Archive for December, 2009

Success!

Dec 28

Posted by Liza in Cambodia, Orphanage, Phnom Penh | No Comments

Just wanted to let you all know we’ve reached our goal of raising $1200 to provide a full-time English teacher at the orphanage for a year!

Thank you to everyone who donated. It is amazing to me to see even families who are struggling financially reach into their pockets to help those less fortunate.

I will email everyone who contributed a copy of the wire transfer receipt (your portion may be tax deductible-ask your accountant) and keep you updated on the progress of the project.

My heart is full of gratitude!

Quote for the day:

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. ~Mother Theresa

Tags: Cambodia, cambodian orpahnage, fundraising, south east asia travel, volunteer abroad

Sisters unite

Dec 19

Posted by Liza in Bangkok, Cher, Chiang Mai, Thailand | 1 Comment

What a great sight to see my sister in BKK airport. I was very impressed at how light she packed. Nice work sister.

Mindnumbing shopping in BKK

Koh Phi-Phi was absolutely beautiful, hence double the price (and sometimes triple) of the rest of Thailand. On our second day there we went on a full day snorkeling trip around the islands. The coral and the fish were impressive and the landscape unreal. Our first excitement of the day was on monkey island when two monkeys ‘attacked’ Cher. I saved her life (hee-hee) by swatting them with my snorkel fins. Then as she swam from the beach to the boat she was nibbled on by a couple fish. At our next snorkel spot, she was stung on her lip by a jellyfish. We got back on the boat and the pain kept getting worse and worse, so we ended up leaving early to get to the Pharmacist. Long story short, the pain was increasing and after 6 hours we decided to go to the hospital for some pain meds so she could sleep. 30 minutes and $30 later we were in bed, and the next day she felt a lot better, and 100% the day after that. Cher is a tasty little morsel…

We were the Goldilocks of Phi-Phi as we moved hotels each night and finally found one that was “just right” our last night there. Our cute little bungalo at the Viking Resort had an outside shower and a lovely spacious patio with sun chair and hammock overlooking the ocean. We

B.J. = Before Jellyfish

didn’t want to leave.

Chiang Mai has been awesome- meeting lots of friendly locals, cute little restaurants and bars, sparkly wats (temples) and a shopping extravaganza (in BKK too…). And massage every day. Love-it!

Heading to Pai again tomorrow to rent scooters and tool around the mountains. Wish us luck.

P1030917

Our snorkel boat

Temple bells

Tags: Koh Phi-Phi, south east asia travel, Thailand

Fundraising Project- How You Can Help

Dec 8

Posted by Liza in Cambodia, Orphanage | 4 Comments

As many of you know I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to contribute to the orphanage to make sure the P1030214 money gets to the right place.

I trust the NGO that partners with the US volunteer organization who facilitated my work in Cambodia and they had the good idea of providing the funding for a full time English teacher at the center.

In a previous post you may remember me talking about the inconsistency and disorganization of the kids’ English studies as different volunteers come through. Speaking English is one of the best skills they can learn to ensure employment opportunities in the future.

My goal is to raise $1,200 to cover the salary of a full time English teacher for one year (that’s not a typo).

If you’re interested please either add a comment to this post or email me at liza_aslor@hotmail.com.

I’m waiting to hear back from my accountant on how to best handle this, so I will be in touch about collecting the P1030249 money.

Times are tough, so of course I understand if you can’t donate right now. I know your good intentions go out to these kids.

There are also many of you who have contributed to me to make this trip possible (you know who you are) and I thank you for your generosity!

Thank you!

Mom (in honor of the Somerville’s, ‘lil Aslor’s, Cunningham’s, Beckmans, Barnes’, Jeff Geraets, Gillens, Katie Passman & Stouts’)
Cher
Margaret
Lynne
Renee
Anne
Kristi
Edie
Amber
Beth
Caroline
Danielle
Jeanie
Jean
—————-
$1200

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

P1030228

Tags: cambodian orpahnage, volunteer abroad

Vietnam

Dec 8

Posted by Liza in Vietnam | 2 Comments

Hi guys! Internet access is a little more difficult for me here but wanted to post some pics of my most recent

Monkey man

adventures…

Phu Quoc

A lovely island off the Southern coast of Vietnam, close to Cambodia. Spent a few days lazing on the beach, swimming and scootering around the island. I met a sweet little monkey that took a nap in my lap (hey that rhymes) and had some impossibly delicious, fresh-as-can be bbq’d fish to wrap in make-it-yourself spring rolls. Yumm-o.

