Ca c'est chez moi:
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Lesson of choosing a topic!
To choose a topic for a 15 page document may be easy: There are so many interesting things in this world to learn and write about. Or it may be difficult: It should be criticial, feasible within reasonable time, not to complex, but even though it should give the opportunity to "discover something".
Getting pratical - what I realized today: Better choose a topic that seems simple in advance because you can be sure that there is something tricky or complicated behind! Knowing before starting that the topic is huge and complex is underestimating the diverse and related mecanisms at the basis!
Therefore, I will be careful in choosing the topic of the next paper I should start writing before X-mas!
To choose a topic for a 15 page document may be easy: There are so many interesting things in this world to learn and write about. Or it may be difficult: It should be criticial, feasible within reasonable time, not to complex, but even though it should give the opportunity to "discover something".
Getting pratical - what I realized today: Better choose a topic that seems simple in advance because you can be sure that there is something tricky or complicated behind! Knowing before starting that the topic is huge and complex is underestimating the diverse and related mecanisms at the basis!
Therefore, I will be careful in choosing the topic of the next paper I should start writing before X-mas!
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Dear CHAN!
You are very small, the size of about 10 Salzkörner, but you can grow. You are dark, almost black, but you can change the colour rapidly by showing some transparent grey. Your were grown in Costa Rica, but found the long long way to Geneva. Once in Geneva, some of your brothers and sisters showed me your talents and caracterstics, the moment came to fall in love!
At the moment you are very dry in a little plastic bag, but you are just waiting to take a bath in cold water. Yes, the water, this is your destiny. The water makes you transforming to show your fascinating beauty and to bring real pleasure to human beings.
Today you came to me, thanks to Petra and Andres you found the way from the Rue de Servette to the Contrat social, you are the highlight of my day, you are the reason why I can say: This is a good day, this is an extraordinary happy day! I received some Chan and everybody that has not figured out what it is, can come to my place and I will share this little wonder of this world.
You are very small, the size of about 10 Salzkörner, but you can grow. You are dark, almost black, but you can change the colour rapidly by showing some transparent grey. Your were grown in Costa Rica, but found the long long way to Geneva. Once in Geneva, some of your brothers and sisters showed me your talents and caracterstics, the moment came to fall in love!
At the moment you are very dry in a little plastic bag, but you are just waiting to take a bath in cold water. Yes, the water, this is your destiny. The water makes you transforming to show your fascinating beauty and to bring real pleasure to human beings.
Today you came to me, thanks to Petra and Andres you found the way from the Rue de Servette to the Contrat social, you are the highlight of my day, you are the reason why I can say: This is a good day, this is an extraordinary happy day! I received some Chan and everybody that has not figured out what it is, can come to my place and I will share this little wonder of this world.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Thursday, November 30, 2006
On the origins of debts!
It is a topic nobody likes to talk about. It is a topic that even though attracts a lot of attention, once it is being discussed. It is a topic opposing two fundamental different ways on how the North-South relations should look like. It is the topic of economic theories, numbers and disputes. It is the topic about the increasing debts and the difficult (for instance not to say impossible) duty of reimboursement of debts in developping countries.
For my history class on Finance and international relations I am undertaking a reseach on debts of Africa from the point of view of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund! Before reading some of the books I was not aware of the extent of this problematic, on the way of arguing, the way of seeing numbers and theories in such different ways.
At the moment I am just reading and reading, trying to understand all (or at least some of) the factors and relevant mecanism. The topic is complex and I do not have the knowledge, the time and the capacities in understanding the entire complex international monetary system. Even though, according to my really basic knowledge of economics, my effort to understand both sides, I can already say, that sometimes I am getting so upset with the IMF and the World Bank, and the more I read the more I do not understand why they continue injecting money, forcing growth that has not come in the last 40 years in the countries mostly needed.
Well, maybe a part of the answer I will find in the book (I just started two days ago) I am reading before I fall asleep each night: Die Bekenntnisse eines Economic Hit Man.
It is a topic nobody likes to talk about. It is a topic that even though attracts a lot of attention, once it is being discussed. It is a topic opposing two fundamental different ways on how the North-South relations should look like. It is the topic of economic theories, numbers and disputes. It is the topic about the increasing debts and the difficult (for instance not to say impossible) duty of reimboursement of debts in developping countries.
For my history class on Finance and international relations I am undertaking a reseach on debts of Africa from the point of view of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund! Before reading some of the books I was not aware of the extent of this problematic, on the way of arguing, the way of seeing numbers and theories in such different ways.
At the moment I am just reading and reading, trying to understand all (or at least some of) the factors and relevant mecanism. The topic is complex and I do not have the knowledge, the time and the capacities in understanding the entire complex international monetary system. Even though, according to my really basic knowledge of economics, my effort to understand both sides, I can already say, that sometimes I am getting so upset with the IMF and the World Bank, and the more I read the more I do not understand why they continue injecting money, forcing growth that has not come in the last 40 years in the countries mostly needed.
Well, maybe a part of the answer I will find in the book (I just started two days ago) I am reading before I fall asleep each night: Die Bekenntnisse eines Economic Hit Man.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
A day without the blue!
Another day that started early in the morning, at 7AM. I must have known inconsciously that getting up this morning will not be a very pleasant issue. The first look outside the window pulled me back to my bed. Icould hardly see 30 metres because of a thick grey fog, taking the first light in the morning.
Therefore I was thinking of looking at pictures of wonderful Geneva when it is is not foggy cold, rather sunny blue (like yesterday), inviting for a walk on the lakeside, a little tour with my bycicle or my inlineskate. But anyway, like this there is no incentive to leave the library.... my books are waiting for me! Back to work.
Another day that started early in the morning, at 7AM. I must have known inconsciously that getting up this morning will not be a very pleasant issue. The first look outside the window pulled me back to my bed. Icould hardly see 30 metres because of a thick grey fog, taking the first light in the morning.
Therefore I was thinking of looking at pictures of wonderful Geneva when it is is not foggy cold, rather sunny blue (like yesterday), inviting for a walk on the lakeside, a little tour with my bycicle or my inlineskate. But anyway, like this there is no incentive to leave the library.... my books are waiting for me! Back to work.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
White discovery!
After a class at 8AM and a short stop at the library I decided to go home to have some rest. Having classes at 8AM on Monday, Tuesday AND Wednesday is not bad in the perspective to go up and start working early, but only under condition to go to sleep early enough! Well, and that was not the case the last few days, so I decided to go to sleep again.
Now I just got up (12h23), sitting in front of my computer, and I am surprised!! I see some snow on the Salève. Is it really snow? Could be, because this morning it was really cold and it rained during the night.
Welcome winter!
After a class at 8AM and a short stop at the library I decided to go home to have some rest. Having classes at 8AM on Monday, Tuesday AND Wednesday is not bad in the perspective to go up and start working early, but only under condition to go to sleep early enough! Well, and that was not the case the last few days, so I decided to go to sleep again.
Now I just got up (12h23), sitting in front of my computer, and I am surprised!! I see some snow on the Salève. Is it really snow? Could be, because this morning it was really cold and it rained during the night.
Welcome winter!
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Almost 100% Student again!
Slowely I get used to my normal Student life again. As I did an Internship during the summer and extended it a little bit after my trip in Cambodia, I finally can concentrate more on my studies. I am back again in the library with many books and soon a paper to right. I started to retake old habits: The first thing to do in the morning when I usually get up at 7am - preparing some strong black tea, a cup to drink right a way, the rest goes into my bottle. Yes, I have to do someting when I do not want to fall asleep at 9, after 45 minutes of lecture and the professor not giving us any break! (I know I am not a "morning"-person...,) than at 10 there is time for a coffee, to finally get me awake and see what the books in the library are doing.
Probably tomorrow I can start doing researches for my paper. I am just waiting to see the professor to talk about the subject, then I will be on the research-mode: Running from library to library, trying to efficiently use all these search engines and circumvent their barriers in size, download, rights etc. I am looking forward to it, yes, because I can develop my own opinion on a specific subject, getting a small specialist in a little something that hopefully will help to understand a bit of the world we live today.
