day 1:
when i first arrived in Cambodia,Siem Reap international airport,i realised how small the airport is.it is just the size of one terminal in Singapore Changi airport.Siem Reap international airport is also very nicely decorated by many Buddha statues and plants.on the way to the hotel,i saw many poor people on the streets.i was able to understand how fortunate i am.the people lived in poverty and children barely have any clothes to wear.their houses are also very run down.at the bloom guest house,i was inspired by Diana's story and effort in helping the Cambodians.she gave up her well paid job in Singapore and came to Cambodia to help the poor.at the angkor modial restaurant,i truly enjoyed the wonderful performance put up by the professional dancers and musicians.i amhappy to be able to watch this cultural dance performance as i am able to get to know the traditional Cambodian dance.
day 2:
when we went to the stationary shop to buy stationaries for the children of Kandang primary,i had a hard time deciding what stationaries to buy.i heard that the school was so poor that they do not even print worksheets for the children.the children had to copy their own notes.when we arrived at the village school,i was shocked to see how small the school was.their canteen and toilet was something i have never seen before.they used black board and chalk instead of white board and marker.their classroom walls have not been painted for a long time.after school,the children went straight to the play ground to play.the playground was very run down.they were very grateful for the stationaries we distributed to them and thanked us with both their hands infront of them.when we painted the classroom,i realised how tuff painting was.
day 3:
the dragon fruits at the dragon fruit farm were very sweet.i also experienced harvesting dragon fruits.it was really not easy as the plantation was under the hot sun.i started to feel the heat the moment i stepped into the plantation.i could feel the hardship faced by the farmers when they work in the plantation,under the hot sun.after visiting the dragon fruit farm,we proceeded to Kandang primary to finish painting the school.painting was not easy as i could not control my strokes and the paint was not taking effect on the doors and windows.when we gave the students our old clothes and books,they were very happy to receive.when it was time for us to leave,we had a hard time saying goodbye.i am glad to be able to help by donating stuff to them and helping them paint their school.
day 4:
i enjoyed visiting the different temples especially angkor wat.i have heard of angkor wat,seen angkor wat on television.but today,i went there.i am very happy to be able to visit angkor wat,one of the wonders of the world.angkor wat is 900 years old and has thousands of years of history.there were many ancient carvings on the walls.those carvings represents many different things.when i climbed the 70 degree angle stairs at angkor wat,i was very nervous.i wondered if the people in the past had difficulties climbing that flight of stairs.i also wondered why the king wanted the stairs to be so steep.
day 5:
after visiting the floating village at tonle sap lake,i really felt that i am very fortunate to lead such a comfortable lifestyle.the villagers in the floating village lead a very poor life.most of them are Vietnumese.the Vietnumese are illegal immigrants.however,they can live in peace at the floating village because they were not living on the land.they started living at the floating village since the Vietnum war.when i looked into the villagers house,i could see how small the house was and how poor they were.they had very little belongings.i liked the floating basketball court best because i find it very unique.when we to artisans D'Angkor,i learnt more about the different types of handicraft Cambodia produces.the workers were very skillful in making the different craft works.
overall:
throughout this learning journey to Siem Reap Cambodia,i have learnt alot.i have learnt how fortunate i am compared to the kids in Siem Reap Cambodia,especially the kids in Kandang primary.i have also learnt to appreciate what i have.the children in the village school do not have a choice about what they want.they are happy to get anything we give them.i enjoyed this learning journey to Siem Reap Cambodia alot as it has been a great experience for me to visit a developing country and to know how fortunate i am.