Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Monday, 15 August 2011
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
My award for............
risk taking, hard work and compassion goes to all of you on the 2011 Cambodia trip.
It was wonderful to see you appreciate Cambodia's rich history and culture and enjoy climbing up through the temples and over the enormous roots of the ancient trees - pretending to be tomb raiders. It was good to see you cook, eat crickets, plant bamboo trees and put together a small house for some very happy families.
I know you were all stunned by the hardships and horrors endured by the Cambodian people in more recent times and will not forget Janne's story about the 4 year old girl looking after the babies!
My fondest memories will be of you, giving so generously to the children we met in the orphanages and schools. You gave pens, pencils & toothbrushes but more importantly you gave your time!
As for my colleagues, the best & the fittest or is it fettest? :)
Looking forward to re-union next year, hope you all have a safe and happy holiday
Ms JCat
It was wonderful to see you appreciate Cambodia's rich history and culture and enjoy climbing up through the temples and over the enormous roots of the ancient trees - pretending to be tomb raiders. It was good to see you cook, eat crickets, plant bamboo trees and put together a small house for some very happy families.
I know you were all stunned by the hardships and horrors endured by the Cambodian people in more recent times and will not forget Janne's story about the 4 year old girl looking after the babies!
My fondest memories will be of you, giving so generously to the children we met in the orphanages and schools. You gave pens, pencils & toothbrushes but more importantly you gave your time!
As for my colleagues, the best & the fittest or is it fettest? :)
Looking forward to re-union next year, hope you all have a safe and happy holiday
Ms JCat
Friday, 10 June 2011
Some final words.....
Dear All,
Imparting our time, energy, efforts and care to help those not so fortunate in circumstances as ourselves will be remembered by the peoples in Cambodia for many years to come. I think and hope a little bit of Cambodia will remain with you all and I'm not just referring to the red soil that is entrenched to the soles of your boots!
As always leave only footprints and take memories!
Best Wishes
Mr Rowat
Imparting our time, energy, efforts and care to help those not so fortunate in circumstances as ourselves will be remembered by the peoples in Cambodia for many years to come. I think and hope a little bit of Cambodia will remain with you all and I'm not just referring to the red soil that is entrenched to the soles of your boots!
As always leave only footprints and take memories!
Best Wishes
Mr Rowat
Thanks!
What an awesome 6 days spent in Cambodia with an equally awesome bunch of people! Being my first time, I was looking forward to seeing and experiencing all the wonderful things I had heard about the county and it's people. From my perspective as a teacher I couldn't have asked for a better group of young adults to do that with, and of course a couple of older adults too. However, I am a little upset about the number of untruths that have been written about me in previous blogs because that is not how I remember things happening.........
Anyways, thanks to each and every one of you students for a great time, you and the trip is something I will remember with many fond memories and laughter in the future.
Of course thanks also to Ms. J-to-the-C-to-the-A-to-the-T for being an awesome camp mother and Mr.Rowat for the endless water supply, accurate account keeping and hilarious after dinner games.
I look forward to seeing you all after the summer break. Safe travels.
Mr. T.
Anyways, thanks to each and every one of you students for a great time, you and the trip is something I will remember with many fond memories and laughter in the future.
Of course thanks also to Ms. J-to-the-C-to-the-A-to-the-T for being an awesome camp mother and Mr.Rowat for the endless water supply, accurate account keeping and hilarious after dinner games.
I look forward to seeing you all after the summer break. Safe travels.
Mr. T.
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Day 7 Visit to the Killing Fields
The last day of our trip in Cambodia has been the bomb (although we shouldn't say that out loud since we're currently in an airport). We ventured to the Cheoung Ek Killing Fields at 8:30 in the morning, where our tour guide took us around the mass graves. It was harrowing to experience the fear that many Cambodians were burdened with during the Khmer Rouge Regime and the rest of their lives. We visited the Memorial Stupa which contained 17 tiers of 8,985 excavated human remains, including skulls, bones and clothing. Many of us lit an incense stick and purchased flowers to lay at the altars in respect to the victims. We also visited the museum in which we saw the tools of torture as well as frightful photographs of the time.
On a brighter note, we then visited the not-so-Russian Russian market which was like every other market we visited. We all practiced our haggling skills at the market and bought many gifts for our beloved parents, friends and peers.
Now, we will move on to the 2011 Cambodia Trip Awards Ceremony...
Lamest joke of all time award goes to Mr. Rowat.
When Saaz almost fell... "Sizzle almost sazzled!"
Most pointless purchases award goes to Brandon Hough for purchasing 10 pairs of FAKE Raybans in a plethora of colors.