Besides, I am trying to get a little job to earn some money. Time of volunteer has not been suspended, but sometimes priorities have to be set... yes, back into the capitalism!
When flying with Wikimapia over the world I feel again the need to travel again, go on discovery, see at least some of the places that look so pleasant and interesting!
Slowely I get used to my normal Student life again. As I did an Internship during the summer and extended it a little bit after my trip in Cambodia, I finally can concentrate more on my studies. I am back again in the library with many books and soon a paper to right. I started to retake old habits: The first thing to do in the morning when I usually get up at 7am - preparing some strong black tea, a cup to drink right a way, the rest goes into my bottle. Yes, I have to do someting when I do not want to fall asleep at 9, after 45 minutes of lecture and the professor not giving us any break! (I know I am not a "morning"-person...,) than at 10 there is time for a coffee, to finally get me awake and see what the books in the library are doing.
Probably tomorrow I can start doing researches for my paper. I am just waiting to see the professor to talk about the subject, then I will be on the research-mode: Running from library to library, trying to efficiently use all these search engines and circumvent their barriers in size, download, rights etc. I am looking forward to it, yes, because I can develop my own opinion on a specific subject, getting a small specialist in a little something that hopefully will help to understand a bit of the world we live today.
Besides, I am trying to get a little job to earn some money. Time of volunteer has not been suspended, but sometimes priorities have to be set... yes, back into the capitalism!
When flying with Wikimapia over the world I feel again the need to travel again, go on discovery, see at least some of the places that look so pleasant and interesting!
Sunday, November 19, 2006
It should not have been!
My first international business trip in my life was planned on next Thursday to Dakar, Senegal, for ten days. Final preparations were on my daily working Agenda. Helping to prepare speeches, elaborate further details on the Agenda, finalising my report to be presented at the meeting. The tickets were already paid, the Visa already in my passport. It was even planned to go to Lucerne to look for some appropriate clothes and a suitcase.
This changed quickly when, during a meeting, some breaking news arrived: The World Scout Parliamentary Union (www.wspu.net) will not meet for its General Assembly in Dakar. The Senegalese National Assembly decided to cancel the event, despite the participation of more than 23 countries with each at least one official representative. Below you see the building where the decision has been taken, in the middle of Dakar.
Shaking heads were all over, questions followed by silence. What to do to go back to the decision? Calls were made trying to figure out why this had happened, who decided. Waiting to get an answer. The first cancellation e-mails arrived, some people called to ask for some more details. We did not have more details, we did not know more than that the event has been cancelled because of a low number of participants (according to them, although the minimum was at 20 countries...)
On Thursday arrived the official letter signed by the president. Nothing to do. Next step: Cancelling of airplane tickets, trying to have at least a part of the ticket reimboursed. Calling UNEP and UNICEF, calling all special invites...
Well, it should not have been, not for the World Scout Bureau (www.scout.org), not for the World Scout Parliamentary Union, not for Senegal and not for all the participants motivated to go there to discuss, to enjoy, and to create something that could have been unique in this world. I should not have been.
Despite of this abrupt change of the plans, I spent a wonderful weekend in Geneva. Good Food, good friends, sports, a book and a lot of sleep! Yes, I am ready for the next week in Geneva!
Voilà, l'endroit où la decision a été prise:
L'endroit prévu pour visiter un peu la région:
Hotel Meridien:
My first international business trip in my life was planned on next Thursday to Dakar, Senegal, for ten days. Final preparations were on my daily working Agenda. Helping to prepare speeches, elaborate further details on the Agenda, finalising my report to be presented at the meeting. The tickets were already paid, the Visa already in my passport. It was even planned to go to Lucerne to look for some appropriate clothes and a suitcase.
This changed quickly when, during a meeting, some breaking news arrived: The World Scout Parliamentary Union (www.wspu.net) will not meet for its General Assembly in Dakar. The Senegalese National Assembly decided to cancel the event, despite the participation of more than 23 countries with each at least one official representative. Below you see the building where the decision has been taken, in the middle of Dakar.
Shaking heads were all over, questions followed by silence. What to do to go back to the decision? Calls were made trying to figure out why this had happened, who decided. Waiting to get an answer. The first cancellation e-mails arrived, some people called to ask for some more details. We did not have more details, we did not know more than that the event has been cancelled because of a low number of participants (according to them, although the minimum was at 20 countries...)
On Thursday arrived the official letter signed by the president. Nothing to do. Next step: Cancelling of airplane tickets, trying to have at least a part of the ticket reimboursed. Calling UNEP and UNICEF, calling all special invites...
Well, it should not have been, not for the World Scout Bureau (www.scout.org), not for the World Scout Parliamentary Union, not for Senegal and not for all the participants motivated to go there to discuss, to enjoy, and to create something that could have been unique in this world. I should not have been.
Despite of this abrupt change of the plans, I spent a wonderful weekend in Geneva. Good Food, good friends, sports, a book and a lot of sleep! Yes, I am ready for the next week in Geneva!
Voilà, l'endroit où la decision a été prise:
L'endroit prévu pour visiter un peu la région:
Hotel Meridien:
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Thursday, November 02, 2006
En rétrospective
Depuis le 21 octobre, depuis mon arrivée à Genève j'essaye de trouver ma vie initiale, ma vie ici en Suisse, à Genève avec les études, le boulot et le boulot (cet ordre n'est pas encore selon l'ordre d'importance que ça devrais d'être, mais j'en travaille).
J'essaye de m'adapter, j'essaye de trouver un équilibre avec le sport et mes amis. L'air fraîche et les soirées avec des bons repas avec de l'ambiance me ressource, mais rien ne m'empèche de songer en arrière avec mes pensées.
Depuis un moment je voulais vous raconter du 17 octobre 2006, une journée où j'étais encore à Bangkok, une journée où on m'a montré un autre côté du bonheur. C'étais la journée de fêter mon anniversaire en Asie. Mon cadeau d'anniversaire ne s'arretais pas avec une petite tortue en pierre le 12, mon cadeau se transformais dans des moments intense au niveau physique et musculaire, niveau culinaire puis humain, car j'avais le plaisir de partager ces moments avec Jan. Après une matinée au Chinatown où on a trouvé le Monsieur super-sympa pour des chaînes de lumières qui, sans demander, nous offrais la prise Euro-compatible, on grignontais à gauche et droite pour rester en forme. On avais bien intérêt car le massage Thai traditionnel dans une ambiance détendue suivi par un "herbal thé" m'explusais sur une autre planète. Le feeling corporel sautais du lourdeur des longues promenades de shopping à la Leichtigkeit (legerté) de bien-être. Du coup je me sentais reposée, libre d'esprit puis toute en harmonie pour bouger mes extremités du corps. Je ne marchais plus sur les trottoires, j'étais trop legère pour les toucher, mes pieds me portais sans bouger, je glissais vers un autre sommet de la journée, un véritable sommet matériel en même temps: Le Bayokke II, batiment le plus haut à Bangkok nous ouvrais ses portes pour un buffet à discretion sous le toit des étoiles, en dessus de la mer de lumière, en dessus de la poussière des camions.
Rien que j'y pense la densité remonte, les images des Sushi, le goût du saumon cru, l'odheur d'une soupe thai, la vue sur la ville! Tout est présent, je sens, je vois et j'y suis. Merci Jan pour ces moments vécus le 17. octobre, qui est finalement juste une date qui ne détermine pas la fin des moments d'esprits, car ces moments persistent, ils sont ici avec moi et je les laisse revivre maintenant à Genève, toujours au bureau.
Depuis le 21 octobre, depuis mon arrivée à Genève j'essaye de trouver ma vie initiale, ma vie ici en Suisse, à Genève avec les études, le boulot et le boulot (cet ordre n'est pas encore selon l'ordre d'importance que ça devrais d'être, mais j'en travaille).
J'essaye de m'adapter, j'essaye de trouver un équilibre avec le sport et mes amis. L'air fraîche et les soirées avec des bons repas avec de l'ambiance me ressource, mais rien ne m'empèche de songer en arrière avec mes pensées.
