Friday, November 16, all but one of us are now at the Ta Prohm Hotel in Siem Reap, right on the Mekong River.  Ronnie Yimsut met us at the airport and this afternoon took us on a tour of his childhood neighbourhood.  He saw his school which is behind the Night Market just across the river.  We visited gardens and Stupas – family burial towers, extremely beautiful and where family members will gather on holidays and bring the ashes of recently deceased family members. We then went to the site of his family home which other family members were able to claim before the new government nationalized the property. On this site is a roadside stall owned by Ronnie’s second cousin and financially staked by him.  She sells small goods plus beer and alcohol and she chopped open 6 coconuts for us to share the refreshing coconut water.

After “the guidelines” meeting we gathered down the block for dinner at a roadside restaurant.  We let Ronnie order for us with about 6 or 7 taste plates.  He was kind to us and kept the tastes on the mild side. Back to hotel for an early bedtime as we adjust to the time difference – 12 hours.

Tomorrow we will go to Bakong Technical College to see the progress then to Tonli Sap canal and floating village where Ronnie’s family was slaughtered.  More to follow – Maureen

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