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My 30th Birthday in Cambodia

Kampot, Cambodia


Well, first of all we had a study tour from the RTC Stung Treng at the end of February. A few Clinical Instructors and Preceptors preferred to go to Kampot to see the Referral Hospital and Regional Training Centre there. So after some organisation and preperation off we went.
It was my first time in Kampot and the first time to do a study tour too.
Basically one day to travel there, one day to spend and exchange information one day travel back.
All in all it was interesting but not particularly brilliant as most of the study tour participants were more interested in going to the Zoo, buying lobster and crabs, enjoying the seaside and singing Karaoke then asking intelligent questions when they had the opportunity.
But apparently a study tour in Cambodia is a 'party tour'. Good that I know that now.

On the way back, of course we stopped in Kep and admired the Cambodian mermaid.

Back in Phnom Penh, Oli and I met and mostly he did some work while I was finishing my application forms for the UK. In the evening we had fun, here are some picutures when Ant was also in PP and really wanted to know it that night. We went to the Riverside dancing.

Then came my birthday weekend and Oli surprised me with a wonderful time. It was also in Kampot where we were going and it was called: Nataya - Round House Coral Reef Resort. I thought I've landed in paradise!

When I returned after this wonderful birthday weekend which Oli made so special for me, I discovered that our puppies at my house in Stung Treng grew again a little. Here they are, the cuties!


My Hugsy also is a proper kitten now, on the way to a fully grown big boy. Only a month ago I found out that Hugsy is a boy, not a girl as I initially thaught. That made me happy in terms of family planning.

I also didn't want to miss out on a proper birthday party so I invited everyone from Stung Treng into my box to have a good time. Chantra especially appriciated the punch I made. We had a great time and I think I had too much punch...

I am in Stung Treng now for nearly 4 weeks and after all that time, it really becomes all a blur after a while. Every day is the same. No stimulants here. My DVD player on my laptop stopped working finally (I can be thankful that my laptop works that well still anyway) so I have plenty of time to read books or to tidy my room or cook rice or change my nail colour or teach Reak-smey computer, but it is like boring. So I am so much looking forward to go into the big city this weekend, I can't wait! Partly because Oli will be there too and I am doing the Mekong River Swim on Sunday.
(Charity supported by the MRS 2011: this year The Swim Team has chosen to
donate all profits to supporting the rebuilding of a primary school in Rikuzentakata which is a town located in Iwate prefecture, Japan. Rikuzentakata was reported to have been “wiped off the map” by the tsunami following the Tohoku earthquake earlier this month. According to police, every building smaller than three stories high has been completely flooded. The town’s tsunami shelters were designed for a wave of 3-4m in height, but the tsunami of March 2011 created a wave 15m which inundated the designated safe locations. Local officials estimate that 20-40% of the town’s population is dead. Although the town was well prepared for earthquakes and tsunamis and had a 6.5m high seawall, it was not enough and more than 80% of the 80,000 houses were swept away.
Through links we are setting up between iCAN British International School and educators in Rikuzentakata, we will be fundraising to help rebuild one of the local primary schools. Any profits from the MRS 2011 will be donated to this cause. If any registered swimmers or spectators would like to donate additional funds on the Swim morning or after the event, then please contact The Swim Team at mekongriverswim@yahoo.com.)

If I wouldn't have my cats and my lovely family, I suppose I would get bonkers here on my own. But it is so good to have other volunteers here too. Although at the end of the day, everyone is on it's own here.

Soon we have Khmer New Year soon ( 14.-17.04) and that means Happy Happy and holiday for everyone. Oli and I have planned to go to Thailand to escape the madness here but there is no escaping as it will be Thai New Year as well. But for me it will be the first time and I have planned to do a bungee jump, to get it out of my system. More details about that in my next blog! Be exited!

Lots of love from your Katja!

permalink written by  katja-horsch on March 27, 2011 from Kampot, Cambodia
from the travel blog: My 30th Birthday in Cambodia
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Hi Katja! I can't believe you are now 30! I hope I get to see you in Oxford, and to meet Oli before too long. Good luck for the midwife training, love Cathy

permalink written by  catherine kennedy on November 25, 2011

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