Depuis un moment je voulais vous raconter du 17 octobre 2006, une journée où j'étais encore à Bangkok, une journée où on m'a montré un autre côté du bonheur. C'étais la journée de fêter mon anniversaire en Asie. Mon cadeau d'anniversaire ne s'arretais pas avec une petite tortue en pierre le 12, mon cadeau se transformais dans des moments intense au niveau physique et musculaire, niveau culinaire puis humain, car j'avais le plaisir de partager ces moments avec Jan. Après une matinée au Chinatown où on a trouvé le Monsieur super-sympa pour des chaînes de lumières qui, sans demander, nous offrais la prise Euro-compatible, on grignontais à gauche et droite pour rester en forme. On avais bien intérêt car le massage Thai traditionnel dans une ambiance détendue suivi par un "herbal thé" m'explusais sur une autre planète. Le feeling corporel sautais du lourdeur des longues promenades de shopping à la Leichtigkeit (legerté) de bien-être. Du coup je me sentais reposée, libre d'esprit puis toute en harmonie pour bouger mes extremités du corps. Je ne marchais plus sur les trottoires, j'étais trop legère pour les toucher, mes pieds me portais sans bouger, je glissais vers un autre sommet de la journée, un véritable sommet matériel en même temps: Le Bayokke II, batiment le plus haut à Bangkok nous ouvrais ses portes pour un buffet à discretion sous le toit des étoiles, en dessus de la mer de lumière, en dessus de la poussière des camions.
Rien que j'y pense la densité remonte, les images des Sushi, le goût du saumon cru, l'odheur d'une soupe thai, la vue sur la ville! Tout est présent, je sens, je vois et j'y suis. Merci Jan pour ces moments vécus le 17. octobre, qui est finalement juste une date qui ne détermine pas la fin des moments d'esprits, car ces moments persistent, ils sont ici avec moi et je les laisse revivre maintenant à Genève, toujours au bureau.
Monday, October 23, 2006
A culinary journey in Bangkok
Already back in Geneva I feel like going back in my thoughts and feelings to share an exclusive culinary day in Bangkok with you!
The breakfast started with a Sweet and Sour with porc and rice. For good health this was accompanied with a fresh orange juice from arround the next corner. Later in the afternoon there was a Saté Chicken smiling at us, including a delicious sauce and some vegetables! Walking and walking (and some shopping by the way) we got hungry again and we discoverred some fresh pineapple (yes, we learnt a lot from Dr. Isaac: For some basic health there is not much that goes above a good portion of Vitamines). Another highlight was Mr. Bun doing fresh Bun's, directly from the oven. Then 50 m next to Mr. Bun some fried bird's eggs looked at us, and we had them served with fresh raw cabbage. All this was not enough when we saw some delicious sushis! We could not resist on these sushis, we made our first choice a few minutes a second one. Wow,all of these things a real "delicatesse"!
By the way, yesterday I had a Raclette at a very good friend's place. It was different but it was at least as good as the mini delicatesse in Bangkok with one main difference: The moment I ate I was sure to be back in Switzerland again! :-)
Already back in Geneva I feel like going back in my thoughts and feelings to share an exclusive culinary day in Bangkok with you!
The breakfast started with a Sweet and Sour with porc and rice. For good health this was accompanied with a fresh orange juice from arround the next corner. Later in the afternoon there was a Saté Chicken smiling at us, including a delicious sauce and some vegetables! Walking and walking (and some shopping by the way) we got hungry again and we discoverred some fresh pineapple (yes, we learnt a lot from Dr. Isaac: For some basic health there is not much that goes above a good portion of Vitamines). Another highlight was Mr. Bun doing fresh Bun's, directly from the oven. Then 50 m next to Mr. Bun some fried bird's eggs looked at us, and we had them served with fresh raw cabbage. All this was not enough when we saw some delicious sushis! We could not resist on these sushis, we made our first choice a few minutes a second one. Wow,all of these things a real "delicatesse"!
By the way, yesterday I had a Raclette at a very good friend's place. It was different but it was at least as good as the mini delicatesse in Bangkok with one main difference: The moment I ate I was sure to be back in Switzerland again! :-)
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Ernste Gesichter am Hafen
At seven AM on 15 October I was supposed to leave Shianoukville for Bangkok! Arriving on time at the bus station there were different excuses: The bus is broken and there are no other (even though the parking was full of these little mini buses). Second, they received a call that some ferry is not running today, therefore there is no bus leaving. Whatever the case, I accepted: I will not go by bus to Bangkok today. No problem because:
I did not even have to think about the next alternative, because people had suddenly a strong interest in selling a boat ticket (to the Thai boarder with connection to Phnom Penh), especially the guy I paid for the bus ride. I insisted on getting my 27USD back (I know this is incredibly expensive for here and made me think about the lesson about monopoly and price discrimination I had last year in Economics). Always saying I can choose wheather I will have the money back or the boat ticket (15USD) with the return, suddenly he did no have the 27 USD. I insisted, showed him that I will not play his game and received my money back. My nose told me that something is wrong about these 15USD. First: This price can not be affored by locals and second: Everybody wants to sell you this ticket - I mean that was not normal!
With hard negotiation with my driver which I almost left because he wanted to charge me with an incredible fee to go to the harbour I was back on the motorbike taxi. By the way the driver, that obviously gets commissions from the hotel and booking stores when delivering tourists, was already upset because I did not buy the ticket at the hotel. Therefore, instead of bringing me to the harbour he stopped at another place - again boat ticket for 15(!)USD. The slogan again. Boat ticket here, best for you, best for you, buy boat ticket here. Getting-angry-Andrea insisted on going to the harbour, where I finally arrived. The boat was leaving at mid-day - plenty of time to do some research about THE and THEIR prices....
I was at the harbour restaurant where suddenly a man came out from the middle of nowhere, putting the boat ticket in front of me: 15USD! I was not in a hurry and did not pay. 10 minutes later my motorbike driver came back (and I was already thinking that I got rid of him), telling me that I have to pay now (I think he just wanted to get some commission from the ticket seller in buying a local ticket, reselling me at another price and getting the difference)! I did not pay the ticket, felt in the meantime strange, because people down the harbour were not smiling anymore. Serious faces and no answer on a friendly Sus-e-dei. Was I insisting to much, was I looking to much for something they do not want me to know? I knew I was alone, and I had to be careful. I was then very glad when a police officer came along and I had a chat with him. In fact, Cambodian people pay 8USD for the boat trip and all foreigners pay 15. Many locals buy local ticket and resell them to tourists. There is only one company serving to the Thai-border and therefore the price is set for foreigners... fix without any negotiation, expect when insisting and spending 3 hours like Andreaschli was doing, always smiling and friendly. Finally I got the ticket for 13USD, not much less, and honestly I do not care a lot about these two dollars, but it is the principle I do not agree in having a special (and what a special) price for foreigners, trying to cheat them, trying to grap their money in the pockets with hiding the real price..... Not with me!
Finally I arrived in Bangkok at midnight. What a journey!
At seven AM on 15 October I was supposed to leave Shianoukville for Bangkok! Arriving on time at the bus station there were different excuses: The bus is broken and there are no other (even though the parking was full of these little mini buses). Second, they received a call that some ferry is not running today, therefore there is no bus leaving. Whatever the case, I accepted: I will not go by bus to Bangkok today. No problem because:
I did not even have to think about the next alternative, because people had suddenly a strong interest in selling a boat ticket (to the Thai boarder with connection to Phnom Penh), especially the guy I paid for the bus ride. I insisted on getting my 27USD back (I know this is incredibly expensive for here and made me think about the lesson about monopoly and price discrimination I had last year in Economics). Always saying I can choose wheather I will have the money back or the boat ticket (15USD) with the return, suddenly he did no have the 27 USD. I insisted, showed him that I will not play his game and received my money back. My nose told me that something is wrong about these 15USD. First: This price can not be affored by locals and second: Everybody wants to sell you this ticket - I mean that was not normal!
