Peter's Operation

Do you remember how I wrote of a young Cambodian boy requiring facial surgery?

I received this photo of Peter and his doctor yesterday....

Its early days yet. The swelling has to decrease, and he may need more surgery. But for now, this is one happy young man.

Pictured with a friend. 
Note the green texta marking on the bridge of Peter's nose.

Romans 12:10  

"Love one another with brotherly affection. 

Out do one another in showing honor."

Thank you to all who prayed and contributed. 
God Bless you. 

Contact Deb @ wataboutcambodia@gmail.com 

for further information.

Help for Peter

 This is Peter a young Cambodian boy in desperate need of surgery.

 How good it is to have children without problems such as this.
How terrible it must be, to look at your child, and not have the money to help. 

I received this information from Deborah Jewel King, a lady who helps out,
What About Cambodia.
This is what she wrote:
"He was supposed to receive surgery last week but as it is so complex the
surgeons felt they could not perform it at CSC.org which provides free
assistance.  We now have a Russian surgeon who is going to perform the
Surgery this Monday and it will change this boys life forever, however the costs are $2000USD.  I have been working on this since July and we have come across many obstacles but am nearly at his finishing post.
 We still need to raise an additional $650.00 USD to ensure he gets his smile back and have exhausted many avenues trying."
   
I know many of you reading this will say, I'd like to help, but, am unable.

Every cent counts.
Search your heart.
Look at Peter's face, and pray about it.
I am a pensioner myself now, but I have helped. 

Paypal is available from the site below. Go to:contact.
http://www.wataboutcambodia.com/

"Give, and it will be given (back) to you. 
A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. 
For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:48


My mother taught me the above principle. 
As a woman raising five children alone, she gave to everyone who asked.
And...God Blessed Her. 

News update: The fourth lot of floods for this year is expected!
Please add your prayer to mine for 
Protection,
Safety,
Peace,
Health,
and Food to last. 
Gods Blessings to you.  

Wat Phnom - A Beloved Cambodian Icon

Cambodian legend has it that, 700 years ago, the wealthy village widow Grandmother Penh came across four Buddha statues within a Koki tree that had been uprooted and washed into the river by floods. She enshrined the statues within a pagoda that she had built at the highest point of the city, which is now called Wat Phnom.

Today, this is a major site of pilgrimage for the Cambodians, especially after the devastating atrocities of the Khmer Rouge against the majority of Cambodia's historical heritage. Being built on the highest point of Phnom Penh, the 27-meter artificial hill affords great views of the Ton Le River and surrounding countryside. Additional shrines reflecting the passing syncretism of Hinduism and Vietnamese myths and beliefs flank the pagoda. Of special interest is the large stupa within which rests the ashes of King Ponhea Yat and the shrine of beloved Vietnamese genie Preah Chau, which is adorned with images of both Lord Vishnu and Confucius. The night-time illumination of the looming clock at the base of the hill is one of the area's most distinctive landmarks.

A grand staircase with engraved images of the traditional nagas and lions stand sentry on either side leads into the east-oriented temple complex. The area is suffused with the cries of street vendors, the rainbow colours of their wares, the aroma of incense and the crush of pilgrims and tourists. The presence of Sam Bo the elephant simply adds to the feeling of carnival; the animal has been trekking up and down the hill since 1983 and is now an unofficial institution of the city. The popularity of the site is partially owed to the new renovations it has undergone and its promotion as a recovered Cambodian cultural site and partly to the local pilgrim tradition of petitioning for good luck and wishes in exchange for offerings of fruit and flowers.

The aforementioned post-Khmer Rouge renovations have not been as successful in preserving the originality of the site. On one hand, the jungle and tree roots have encroached upon so much of the original brick structure of the stupa that it is under the very real threat of crumbling altogether; on the other hand, the new plaster and paint covering the inner sanctuary mask the historical character of the complex.

However, the many fascinations of the Wat's interior are still well-preserved enough to captivate. A large bronze seated Buddha dominates, flanked by a host of other effigies garlanded by flowers and incense. Frescoes of the Buddhist Jathaka stories and murals of the Khmer retelling of the Indian epic Ramayana create a pictorial narrative upon the walls.

