Day 8 - Cycling & Kayaking

Bloggers: Teri, Tanisha and Yuka

With the trip coming to an end, most would think that we would that we would ease down on the strenuous activities, but this was one of the toughest days yet. Our day was packed with another 25km bike ride and kayaking to visit the floating village on Lake Tonle Sap. This meant that we had to have another bright and early morning, but many of us were more than willing as it meant a new adventure. 

 

To kick start our day, we had a delicious buffet breakfast prepared by our lovely hotel. After breakfast, the group headed down to a nearby pier to get on a boat and proceed to the kayaking location. With perfect weather, everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly. After a tedious yet enjoyable experience, we went to nearby local “pit stop” to get refreshments. Here we were able to even see some crocodiles up close! Then, we headed back onto the boat and went to appreciate the majestic Tonle Sap lake. Subsequently, we went to have a picnic lunch to recharge ourselves. 

 

The next stop: a tour of another local village supported by HUSK. HUSK is a not for profit non government organization which aims to provide the basics of clean drinking water, livelihood opportunities and health and education programmes for the citizens of Cambodia. The local village was a real eye opener to most of us, as we were able to fully grasp how fortunate we truly are, and that we should not take what we have for granted. The tour guide explained one of the fundamental beliefs of Buddhism- revenge is not a solution and that happiness/forgiveness are the true meaning of life. We met a 56-year-old lady, who had lost her husband when she was 19 because of the civil war. The Khmer Rouge had slain her husband and despite the tragedy, she was able to raise her daughter who is currently 36-years-old.   

By the late afternoon, the weather started to be unresponsive to our bike tour plans. This caused ALL of our students and teachers to be covered in mud and drenched with rainwater. However, this made the 25 km bike experience that much more unforgettable. 

After some down time, we had planned to have dinner at magnificent Koulen restaurant to see the Apsara dance, performed by beautiful locals in traditional outfits. To top it all off, the food was also amazing with a combination of Western and Asian cuisine, giving our taste buds an international experience. Lastly the students were then able to relish the great deals of Siem Reap in the bustling Night Market.  

To put it simply, today was pretty awesome!