Day 1 - Siem Reap

Things are beginning to wind down now at 8.30pm as some very tired children settle in for the night.  The day was exhausting but the group hung in as we waited in airports and tried to sleep on aeroplanes.

The flights were thankfully uneventful, and the kids met the required deadlines when required to meet at various checkpoints.  

Coming off the plane in Siem Reap, we were blasted with 38 degrees which was a real shock to the system.  Our guides, Sunny and Yous Sa, are instantly engaging as they describe the local area on the way from the airport to the hotel.  

The hotel is lovely and comfortable and we were quickly assigned our rooms before heading off to visit the local Artisan handcraft school which teaches local students, some deaf and mute, to become skilled artists in the areas of silk painting, ceramics and sculpting.  They produce simple yet beautiful pieces.

Before dinner we made a trip to the supermarket to purchase fresh food for dinner which was delicious. During dinner we were privileged to meet staff and students from a local village school who inspired us with their descriptions of the hardships faced by everyday Cambodians.  We are very much looking forwards to day 2 which begins with visits to local places of interest, but finishes with our first afternoon of construction.
Sandra Katz