Most money spent and heaviest suitcase award goes to Ms. J-Cat for having a suitcase that weighs 27 kilograms and supporting the entire Cambodian economy by spending a whole lot of money.
Best air-drumming award goes to Artem Zinin who managed to air-drum and entertain everyone everywhere.
Worst bed-mate and grumpiest morning person ever award goes to Yael Illouz who managed to hog the entire bed and almost pushing Hannah off.
Biggest poser award goes to Mr. Tauroa who managed to stop the flow of traffic on the stairs leading down from the temple at Angkor Wat just to strike a pose for the adoring cameras and fans below.
Best planker/lying-down game award goes to Carolyn Reid who almost broke a sacred pillar through her skillful attempt.
Best dinner game award is tied, going to Ms. Catalano's "Which animal and vegetable looks like which teacher" game and Mr. Rowats exhilarating "spoon or fork, a what?" game.
Most unsynchronized dance-ercisers award goes to Lucy Fentiman and Hannah Vince who couldn't stay in time with the Chinese techno and the 90 year old women. (Best, most synchronized dancers go to Leah, Jojo and Yael)
Actually, best dance-erciser in the dance-ercize arena award goes to Smoking Hot Daniel who even in a cowboy hat is still smoking hot and incredibly talented at dance-ercising.
Award for best trip suggestion and the creator of what would become our most fun, rewarding and memorable day was Ms. Mak, who recommended we visit the Temple Cooking School, PACDOC Orphanage and the Volunteer Development Children's Association.
Johanna Martendal gets a special, important award for suggesting a donation by our group to the VDCA English School through the purchase of a student-made painting which we will proudly display at OFS.
Most irresponsible award and best nickname award (credits goes to Jojo!) goes to Saaz "Sizzle" Sahgal who although has two green cards, almost lost both on two different occasions as well as his passport, his temple pass for $20US (which he lost once and almost once again if not for Brandon) and who was late twice in one day (every day)
Best looking in a Bandarf goes to the stunning, Hannah Vince (a.k.a Crystal Chandelier) who never fails to look her best, even when asleep with it covering her face.
Most food ordered and most orders ignored award goes to Daryl Lum, who although was very hungry all the time never seemed to acknowledged by the restaurant staff.
Most money spent on a hotel-phone bill goes to Artem Zinin who managed to spend a whopping $160US in four days on calls to his significant other.
Best 20-questions question goes to Leah Bank who inspired us all and sparked such gripping conversations with her question, "What's your favorite African animal?"
Best celebrity crush award goes to Mr. Rowat who intends to marry "the Hoff"
Cutest person EVER award goes to Ran Young WHO IS SO CUTE! and is an awesome roommate.
Most scared of bugs award goes to Scotty who flailed like a little girl when any form of bug (or anything resembling a bug e.g. leaves, air...) came into close proximity to him.
Most dedicated photographer award goes to Mayank who stunned us all with spell bounding angles and fascinating techniques.
Best meal provider award goes to the Pacific Hotel in Phnom Penh which we recommend to one and all as the meat is truly questionable.
Best Plane outfit award goes to Kimberley and Annapurna who have stunning sponge-bob boxers.
Most unconstructive on a construction site award goes to Brandon, Daryl and Hannah who burst a pipe and broke a bed in an orphanage.
Best posture award goes to Abbie whose shoulders were pulled back the entire trip.
Best pool playing award goes to Tal whose extraordinary skills left us speechless.
Best input as bloggers award goes to Laura and Sacha whose help did not go unnoticed in the blog last night.
Best smile award goes to Moekyo who smiled the whole trip.
... What happens in Cambodia stays in Cambodia ;)
Blog written by the best Cambodian trip group OFS has ever known and will know for many years to come. See you next year and till we meet again. Enjoy!
On a brighter note, we then visited the not-so-Russian Russian market which was like every other market we visited. We all practiced our haggling skills at the market and bought many gifts for our beloved parents, friends and peers.
Now, we will move on to the 2011 Cambodia Trip Awards Ceremony...
Lamest joke of all time award goes to Mr. Rowat.
When Saaz almost fell... "Sizzle almost sazzled!"
Most pointless purchases award goes to Brandon Hough for purchasing 10 pairs of FAKE Raybans in a plethora of colors.
Most money spent and heaviest suitcase award goes to Ms. J-Cat for having a suitcase that weighs 27 kilograms and supporting the entire Cambodian economy by spending a whole lot of money.
Best air-drumming award goes to Artem Zinin who managed to air-drum and entertain everyone everywhere.
Worst bed-mate and grumpiest morning person ever award goes to Yael Illouz who managed to hog the entire bed and almost pushing Hannah off.
Biggest poser award goes to Mr. Tauroa who managed to stop the flow of traffic on the stairs leading down from the temple at Angkor Wat just to strike a pose for the adoring cameras and fans below.