With hard negotiation with my driver which I almost left because he wanted to charge me with an incredible fee to go to the harbour I was back on the motorbike taxi. By the way the driver, that obviously gets commissions from the hotel and booking stores when delivering tourists, was already upset because I did not buy the ticket at the hotel. Therefore, instead of bringing me to the harbour he stopped at another place - again boat ticket for 15(!)USD. The slogan again. Boat ticket here, best for you, best for you, buy boat ticket here. Getting-angry-Andrea insisted on going to the harbour, where I finally arrived. The boat was leaving at mid-day - plenty of time to do some research about THE and THEIR prices....
I was at the harbour restaurant where suddenly a man came out from the middle of nowhere, putting the boat ticket in front of me: 15USD! I was not in a hurry and did not pay. 10 minutes later my motorbike driver came back (and I was already thinking that I got rid of him), telling me that I have to pay now (I think he just wanted to get some commission from the ticket seller in buying a local ticket, reselling me at another price and getting the difference)! I did not pay the ticket, felt in the meantime strange, because people down the harbour were not smiling anymore. Serious faces and no answer on a friendly Sus-e-dei. Was I insisting to much, was I looking to much for something they do not want me to know? I knew I was alone, and I had to be careful. I was then very glad when a police officer came along and I had a chat with him. In fact, Cambodian people pay 8USD for the boat trip and all foreigners pay 15. Many locals buy local ticket and resell them to tourists. There is only one company serving to the Thai-border and therefore the price is set for foreigners... fix without any negotiation, expect when insisting and spending 3 hours like Andreaschli was doing, always smiling and friendly. Finally I got the ticket for 13USD, not much less, and honestly I do not care a lot about these two dollars, but it is the principle I do not agree in having a special (and what a special) price for foreigners, trying to cheat them, trying to grap their money in the pockets with hiding the real price..... Not with me!
Finally I arrived in Bangkok at midnight. What a journey!
Reprise
For all those that were wondering what happened with the Bloog-writing Andrea, here I am back with some pictures and some nice stories from the South of Cambodia and now back in the famous shopping paradise of Bangkok!
First I scroll back to 12 October - my birthday. All our buses (Jan to Bangkok and Simon to Laos) left in the morning and at noon I was on the beach. Tired, I just wanted to sleep on the beach and listen to the sound of the waves. What a wish ! I chose exactly the beach with most of tourists and most of sellers. All kind of stuff was sold, and I did not find the peace I wanted for my birthday. In reality I was disappointed about the busy place. However I met some Australians and went for an evening drink with them. There again, it was not of my full satisfaction. Western held Pubs and bars, western music and no local people made me more feeling like being in Mallorca than in Cambodia. In the same time I realized that there are many kind of tourists and "selon le cas" the country is seen completely different. I can just talk about really friendly and helpful people, beautiful places where you actually can see the simplicity of the locals lifestyle which allows you to live the country the way it is today and with some interest in history also to understand it. Other tourists do not even seek for such experience and are then annoyed to have begging kids at the more touristic places - and for sure also the only places they would go to.
I decided though to spend the next day with my rented bicycle and went on discovering-Andrea tour! What a wonderful hilly region. I stopped at the market to get some picknick that never arrived because I more or less shared it with some kids on the way to the beach! I had my noodle soup for breakfast, as I got used to like it here in Cambodia. Then I visited the market. I like walking through these places, even when there may not be the expected fresh and frutty jucy smell someone would expect! It was rather thick and stinky (depends on the area, like for example the seafood place...) air, however, I see the market as the heart of the communitys life. People interact, they trade, they get what they need to live... all this gives you a real impression.
In the afternoon I found finally the beach I was looking for: White sand, some palm trees, a little bamboo restaurant serving some soft drinks and NO people. I was reading my book quietly slept in between and went swimming in the wonderful sea. Really nice.
The third day I went with Billy (New Zealand) and Yaniv (Israel) for another motorbike tour! Seems as if I attract people with the same feeling for adventure... and here we go, bikeriding-Andrea is back on the scene, at least for one day!
For all those that were wondering what happened with the Bloog-writing Andrea, here I am back with some pictures and some nice stories from the South of Cambodia and now back in the famous shopping paradise of Bangkok!
First I scroll back to 12 October - my birthday. All our buses (Jan to Bangkok and Simon to Laos) left in the morning and at noon I was on the beach. Tired, I just wanted to sleep on the beach and listen to the sound of the waves. What a wish ! I chose exactly the beach with most of tourists and most of sellers. All kind of stuff was sold, and I did not find the peace I wanted for my birthday. In reality I was disappointed about the busy place. However I met some Australians and went for an evening drink with them. There again, it was not of my full satisfaction. Western held Pubs and bars, western music and no local people made me more feeling like being in Mallorca than in Cambodia. In the same time I realized that there are many kind of tourists and "selon le cas" the country is seen completely different. I can just talk about really friendly and helpful people, beautiful places where you actually can see the simplicity of the locals lifestyle which allows you to live the country the way it is today and with some interest in history also to understand it. Other tourists do not even seek for such experience and are then annoyed to have begging kids at the more touristic places - and for sure also the only places they would go to.
I decided though to spend the next day with my rented bicycle and went on discovering-Andrea tour! What a wonderful hilly region. I stopped at the market to get some picknick that never arrived because I more or less shared it with some kids on the way to the beach! I had my noodle soup for breakfast, as I got used to like it here in Cambodia. Then I visited the market. I like walking through these places, even when there may not be the expected fresh and frutty jucy smell someone would expect! It was rather thick and stinky (depends on the area, like for example the seafood place...) air, however, I see the market as the heart of the communitys life. People interact, they trade, they get what they need to live... all this gives you a real impression.
In the afternoon I found finally the beach I was looking for: White sand, some palm trees, a little bamboo restaurant serving some soft drinks and NO people. I was reading my book quietly slept in between and went swimming in the wonderful sea. Really nice.
The third day I went with Billy (New Zealand) and Yaniv (Israel) for another motorbike tour! Seems as if I attract people with the same feeling for adventure... and here we go, bikeriding-Andrea is back on the scene, at least for one day!
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
A day of help
Der heutige tag begann nicht viel anders als der gestrige: Mit warten. Nur mit dem unterschied, dass heute der Dr. Isaac in seinem tuktuk tatsaechlich gekommen ist um uns abzuholen. Wir gingen in die naehe vom bahnhof um einige kranken leuten mit den wichtigsten medikamenten zu versorgen. Die meisten leiden an den folgen von unterernaehrung und zu wenig fluessigkeit. Tuberkulose und Lungenentzuendung waren keine seltenheit.
Am Nachmittag ging es dann in den marche russe und ich wurde ueberwaeltigt von den vielen dingen die mich inspirierten. Mehrmals musste ich mich beruhigen um nicht zu viel zu shoppen. Das einte oder andere hab ich aber trotzdem gekauft und bin ganz stolz darauf.
Am fruehen abend ging es dann endlich in eines der beiden Kinderspitaeler von Beat Richner um den famoesen don du sag = blutspende zu taetigen. Es ging etwas rudimentaerer zu und her als in der schweiz, aber mein blut fliess mit der gleichen "bonne volonte" wie im hopital universitaire a Geneve. Dank dieser blutspende bin ich nun ebenfalls besitzerin eines blutspendet t-shirts. Juhuuu!
Die zeit hier in phnom penh scheint langsam ein ende zu nehmen, sowie die reise mit Jan und Simon. Voraussichtlich uebermorgen wird Jan nach Bangkok gehen, Simon zieht es nach Laos und ich werde mir einige erholsame stunden/Tage am meer im sueden von Kambodscha goennen, bevor es dann selbst nach Bangkok geht.
Der heutige tag begann nicht viel anders als der gestrige: Mit warten. Nur mit dem unterschied, dass heute der Dr. Isaac in seinem tuktuk tatsaechlich gekommen ist um uns abzuholen. Wir gingen in die naehe vom bahnhof um einige kranken leuten mit den wichtigsten medikamenten zu versorgen. Die meisten leiden an den folgen von unterernaehrung und zu wenig fluessigkeit. Tuberkulose und Lungenentzuendung waren keine seltenheit.
Am Nachmittag ging es dann in den marche russe und ich wurde ueberwaeltigt von den vielen dingen die mich inspirierten. Mehrmals musste ich mich beruhigen um nicht zu viel zu shoppen. Das einte oder andere hab ich aber trotzdem gekauft und bin ganz stolz darauf.
