We had arrived at a good time for lunch, then it was time for the trip to the swimming lessons. Lauren and Lee have been helping with these for the five months they have been here. The children love it, as do Lauren and Lee, and to make extra room in the tuk tuk, Lauren and Lee ride their bicycles there and back each week, about 13 kilometres each way which takes about forty minutes. It didn't seem to be their day yesterday, as Lauren got a bad puncture on the way. But unbelievably she did it right outside a bike shop. The Rotary Club here own a tuk tuk which is a converted trailer and has seats down both sides so all the kids try and squeeze in. An extra tuk tuk had been hired for us, so we took some of the older kids with us.
The swimming lessons are held at a school in a nearby village. The deal is that the kids from here can use it if the kids from that school can join in. These lessons are getting so popular that pool room is getting scarce. The pool has no filtration system. Once a month they empty and change the water, and throw a bucket of chlorine in once a week. Yesterday it was very much due for its water change.
Yes the water was the florescent colour.
We had a big surprise for the children. We had cleared out K Marts rack of goggles, and took 29 pairs over with us. Lauren had found the children had difficulty seeing when the chlorine was strong and always had stinging eyes. The children had never seen goggles before, but it took them very little time to get them fitted and get the hang of them. Leaves were being brought up from the bottom of the pool at a great rate.
Getting used to goggles in no time
All too soon the time was up and as we got into the tuk tuk the sky was very dark and ominous. Half way back we ran straight into a very heavy storm, and I was worrying about those on their bikes. We had just pulled up back at the school when Lauren messaged to say that Lee had come off his bike. We organised for the tuk tuk to go back and collect him and his bike. For five months he had noticed the big rock in the middle of the road, but this time they were running late with lots of things planned for their return and they could see the storm coming, so they were peddling fast and he forgot the rock. He hit the side of it, which sent him off sideways. Probably a good thing as they don't wear helmets over here, and head first may not have been good. He had some deep nasty abrasions, but the biggest concern was his wrist which was quite painful and he couldn't bend it back. Some emails back and forwards to Karen only confirmed that he should get it looked at. Another volunteer here had been quite sick for a few days with a high temperature, and it had been arranged for her to get the bus to Phnom Penh where the medical facilities are better, so Lee left with her this morning. They may not get back until tomorrow.
After I had patched Lee up with the emergency medical supplies I had brought over, we were off to the school principal's sister's house where we were invited for dinner and to give pizza making demonstrations. What a wonderful generous hearted person she is. She has a dressmaking stall at the market and had made Lauren some lovely gifts. We had a great night with her wonderful food, and they were very attentive to the pizza making taking notes, and everyone enjoyed those immensely too.
This morning Lee headed off on the bus with his swollen wrist and Jim and I had another long forgotten experience. We cycled to the market. It is perhaps 25 years since I have been on a bicycle, so I had that to contend with, being on the other side of the road plus the traffic going in all directions. But we made it back unscathed.
We enjoyed walking around the market and the varying produce and items for sale The people are so lovely, unlike the clamour of Siem Reap. We discovered you don't need duty free here. We bought a 750 ml bottle of Contreau for $13 US. I also picked out some fabric to be made up the same as a favourite top I brought with me.
It is now the local siesta time, and we will then be heading out to the look at what the Sewing Club here has made, then back to where we were last night, this time for cake making demonstrations.
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