Reflections on the trip

Here are a few thoughts collected from the students about a week ago on the bus trip from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap.

With having done so much this trip it’s hard to recognise just one highlight. We have all experienced so much with still more to come. Definantly a highlight for me in Cambodia has been jumping in and joining a dance session one night after dinner with the local people, playing soccer with a group of local boys and losing. The opportunity to visit the university of law and economics in Phnom Penh and met some of Para’s university friends was great. We had a look around and shared songs, thoughts and games with the students.

 Dimity Roberts

The highlights of this trip for me .... well there is a lot of them.  It has been a great experience and it really is a once in a life time trip . The markets have definitely been one of my best highlights. It has been great going to them and haggling for things you like and I know that I have definitely bought heaps of things. The food over here has been great and very enjoyable and the table service is excellent.  We had one of our best nights in Cambodia. We had the chance to dance in the street and also play games with local children like soccer. After this we were very happy and showed that we were proud of our country by chanting: Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi J

Joshua prior ( turtle )

 This trip has been so amazing so much so that there are no ‘highlights’ for me. Everything has been one giant blur of awesome. The people here are so nice even after everything this country has been through. People still have that loving, caring attitude. Getting to know people on this trip I usually wouldn’t talk to at school has been great. The landscape is so beautiful. Seeing rice fields filled with green lush plants and seeing people working in them so quietly. The Killing Fields and the S21 prison were such hard things to take in. The best part of the trip for me was being shown around by our guide Lucky. He loves to make people happy and to show people his beautiful country.

Blake Guymer

I’m so grateful I have had the opportunity to explore such an amazing country. The landscape and surroundings are just beautiful, amazing, and spectacular. There is always something truly amazing to see and explore. The temples have so much detail, always creating a beautiful sight in front of my eyes.  I have enjoyed exploring their culture. The main highlights on this trip is when we do an activity with the locals like dancing in the streets, playing soccer, and going to watch a traditional performance, and at the end having the chance to dance with them. They are all extremely lovely people, always making us feel welcome and excited to share their culture and traditions with us.

Mikaela barnes

So far the trip has been truly amazing. We have done so many things and seen and learnt so much. I have loved seeing the culture and the way people live over here. Everything is so different and even walking down the street is such a thrill. There is so much to see. We are so privileged in Australia. We have so much.  I can’t wait till we get to the school and start talking to the children.

Emma Dunn

The trip has been amazing. The culture here is completely different from our own. It is so good to see the people here and experience their culture and to see the sights of the countries. So far the highlights for me would be the S-21 prison and the killing fields. I can’t wait to see the school and look forward to the rest of the trip.

 Brenton Kerr

The trip so far has been incredible. I love seeing the different cultures and religions. The food here is amazing just like the elephant ride. The people here are so nice and welcoming.  So far the highlights of this trip for me were the elephant ride, the s-21 prison, the killing fields, the soccer match between the locals and the food. One other highlight was meeting Para. He is an incredible person.  I can’t wait to see Chamnan, Vathana, the school and teaching the students.

Chris Harker

The trip has given us many great experiences so far, like visiting the S21 prison in the capital of Cambodia where Pol Pot held and killed many people. In the same day we went to the killing fields and saw the mass graves that still remain after 30 years. On a happier note, the next day we went to the King’s palace and saw his magnificent throne room and the silver pagoda. Today we are on another long bus trip from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap where we’ll spend the rest of our trip and visit the school that the whole trip has been about.

Jake MacDonald

We’ve have now been in Cambodia for several days, and will spend the remainder of our trip here. In our 3 days in the capital of Phnom Penh we have seen the glory and grand designs of the royal palace, the riverside night life along the Mekong, and the brutality of the S 21 prison and the killing fields.  Some of us have also been ill, but fortunately the worst seems to have past.  Today is another long bus trip, the boredom broken by the occasional nibble on tarantulas or crickets, which are sold in the country villages.

Daniel Hauptberger

It is now our fourth day in Cambodia and we are all on a 6-8 hour bus trip from the capital city of Phnom Penh to Siem Reap where we will spend the next week or so before heading off home. The past few days have been very emotionally intense after visiting the horrible S-21 prison and the Killing fields where we have been shown the true brutality of mankind. On a brighter note we have also visited some of the most stunning temples and the royal palace as well, which were truly wonderful. Apart from sickness and extremely long bus trips this trip has been amazing and I am having the time of my life.

Kabe Orr

In the last few days we have visited some very intense but interesting places. The  S-21 prison and the killing fields were a real reminder of how screwed up and twisted mankind can be. Cambodia is an incredible country full of amazing people. It’s amazing the think of the fact that 70% of the population are under 21, because millions of people died during Pol Pot’s regime. A third of the entire population...  Yesterday was our last day in Phnom Penh, and we said goodbye to our fantastic tour guide who had been ridiculously nice and helpful all the time I’ve been sick. He is also a beautiful singer of Michael Jackson songs. I have not lost anything more yet, and this could be a record of visiting a country of Asia without leaving anything expensive or important behind, as I did in Vietnam & Laos. But it doesn’t matter, because the tri p is AMAZING!

