Losing Paradise

I have travelled to the coast of Cambodia in Sihanoukville province for a short Easter break and have come face to face with the very ugly side of development which is taking place in this region. Sihanoukville and the coast running down to Kampot and Kep are tourist magnets because of the pine-fringed, silver strands – the warm, turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand offer wonderful snorkelling and fishing over stunning coral reefs. There are 155 species of bird listed for Ream National Park. It is paradise for anyone with an interest in nature. Continue reading “Losing Paradise”

Meet Adrian

Adrian’s a HeroRAT, the nickname for the African giant pouched rat being used by APOPO to help clear minefields in Cambodia of anti-personnel mines, anti-tank mines and unexploded ordinance, the dangerous detritus of Cambodia’s troubled past. Continue reading “Meet Adrian”

A cat’s tale

We have always had cats in the house and on the farm because we loved them as pets and for their rodent control services! My last cats came to Portugal with me from the UK in 1991 and returned in 2005 to live out their days “back home”. I haven’t replaced them as a full-time job and travelling simply didn’t fit with housing a new kitten. Continue reading “A cat’s tale”

Teaching English in Cambodia

This teaching assignment is rather different to my posting in Uttarakhand, India where the conditions for learning and teaching were far from ideal. The Learn4Life school in Siem Reap (SR), Cambodia is everything that you would expect from an educational establishment. It provides the students with an excellent environment for study and encourages them to come and learn – it is a good, positive experience. Continue reading “Teaching English in Cambodia”