Best planker/lying-down game award goes to Carolyn Reid who almost broke a sacred pillar through her skillful attempt.
Best dinner game award is tied, going to Ms. Catalano's "Which animal and vegetable looks like which teacher" game and Mr. Rowats exhilarating "spoon or fork, a what?" game.
Most unsynchronized dance-ercisers award goes to Lucy Fentiman and Hannah Vince who couldn't stay in time with the Chinese techno and the 90 year old women. (Best, most synchronized dancers go to Leah, Jojo and Yael)
Actually, best dance-erciser in the dance-ercize arena award goes to Smoking Hot Daniel who even in a cowboy hat is still smoking hot and incredibly talented at dance-ercising.
Award for best trip suggestion and the creator of what would become our most fun, rewarding and memorable day was Ms. Mak, who recommended we visit the Temple Cooking School, PACDOC Orphanage and the Volunteer Development Children's Association.
Johanna Martendal gets a special, important award for suggesting a donation by our group to the VDCA English School through the purchase of a student-made painting which we will proudly display at OFS.
Most irresponsible award and best nickname award (credits goes to Jojo!) goes to Saaz "Sizzle" Sahgal who although has two green cards, almost lost both on two different occasions as well as his passport, his temple pass for $20US (which he lost once and almost once again if not for Brandon) and who was late twice in one day (every day)
Best looking in a Bandarf goes to the stunning, Hannah Vince (a.k.a Crystal Chandelier) who never fails to look her best, even when asleep with it covering her face.
Most food ordered and most orders ignored award goes to Daryl Lum, who although was very hungry all the time never seemed to acknowledged by the restaurant staff.
Most money spent on a hotel-phone bill goes to Artem Zinin who managed to spend a whopping $160US in four days on calls to his significant other.
Best 20-questions question goes to Leah Bank who inspired us all and sparked such gripping conversations with her question, "What's your favorite African animal?"
Best celebrity crush award goes to Mr. Rowat who intends to marry "the Hoff"
Cutest person EVER award goes to Ran Young WHO IS SO CUTE! and is an awesome roommate.
Most scared of bugs award goes to Scotty who flailed like a little girl when any form of bug (or anything resembling a bug e.g. leaves, air...) came into close proximity to him.
Most dedicated photographer award goes to Mayank who stunned us all with spell bounding angles and fascinating techniques.
Best meal provider award goes to the Pacific Hotel in Phnom Penh which we recommend to one and all as the meat is truly questionable.
Best Plane outfit award goes to Kimberley and Annapurna who have stunning sponge-bob boxers.
Most unconstructive on a construction site award goes to Brandon, Daryl and Hannah who burst a pipe and broke a bed in an orphanage.
Best posture award goes to Abbie whose shoulders were pulled back the entire trip.
Best pool playing award goes to Tal whose extraordinary skills left us speechless.
Best input as bloggers award goes to Laura and Sacha whose help did not go unnoticed in the blog last night.
Best smile award goes to Moekyo who smiled the whole trip.
... What happens in Cambodia stays in Cambodia ;)
Blog written by the best Cambodian trip group OFS has ever known and will know for many years to come. See you next year and till we meet again. Enjoy!
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Day 6: Building the houses(Tabitha)
Day 6 was the busiest and most rewarding day in Cambodia. Our main objective for this trip was to build the houses for the tabitha foundation. We succeeded with no major casualties. We drove vans 45 minutes south of Phnom penh. When we reached the village, we saw the families and houses in poor condition. In total we completed six houses. Although it was hard work, we enjoyed being there to see the villagers who were so excited to have us and to have their new houses. Everyone worked very well together and we got the houses done in record timing. However, we did have lots of help from villagers especially hammering the nails. Even the children pitched in. Our lunch was interesting, there were no knives, no ham, no lettuce thanks to your responsible children and last night bloggers. In the end, there was tuna, cheese, chips and vegemite, a delightful combination.
We each gave the blankets to the chosen families and they were very happy. Since we finished early, we got to visit an extra local market where we participated in some old ladies jazzercise routine to funky chinese techno. Lucy and Hannah seemed to have co ordination problems but the rest of us stole the show. For the dinner, we went to FCC and the food was amazing. While we were having dinner, we saw the over sized lizard on the wall. All in all a very good day !
We each gave the blankets to the chosen families and they were very happy. Since we finished early, we got to visit an extra local market where we participated in some old ladies jazzercise routine to funky chinese techno. Lucy and Hannah seemed to have co ordination problems but the rest of us stole the show. For the dinner, we went to FCC and the food was amazing. While we were having dinner, we saw the over sized lizard on the wall. All in all a very good day !
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)