Am fruehen abend ging es dann endlich in eines der beiden Kinderspitaeler von Beat Richner um den famoesen don du sag = blutspende zu taetigen. Es ging etwas rudimentaerer zu und her als in der schweiz, aber mein blut fliess mit der gleichen "bonne volonte" wie im hopital universitaire a Geneve. Dank dieser blutspende bin ich nun ebenfalls besitzerin eines blutspendet t-shirts. Juhuuu!
Die zeit hier in phnom penh scheint langsam ein ende zu nehmen, sowie die reise mit Jan und Simon. Voraussichtlich uebermorgen wird Jan nach Bangkok gehen, Simon zieht es nach Laos und ich werde mir einige erholsame stunden/Tage am meer im sueden von Kambodscha goennen, bevor es dann selbst nach Bangkok geht.
Monday, October 09, 2006
De retour in Phnom Penh!
Here we go, yesterday at 6PM we arrived back again from our 15 day trip around the Tonle Sap Lake. We made 1137.1 km with our bikes on national roads in excellent shape, bumpy roads for the fun, wet roads to realize that we are in the rainy season and finally indundated roads we could hardly drive on, mais on l a fais quand meme!
Passing over the bridge in Phnom Penh I knew that a unique adventure will take an end but not so with what I saw through my eyes. Images will last that is for sure. Before falling asleep I review what I experienced just little time before, I will repass my moments of "bonheur total" I passed with locals, with the scenery and Simon and Jan.
The last three days were rather quiet and we took the time to come back to Phnom Penh. We visited a floating village on the Tonle Sap lake. People live there literally on the water and it is surprising to see how you can get organized without any ground under your feet. There were some small boats serving as little shops, pigs growing in a bamboo cage, collected wood nicely arranged on some trees and finally all the houses on some wooden posts.
We spent one night in Kompong Thom from where we visited some pre-Angkorian temples close by. The following day we went to Kompong Cham and had the change to see their water festival which included some fireworks and many many people on the riverside.
From Kompong Cham back to Phnom Penh it was a big bit of a bumpy road along the Mekong. For one more last time we saw locals stopping their work to see who is passing by. For one more time I saw the surprising reaction of women seing a girl driving a heavy motorbike, for one more time there was a wonderful bumpy road decorated with small bridges, bamboo houses and some marvellous looks on the Mekong River. AND, FOR ONE MORE LAST TIME I HAD SO MUCH DUST IN THE MOUTH, IN MY EYES AND THE NOISE, in short: Everywhere the wind passes by: All over, exactly!
At the end of the day the rain was cleaning our faces and a fresh wind welcomed us for our arrival in Phnom Penh. Wet all over and with swollen hands we arrived in Phnom Penh, and here you go with final picture of THE adventure motorbike tour!
Happy to arrive without any accident, sad to see the adventure to take and end but looking forward to experience other moments at other places in this wonderful country I fell quickly asleep yesterday in the evening.
Here we go, yesterday at 6PM we arrived back again from our 15 day trip around the Tonle Sap Lake. We made 1137.1 km with our bikes on national roads in excellent shape, bumpy roads for the fun, wet roads to realize that we are in the rainy season and finally indundated roads we could hardly drive on, mais on l a fais quand meme!
Passing over the bridge in Phnom Penh I knew that a unique adventure will take an end but not so with what I saw through my eyes. Images will last that is for sure. Before falling asleep I review what I experienced just little time before, I will repass my moments of "bonheur total" I passed with locals, with the scenery and Simon and Jan.
The last three days were rather quiet and we took the time to come back to Phnom Penh. We visited a floating village on the Tonle Sap lake. People live there literally on the water and it is surprising to see how you can get organized without any ground under your feet. There were some small boats serving as little shops, pigs growing in a bamboo cage, collected wood nicely arranged on some trees and finally all the houses on some wooden posts.
We spent one night in Kompong Thom from where we visited some pre-Angkorian temples close by. The following day we went to Kompong Cham and had the change to see their water festival which included some fireworks and many many people on the riverside.
From Kompong Cham back to Phnom Penh it was a big bit of a bumpy road along the Mekong. For one more last time we saw locals stopping their work to see who is passing by. For one more time I saw the surprising reaction of women seing a girl driving a heavy motorbike, for one more time there was a wonderful bumpy road decorated with small bridges, bamboo houses and some marvellous looks on the Mekong River. AND, FOR ONE MORE LAST TIME I HAD SO MUCH DUST IN THE MOUTH, IN MY EYES AND THE NOISE, in short: Everywhere the wind passes by: All over, exactly!
At the end of the day the rain was cleaning our faces and a fresh wind welcomed us for our arrival in Phnom Penh. Wet all over and with swollen hands we arrived in Phnom Penh, and here you go with final picture of THE adventure motorbike tour!
Happy to arrive without any accident, sad to see the adventure to take and end but looking forward to experience other moments at other places in this wonderful country I fell quickly asleep yesterday in the evening.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Siem Reap - rapidos
It is the second day already we are in Siem Reap, a very fast growing city thanks to tourism. It is the later one that shows the first effects ond a community, not only positive.
Prices are higher for nothing. Suddenly the Internet cost almost 1 Dollar per hour, the bottle of water no longer the very attractive 500 riel. They charge the double. Than of course, there are children selling all kind of things in the street or just simply asking for money. Welcome in the world of mass tourism, the moment to look for another place.
However the reason we came here is worth it: The temples of Angkor just a little bit Norht of Siem Reap. There again, they are squeezing the tourists! Yesterday they did not want to let us in with our own motorbikes. They oblige all tourists to take a tuk tuk for about 10USD or rent bikes from the hotel. We were a little bit irritated (just to use correct words) and visited then instead the miniature Angkor Wat temple...
Today we took our chance to see the real ones. We got up at 4:45AM. We rushed with our rented bicycles to the entry, paying, control, riding, control and again control...- it was not that close and easy to get there (thanks to exhausting protocol) as I thought. Finally we arrived in the Angkor Wat temple and the sun was raising. We took our picture as all tourists did and began our 12h visit in the area.
Me personally I had to hide myself to liberate my stomach from its unwelcome activity in the morning. Jan and Simon were encouraging me to drink at least some water (because I really did not feel like) and bread every five minutes- trying to give me the lost force back. In the meantime I am feeling already much better and very looking forward for a long and good night!
We visited the three main places, we tried to avoid the Japanese and Chinese tourist group that fled in regularly. We tried to speak our 5 words khmer to appease the kids selling postcards, towels etc.
To conclude, the temples were really impressive, amazing the extent and the precision of the buildings. However, the effect of this extraordinary heritage shows rather negative consequences on the local society and the image many tourist get from Cambodia. Because the image you see here in Siem Reap does not correcpond to the Cambodia I saw the last two weeks ago!
For these reasons we decided not to support any longer this arrangement in Siem Reap and to visit some other temples in the countryside with our bikes. We will leave Siem Reap tomorrow for a city close by that will serve as basis to visit some smaller and less known temples. Than I would really like to see a Floating Village on the Tonle Sap Lake (unfortunately we did no have time to do so on the way to Pursat) before we will return to Phnom Penh arround 8 October.
It is the second day already we are in Siem Reap, a very fast growing city thanks to tourism. It is the later one that shows the first effects ond a community, not only positive.
Prices are higher for nothing. Suddenly the Internet cost almost 1 Dollar per hour, the bottle of water no longer the very attractive 500 riel. They charge the double. Than of course, there are children selling all kind of things in the street or just simply asking for money. Welcome in the world of mass tourism, the moment to look for another place.
However the reason we came here is worth it: The temples of Angkor just a little bit Norht of Siem Reap. There again, they are squeezing the tourists! Yesterday they did not want to let us in with our own motorbikes. They oblige all tourists to take a tuk tuk for about 10USD or rent bikes from the hotel. We were a little bit irritated (just to use correct words) and visited then instead the miniature Angkor Wat temple...
