the daily view from Thru Other Eyes

Laptopless and lost

My Macbook is in the lab... 5-15 working days and just before all the holidays... something called "kernel panic"... leave it to my macbook to be a drama queen... it's very strange to be laptopless... gives me this feeling....

 

People on Crackberry

I just returned a week ago from Laos and Cambodia which always leads to some difficult and strange feelings of cultural non-adaptation. Or as I sometimes like to call it in somewhat more popular vernacular - 'mind-fuck'. A great girlfriend of mine, who now lives in Cambodia, recently returned to the States for a home-visit and eloquently and succinctly described that strange feeling of cultural non-adaptation that I share with her:

"Traffic Jams. Sprint. Automated Answering Systems. Dressing for Dinner. Refrigerators that Beep. Everything that Beeps. People on Crackberry, no Time to Say Hi. Advertising. Complaining. Schedules. Entitlement. Belligerence. Reservations. Waste. Protocol. Hello to the Things I was not Missing."

 I especially loved 'People on Crackberry.' And lo and behold, last night I was sitting in De Jaren Cafe here in Amsterdam. I was sitting at a table with Malay friends who were all cackling away in Malay so my mind was arbitrarily wandering around. It landed on the memory of her comment 'People on Crackberry' and as I lifted my head, all around me I saw, people on crackberry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fellowship of the Food

Whenever I come visit Cambodia, some of my friends back home collect a bit of money to support one of the projects here that is near and dear to my heart. This year I used the money to help a small, independent and fantastic charity I have known here since 2007 called the Ponheary Ly Foundation. For some more info about them you can check out the bit I wrote last year when visiting: "Education is the Sweetest Revenge."

We earmarked the money to provide a hot lunch to the nearly 200 primary school students of the very rural and very poor Koh Ker community. This is a school that is pretty much run by the Ponheary Ly Foundation since 2006. Koh Ker is the site of the ruins of one of the capital cities of the ancient Angkor empire. Due to its 100 km distance from Siem Reap, the tourist town serving the main temples of Angkor Wat, it gets almost no tourists and enjoys no development. 

Koh Ker village was established in 1979 after the Vietnamese drove the Khmer Rouge from power. This part of northern Cambodia was one of the Khmer Rouge's last holdouts. When established, the village became home to transient war victims: returning refugees who had fled to the northern border with Thailand, those who had survived wandering in the area's jungles for several years or people who were lucky enough to outlive their torturous Khmer Rouge servitude.

Even up to the mid to late 90's, these people continued to suffer while two simultaneous wars waged around them: one between the post-Khmer Rouge Cambodian government and the Vietnamese army who remained after driving the Khmer Rouge from power and the last remnants of internal civil war between Cambodia and the dying Khmer Rouge movement. And once in a while, until not so long ago I was told, people would sometimes still appear from the jungles asking if the wars were over.

The net effect of Cambodia's tortured modern history was the total destruction of the nation's social fabric and economic infrastructure. The Khmer Rouge also saw to the extermination of the administrative and educated classes along with the essential social and governmental institutions that such people run in any country. Koh Ker is a village of people who are all deeply suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome. Living through three decades of three brutal wars and the only case in modern history of wide-spread auto-genocide left many of Koh Ker's residents with severe psychological and emotional problems as well as widespread alcohol and drug addiction.

Ponheary Ly made education in Koh Ker her personal crusade even before the formal founding of the foundation that bears her name. The Foundation began supporting this school in 2006. When they began there were, on a good day, 40 to 50 students out of a possible 200. Most parents could not afford the minimal annual contribution of $40 - $50 needed to keep a child enrolled in a government school. And even if money were not the problem, most parents could not see any reason why their kids should even be educated, certainly not beyond the 3rd grade which didn't even exist back then at the school. And if that weren't enough, the kids were desperately needed as working family members - in the rice fields, foraging for fire wood or edibles in the forests or watching after the babies.

When the Foundation decided to make a change in Koh Ker, they found that 65% of the kids in the village were seriously ill with all kinds of terrible and often life-threatening conditions mostly due to malnutrition, filthy contaminated water, neglect and abuse.

