9 February 2011
Hi everyone
We arrived on Saturday afternoon and enjoyed a quiet look around Siem reap. It's really nice not hassley or pressured. The people are really nice and gentle. It's green and tropical and very poor. Although there are many nicer houses than I'd expected.
Ate Cambodian food for dinner at an outdoor restaurant. All very nice. $2 tuktuk drive back to hotel. Sunday we were collected at 5.20 am for a sunrise experience at Angkor Wat. It was worth it and the temple was beautiful but I could have gone home after that!! However we also saw the temple from raiders of the lost ark. It really is intriguing with the roots of the trees growing through the stones. We had lunch and some of us went back to hotel and then orientation with habitat and dinner meant early to bed.
First day was gruelling in heat but everyone enjoyed bricking away and feeling like we're achieving something. One family is. A mum dad and 4 mth old. Mum and dad are only 23 and 24. They are living with her parents at present. Nice couple. He has quite a bit of English. He's a bar tender earning about $40 per week. The other family is a solo mum with a 6 yr old.
The families have to have saved a quarter of the materials needed to build before hfh will loan them the remaining 3/4. They pay it back over a 1-3 yr period depending on income. The houses cost $1000usd. They are brick inserts between concrete columns. I think these will have a pitched roof in keeping with Cambodian architecture.
Last night we went to a traditional dinner and dancing. Beautiful costumes and girls it was enjoyable. Especially as it was over by 8.30 and everyone was asleep but 9.30!!
Today was scorching and no wind. However I built half a wall very square and straight feel quite chuffed. Tomorrow we'll finish walls and start on floor. People are so smiling and generous with their food etc. We are all trying to use some words and phrases in khmer. They laugh but are patient.
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