Today we took our chance to see the real ones. We got up at 4:45AM. We rushed with our rented bicycles to the entry, paying, control, riding, control and again control...- it was not that close and easy to get there (thanks to exhausting protocol) as I thought. Finally we arrived in the Angkor Wat temple and the sun was raising. We took our picture as all tourists did and began our 12h visit in the area.
Me personally I had to hide myself to liberate my stomach from its unwelcome activity in the morning. Jan and Simon were encouraging me to drink at least some water (because I really did not feel like) and bread every five minutes- trying to give me the lost force back. In the meantime I am feeling already much better and very looking forward for a long and good night!
We visited the three main places, we tried to avoid the Japanese and Chinese tourist group that fled in regularly. We tried to speak our 5 words khmer to appease the kids selling postcards, towels etc.
To conclude, the temples were really impressive, amazing the extent and the precision of the buildings. However, the effect of this extraordinary heritage shows rather negative consequences on the local society and the image many tourist get from Cambodia. Because the image you see here in Siem Reap does not correcpond to the Cambodia I saw the last two weeks ago!
For these reasons we decided not to support any longer this arrangement in Siem Reap and to visit some other temples in the countryside with our bikes. We will leave Siem Reap tomorrow for a city close by that will serve as basis to visit some smaller and less known temples. Than I would really like to see a Floating Village on the Tonle Sap Lake (unfortunately we did no have time to do so on the way to Pursat) before we will return to Phnom Penh arround 8 October.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Diverse
For the ones that prefer reading some news in French, you will find below the Blog from Jan:
www.mcjanus.blogspot.com
Simon gave me some pictures. There are some stuffed frogs and grilled eggs to see. mmmhhh believe me!
For the ones that prefer reading some news in French, you will find below the Blog from Jan:
www.mcjanus.blogspot.com
Simon gave me some pictures. There are some stuffed frogs and grilled eggs to see. mmmhhh believe me!
Tranquille at the Dam Lake, total adventure to Sisopohon
The days in Battangbang passed very fast. After some shopping and readings we went for a local dish called Pot Stall. Fortunately we did no knew what we are going to eat the moment we ordered the plate. It was a kind of Fondue with bouillon and plenty of not identifiable ingrediants (kind of seafood, mushrooms, vegetable and some strange meatballs). They showed us how to prepare, and finally it was a tasty meal, but only for once! Always curious to discover new and unknown things, there were some strange smells.... The day after we were told that the meatballs were testicles from the beef!
Yesterday, Jan and I decided to visit the Dam on the way to Sisopohon. The day started early, turned tranquille and proved to be a crazy and real challenging adventure.
The Dam was originally built by the Khmer in order of the Khmer rouge to increse the productivity of rice fields. Many people died under the forced labour. In the meantime it got finished by a commen project financed by Germany and Japan. The lake behind the dam is now a lovely scenery. We hired a man that took us on his boat and for an hour or so we were in plane nature. Flowers surrounded the boat, trees came out of the water, other boats passed by, all without any noise of any engine, it was so relaxing. At the end we passed through a Lotus-flower field and the man we hired picked me one out of the water. Wow, such a nice flower just for me... I was impressed.
After an icecream-in-the-bread we started our tour up to Sispophon, we knew it will take us a while. At the beginning we could drive quickly, we had a good speed and we did not make any pause. Suddenly the road turned worse, more big road holes, some water turned the road muddy at the beginning than crazy through the end. It was so slippery, sometimes it was really difficult to control the bike. Then we came at the point we were in front of a completely inundated road. What shall we do? We decided to go through. The water came up and up... feets very already dirty before and now who cares... wet inside. The engine roaring under the waters resistence... the balance shaking under the unknown ground, just keep on going and not falling. After "some passages difficiles"we hoped to arrive in Sisophon, but at 6 o clock the dailight was over and only our lights and some indigenous that do not speak a word English showed us the way. Without saying I was already thinking of looking for a place to sleep in the middle of nowhere. The situation of knowing that soon it will be finished, moments of being tired, moments of being at the end of physical capacity, of patience made me think about my expierences a made in the Alpes and in South America. Climbing a mountain of more than 6000muM, taking the mountainbike on the top of the Pilatus to ride it down, spending hours and hours with climbing a mountain to walk it down on a glacier afterwards helped me to stay patient, to concentrate on the road, to do anything that would not lead to the arrival and just continue and continue.....
Finally we saw some slight buring wood on the road, a little village was in front of us with people talking lively in khmer. We did not understand a word, but they looked surprised to see us, and I think I would have been so, too. Ich war erleichtert...
At seven o clock we arrived in Sisophon and Simon was happy to see us again. We were telling him about the road, the people etc.
It was so fun riding the bike under these particular circumstances and I have never seen a region completely inundated like this, with so friendly people living there during the wet season. The bike ride was total adventure and so much fun, even if we were at the time limit and the limit of possibilities to manage the distance. Very important to add: I never felt in danger or insecure. I was riding my bike, and not the bike me. I knew we will arrive and I never felt alone.
The days in Battangbang passed very fast. After some shopping and readings we went for a local dish called Pot Stall. Fortunately we did no knew what we are going to eat the moment we ordered the plate. It was a kind of Fondue with bouillon and plenty of not identifiable ingrediants (kind of seafood, mushrooms, vegetable and some strange meatballs). They showed us how to prepare, and finally it was a tasty meal, but only for once! Always curious to discover new and unknown things, there were some strange smells.... The day after we were told that the meatballs were testicles from the beef!
Yesterday, Jan and I decided to visit the Dam on the way to Sisopohon. The day started early, turned tranquille and proved to be a crazy and real challenging adventure.
The Dam was originally built by the Khmer in order of the Khmer rouge to increse the productivity of rice fields. Many people died under the forced labour. In the meantime it got finished by a commen project financed by Germany and Japan. The lake behind the dam is now a lovely scenery. We hired a man that took us on his boat and for an hour or so we were in plane nature. Flowers surrounded the boat, trees came out of the water, other boats passed by, all without any noise of any engine, it was so relaxing. At the end we passed through a Lotus-flower field and the man we hired picked me one out of the water. Wow, such a nice flower just for me... I was impressed.
After an icecream-in-the-bread we started our tour up to Sispophon, we knew it will take us a while. At the beginning we could drive quickly, we had a good speed and we did not make any pause. Suddenly the road turned worse, more big road holes, some water turned the road muddy at the beginning than crazy through the end. It was so slippery, sometimes it was really difficult to control the bike. Then we came at the point we were in front of a completely inundated road. What shall we do? We decided to go through. The water came up and up... feets very already dirty before and now who cares... wet inside. The engine roaring under the waters resistence... the balance shaking under the unknown ground, just keep on going and not falling. After "some passages difficiles"we hoped to arrive in Sisophon, but at 6 o clock the dailight was over and only our lights and some indigenous that do not speak a word English showed us the way. Without saying I was already thinking of looking for a place to sleep in the middle of nowhere. The situation of knowing that soon it will be finished, moments of being tired, moments of being at the end of physical capacity, of patience made me think about my expierences a made in the Alpes and in South America. Climbing a mountain of more than 6000muM, taking the mountainbike on the top of the Pilatus to ride it down, spending hours and hours with climbing a mountain to walk it down on a glacier afterwards helped me to stay patient, to concentrate on the road, to do anything that would not lead to the arrival and just continue and continue.....
Finally we saw some slight buring wood on the road, a little village was in front of us with people talking lively in khmer. We did not understand a word, but they looked surprised to see us, and I think I would have been so, too. Ich war erleichtert...
At seven o clock we arrived in Sisophon and Simon was happy to see us again. We were telling him about the road, the people etc.
It was so fun riding the bike under these particular circumstances and I have never seen a region completely inundated like this, with so friendly people living there during the wet season. The bike ride was total adventure and so much fun, even if we were at the time limit and the limit of possibilities to manage the distance. Very important to add: I never felt in danger or insecure. I was riding my bike, and not the bike me. I knew we will arrive and I never felt alone.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Killing Caves
To satisfy our interest in Cambodias history we took our bikes to visit the Killing caves close by. Jan was guiding us successfully once more with his GPS, THE reliable instrument when orientation and the map goes crazy, when locals give different indications to find the place....