Grandmother Penh is also honored alongside her historic creation and royalty; a small shrine to the southwest of the Wat houses a plump and smiling statue of the benevolent widow to whom women of the country still turn for good fortune and counsel. The entire site becomes the hub of the city's colour and pageantry during celebrations of Pchum Benh and the Cambodian New Year in April; it is definitely the best season to visit this beloved icon of quintessential Cambodia.

Wat Phnom - A Beloved Cambodian Icon

Cambodian legend has it that, 700 years ago, the wealthy village widow Grandmother Penh came across four Buddha statues within a Koki tree that had been uprooted and washed into the river by floods. She enshrined the statues within a pagoda that she had built at the highest point of the city, which is now called Wat Phnom.

Today, this is a major site of pilgrimage for the Cambodians, especially after the devastating atrocities of the Khmer Rouge against the majority of Cambodia's historical heritage. Being built on the highest point of Phnom Penh, the 27-meter artificial hill affords great views of the Ton Le River and surrounding countryside. Additional shrines reflecting the passing syncretism of Hinduism and Vietnamese myths and beliefs flank the pagoda. Of special interest is the large stupa within which rests the ashes of King Ponhea Yat and the shrine of beloved Vietnamese genie Preah Chau, which is adorned with images of both Lord Vishnu and Confucius. The night-time illumination of the looming clock at the base of the hill is one of the area's most distinctive landmarks.

A grand staircase with engraved images of the traditional nagas and lions stand sentry on either side leads into the east-oriented temple complex. The area is suffused with the cries of street vendors, the rainbow colours of their wares, the aroma of incense and the crush of pilgrims and tourists. The presence of Sam Bo the elephant simply adds to the feeling of carnival; the animal has been trekking up and down the hill since 1983 and is now an unofficial institution of the city. The popularity of the site is partially owed to the new renovations it has undergone and its promotion as a recovered Cambodian cultural site and partly to the local pilgrim tradition of petitioning for good luck and wishes in exchange for offerings of fruit and flowers.

The aforementioned post-Khmer Rouge renovations have not been as successful in preserving the originality of the site. On one hand, the jungle and tree roots have encroached upon so much of the original brick structure of the stupa that it is under the very real threat of crumbling altogether; on the other hand, the new plaster and paint covering the inner sanctuary mask the historical character of the complex.

However, the many fascinations of the Wat's interior are still well-preserved enough to captivate. A large bronze seated Buddha dominates, flanked by a host of other effigies garlanded by flowers and incense. Frescoes of the Buddhist Jathaka stories and murals of the Khmer retelling of the Indian epic Ramayana create a pictorial narrative upon the walls.

Grandmother Penh is also honored alongside her historic creation and royalty; a small shrine to the southwest of the Wat houses a plump and smiling statue of the benevolent widow to whom women of the country still turn for good fortune and counsel. The entire site becomes the hub of the city's colour and pageantry during celebrations of Pchum Benh and the Cambodian New Year in April; it is definitely the best season to visit this beloved icon of quintessential Cambodia.

Tourism in Cambodia

Cambodia is a beautiful country that offers her many guests a breathtaking experience during the Cambodia tours. Depending on how much time people have in their hands, a day or night tour would be ideal. Some of the interesting tours include sightseeing throughout her many attractions in the city. A balloon tour will make this trip memorable as people fly over the beautiful cities enjoying the best bird view ever. Some of the attractions here include the flooded forest that provides an awesome viewing experience.

Cambodia tours would not be complete without visiting the Phnom Phen city that unveils the intrigues of Cambodia. A tour to the Rabbit Island will crown this sightseeing tour in the gorgeous land of Sihanoukville. Siem Reap is an interesting city in Cambodia that offers the best excursions. People here have a great time learning the history of the city and enjoying all of its delights in style. Other interesting activities on this tour will include a visit to the floating village of Kompong Phluk, the Cambodia culture village, the Tonle Sap Lake and the Cruise on Tonle Sap Lake.

Cambodia tours would also not be complete without the awesome classic tours that take people to CambodiaS landmarks. This tour goes through the cities of Angkor Wat, Phnom Phen, and Siem Reap, which have iconic landmarks. A tour to the Angkor Temple Complex is an exciting idea and there will be plenty to wow at. The beautiful wall carvings also make this tour worthwhile. It will be thrilling to watch the sunset on this tour at the awesome terrace in the Angkorian temple. This UNESCO World Heritage Site will make this tour perfect with the sightseeing opportunities it offers.

