We have completed the Cambodia Cycle Challenge for War Child Australia – confronted, challenged, and with a hefty degree of compassion for the people of this country, is the only way we can describe the experience.
The country is harsh in so many ways, the heat in particular, the recent history, the way in which the people have to eck out a living, and yet, not once have we not been met with grace and smiles with any request or question we have had. We have not sighted any hint of anger. The people are most certainly filled with beauty, good grace and love.
With the cycling we began to look forward to the exhileration of being back on the bikes, the wind (or maybe just the ever so slight breeze), the honking horns, the ‘hello’ the smiles, the smells of the food cooking and the tastes of the rice and beans, or the palm sugar along the way.
The orphanages and school provided us challenges of the emotional kind, the children were so excited to see us, it was difficult to say goodbye.
Cambodia itself still feels relatively untouched by the trappings of tourism found in other developing countries. We have not felt ripped off, we have not been argued with over prices, bargaining in the markets has occured with great humour and relative ease.
In essence we LOVE Cambodia…….why don’t you take the challenge too……..contrasts, colour, compassion and cycling!
Tomorrow we continue on in our own personal journey’s of life, and we take Cambodia with us in our hearts.
Thanks to Inspired Adventures, War Child Australia, our sponsors and our loved ones that wait patiently for us to complete this adventure.
Love to all Cathy xxx