I had been walking for last two days. But did not really reach anywhere. At the same time It took two days to understand two parallel road that looked similar and after reaching a circle went different ways. It took me time to understand two important Khmer words like Susrai/hello and okun/thank you.
I finally decided to rent a cycle with city tyres. I think I have spent all day today roaming around the outskirts of Siem Reap and then sometimes away towards the urbanised rural area, and sometimes cycling far away along the river to Tonle sap and towards the country side.
There are still days when i will be meeting my mentor for the workshop, but all this roaming is only to embrace as much information and varied subjects so as to present to the teachers what we will be working on as a project in Cambodia dedicated to Cambodian people, at least that is how i thought i would like to work.
I am feeling so happy and so free in this country as my own that i want to work on something that makes and showcases Cambodia in a light true to her nature and history. Well i still have no idea and until i get any idea i will only make sure to peddle as much to different directions. We have limited time and thus every day is valuable.
During the first two days, I found out about a school for the underprivileged in a village on the outskirts of Siem Reap. I met Frank while he was on his walk to the school where he teaches English. I didn’t understand why he would joke about himself not being abusing boys in school. He is here in Cambodia for forty years now. He welcomed me and provided with his number and somebody else’s who’s school was it.
Later I met prom at his place after I had finished playing table tennis. After winning the first match comprehensively i lost all the matches to an Australian who was playing for his pride, well after he lost the first one. I started talking with prom understating the culture and history which has been one of the most talked as well the most sensitive aspect of their lives in the recent history Cambodia and about neighbourhood. About the government and corruption. About youngsters interested in learning Mandarin day in and day out rather than learning English. But in the middle of it all he started crying. Tears came out flowing from his eyes. He just stood, wrote me a number, and said “Brother you ask many questions”, she will answer everything. And there is another number i am writing. Tell her i sent you. I know you haven’t been eating well. She will feed you good Indian food. She lived in Buddha place for many years.
Back home other artists went for an outing at an art school.
It hasn’t been great time in terms of food. I had been going to the vegetable market and buying fruits and some vegetables. I hope Prom’s help will do my stomach and mind good.