Update from Annette..

Hi everyone,

We finished building today, didn't get the houses completed but gave it our best shot. It wasn't likely that we would finish them in a week anyway, too much work even with us all working hard. The village put on a big lunch for us to thank us today, and we had a dedication at each house, with speeches of appreciation on both sides. The 2 families we have been building for and with are very grateful, and they have been very welcoming alll this week.

The heat has been incredible - we survived working in the full sun in the middle of the day by drinking heaps of water, wetting our kerchiefs round our necks or even tying ice chunks into them, taking short breaks in the shade when we needed to. As the brick walls grew, we had to negotiate some very dodgy scaffolding, although the parts they built out of sticks was much sturdier than the very thin boards on the few metal H-frames they had, and at least there were upright poles to hang onto as needed with the stick constructions.

In the late afternoon, we arrive dirty & weary at the hotel, and then the fun starts - no, I should say continues, as it has been really fun on site too, getting to know the families and workmen, picking up some Khmer expressions, and of course working really closely with each other in our 2 teams. After a swim in the hotel pool to cool off & relieve aching muscles, we head into town in tuk-tuks. They are the best way to travel! I think Hamilton should have some! We have a ball whizzing rather scarily through the traffic, sometimes having races with each other's tuk-tuks, and enjoying the breeze and the sites as we go. We find somewhere to eat out, and there are heaps of places to choose from, with very cheap, good meals and drinks.

Then after we have had our fill, we stroll around the markets and haggle for silk items, silver jewellery, clothes, carvings, paintings, all sorts of tourist treasures. Great fun.

Still hot even into the evening, but not oppressive like the daytime.

Tomorrow we head off on tour for 5 days. We are sad to leave Siem Reap as feel almost at home here now, and the building experience has been wonderful. I have lots of neat photos (I hope), and a few souvenirs.

Hope everything is going fine in Hamilton, chum reap lear, (goodbye) Annette