The ride was great! It was a very bumpy street but with the motorbikes it was just total fun. It was also the opportunity to learn a bit more the handling of the motorbike because road holes were all over. Most of them were still filled with water, so the bumpy ride turned quickly in a muddy adventure.
The ones that know a bit more about my adventure activities in Switzerland can easily understand how much I appreciated this cross adventure! However, it changes "pas mal" to the mountainbike, having suddenly an engine to control, the speed and the weight.
Arrived at the botton of the mountain, the police officer asked me about my skills to ride up the mountain, and I was glad to have Jan and Simon to confirm that despite of my slim appearance I handle the machine very well.
Together with a guide we finally visited the place where the Khmer rouge regime threw the people down a cave. Sometimes they got executed before, sometimes they were bound together on a chain and when the first fell down by killing all other followed alive.
Nowadays they built and are still building temples and Buddha status arround and on the top of the cave. It is getting a place for prayer and pilgram for many people having lost members of their family and of course the tourists....
To satisfy our interest in Cambodias history we took our bikes to visit the Killing caves close by. Jan was guiding us successfully once more with his GPS, THE reliable instrument when orientation and the map goes crazy, when locals give different indications to find the place....
The ride was great! It was a very bumpy street but with the motorbikes it was just total fun. It was also the opportunity to learn a bit more the handling of the motorbike because road holes were all over. Most of them were still filled with water, so the bumpy ride turned quickly in a muddy adventure.
The ones that know a bit more about my adventure activities in Switzerland can easily understand how much I appreciated this cross adventure! However, it changes "pas mal" to the mountainbike, having suddenly an engine to control, the speed and the weight.
Arrived at the botton of the mountain, the police officer asked me about my skills to ride up the mountain, and I was glad to have Jan and Simon to confirm that despite of my slim appearance I handle the machine very well.
Together with a guide we finally visited the place where the Khmer rouge regime threw the people down a cave. Sometimes they got executed before, sometimes they were bound together on a chain and when the first fell down by killing all other followed alive.
Nowadays they built and are still building temples and Buddha status arround and on the top of the cave. It is getting a place for prayer and pilgram for many people having lost members of their family and of course the tourists....
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Kompong Chhnang.... Pursat... and Battangbang! I drive my motorbike (250cm3!), carefully I learn how to use it, how to balance the weight, which is, compared with mine, not "negligable" ! With my big backpack on the top you always have to pay attention. But yes, when we left on Monday morning I felt ready for 800km on the bike, arround the Tonle Sap lake.
Traffic in PhnomPenh was horrible, you have to fight to find your place, you need a constant 360 degree-look to ensure that nobody crashes in you and another 360 degree look to see that you do not crash into anything else! It reminded me about the traffic in Mexico city, with the difference that here are lots more motorbike and a little and essential factor: I AM DRIVING by myself! Once PhnomPenh was left behind a wonderful landscape with green "reisfelder"all over. Little houses along the street. Simply travelling on the road itself is a real experience. Suddenly you see someone transporting a huge pig on the motorbike. You see cows transporting straw or grass. You see trucks filled up with your future "chicken with sweet and sour sauce"! Wherever you look there is something to see, and sometimes even more. What could that be? Fortunately they do not know McDonalds drive in... they know much better. There are fresh grilled and stuffed frogs you can buy just next to the street! A bit suspicious at the beginning we could not resist and tasted this delicatesse. I was surprised, I like it a lot. This was certainly not the last time I ate frogs - even the simple idea of it is still strange to me. To have another snack we tasted grilled egg on the "spiess". It tastes with respect a bit different than the breakfast egg cooked during three minutes with some fresh "zopf"and some Aromat, however, these two different ways can compete with each other, I can tell! During travelling and the night with ventilation, I got a running nose or the flu. Yesterday I was not feeling very well, today is already much better. I was not aware of that it has not been long time I arrived here. Then it needs also a lot of concentration to drive etc... I drink a lot and always have some medicaments with me. Jan, who had or still has some fever, is sharing his vitamines and Simon is entertaining and motivating the ones that have some less energy. Today in the afternoon we arrived in Battangbang and the first time we saw some other tourist. It makes me strange to see them, it was a nice feeling to be at places where no other tourists are, it makes it special and very personal. I think I will finish with my blog activities for today, I am getting a bit tired and my nose is asking for some "mouchoirs" or its Cambodian friend: Toilet paper! See you tomorrow.
Killing fields....
On Sunday morning we rented the motorbikes and went on a preparatory tour to the Memorial of the killing fields close by.
The Killing fields is one among the places where the Khmer rouge (extremist-Communist organization that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979) killed X thousands of people to fulfill their idea of Cambodian society. For this reason all people were chased from PhnomPenh and forced to work as farmers. All opponents, educated people, people wearing glasses, people without having hands like the farmers do etc. were put together and individually executed.
We visited the graves and the places where they were killed and tortured to death. The vegetation is covering this place very well now, nothing indicates anymore what horrible things happened here not so much time ago. However, some graves were opened and some skulls are now visible in the Memorial which gives this place a mystical atmosphere.
Ein Platz der Ruhe und tieferen Gedankengaenge, ein Ort der fuer immer zeigen soll zu was fuer Graeueleien der Mensch faehig ist, in der Hoffnung aehnliches zu verhindern.
On Sunday morning we rented the motorbikes and went on a preparatory tour to the Memorial of the killing fields close by.
The Killing fields is one among the places where the Khmer rouge (extremist-Communist organization that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979) killed X thousands of people to fulfill their idea of Cambodian society. For this reason all people were chased from PhnomPenh and forced to work as farmers. All opponents, educated people, people wearing glasses, people without having hands like the farmers do etc. were put together and individually executed.
We visited the graves and the places where they were killed and tortured to death. The vegetation is covering this place very well now, nothing indicates anymore what horrible things happened here not so much time ago. However, some graves were opened and some skulls are now visible in the Memorial which gives this place a mystical atmosphere.
Ein Platz der Ruhe und tieferen Gedankengaenge, ein Ort der fuer immer zeigen soll zu was fuer Graeueleien der Mensch faehig ist, in der Hoffnung aehnliches zu verhindern.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
1st day in Phnom Penh,
Finally I arrived yesterday at the OKAY Guesthouse in the middle of Phnom Penh, not far away from the Mekong river.
Here are my first impressions from the city. It is much cleaner than I expected, and the streets less busy as I saw in South America or Indonesia. People are very friendly, but they do not run after you. If you show your interest they help you and try to sell you a thing and make you a good price. If not so, they accept you are not interested and leave you "tranquille". This makes it very confortable and more relaxing.
After I first roundtrip in the market by bycicle, we went for a combodian pizzalio alias self made noodle maker. The guy made them just in front of our eyes! He stretched and folded the dough several time with an incredible speed. Withing a few minutes he came a long with long noodles he threw directly into boiling water. This was not only amazing to see it was also very delicious afterwards in form of a noodle soup!
The afternoon was not less impressive but more sad. We assisted a guy called Isaac, a student in medecin. He dedicates most of his sparetime to sick people (especially children) that do not have access to medical assistance. He buys the necessary in a Chinese market and with the help of tourist he goes to the suburbs or other poor areas to take the temperature, see if they have any infection etc. We helped Isaac to numbering the kids, someone took the temperature in the order of the numbers, Isaac had a look at their lungs and ears, and someone filled in the medecine into little bags. The place was stincky and many kids did not have shoes (or even clothes) for walking and playing on the dirty ground. I was sad about the lack of interest from the parents to their kids. Many of the kids were(almost) to small to remember Isaacs explanation how to take the medicine. However, we were told that kids in Cambodia get very fast responsible for their own, however, some were really small. Most parents were absent and when they were there, they were more giggling at Isaac in not taking him seriously. How can parents do this - I mean, it is their childrens life and wheather they take a medecine or not they die or not! Sad also to see the lack of education.
We saw how a mother led pee her little boy just next to the "public"place, where we were. There is not a strong culture of doing pee pee and poo poo on one particular places - so it is normal they get sick! However, they are not aware of it and it seems as if they do not care, which makes everything worse.
