Cambodia Visit! Day 1

Thanks for all the prayers! The Lord really blessed the trip! I didn't get sick and all details went really smooth!

The purpose of the visit was to meet the World Team Cambodia Mission's Teams. I met most of them! I arrived on Saturday, April 28th, Angela (a World Team member who teaches at a Christian school in Phnom Pehn) picked me up at the airport in Phnom Pehn. Sorry there aren't really any pictures. I guess I was more absorbing the first day. We took a Tuk Tuk (below) to her house.

This is a very easy, normal and cheap form of transportation.

We settled into her home and I emailed home to let them know I had arrived safely and my Father had sent me a blessing for the trip. So grateful for God fearing and loving parents!

The we were off on her moto for the day!

This is about 125 cc. It reminds me of a cross between a dirt bike and a moped. This is the most affordable way to travel, instead of owning a car. I saw at least 4 people on one at one time.

Throughout the day I feel like we toured the whole city. First she took me to the school where she teaches. It is a really nice Christian school. It is mostly for the Khmer (Cambodian people), but some of the missionary children attend as well. The students level of English amazed me. It was strange for my brain to recognize that they were speaking English. From there we went and had lunch at a cafe called Jars of Clay. This is a cafe for women who have been rescued from slavery (human trafficking). They do a fantastic job.

Next was the Russian market. It is an enclosed market that the Russian tourist from back in the day used to visit! It is quite large with very small walkways between the stalls/booths. More shopping and looking around at the shops whose products are all made by people who have aids or were rescued. We ended up at a really cool place called Daughters (but there are a few guys who work there, they were rescued as well. It is becoming more common for guys as well.) Here we had a lime soda and I got a shoulder massage and we both got pedicures. They also sell some pretty cool things. Next was dinner at a Khmer place. Really yummy food with an amazing atmosphere.

This is the outside of the restaurant! 

Our table was perfect! It was on a little island. Gotta love atmosphere.

Beautiful flowers. They were floating in a large ceramic pot.

Love the sound of water!

We met Angela's roommate and friend at the night market. It is very similar to most night markets that I have been to, maybe this one was a little cleaner and more organized.

This is the view when you walk in. It is like a horseshoe shape. This is the side and in the middle back of the horseshoe is a very large stage. They usually have people singing and telling jokes.

 

This is the typical booths in the front! The more touristy stuff. There are also booths with clothes, jewelry, baskets, trinkets, pretty much everything. The rule is bargain, bargain, bargain. 

 This is the dinning area. The food vendors are surrounding them. In Cambodia they always sit on the floor. If someone owns furniture, it says they have saved and sacrificed for it.

 A favorite dish, baked bird.

Enjoying a meal.

When we left here, we walked along the riverfront to get some ice cream. On the way back we passed a convenience store with fish out front.

These are the lovely fish. You sit of the side of the tank and put you feet in there with these fishies. They will nibble off  dead skin while you enjoy a refreshing cool drink. I guess it is a natural pedicure. No, I did not.

This was the end of the day. Thanks for Angela for blessing me!