Other than this, a Cambodia tour will sail its guests to the beautiful Khmer ruins, which hold a wealth of history. The countryside offers a scenic thrill that is captivating to watch. The floating village is breathtaking and just when people think they have had enough, an opportunity to hike the Kulen Mountain presents itself. The royal place stands beautifully in Cambodia and this tour would not be complete without paying it a visit. Other attractions here will include the Silver Pagoda and the National Museum. Shopping will be worthwhile in many of her beautiful malls in the relaxed evening atmosphere.

Combination country tours make the most interesting of Cambodia tours. These include the most famous of places in Indochina and this tour take sits guests through Laos, Vietnam, and finally Cambodia. The exciting parts of this tour are the numerous boat trips on the mighty River Mekong and through the Phnom Phen attractions. The Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex is a must tour site and it opens up to the local markets that have a lot to offer. Te architecture used here is amazing and the museums carry a wealth of culture and knowledge. Cambodia is home to caves that have been there for years and this definitely give people an exciting touring experience. More temples are here as well as royal places and ancient ruins.

Tourism in Cambodia

Cambodia is a beautiful country that offers her many guests a breathtaking experience during the Cambodia tours. Depending on how much time people have in their hands, a day or night tour would be ideal. Some of the interesting tours include sightseeing throughout her many attractions in the city. A balloon tour will make this trip memorable as people fly over the beautiful cities enjoying the best bird view ever. Some of the attractions here include the flooded forest that provides an awesome viewing experience.

Cambodia tours would not be complete without visiting the Phnom Phen city that unveils the intrigues of Cambodia. A tour to the Rabbit Island will crown this sightseeing tour in the gorgeous land of Sihanoukville. Siem Reap is an interesting city in Cambodia that offers the best excursions. People here have a great time learning the history of the city and enjoying all of its delights in style. Other interesting activities on this tour will include a visit to the floating village of Kompong Phluk, the Cambodia culture village, the Tonle Sap Lake and the Cruise on Tonle Sap Lake.

Cambodia tours would also not be complete without the awesome classic tours that take people to CambodiaS landmarks. This tour goes through the cities of Angkor Wat, Phnom Phen, and Siem Reap, which have iconic landmarks. A tour to the Angkor Temple Complex is an exciting idea and there will be plenty to wow at. The beautiful wall carvings also make this tour worthwhile. It will be thrilling to watch the sunset on this tour at the awesome terrace in the Angkorian temple. This UNESCO World Heritage Site will make this tour perfect with the sightseeing opportunities it offers.

Other than this, a Cambodia tour will sail its guests to the beautiful Khmer ruins, which hold a wealth of history. The countryside offers a scenic thrill that is captivating to watch. The floating village is breathtaking and just when people think they have had enough, an opportunity to hike the Kulen Mountain presents itself. The royal place stands beautifully in Cambodia and this tour would not be complete without paying it a visit. Other attractions here will include the Silver Pagoda and the National Museum. Shopping will be worthwhile in many of her beautiful malls in the relaxed evening atmosphere.

Combination country tours make the most interesting of Cambodia tours. These include the most famous of places in Indochina and this tour take sits guests through Laos, Vietnam, and finally Cambodia. The exciting parts of this tour are the numerous boat trips on the mighty River Mekong and through the Phnom Phen attractions. The Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex is a must tour site and it opens up to the local markets that have a lot to offer. Te architecture used here is amazing and the museums carry a wealth of culture and knowledge. Cambodia is home to caves that have been there for years and this definitely give people an exciting touring experience. More temples are here as well as royal places and ancient ruins.

Asia's Newest Beach Resort Sihanoukville Cambodia

In Cambodia, Angkor Wat is the main draw for tourism today, and rightly so, called the Crown Jewel of South East Asia the temple complexes' 40 Sq Kilometers' of temples is famous the world over, but now, more people are visiting the rest of Cambodia and the word of mouth is that the rest of the Cambodia is worth a visit as well. The Beach resort of Sihanoukville is fast becoming a holiday destination in its own right, with lots of islands and parks and things to do from hiking and exploring, scuba diving & snorkeling and boat rides, water falls, jungle treks and chilling in a hammock in a quiet beach park reading a good book. Culturally there are the markets, the local wats and the schools, where many come to donate time and money towards educating the kids.