Despite of all these more sad aspects, we treated arround 40 kids. Among four or five of them had an ongoing lung infection or 39 degree fever and they do have the right medecine now. Many had headaches because they do not have enough food or are dishydrated. It is a "kleiner tropfen auf den heissen stein"...
After some hours helping Isaac we returned to our guesthouse - taking a shower and going for diner. However, the images from this afternoon are still in front of my eyes and I will not forget them so easily.
Tomorrow, we will get closer to our bike tour and rent the motorbikes. We will test them and will go to the KillingFields close by.
I took some very nice pictures, however, this computer says he needs a software to download them from my camera.
Finally I arrived yesterday at the OKAY Guesthouse in the middle of Phnom Penh, not far away from the Mekong river.
Here are my first impressions from the city. It is much cleaner than I expected, and the streets less busy as I saw in South America or Indonesia. People are very friendly, but they do not run after you. If you show your interest they help you and try to sell you a thing and make you a good price. If not so, they accept you are not interested and leave you "tranquille". This makes it very confortable and more relaxing.
After I first roundtrip in the market by bycicle, we went for a combodian pizzalio alias self made noodle maker. The guy made them just in front of our eyes! He stretched and folded the dough several time with an incredible speed. Withing a few minutes he came a long with long noodles he threw directly into boiling water. This was not only amazing to see it was also very delicious afterwards in form of a noodle soup!
The afternoon was not less impressive but more sad. We assisted a guy called Isaac, a student in medecin. He dedicates most of his sparetime to sick people (especially children) that do not have access to medical assistance. He buys the necessary in a Chinese market and with the help of tourist he goes to the suburbs or other poor areas to take the temperature, see if they have any infection etc. We helped Isaac to numbering the kids, someone took the temperature in the order of the numbers, Isaac had a look at their lungs and ears, and someone filled in the medecine into little bags. The place was stincky and many kids did not have shoes (or even clothes) for walking and playing on the dirty ground. I was sad about the lack of interest from the parents to their kids. Many of the kids were(almost) to small to remember Isaacs explanation how to take the medicine. However, we were told that kids in Cambodia get very fast responsible for their own, however, some were really small. Most parents were absent and when they were there, they were more giggling at Isaac in not taking him seriously. How can parents do this - I mean, it is their childrens life and wheather they take a medecine or not they die or not! Sad also to see the lack of education.
We saw how a mother led pee her little boy just next to the "public"place, where we were. There is not a strong culture of doing pee pee and poo poo on one particular places - so it is normal they get sick! However, they are not aware of it and it seems as if they do not care, which makes everything worse.Despite of all these more sad aspects, we treated arround 40 kids. Among four or five of them had an ongoing lung infection or 39 degree fever and they do have the right medecine now. Many had headaches because they do not have enough food or are dishydrated. It is a "kleiner tropfen auf den heissen stein"...
After some hours helping Isaac we returned to our guesthouse - taking a shower and going for diner. However, the images from this afternoon are still in front of my eyes and I will not forget them so easily.
Tomorrow, we will get closer to our bike tour and rent the motorbikes. We will test them and will go to the KillingFields close by.
I took some very nice pictures, however, this computer says he needs a software to download them from my camera.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Transit in Bankok
After some busy days before departure I took my flight from geneva to vienna and had eleven hours of transit. I decided to step into vienna city, but very quickly i had enough and just wanted to leave!
Finally i am in bangkok, another transit but only for one hour or two. Time enough to give you some news. it is also the moment to inform you about my travelling plans.
The ones who carefully read the comments know already that I will not be alone for the first few days during my trip. In PhnomPenh Jan and Simon are waiting for me. According the last update I had from Jan, we will leave leave PhnomPenh for a motorbike trip arround the TonleSap lake on Monday. This will take us 10-14 days. Then, I would like to visit the Eastern part of Cambodia, at least up to Kratie. The time limit and the weather will decide on wheather I will go more up north (ratanakiri), more to the East (mondulkiri) or directly to the South to hang out a moment on these wonderful beaches! Some days are then planned in Bangkok, where I will fly back to geneva on 21 October!
Mama ond Dada, ich weiss, die idee mit der motorrrad tour wird euch nicht gefallen! Ich bin aber mit zwei starken jungs unterwegs, die beide grosse reise-und toefferfahrung haben. Jan machte bereits letzten sommer eine tour im vietnam und weiss ganz genau auf was wir uns einlassen. Sie haben bereits sicherheitsvorkehrungen getroffen und sich vorbereitet... ich halte euch immer auf dem laufen, macht euch keine sorgen. ok?
Ich habe euch alle ganz fest lieb und denk an euch!
After some busy days before departure I took my flight from geneva to vienna and had eleven hours of transit. I decided to step into vienna city, but very quickly i had enough and just wanted to leave!
Finally i am in bangkok, another transit but only for one hour or two. Time enough to give you some news. it is also the moment to inform you about my travelling plans.
The ones who carefully read the comments know already that I will not be alone for the first few days during my trip. In PhnomPenh Jan and Simon are waiting for me. According the last update I had from Jan, we will leave leave PhnomPenh for a motorbike trip arround the TonleSap lake on Monday. This will take us 10-14 days. Then, I would like to visit the Eastern part of Cambodia, at least up to Kratie. The time limit and the weather will decide on wheather I will go more up north (ratanakiri), more to the East (mondulkiri) or directly to the South to hang out a moment on these wonderful beaches! Some days are then planned in Bangkok, where I will fly back to geneva on 21 October!
Mama ond Dada, ich weiss, die idee mit der motorrrad tour wird euch nicht gefallen! Ich bin aber mit zwei starken jungs unterwegs, die beide grosse reise-und toefferfahrung haben. Jan machte bereits letzten sommer eine tour im vietnam und weiss ganz genau auf was wir uns einlassen. Sie haben bereits sicherheitsvorkehrungen getroffen und sich vorbereitet... ich halte euch immer auf dem laufen, macht euch keine sorgen. ok?
Ich habe euch alle ganz fest lieb und denk an euch!
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Party Time
Demain matin ça ne seras pas l'heure de départ pour moi même, mais pour Lorena, une amie de l'Argentine. Arturo a organisé une excellente fêtes et moi même j'en ai également profité pour dire au revoir à quelques amis. Merci beaucoup d'être venu et à bientôt sur le Blooog!
Monday, September 18, 2006
My trip to
Arriving on Friday night with a two hours delay (thanks EasyJet) the weather already started to get worse which did not really change throughout the weekend. Very quickly I got accused to have brought the Swiss rainy weather to
At a friend’s place I got introduced to the first roman custom: Opening a
Because of the weather our activity plan has to be adapted from minute to minute accordingly to the change from sunny minutes to pouring rain and water all over! This means we ended up with shopping, but anyway: who could go to
Saturday night we went for the Pizzeria Formula Una in 
Afterwards, some of Nicole friends joined us and we went in one of the Non-smoking bar just around the corner. By the way, in ALL bars and restaurants there is “interdiction de fumer”, a real “bonheur” I can tell you. As a convinced non-smoker I am just looking forward to get the same law in
After a choice of different colours and tastes of beers (see
pictures) we got more and more tired, the eyes always getting smaller. Without having ignored the “Italian smell”, the Italian way of “looking in your eyes” and receiving some compliments during these two days, we had the great chance to see the gentlemen-side of their character. Early in the morning they brought us home on their own motorbikes. A ride through empty roman streets showed me that this city is museum in lifestyle and reality! Once again: I big thank you to Tomaso and Paolo for this wonderful evening and the ride back home!
Today morning, finally, I got up at
Friday, September 08, 2006
How can a bird fly without being high enough? Very soon I am no longer trying to gain some altitude by climbing or biking up Swiss mountains, airplanes will be my may to be closer to heaven! A short trip to Rome to visit Nicole, who is doing an internship at the IFAD (International Foundation for Agricultural Development). Few days after, Austria Airlines will hopefully take care of me in bringing me to Bangkok. One month I will spend in Asia, mainly in Cambodia and maybe I will have some time to visit Thailand. I am looking forward discovering new countries, cultures and people, let's see what this month will bring to me and keep on visiting my blog!
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