Today, barely four years later, the school has 200 students in grades 1- 6; the first graduates - nine girls - have moved on to secondary school (grades 7 - 9); the kids are voracious and eager learners who gladly give up summer vacation to attend school year-round; they finally have those incredibly endearing smiles that children are supposed to have; they have access to clean water and breakfast in the morning; there is a doctor on staff to provide the medical care possible within the limits of budget and accessibility to equipment and medicine; sometimes dangerously ill children even now get life-saving care in district or regional hospitals; there are dedicated and caring teachers.

And sometimes, someone or some group of people, people like my friends back home, make it possible for the kids to get an extra meal - a hot, nourishing, tasty and abundant meal that is consumed with an eagerness and joy we would reserve for the mythical elixer of life itself. Which for them it basically is.

All this thanks to the inspired, tireless and dedicated work of the Ponheary Ly Foundation, its staff and supporters. Amazing respect is due to the kids themselves. Their desire and struggle to learn in living conditions that for us in the West can only be described, literally described, as unimaginable is a true inspiration.

Spending a day with these kids was a privilege. Serving them was an honor. Being touched by their indomitable spirits was a humbling experience. I will never ever forget this day. I want to thank my friends on behalf of all the people at the Foundation but mostly on behalf of 200 beautiful, wonderful and deserving kids. I also want to thank them for enabling me to be their emissary on this mission of service, to be their eyes and ears and to be their helping hands. This is part 1. In a few days I will finish with some more stories, pictures and videos of how the rest of the day went.

(Thinking of visiting the temples of Angkor Wat? Don’t forget to check out my friend Savuth’s tuk tuk services and all the handy information available on our website Angkortuktuk).

The Hunt for Red October?

Sept 16, 2010; 15.30; outside the Ij Kantine, Amsterdam North

Had lunch today at a very nice place in Amsterdam North, right on the harbor, called the Ij Kantine. It's a very pleasant (and free) 15 minute ferry ride from Central Station. A lot of boats are docked and moored in front of the place but this is the most unusual. It's Russian submarine B80, a Foxtrot submarine in the Zulu class. It was built in Riga and launched in 1956. Some entrepreneurs purchased it and brought it to Amsterdam with all kinds of plans, none of which materialized. The Turkish company that now owns it would like to sell it as scrap metal but have been unable or unwilling to put down the €1,000,000 bond necessary to export it for salvage to ensure that it is taken apart according to EU environmental and safety regulations. In the meantime, here she lies, a fascinating reminder of the Cold War. I must one day get a dinghy, climb up there and see if it's possible to get inside. 

Grotere kaart weergeven

Thumbelina

Wednesday, January 6 @ 18.10; Rijnstraat, Amsterdam

Living in Thumbelina-land, this tiny Disneyland country we call Holland, swings between charming, sad, frustrating and downright comical. I am not sure which category this falls in to, perhaps all four at once, but look at the traffic chaos that 2 cm snow has caused this evening. The most major ringroad highway of the country, around Amsterdam, has come to a total standstill. And how about this: the country has run out of sand and rocksalt for the roads and can't get more for many days. And this will likely be something they end up talking about in the Parliament! Ah, you gotta love it and laugh or you're gonna hate it and cry. Oh wait, I do that also sometimes.

Your Daily Pussy from Amsterdam

The best excuse not to have to make the bed!
 

How much is that pussy in the window

  December 11, 2009; Westerstraat, Amsterdam @ 12.30

Sometimes, even in Amsterdam, a pussy in the window is.. well.. just a pussy.

Thoughts of thanks giving

Today I am in the USA to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family. The day inevitable leads to the question, "What am I grateful for?"

Oprah popularized the concept of a daily 'gratitude journal' which is a great idea but is something I do not do (although perhaps I will give it a try) and I suspect it is something that most people do not do. It is handy then to have a day like Thanksgiving when we take the time to pause and consider the blessings in our lives.

Today I feel grateful for all the love and friendship I have been so fortunate to experience in my life. In particular, I am grateful for the love and friendship I am privileged to share with that special person the universe has hooked me up with. But I am also grateful "to all the folks I've loved before..."

I am grateful for all the trials, tribulations and suffering the universe has placed on my path because it always has come with the strength, perseverance and most of all sheer luck to come out the other side a perhaps battered but surely more humble, compassionate and wiser human being.

