My December visit to Southeast Asia included time in Cambodia and specifically in Kompheim Village – a village of 215 families with many of these families living a hard life with no animals to assist in their farming and often only a bicycle for transportation. Those that have farm equipment, animals and irrigation to help with raising their food (and often a job in the city) are considered the wealthy in the village. We were fortunate to have an up close and personal tour organized by Husk for Communities.
Simply stated, HUSK is a Cambodian registered NGO (non-government organization) working to improve the lives of families living in the Kompheim and Treak Villages in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The goal of HUSK is to focus on the basics…access to safe water, livelihood opportunities, health, education and environment.
HUSK tours of the local villages provide both the visitor and the community with a wonderful exchange and an experience in the daily life of the village people. We helped with making a portion of a thatched roof, planted two trees (part of our tour fee went towards the purchase), helped prepare our lunch, visited the local government school, as well as the village school (HUSK sponsored) where English is taught. A large portion of our very reasonable tour costs were given back directly to the people of the village. Our guide would purchase food items (rice/eggs) throughout our day, so we never arrived empty handed when visiting anyone.
Bottom line? This organization ROCKS and this tour is a MUST if you ever visit Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Above…a young boy in the family we visited helping his grandmother make
sticky rice with banana for sale to the people in their village…
Above…love the paisley!
Above…little chicks are sold by the vendor on his motorbike…and below…the medicine man for the village…
Above…lunch prepared by a local family in the Kompheim Village…
and below…yours truly assisting in the process.
For those who know me…knows this is a rare occurrence, ha!
Turns out to be THE BEST MEAL EVER during our time in Cambodia.
Below…used my instant camera to give locals a photo of themselves…
many of the people in the village had never had their photo taken before…
Above…our guide makes a whistle from a local plant…
and below…the children of the school in Kompheim Village…
Above…the principal of the school and his staff were elated with my gift of postcards from NYC…
and below…the body language and expressions on the faces of the young girls are just priceless!
So unimpressed with those boys!
Above…Husk provides a collection reward system in their two villages.
Plastic bottles are collected and then used to build facilities.
…below…the universal language…
Throughout the entire visit to Southeast Asia, my dad was heavily on my mind as so much of what was experienced on this trip reminded me of him. The non-stop smiles from the Cambodian people, families in the fields working their land, the passion they had for their community…all a direct reflection of my daddy. It was an experience I’ll never forget and one that I so hope to have again…
So, as they say…that’s a wrap of the South East Asia experience…thanks for coming along! Next trip? Morocco in early June…but until then…there will be more to share from my city and from the Sonoran desert of Arizona.
P.S. Now that you’ve made it through this very long post <thank you> just wanted to mention that with my recent upgrade to my blog home, I’ve decided to include personal posts here as well. With my schedule, it’ll be easier to maintain just one blog. So every now and then I’ll toss in some of my art projects, as well as thoughts on various topics. Hope you’ll stick around!
Looks like a perfect day – for all of you – and a perfect way to travel. Your portraits always are so touching!
Thanks Katrin always!
Oh I so love each and everyone of these photos. Thank you so much frissy for taking us along in your travels to places I will most likely never go. I love, love, love, seeing the world through your eyes and hearing the stories of the people you meet along the way. Photography truly is your purpose and mission as well as your PASSION! XOXO always MORE!!!
No doubt I love people! I got that from my dad, I know! Thanks Frissy! xoxo
Marvelous images Robin!
You know I’ll definitely stick around, of course, dear Robin. I don’t care where you are or go, I love tagging along and seeing it all through your eyes. I can just imagine how your SE Asia trip reminded you of your daddy. The timing was perfect, then. What a gift!
Oh Ginnie…it so reminded me of my dad…so special. Thanks always for being such a great supporter!
Thanks so much Elena!
I loved this, and the references to your Dad in such a context only underlined what a great guy he was on many levels. To say this is the kind of thing I would love to do myself, heat permitting, is to understate it, but barring that, your dialogue and photographs made it as real as anything could and I must thank you for that. In fact I’m very leased to do so
Oh Duckie…you always make my day! Thanks so much!
Your portraits allows touch me, so respectful and taken with a lot of love. The people don’t shy away from your camera! What a gift you have to relate to them.
Thanks for showing us a small village and introducing us to such wonderful people!
Yes, a special gift I received from my dad…he taught me at such an early age! Thanks Karen always for commenting!
I’m undone over these images…..your travels are luminescent.
as is your heart.
-Jennifer
Oh what a special comment, thank you Jennifer!
I love each and every capture and story. I really couldn’t express it better than the above comments from everyone.
Your ability to connect with people and photograph their true selves is remarkable. You do truly have a gift for making people feel at ease. Social, economic, cultural or language barriers do not exist when you meet people. It is as if it is only you and them, they trust you, your smile, your gift with connecting with people shows. I, of course, love any photograph of you and love the one of you helping in preparing the meal. Your portraits are always so real, so natural, so deep. The true essence of the person, the community, the details are just breathtaking.
What a wonderful opportunity to be a part of the organization, HUSK. I can understand how you were thinking so much of your Dad. From what I read and understand of him, he was quite a remarkable man that touched many, many lives in his community and a mentor to young people. Robin, don’t ever think that you do not have so much of your daddy in you. You really do. You are so very special and remarkable, just like your dad.
Thank you for sharing, as always.
Love you, dear Robin.
XOXOXO
Tears here…thank you so very very much Lisa!
You know that we will stick with you until the end, no matter what. The stories you tell, the pictures you show, is real life. Real life as there is and the people are proud to show themselves in that life.
I know this was a wonderful experience for you and I hope you will meet a lot of smiling people on you road, where ever that might be. Smiles that remind you of your dad.
Love and hugs.
Thank you so much Astrid…so very much!
You do the lovely people of this village proud … and, for sure, your sweet daddy!
Hello,
Maybe an unexpected visit from the Netherlands. But I was surfing the internet to see something of Kompheim Village, and found yout beautifull blog with photos, beautifull taken.
Why I was surfing, becaus in three weeks I wiil work there as a volunteer photographer and I am glad that you are very enthousiastic about the Husk organisation.
Thanks for sharing
greetings from a Winter Holland.
Petra
Just got on your blog and saw all these beautiful pictures. What a pleasure. So proud of you and thanks for all you do to make this world a better place.
Much love