Kh 8 - Hopes for Cambodian

Kingdom of Cambodia

Preăh Réachéanachâkr Kâmpŭchea
Royaume du Cambodge

We've spent several hours in Prasat Beng Mealea till hour to dawn. We've discussed a lot of things particularly about Angkor temples. One of it on how much Dara and the locals appreciated the foreigner helps them restore these heritage sites. Billions of dollar from various countries and organizations helps them to provide works and expertise - just to make sure this site being conserve and restored for future benefits. With this - it can generate income for the locals that most lives below poverty line.

From left : tractor that used by locals for transportation and delivering goods, kampung house - noted its high not because of flood but for resting place during hot and dry season.

"Dara, I just wanna asked you on some - sensitive issues." I broke the silence. "Yup, what is it?" asked Dara. "I wonder - your ancestors being so great at their time with skills and a lot of resources can built these magnificent monuments. How come your generation unable to at least restore it back? Don't you guys have the similar skills to do it? Why need to depends on others a.k.a foreigner to help you guys with these works." "Even the French explorer found these temples after it being left hundred years deep inside Cambodian rain forest" I added. As he take a deep breath, he replied to me. "Yes, our ancestors have a great skill to build this mega-project but do to certain things like war, disaster - we've leave this place and left the forest to take care of it. Not much writings left for us as a guidance to rebuild it again. I would rather say that the glory of Angkor has left us. Wars really have make us lost many years to develop our country and we can't afford more wars that can ruin our future. That's why we really thanks those who helps us and we try our best to avoid any more war." explained Dara.

From left : area have been declared of landmines free - this one with cooperation from German agency, kampung houses.

Our journey back have exposed me on how do the people lives in the rural area. Houses like our kampung built by bamboos and I don't know what other trees as Dara had difficulty in translating it into English. Some houses even build by using plank woods. I realized a lot of political parties banner infront of these houses. "Do you guys just finished your election?" another sensitive issue that I accidentally asked. "Yup" replied Dara, short. Even one of the political party's logo looks like PAS with Khmer words around the circle - The Human Rights Party. "Here in Cambodia is more on like one party government with the Cambodian People's Party led by Hun Sen won recently. Other major opposition parties like Sam Rainsy Party, Human Rights Party, and FUNCINPEC party took place in this election." explained him further. "So, who do you vote?" there I dig my own grave to discuss about this issue. Well - can't restrained much as I too concerned about political issues back in Malaysia. "I've voted for Sam Rainsy - as being prominent leader in Cambodia and he vows better future for this country. But lots of people especially those staying in the rural voted CPP as they have been supplying goods before the election itself. They forgot, who actually made them poor at the first place. Even most the government institute fulls of corruption" added him further. Well it seems doesn't make much different compared to Malaysia where money is everything. "But here - in Cambodia, the current government doesn't thing much of the people. They just wanna make their relatives rich" spoke Dara in a sad tone. This situation happen in country where lots of their people still lack of education. For me, people like Dara is great - living in this kind situation but yet able to think about his country's future.

We've reached Siem Reap after 2 hours of ride. Tomorrow we will visiting Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. So a good nights for me for the nice visits tomorrow.

From left : National Peadiatric Hospital in Phnom Penh - health facilities like this still lacking especially in rural area thus not many have acsess to it, Human Rights Party.