Fish market

Roll your own spring rolls with bbq fish. Don't mind if I do!

Dalat

The guidebooks aren’t kidding when they called it Le Petit Paris.Compete with an Eiffel shaped radio tower, the little city feels like a European getaway. Kind of strange, but lovely. It also reminded me a lot of Colorado with a much cooler climate, mountains and pine trees. De-ja-vu…

Easy Rider

Motorcycle mama. That's me

In Dalat I met Dung (pronounced Yom, if you were wondering), an unofficial but awesome “Easy Rider” who took me on a 3-day motorcycle tour of the central highlands. It was so much fun- just the thrill of being on the back of a motorcycle if fun enough indeed, but to be winding through the mountains, fields and villages of Vietnam, off the tourist path was amazing. Hey- did you know Vietnam is the #2 producer of coffee (with Brazil coming in first place). There are coffee fields as far as the eye can see and beyond. Just about every house had their front yards (and sometimes the streets) covered in drying coffee beans. And they harvest

Coffee, coffee, coffee

it all by hand. Anyways, I’ve been drinking a lot of coffee. And poor Dung had to stop every hour for me to go to the toilet. Honestly one of the best

Dung & our first feast

parts about it was hanging out with Dung in the evenings. We always went to the best places to eat and would feast for about $1.50, drink a few beers and chat. You could say he was my paid friend. Always nice to have a local show you around.

Surprise! I tried to save him but he hopped under my bed...

Nha Trang

Last stop on the motorcycle extravaganza was Nha Trang, a fun little beach town. I’m loving lazing on the beach (again)

Beach time snax. Mango-ginger flat bread

and wandering the streets in search of the good food. I found this lady who serves sticky rice, coconut milk, banana and tapioca ball soup (oh my yum) and go to see her every night. A lot of the vendors just pull a cart up on the sidewalk, put a couple tiny tables and chairs out and cook up the most delish stuff. Fun.

Tags: dalat, easy rider, nha trang, phu quoc

My Cambodian Family

Dec 3

Posted by Liza in Cambodia, Phnom Penh | 2 Comments

The fam

I forgot to tell you how great my host family was while in Phnom Penh.

Living there are the parents, one daughter and 2 sons (all in their 20’s) and

Brother drives me to work

the grandmother. They have another daughter who is married with a son that lives close by.

Traditionally you live with your parents till you get married there. The oldest son was my age. The grandmother was a bit senile, so she seemed a little confused when I walked in the door each time, but when I would stop to say hello she would grab my hands and

Cambodian wedding (trying not to look so tall)

tell me how beautful I was.

They had a lovely 4-story house (a typical style for middle class) and I had the entire 3rd floor to myself with a patio in the front and the back. I had a big empty front room to do yoga in the mornings.

They cooked me loads

Out on the town

of delicious Cambodian food and packed me lunch on work days. Fresh fruit (many of which I’ve never seen/had before-yum!) and cold water all the time.

The daughters were so sweet- took me out on several occasions, one of them invited me to a wedding of her husband’s cousin, the

Lunch

other took me to the S-21 museum on the weekend. I experienced my first 3-person scooter ride and a small scooter crash with each of the sisters. It’s not a true Cambodian experience without either of those events it seems. The youngest son drove me to work and picked me up every day. Only the daughters and the oldest son spoke limited English, so I couldn’t really communicate with the parents or the grandmother, but so much can be said with a smile and a bow.

The mother gave me a beautiful blue silk scarf with the traditional Cambodian checker print. She must’ve asked her daughter how to

My front room for yoga

say “A souvenir for you” as she handed it to me.

There were some tears when I parted and I hope I will see them again. Maybe I can come back when Pheap (the youngest daughter) gets married.

Sunset from my back patio

Tags: Cambodia, cambodian orpahnage, host family, STAR Kambuchea, volunteer abroad

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Liza's Travel Blog – Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam