It has been awhile, and I have a lot to fill you in on.

I have been busy organising the first of the fundraisers since my return from Cambodia. All has been going amazingly well with such great support from our wonderful community.

I spoke at BPW Caboolture and Bribie Island Chamber of Commerce on Friday and it went over very well.

Thank you again to all those wonderful people that have allowed me to share this experience with them.

I will post again this week but just letting you know that the tickets go on sale on Thursday at John Page Motors, Morayfield Road and we already have more than 20 tickets pre-ordered. There is a limit of 100 tickets.

I will be posting the three images that will be up for auction on the night as well - with all proceeds going to AFESIP.

talk soon Vicki.

What do you want to know

Everyone has been really supportive of the journey so far and the big steps are yet to come. I am sorting through images and deciding what I like - but the thing is so many people like different things so I am struggling with want people want to see.

More importantly I am speaking at the Bribie Island Chamber of Commerce on April 1 at Bribie Island Hotel from 6pm and I need to know what people want to hear about.

Any ideas?

Let me know if you want to attend or go on to their website - good meal and cheap night with hopefully a bit of good entertainment from me to help you understand where the images have come from.

The main event at Caboolture is getting closer and I will let you know more as it approaches.

But any help with speech ideas would be wonderful.

Back Home!!!

We have arrived safe and sound back in Brisbane. Long flight home and had to get all the shopping through customs.
But our journey has not finished yet. Now comes the time to do some real work to put together the exhibition and show everyone the images of the beautiful people that we meet.
I have already come home to talk to my husband and he is amazed by there ingenuity and cost of living - going so cheaply.
The exhibition space is getting worked out this week and everything else is taking a step closer for amking a great fundraiser - well two at least now as the second one is confirmed at Bribie Spinnaker Sound Marina - I just have to confirm a date.

Say Goodbye

The last day has arrived. Well we will not get home to tomorrow but final day in Cambodia. And just for something different we are attending a cooking class today.
The smells and tastes have certainly been different so it will be nice to put a name to some of them.
There are many similarities with Australia here and alot of differences - but mostly it is the primitive status of the country. Although we could take note from some of the ideas and simple practices they do.
Things are not as openly seen as I expected but I think in most part it is due to thew fast pace that everything is developing here and that we went to preventive places so we witnessed the procedures they are putting in place to help those less fortunate.
Do not forget that the images seen here are not in the exhibition so all will be a new experience to see and hopefully from my eyes what I have witnessed over the last two weeks.
Keep reading and I will keep you informed on the progress of the Going Cheap Exhibition - a focused account of Cambodia.

Almost coming home

WE are nearly coming to the end of our trip - but wait there's more, there is always more.
We went to the stilthouse villages yesterday and a floating village. An amazing site to see in the middle of a river. people survive here by moving higher as the water rises. We came in the dry season so not as much water but you get to see the extend of the structures.
Volleyball is a favourite pasttime and you see makeshift nets everywhere.
But the things I will remember most is the touch of a young girl last night as she asks me for money and food. I said to Bronwen I really wanted to but the problem is if one gets it they all run out to get more. We could not see anymore but they would definitely be there.
The Artisan Angkor was a wonderful experience. Very similar set up to the Bribie Island Arts Centre with the different workshops. But all these work together for one purpose to get the statues etc made. It gives work for many people and they get taught the skills and in particular a section of it is for deaf and mute people. The get taught and will always have work in the centre.
Oh and I should continue and tell you I ate a silkworm - I am proud of myself and have evidence.
You would understand why silk is so expansive after seeing this process.
It is something Cambodia is known for and it is a good job to have as the women are getting about $150 a month and only working 8 hour days - average wage is around $50-$80 a month.
Today we will see the butterfly garden and have a bit of a slower pace day.

images from today and what you missed yesterday, enjoy...

No Sunshine

SORRY LOOKS LIKE THE INTERNET WILL NOT LET IMAGES ON
We are now in Siem Reap - definitely quieter and slower paced out here. Not as much of the character of Phnom Penh as it is a bit more civilised and directed to tourists due to Angkor Wat.
Went for sunrise this morning - overcast, raining and the temple is being worked on so no photos but none the same an experience.
Back to the temples for the rest of the day - Tomb Raider here we come.
We went quickly to AFESIP yesterday for their International Women's Day celebration - we had to leave before the dancing which they were disappointed about - I wasn't if you see me trying to do Khmer dancing.
The main eating places in Siem Reap are almost cosmopolitan style Oh and we got our feet eaten by fish last night - rather a pleasant experience.
The main place I want to visit here this week will be the stilt village where the people live on 10 m high homes surrounded by water.