But this year, perhaps I am most grateful that for whatever reason or with whatever purpose, the universe has helped me learn two powerful truths: "the greatest quality is seeking to serve..." and "to whom much is given, much is expected." Thank you universe and many friends and strangers who have helped me experience the power of these truths and for giving me the where-with-all to further explore what these truths will mean for my life.

Happy Thanksgiving. Whether you celebrate this holiday or not, where ever you are, I hope it is a day of love, friendship and gratitude for you and all who are dear to you.

On The Road Again

  As much as I love Wille Nelson's rendition of 'On The Road Again', I love even more being on the road again myself. During my 4 week absence you can follow my travels to Cambodia and Laos at Leonard's Trail.

Be well in the meanwhile and happy trails wherever your road leads you.

The Elephant Parade Marches On with Almond Blossom in the Lead

 Again today I came across some of the elephant statues in the city. This time in two locations, the Jodenbreestraat and the Spui. The Elephant Parade marches on! Today's featured elephant is 'Almond Blossom' and is dedicated to my dear friend Simonne who means so much to me every day of the year, year in, year out!

One of the elephants I came across today is now one of my favorites so far. Here on the right is 'Aboriginal' decorated with the colors, motifs and lizard symbol so characteristic of Australian Aboriginal art and culture.

Shaved Oga

 September 23, 2209; home, Amsterdam @ 16.45

Oga had his six-month coat maintenance visit to the groomer yesterday. It was the first time that he was shaved and groomed without having to be put to sleep for an hour thanks to the skill and patience of the new groomer we found. According to the groomer it wasn't a totally pleasant experience for him but it is a lot healthier for him not to have to be sedated of course.

The first couple of days after being shaved he is always a bit insecure so he seems to hang more closely. Maybe partly due to the fact that he has suddenly about 1/3 the body volume without his full grown coat but I think mostly because Cinta, our second cat, doesn't seem to recognize him and isn't so friendly for a day or two.

Last night in fact he slept between us on the bed for the first time instead of taking his usual place at the foot of the bed.

Add a caption

September 23, 2209; home, Amsterdam @ 16.45 Oga had his six-month coat maintenance visit to the groomer yesterday. It was the first time that he was shaved and groomed without having to be put to sleep for an hour thanks to the skill and patience of the new groomer we found. According to the groomer it wasn't a totally pleasant experience for him but it is a lot healthier for him not to have to be sedated of course. The first couple of days after being shaved he is always a bit insecure so he seems to hang more closely. Maybe partly due to the fact that he has suddenly about 1/3 the body volume without his full grown coat but I think mostly because Cinta, our second cat, doesn't seem to recognize him and isn't so friendly for a day or two. Last night in fact he slept between us on the bed for the first time instead of taking his usual place at the foot of the bed.

Fashion Faux Pas or Not?

 September 22, 2009; Spuistraat 266, Amsterdam @ 15.20

Was running all over town today gathering some of the bits and pieces I need for my upcoming trip and I came across this fellow who didn't get the memo: "No white after Labor Day."

Elephant Parade Jackpot

 September 21, 2009; Museumplein, Amsterdam @ 15.45

As I was biking from the Leidseplein to the Albert Cuyp Market this afternoon I thought I would go via the Museumplein where one can always see lots of people hanging out, skateboarding in the half pipe, playing basketball and strolling. And all of a sudden I came across the single largest collection of elephant statues in the city's Elephant Parade. Without using the Elephant Parade map once, my meanderings have now brought me across almost 50 of the 100 elephant statues in the city-wide exhibit.

Headscarf Flash Mob Hits Amsterdam

 September 20, 2009; Dam Square, Amsterdam @ 17.00 - 17.05

Today as the nearby church tower sounded 5 PM, a small flash mob appeared on Dam Square to protest the €1,000 per year Muslim headscarf tax proposed this week by Geert Wilders, the leader of the Nethlerands' Freedom Party (which slowly but surely, given each subsequent initiative by Wilders,

could better be called the Dutch Supremacist Party). Wilders made his outlandish proposal during the week's annual parliamentary debate on the government's newly proposed budget for the coming fiscal year.

Twittelleh

This is too funny! I am also gonna give up my Twitter account and move over to Twittelleh!