Day four - New Hope

(Late upload because of power outage last night)

Today the team boarded the tuk tuks again and travelled a short distance to the poverty stricken area of a nearby village suburb in Siam Reap, supported by the New Hope Foundation.

The New Hope Foundation was a fantastic experience for everyone! Housing children, and mothers, who have been exposed to domestic violence. Tours around the housing helped the team to understand the extent of our luck back at home, while the children jumping all over the most unlikely of people (Jeremy) and poking and tickling others made the time light hearted and fun. 

The team then were led on a guided tour around the school facilities provided for villagers aged 4 to 30+ with classes including maths and the native language for primary schoolers, and sewing, English and computer skills for selected students of the 303 families partaking in the program, allowing the chance for tertiary studies later.

Our trip to New Hope's kitchen after the tour included a four course meal with sweet potato, peanuts and crickets (!) for entrées. Followed by deep fried fish cakes and Khmer noodle salad for starters, and vegetable soup and pork ribs for main meal. Dessert featured green beans in coconut milk that left diners with opposing views, with some finishing it off and others satisfied with just a taste.

We then took the tuk tuks back to the hotel. Where we were given the opportunity to choose to go down the street and do some shopping or relax by the pool or in the rooms. Later on we could choose from various restaurants and had our dinner.

Unexpectedly at about 10 o'clock the team that were still awake were confused when a blackout hit the viewable city leaving some stranded in the pool and the rooms in darkness.

P.S. James Wyatt says "Hi mummy, miss you heaps x Can't wait for cuddles!"

Abigail, Bec, Matt with a little help from Jeremy and Zac :)