under all circumstances, stay calm!

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.

Preceptors and Clinical Instructors in Kampot Hospital + Anja, Carol and me

funders of student dormitory in Kampot

lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Chan Tol

Carol and Mr. Chan Tol dig into the sweet and sour grapefruit

Cambodian bananas

infront of the Zoo in Kampot

Carol enjoys a cup of fresh sugar cane juice

Mr. Chan Tol, the Vize director of the RTC Stung Treng

Mr. Sophany is dozing in the afternoon sun

Sugar cane and fish in plastic bags at the road side

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

Hey Carol!

Carol and me in Kep

19 people in the mini bus, on the way back

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.

I mean, lets cycle out!

Lets go out!

Ant wanted a good time and had a good time!

a few Tequillas later

at the Riverside in Phnom Penh

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!

everything was so nicely decorated...

Oli infront of our little house which had an outside bath tub!

after the pool started the beach immediately

the pool was amazing

our round house

two cuties

the stunning infinity pool

dawn at the end of the pier

I've got you!

it was so beautiful there!

I want to stay here...

while Oli was counting my laps.

I practised my swimming...

caught in the act

we enjoyed the pool very much

some plastic we found at the beach

beautiful shells we found

at the pool

Oly was much better in playing bowles then me

along the beach

me and my birthday present

with the view onto the pier

this frog was dead

the birthday dinner

do I look like a 30year old one?

nice shirt!

who would like to have a piece?

mmhh, birthday sponge cake!

my birthday sponge cake was tasty!

Yum, Chips and salad sandwich for breakfast!

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 favourite was the black one, the only girl

why can't they stay so small?

at this stage you can do with them whatever, even putting them into a plastic sive

3 weeks old

4 cuddly puppies

the proud mum

our new chickens behind the house

It would be lovely if they wouldn't kill the chickens at some point...

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.

Oh Hugsy, you are so cute!

And look into the lens...

Yes, he's a real model cat!

this glibber is a cambodian dessert, very sweet

Looks like worms

My Rambo enjoys a cuddle

my big boy

I think I get slightly obsessed with my cats

Rambo likes to sleep on my bed

in the morning after my run, I grabbed Rambo and took this picture

and guess, who is this?

brother love - Rambo and Hugsy

My Rambo and Hugsy cuddle together. They are so friendly with each other.

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...

Rach and Ant on the dancefloor

Luisa, Chantra and Maria

Myself, Carol and Wendy

Rachel and the handsome Hugsy

I've had 18 birthday guests up in my box!

Wendy and Ingran talking about the hospital?

It says 'Stung Treng'on it, Patricks new tatoo

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.

me and Touch, the hair stylist

Cambotschanischer Haarstyle

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!

written by  katja-horsch on March 27, 2011 from Kampot, Cambodia
from the travel blog: My 30th Birthday in Cambodia
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