THE ISLAND TRIP

Guests from the US were invited to join Julie and Rhonda on an excursion to Rabbit Island just off the coast of Cambodia.  Tom and Helen felt happy that we were included as we joined a niece (Sierra) and two of her friends (all nurses at Mayo Clinic).  The island has been a favorite of Julie for some time.  This boat is a 'long tail' boat which means the long pipe with a propeller is lowered into the water behind to boat for movement. 
Kep (pronounced Gip with a long I) is where we boarded the boat for about a 20 minute ride on a beautiful Thursday morning.  Kep is known for its crab catches.  We did not spend much time there as we headed for our restful destination after a dusty, bumpy ride in our vehicle, leaving Phnom Penh at 5 AM.  Since the traffic in Phnom Penh is terrible as people head for work, we wanted to get an early start and have more time for R & R.




R & R is great, but sometimes getting there is not so pleasant.  When roads are being rebuilt here, the travel is very dusty, slow and rough.  We could not believe the potholes that had to be dodged.  The headlights are needed, not because it was nighttime, but because of the dust.  These trucks are not hauling goods to market, they are hauling people to the factories to work.  You can see that motos (motorcycles) are a primary source of transportation.  We were not tempted to ask to drive. 
Cambodia is attempting to attract tourism, but they are struggling to offer the comforts that some require.  The red dirt reminded me of Oklahoma.  This village was our stopping place because there were restrooms available as well as a place to buy a few items to continue the trip.  One unique village that we went through had ponies that were used to transport people and goods in wagons.  Each village seems to take on its own identity.  Another village sold small hand woven rugs everywhere.  Another has many watermelon, etc.  

 As we arrived at Rabbit Island Tom and I were assigned our hut.  While I would not say it was luxurious, it was quite comfortable.  The hammock was comfortable and getting my feet up did help the swelling to go down in my feet, which had been a bother since arrival in Cambodia.  These huts are being upgraded to accommodate guests with more comfort.  The beds were comfortable with mosquito nets.  The bathrooms had a sort of running water (dipping out of a bucket).  We thought it would be very quiet at night, but the chickens, roosters, lizards, ocean waves and not sure what else provided plenty of entertainment.
We enjoyed the outdoor restaurant which provided very good food to eat.  They served rice dishes (surprise, surprise), fried rice, noodle dishes, whole fish plates, soups, etc.  Along with Julie, Sierra, Emily and Ashley, we all had our last breakfast of the trip on Saturday morning so that we could return to Phnom Penh for Sunday with the Christians.  The dinner plate sized pancakes with fruit were very good.
As Tom and I spend time studying here, we so enjoy a few days to see the country and experience what the country has to offer us and its people.  It was a blessing!



Experiencing sunset each evening in this place reminds us that God is everywhere.  That is what the ministry here is all about.  Those who have lived here for years have shared their faith and the Word of God to people who have not heard that message.  We are so happy to study with the students here and see faith grow.  We are thankful for our experiences in Cambodia.

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