Sihanoukville has a 5 star resort on its own kilometer long private beach. The pool could be classified as a small lake and is almost visible from space, complete with a bridge to its own little island. The hotel is only 2 years old and has a staff to guest ratio of 4/1. The prices for comparable hotels in South East Asia would be substantially higher.

If you are a budget traveler then Sihanoukville is your place as well, there are many rooms available with air con, hot water, refrigerator and Cable TV for $10 - $20 a night and if you want a place to stay for 6 months or more, you can get a business visa at the border on demand and stay as long as you like, works out to around $1 a day for the visa extensions, making the town attractive to pensioners and semi retired people.

Backpackers also like Sihanoukville with a few places offering 50 cent tall cold beers and cheap food starting at $.50. Some are also finding work as bar tenders and working the restaurants. Backpacker hostels start as low as free, Yup free, all you have do is buy one of your meals at the lodging and the price for the food is still cheap $1.50 to 2.50 a plate.

One local expert expat's guess's that there are more western owned business per population in Sihanoukville than any other place in Asia! Many are coming and starting guesthouses & hotels, small bed and breakfast places, restaurants and bars and small resorts with a few starting to pop up on the islands off the coast. Want to rent your own fantasy island for a week check out Magic Island?

Logistically everything that you will need is here including reliable electricity, internet, and western restaurants as well as a lot of Asian European specialty foods prepared with the western travelers tastes in mind including Khmer seafood, Thai, Vietnamese, French, Italian, German, Russian, Indian, Sri Lankan and more coming soon. English languages schools are many in Sihanoukville, so you can almost always find someone to speak English when you need it.

Money use to be a problem as you had to go inside the banks to get cash and with 26 holidays on the Cambodian calendar, you could get stuck with out cash for a few days, now there are ATM locations in Siem Reap- Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh, Battembong and Sihanoukville. You can change just about every currency including Yen, Euros, Baht, Kip, Dong, and Sing Dollars. US Dollars and Cambodian Riel are the two most common currencies in use.

Sihanoukville is getting easier to get to with cheap international flights into Bangkok and really cheap regional flights into Phnom Penh. Flights into Sihanoukville are very close to being a reality as well. Regularly scheduled busses from Phnom Penh will get you to Sihanoukville in 4 hours on a excellent American built road. You can also arrange taxis and vans for moving groups of people, and an established over water route form Bangkok to Trat to the Had Lek - Klang Yai border to Sihanoukville. You might even arrive here via a cruise ships, as more are placing Sihanoukville on their itineraries.

The Islands of Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand are mostly uninhabited; you will find isolated Spartan fishing villages with populations normally fewer than 100 people. One Island, Koh Tang, has only 7 residents and would take the better part of a day to hike around, so if you are looking for that deserted island to strand yourself on, to work on your coconut carving and ship in a bottle skills there are many here to chose from, bring your own hammock and Gal Friday or they can be acquired here in Sihanoukville.

The Cambodia of the past always seemed to bring up horrific images of the past misfortunes that the Khmers suffered at the end of the Vietnam War. Even today, the genocide in Cambodia is still in the news as the country has its tribunal to hopefully put the events behind them,

One of the few backhanded benefits of the recent past history was that Cambodia missed out on all of the heavy industrialization, that the other countries in the region experienced, notably Thailand and Vietnam; which means that they missed out on the pollution that goes with it. A UN survey of the waters in Asia, that included Cambodia, found only 3 areas of concern for ocean water quality near shore, where as Vietnam and Thailand, had allot problem locations, mostly from the industrial pollutions and shrimp farms. This may change, unfortunately, as oil has been found in Cambodia and the drilling of exploration holes has begun. So now is a really good time to come.

As Cambodia moves forward towards the future, it is obvious to most that the future in Cambodia is tourism. And for Cambodia's beach resort of Sihanoukville, to misquote the tune "the futures so bright, in Sihanoukville, that your gonna need shades"

Asia's Newest Beach Resort Sihanoukville Cambodia

In Cambodia, Angkor Wat is the main draw for tourism today, and rightly so, called the Crown Jewel of South East Asia the temple complexes' 40 Sq Kilometers' of temples is famous the world over, but now, more people are visiting the rest of Cambodia and the word of mouth is that the rest of the Cambodia is worth a visit as well. The Beach resort of Sihanoukville is fast becoming a holiday destination in its own right, with lots of islands and parks and things to do from hiking and exploring, scuba diving & snorkeling and boat rides, water falls, jungle treks and chilling in a hammock in a quiet beach park reading a good book. Culturally there are the markets, the local wats and the schools, where many come to donate time and money towards educating the kids.

