we want to meet you guys. Hartford is near and dear to our hearts. What's going on with the spring meeting.?

I'm responding to my own message...Yikes! You know we're on Asia time still....That being said...Our time with Ponheary was one of the best experiences of our traveling (all time). Just want to make that clear.

"Cambodia less as a vacation and more as an experience"

That is well said. I had a guide only to Angkor, but before the trip I read both First They Killed My Father and
The Stones Cry Out. And how could I not remember the movie Killing Fields.

Khmer Rouge is such recent history that it hardly is history yet. And even when they do not exist any more the signs are everywhere. I stopped counting how many land mine victim orchestras I saw. But that is Cambodia, it is more than a holiday, it touches you, and everything that touches and provokes thoughts is good for you.

Present day Cambodia does not make one sad. They are building schools and medical centers, and look positively into future.

Very good point about the Khmer Rouge being such recent history that it isn't even history yet.

It's funny, when talking with one of my guides, a 23 year-old nice guy, I said something like "well, it looks like things are on the upswing and moving in a positive direction", and soon thereafter he said "to me, United States is heaven, and Cambodia is hell".

My other guide, a 38 year-old man, who I sensed had lived through some serious trauma, als was not so optimistic about the future. He mentioned the inability to speak freely. It does seem the government is fairly repressive; Sam Rainsy has been chased out of the country.

On a seemingly positive note though, in terms of democracy and freedom of speech, I did see an article in the New York Times a few weeks back about a bunch of peasants protesting their dire conditions. Here's the beginning of that article from the New York Times.

Haunted by Past Horrors, Cambodians Speak Out
January 30, 2006, Monday
By SETH MYDANS (International Herald Tribune); Foreign Desk
DISPLAYING FIRST 50 OF 1036 WORDS -Leaving their crops and animals behind, 800 of Cambodia's poorest people gathered the other day in the shade of a blue tarpaulin in a village south of the capital and poured out a torrent of complaints and demands. The price of fuel, the poor education system, problems with health...

And this:

http://tinyurl.com/g7xo9

My sister and I also had Ponheary as a guide when we visited Siem Reap. As I posted before, we stayed in her family's guesthouse - a two-bed room w/ cable tv, private bath, hot water, fridge w/ complimentary water - for US$15 a night. It was very clean and fun to meet her family. She did share some personal stories with us, but not to the extent that jodo talked about. When we were leaving, she asked if her driver could drive us back to Poipet over the "dancing road" and if it would be ok if she and her family joined us - they had never been there. Of course we didn't mind and it was fun to ride back to Poipet with her two nephews and neice and mother and other family members, I think there were 13 of us total, including my sister and I. (Two of the kids were school-age and it was a big deal for them...they were allowed to skip school that day :)) We got there and asked her what they were going to do - she said she wasn't sure, that they just wanted to see the border and have a look around, and would probably head home soon. (it's about a 4 1/2 hour ride...) I would whole-heartedly recommend her as a guide. If you're looking for a guide, here's her email address: [email protected]. She had also asked that I post her mobile phone number...here it is: (855) 012 910 759. Enjoy!

girl on the move

You may want to have a look at this:

pbase.com/loricarlson/plf

lori....does the foundation have official IRS certification? thanks

Wow, Lori that was fast - worked on photos today but it will be a few more days until I have pix and captions for your site - there are so many excellent ones to sort through!

Bob the 1023 form has been submitted to the IRS just last week (what a headache!) and it usually takes about 6 months for non-profit status to be awarded.

However, any donations made between the time of incorporation and the award are honored as tax-deductible by the IRS.

Craig I am anxious to see your photos...didn't anyone tell you you're supposed to take another week off when you retrun home to post your pictures and write your report? :)


Lori

Well I just went to the site of the Ponheary Ly Foundation and I am moved. My check is going out today!

Bravo Wayne!

By the way, I just traded email with Ponheary. (I feel so out of the clique on this group since everyone else has had her as a guide)

She knows Sothy, who was my guide back in 2001 & lives in the same village, just a little ways over. I am sure all the guides know each other.