVD viewing and Qigong workshop this evening and tomorrow at My Home tropical garden villa where we are presently staying.


We are doing alot of bike riding and are learning to go with the flow and weave our way in the very busy traffic.  Tomorrow when I am holding the workshop  Stephan, Chloe and Lotus are going to a khmer(Cambodian) cooking class.

that is us for now

What is truly beneficial?

Yestaday we went to the famous Ankor wat and many other temples, very beautiful and inspiring atmosphere.  We probably enjoyed the Bayon temple the most which was combination of  Hindu and Bhuddism.  The whole temple complex was set in the jungle and some of the temples overgrown with trees.  Monkeys running around alot of musicians who have lost limbs due to landmines or war were selling cds and I had a deep respect for their respect for themselves rather than begging.


Life is getting a little more real, the poverty I must say has been a challenge today.  When we first arrived somehow we felt quite positive, relaxed and we could send positive uplifting "chi" or thoughts  for those of you who are not into chi and it felt like a positive exchange.   Today we went to a floating market which ended up basically becoming a governtment  cash cow  of taking tourists to buy overpriced rice to feed the orphans in a vietmanese refuge school in cambodia.  It was a strange feeling of not wanting to do nothing but at the same time knowing this was not the best way of "helping".  I feel clear about not giving to beggars as this only reinforces this negative view of themselves.  It is hard to deny however that money is an important resource for everybody.  It is just being clear where your money is going, it is just another form energy that can be either beneficial or non beneficial depending on how you use it.

Alot is about awareness, for ourselves as well. Time is also needed to find out how things work here and how to make good choices so things benefit both ways.  This was we knew going to face us at some point and both Stephan and I are looking at ways we can truly benefit the people we come across.  Alot is about acceptance of where Cambodia is at at this point in time as well and to see the good in it as everything has a positive side as well.

This has become of course a real eye opener for the children.  Chloe is at the moment wanting to go straight to a rich clean country but I think is becomming to understand what it really means to live in the west.

So that life for us at the moment, still enjoying the rich and magical journey of life

Natalie

Cambodia siem reap

Second day in Cambodia.
Hot, hot and hotter. even the pool is boiling! The kids enjoyed the pool a lot.
Lotus bought a mini Riksha for her sylvanians. Went to a lovely butterfly cafe in town and had some lunch. The girls really enjoy the lovely fruit juices here. Got a bike from the hotel and had a drive through town. Sweat all over. Lotus had a ride on the back with dad.

Much Love from all of us.

Landed in Cambodia

Hi All,Had a great time in KL. We went to Sunwaylagoon. A enormous complex with wildwaterslides, funparks, zoo etc. and off course a HUGE mall. The place around 1 hour out of town, so came home really late and totally tired. Last day took it easy, went to a new hotel close to the airport. Plane left at 6:50am so early rise.
Arrived in Siem Reap Cambodia this morning.
Beautiful town with lots of French people. Very hot again, but lucky we ahve a hotel with pool for the rest of the week. Cambodia is a pleasant suprise to me. People are really great. Girls had there first Tuck tuck ride and are hooked now.
Ok must cahnge rooms. Will send bit more later.

Love to you all.

First day in KL

Hi All,
Phew, day one almost over! Thanks to Sam to picking up the car. What a trip it has been. Plane delayed by 1.5hours. arrived at 2am in KL. 28 degrees. (6am NZtime) Kids did really well. Michel from riverside and family where also on the plane. ad a few hours sleep and guess what? The first day did the following things; Butterfly park, chinatown, several shopping malls, swimming pool and what have you. Need some rest tonight. Airco going all the time, 35 degrees in the day! Adjusting well. Malaysians are great people, very helpfull and relaxed. I would like to see more of the country later in life. Girls are adjusting well. Have lots of juices, fruit and are very adventurous regarding eating.
Going to sunway lagoon tomorrow. Swimming pool and adventure park.

Ok must go my eyes are closing up.

Easter 2012 Nelson Lakes NP

Hi All,

Looking forward to leaving NZ. We had a bit of a farewell weekend with the neighbours. Wnet tramping at Nelson Lakes NP. The girls and us had a great time. They are such great friends and will miss eachother.

Hi All, This is going to be the Blogspot for our journey. The journey of Natalie, Chloe, Lotus and Stephan. We are leaving NZ on the 12th of April.  Samuel is so kind to take our car of us. We will be flying Airasia to Kuala lumpur where we intend to stay for 4 days. On the 16th of APril we are going to Cambodia. (Siem Reap)