Sihanoukville has a 5 star resort on its own kilometer long private beach. The pool could be classified as a small lake and is almost visible from space, complete with a bridge to its own little island. The hotel is only 2 years old and has a staff to guest ratio of 4/1. The prices for comparable hotels in South East Asia would be substantially higher.

If you are a budget traveler then Sihanoukville is your place as well, there are many rooms available with air con, hot water, refrigerator and Cable TV for $10 - $20 a night and if you want a place to stay for 6 months or more, you can get a business visa at the border on demand and stay as long as you like, works out to around $1 a day for the visa extensions, making the town attractive to pensioners and semi retired people.

Backpackers also like Sihanoukville with a few places offering 50 cent tall cold beers and cheap food starting at $.50. Some are also finding work as bar tenders and working the restaurants. Backpacker hostels start as low as free, Yup free, all you have do is buy one of your meals at the lodging and the price for the food is still cheap $1.50 to 2.50 a plate.

One local expert expat's guess's that there are more western owned business per population in Sihanoukville than any other place in Asia! Many are coming and starting guesthouses & hotels, small bed and breakfast places, restaurants and bars and small resorts with a few starting to pop up on the islands off the coast. Want to rent your own fantasy island for a week check out Magic Island?

Logistically everything that you will need is here including reliable electricity, internet, and western restaurants as well as a lot of Asian European specialty foods prepared with the western travelers tastes in mind including Khmer seafood, Thai, Vietnamese, French, Italian, German, Russian, Indian, Sri Lankan and more coming soon. English languages schools are many in Sihanoukville, so you can almost always find someone to speak English when you need it.

Money use to be a problem as you had to go inside the banks to get cash and with 26 holidays on the Cambodian calendar, you could get stuck with out cash for a few days, now there are ATM locations in Siem Reap- Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh, Battembong and Sihanoukville. You can change just about every currency including Yen, Euros, Baht, Kip, Dong, and Sing Dollars. US Dollars and Cambodian Riel are the two most common currencies in use.

Sihanoukville is getting easier to get to with cheap international flights into Bangkok and really cheap regional flights into Phnom Penh. Flights into Sihanoukville are very close to being a reality as well. Regularly scheduled busses from Phnom Penh will get you to Sihanoukville in 4 hours on a excellent American built road. You can also arrange taxis and vans for moving groups of people, and an established over water route form Bangkok to Trat to the Had Lek - Klang Yai border to Sihanoukville. You might even arrive here via a cruise ships, as more are placing Sihanoukville on their itineraries.

The Islands of Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand are mostly uninhabited; you will find isolated Spartan fishing villages with populations normally fewer than 100 people. One Island, Koh Tang, has only 7 residents and would take the better part of a day to hike around, so if you are looking for that deserted island to strand yourself on, to work on your coconut carving and ship in a bottle skills there are many here to chose from, bring your own hammock and Gal Friday or they can be acquired here in Sihanoukville.

The Cambodia of the past always seemed to bring up horrific images of the past misfortunes that the Khmers suffered at the end of the Vietnam War. Even today, the genocide in Cambodia is still in the news as the country has its tribunal to hopefully put the events behind them,

One of the few backhanded benefits of the recent past history was that Cambodia missed out on all of the heavy industrialization, that the other countries in the region experienced, notably Thailand and Vietnam; which means that they missed out on the pollution that goes with it. A UN survey of the waters in Asia, that included Cambodia, found only 3 areas of concern for ocean water quality near shore, where as Vietnam and Thailand, had allot problem locations, mostly from the industrial pollutions and shrimp farms. This may change, unfortunately, as oil has been found in Cambodia and the drilling of exploration holes has begun. So now is a really good time to come.

As Cambodia moves forward towards the future, it is obvious to most that the future in Cambodia is tourism. And for Cambodia's beach resort of Sihanoukville, to misquote the tune "the futures so bright, in Sihanoukville, that your gonna need shades"