Gareth Mewes

During the trip so far we have experienced many different and enjoyable times. Since we have finally arrived at our main destination “Cambodia”, we have done so much. Every day we learn something new. Going to the killing fields and the s-21 prison was very emotional and hard but very interesting and informative at the same time. It was good to understand the hard history of the Cambodian people and amazing to see how much they have picked their country back up. One of the most interesting moments in Cambodia so far was after dinner one night. While we were waiting for the tuk tuks we started playing feather feather (like hacky sack but better). Suddenly, all the local children and even some adults joined in ending up in a massive game. Then they asked us to join in a game of soccer which we did lose but it was fun. It was a good way to connect with the people. Even though they didn’t speak much English nor us Cambodian we still bonded by playing sport. We got to see the king’s palace yesterday and it surprised me how little security they had in place. Gold, silver and diamonds were just sitting in cupboards with only some very small locks keeping them safe. Shows how trustworthy they are.

 Now we are on an 8 hour bus trip to Siem Reap and we have already got to try spider and cricket. (Very chewwy and strange, but definitely worth trying for experience). We are all having such an amazing trip and it just keeps getting better.

Leilani van Diemen

It’s the little things that make the entire experience wonderful and also the things that I will remember. I don’t have much to say because it is too hard (and will take too long) to even try to communicate all of the amazing things that are have contributed to and will become memories of my stay in South East Asia. As a sample though; convincing boys on the street to dance, having room service parties, getting stuck in elevators, searching for ice-cream, realising that perhaps everyone was right when they said my bag would be too small... I feel very privileged to have had the opportunities that I have, and am looking forward to what is yet to come; the good and the bad, because regardless of the situation or experience, so far, and in the future everything has been worth it.

Sophie Ellis

Today may be another long bus trip, but I really don’t think that’s a bad thing. I’ve been on many long car trips before and to pass the time my parents told me to just look out the window. Looking out the window over here is so different from Australia. The landscape and architecture is amazing, and going through all the little villages is really interesting, especially the one we visited earlier where we bought fried tarantula and everybody had a little bit of a try (I had some leg! Mmm...). Since it is Australia Day back at home we are travelling around with the Aussie Flag stuck on the back of the bus, and some of us have Aussie shirts and Aussie flags on our cheeks. We’re still in with the spirit!

Lily McGufficke

It’s hard to pick the highlight of my trip so far considering how many amazing things that we have done such as elephant riding and visiting many different temples, but our trip hasn’t been all joy and fun. Some parts of our trip have been very emotional like when we went to the S-21 prison and the killing fields. Also it has been hard to see all the homeless people and the people that have been affected by the landmines. But then on a higher note the other night I had of the best nights ever. We all played a game of soccer in the street with the local kids and everyone had a really great time. So overall this trip has been the greatest experience of my life and I will not be forgetting it soon.

Sam Hitchens

Cambodia is definitely one of the most inspiring places I have been and ever will go. Our tour guide ‘Lucky’ had the loveliest aura and a way to make everyone smile – even after visiting places like S-21 and the Killing Fields. It’s still difficult to fathom . Saying goodbye to our guide last night was very hard but I’ll always have the photos and video of him singing Michael Jackson to us – he loves the King of Pop. Between getting tricked by playful university students, having understanding hotel staff saving us from broken elevators and haggling with locals at the market, everyone I’ve met on this trip will not be forgotten. A lot of us are excited to stay in the same hotel for more than two or three nights but I think it’ll just make it harder to leave. The saving grace will be seeing the people who are reading this at the airport.

Sophie Williams

An eight hour bus trip probably isn’t the most ideal way to spend Australia day, and I should probably be more fazed by it than I am, but this entire trip has been, and is, remarkable in every aspect that the long hours of semi-uncomfortable seating and sore neck from staring at the TV are entirely worth it. Phnom Penh is one of the most versatile and amazing places I’ve been to, and definitely one with some of the nicest people. Although I miss my family and friends back home, part of me never really wants to leave here, and in some way I know that a small part of me never will.

Rosie Campbell

This trip has been amazing in every way, and has had such a positive influence on my attitude towards the people of Cambodia. After visiting the S-21 Prison and the Killing Fields everyone was pretty unsettled and a bit devastated by what we had just seen. I know it was hard to believe that people could have acted so cruel. However after visiting these places and while everyone’s spirits were down we visited a local university. The atmosphere at this place was amazing and everyone seemed so happy, friendly and inspiring. This particular day of the trip, even though it was a pretty devastating day made me see how friendly and forgiving people can be. The people of Cambodia have been through so much, but yet they are still always so welcoming and friendly. It blows my mind. Another highlight of the last few days was dinner on our final night in Phnom Penh where we visited a restaurant which helped train kids off the street as chefs and waiters. This dinner was absolutely phenomenal and again the atmosphere was so happy, cheerful and friendly. I will never forget these people and how they have overcome so much.

Sassie Economos

Today we are spending Australia day on an 8 hour bus trip. It isn’t the ideal way to spend it, but it is all been worth it. This trip has been an experience of a life time,  but it’s going so quickly though. At times it has been very sad, especially after we were at the killing fields and s 21 prison. It had an effect because I noticed a change in everyone’s attitude. It was so quiet on the bus when we left. On a brighter note we’ve had a lot of exciting moments that we will never forget like one night after eating dinner we started playing a heated game of soccer with a bunch of Cambodian kids in a main street (not on the road thank god ). I thought it was so much fun and I can’t wait to teach and communicate with the kids at the school and open up the new library.

Maddison Feld