Dengue Fever (the band not the disease)

I spent another wonderful long weekend on Koh Rong Samlom island with some friends. I cannot state the beauty of this place enough - but I will try! A true island paradise with no one there just unspoilt white sand, amazing bush to walk in, many interesting animals. It is really difficult to leave there when the time comes to return to the mainland. Although the weather was beautiful and the rains have totally stopped now the journey back was very choppy, big waves buffeting our small fishing boat which listed and rolled atop of the swell before plunging into a watery valley....every 10 seconds for 3 hours!! We were wet through and glad to be on dry land.

Ronise and Irena



The clearest water I have ever seen



We had some lunch in the hell hole that is Sihanoukville. Why anyone would want to stay in this place which seems to solely be inhabited by sex tourists and dazed/dizzy backpackers desperately trying to find a bar run by someone from their own country serving their own food..very strange. That is why Thailand is there, to soak these people up but unfortunately they are coming to Cambodia more and more. It is a grubby and unlovely place which is full of hawkers and I was very glad to get back to Kampot. Luckily backpackers don't last long in Kampot as there is no nightlife or KFC.

I and my colleague Irena have been planning a gig for the last week or so. Next Sunday (13th Nov) Dengue Fever http://www.denguefevermusic.com/ are going to play at the Epic Centre!!!! They are a very cool band from the USA and are touring SE Asia and are awesome - give them a listen you will be very impressed. http://youtu.be/CQYOGkCk2DA It came about because of friends of friends of friends etc.

Dengue Fever

Anyway we are organising the gig which is very tough as we are having to get the technical gear of which there is little in Cambodia but we will manage. Everyone is really excited and we are expecting 100s of people to attend as this kind of thing happens VERY rarely here. I have also been working with each of the programme managers to write their objectives of the next three years as well as managing the Stopgap dance project which is going really well. This week is mainly Cambodian holiday (again!) and I think I am traveling up to the Cardamom mountains http://ecoadventurecambodia.com/ which sound lovely - report to follow.