We made it! We were on the plane for ages but finally we got to Cambodia and met up with Arnie. And guess what? They have monkeys here, all over the place! Here's one we met the first day. This one was very peaceful and placid but today we were in a park and Barty bought some special fruit for them and some of them started chasing him around. We thought it was very funny but he wasn't so amused, especially when a big one bared its teeth and growled.
When he isn't being chased by monkeys, Barty enjoys swimming in the hotel swimming pool. We like to sit with Arnie and relax instead. It's very hot here, nearly 40 degrees c, and sunny every day so far.
One of the amazing sights here is the traffic. Most people use motor bikes and bicycles, hardly any one wears a helmet and children as young as 10 or 12 can have their own. Whole families go on one bike, this one only has 3 people but we've seen 4 and also seen a man with 2 live pigs tied on the back. You drive on the right and to turn left you just go, without waiting for a gap - everyone seems to just weave around and manage to miss obstacles in the road.
A very sad thing here is that there was a terrible war about 30 years ago and the fighting only really ended 10 years ago. 3 million out of the 7 million people in the country were killed. Now there are landmines left all over the countryside which kill and injure people, especially children who don't realise they are dangerous. These musicians all lost an arm or a leg when a landmine blew up.
We visited a museum where a man has collected lots of defused landmines (ones he has made safe). He is good at finding them because he was trained to put them in the ground when he was 5 and spent all his childhood working for different groups laying mines, so now he goes back to where he remembers putting them and takes them apart again. He also looks after 20 children who have been injured by landmines.
We hope you are all having fun back at school again, lots of love from us all, and of course, from Barty and Arnie too.
P.S.
Arnie here. Just wanted to say thank you Lauren for the wonderful thank you note, you are such a good writer! Looking forward to seeing you again in May.
2 comments:
From Thom...Dear Barty and Arnie
I'm having a lovely time at Baz and Bompas and I'm making fairy cakes and iced buns I made and jelly.I've been in hospital for nearly a night. Baz and Bompa have a party tonight for 17 people while I'm in bed. Barbara is going to read 7 stories to me. She's staying for 300 minutes. And I am staying for two nights. Lots of love from Thom
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From Dad Dear Barty and Arnie Glad you're having such a great time. Thom is OK - just a bad turn earlier this week. Quite civilised to have just one here. The temples look fascinating - I hope Arnie did some chanting.
Must get 17 chairs out !! Love from Dad.
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