and the beat goes on

It's been a while since I've posted and much has changed wrt experiences and geographical location of your's truly... so I'll start from the top.

January 30th
hmmmm... too far back and I can't remember. Carly left this day. I don't think I did much else than chill out, help Leigh doing various things... Oh ya, I was booked into the "family" room at Earthwalkers for this night and the next and so it was a HUGE room with 1 kingsize bed and 2 singles, a tv + cable, and 2 bathrooms! heehee I was supposed to be in a dorm room, but I would have been in there alone with a sketchy indian dude and I didn't feel comfortable, so I upgraded! Leigh crashed there with me both nights and I watched 3 Wil Smith flicks as well as Beavis & Butthead Do America. Fun.

January 31st
I chilled out most of the day, called my 'rents, read my book, checked out of Cambodia for a few hours upon entering this crazy sterile cafe called The Blue Pumpkin for some delicious quiche and devine iced coffee. Truly didn't feel like I was in a 3rd world country: sterile white decor, comfy white couch lining an entire length of a wall, if I had a laptop I would have had access to free wireless net... weird, but it had AC and so I was happy.

Something terrible happened this night though... a middle-aged aussie dude named Peter was found in a park: head bashed in, robbed, and left unconscious to die. He was brought to the provincial hospital where he received mediocre "care", had been unconscious still when Leigh got the call and we both rushed over, 16 hours after he was brought in. Peter had been living in Cambodia for 10 years, had no contact with his family back home, and when he didn't show up for work this morning Tony and Muriel (the aussies who owned the plumbing outfit) had cause to worry. The polic filed no report, and the embassy wasn't going to do anything for him until Rahul (of DMGF) applied some pressure... Rahul pretty much made everything happen as far as getting this man proper care, but let me tell you, it was an intense evening. I had never seen a human being more badly beaten than this dude was, it made me sick to my stomach to know that no one cared about him just cuz he was broke. It made me think about how I would have been treated had it have been me found in that park... scary. Apparently the next night another "barang" (foreigner) was found in the same way, except it was a woman. The moral? Don't walk around alone at night in Siem Reap or any place really... Peter was shipped to Bangkok where it was discovered he likely won't make it afterall. His head injuries were too severe and he developped infection in his lungs since he wasn't properly treated as soon as he was brought in. If he lives, he'll live the rest of his life as vegetable. My condolences to all who cared for him.

We went out for beers and pizza down on Bar Street and hung out with the street kids. They are always loads of fun and excitement. I'm really gonna miss that...

February 1st
I moved my circus to a different location: The Green Bamboo. This is where Leigh lives and I got to stay for free! That's always nice. No cable though, just good conversation, met some good people and made some great contacts.

Febryary 2nd
same same

February 3rd
This day was FULL ON. The day started at 8am when we headed down to the childre's hospital for DMGF's 2nd anual unloading of the 40 ft. truck of medical and miscelaneous donations! It was weird being a part of this since I had only days earlier watched the documentary from the year before. It was good fun, again I met many awesome people doing various awesome things for Siem Reap and the surrounding villages. Lots fo work though and I know nothing about medical supplies and so trying to organize it all was a bit of challenge... I did ok though I think! All the donations were distributed accordingly to the NGOs and hospitals and FCF picked up: 5 computers, a shit load of the discusting meal replacement bars that no one back home would give their dog, a shit load of vitamines, blankets, clothes, teddies, books... Leigh is a very happy camper, except for the fact that she has to give it all away before she leaves Cambodia to go home on the 10th! haha So we piled it all in her "office" and the day was only just beginning...

THEN we went with this canadian dude named Shaun to pick up some water filters to give out to the vietnamese families who live at Tonle Sap Village (the floating one I blogged about before?). They bought 90 and stored 80 in Leigh's "office"... the other 10 we brought as a trial run to test if they actually work for them. So, Leigh, Shaun, his irritating and nagging girlfriend, Amir (the camera dude who shot the documentary of last year and this year), Dave (a constable who vollunteers with Global Medics), a translator, and I went out to the smelly village, hopped on a boat and sailed off to provide clean drinking water for 10 families. How awesome is that??? Crazy.

After a full on busy day, we got back, showered and went for some yummy thai food... with the "gang" and Rahul and some other volumteers of DMGF.

February 4th
Leigh and Meniya took the little Green Bamboo puppy named Bubba to the vet cuz he had a HUGE lump in his throat that was cutting off his breathing and his ability to swallow. He was to be operated on...

Leigh and I organized her "office"! Wow. What a job! It was packed full and we took everything out, took an inventory, and then packed everything back in and it actually looks like a great little office now! heehee Hard work. Apparently I am a princess...

Bubba died during surgery... the lump was an infection that leaked down into his lungs and he couldn't be saved. He was only 8-10 weeks old. We cried for him. I'm sorry Leigh.

Went for dinner with Amir and was engaged in awesome conversation. He's a really good contact to have... and of course, an awesome person with beautiful ideals and goals.

February 5th
Hopped in a taxi with this dude Ray whom I had overheard yesturday talking about wanting someone to share the cost to Bangkok. Oppertunity was knockin and I answered: 3 hours to the boarder is better than 8. Talk about bumpy road though!!! Almost got car sick! The bus to Bangkok was nice, met a Khmer woman (and her 2 beautiful children) who was kind enough to lend me her Lonely Planet so I could research Ko Chang a bit before heading there tomorrow. Upon arrival, I bought my bus ticket to Trat where I will then catch a ferry to the glorious island of Koh Chang. I found a hotel here on Kao San Rd. for a reasonable price, bought some beanies (just for you Carly!), some clothes just for me, and a phone card. Yay! I can't wait til tomorrow! Leigh will hopefully be meeting me in Koh Chang on the 10th since her cambodian visa will have run out on that day and she must return home on the 27th (if not sooner). I really hope she comes cuz she is an AMAZING woman. It's so awesome to meet such wonderful souls whom I wouldn't have otherwise met had I not left home. I'm lucky. I love my life. There's so much good left to do in it!!!

I'll try and write again soon, although I'm not sure about internet access out there... who knows though! I'm thinking of everyone. I love you. Stay warm!