Christmas in Phnom Penh @PhotographyBB Forums:

Christmas in Phnom Penh @PhotographyBB Forums:

Been busy

Well its been a busy couple of weeks, new job is quite a demand on my time due to short deadlines this month but its all complete now and gone to print. Not hand much time for personal photography the last couple of weeks so I will have to get back to it...

I got a JOB

Working with one of the better known publishing companies here in Phnom Penh, picture freelancing for there pocket tourist guide...will be working on a few projects over the next week..

Settled In

Well I'm finally all settled in and beggining to adjust to the heat and starting to get some work done. May have a job in the offing which would be nice to suppliment my megre earnings...

This place is still as crazy as always, late nights, heavy drinking (I don't drink much), friendly ladies (most of them)...

Staying a while...

Well I'm planning on staying in Cambodia for a while so I have found a nice apartment to stay for the duration. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, big kitchen, 25 foot living room and on the ground floor so no stairs for the old man to climb. Ex'lent....

Day of REST...

Well I have not travelled much out of the Bar today, it is Sunday my day of rest. lol
Its really very hot here at the moment and I am still adjusting so avoiding going out to much in the midday sun (mad dogs and Englishmen do that, but not this Englishman)

Will be starting a little more serious work next week I have a couple of short trips planned that I will be putting on the blog. I am sitting up in the Upstairs Bar in the Walkabout right now watching the guys and girls play pool and seeing how to girls, who are great little pool players, are able to run short rings around the guys who think they are super pool sharks, sharks these girls have several rows of sharp teeth.. they can also usually drink any western guy under the table...especially if he's paying. Keep watching and hopefully I will have some interesting tales to tell in the very near future..I have put up a few image here taken over the last couple of days, hope they amuse.

These guys were disassembling the hoarding seen at the recent water festival, working 30m above ground with no safety equipment, what a job.

Spotted these youngster riding there bike, typical Cambodian fashion two at a time at a Wat I visited outside Phnom Penh.

Many of the sights to be seen in Cambodia are easily accessible as the road system continues to improve.

This Wat is about 40km outside Phnom Penh.

This was the week end of the Water Festival here in Phnom Penh, boat racing on the Tonle Sap and millions of people. I lasts for 3 days and the population of Phnom Penh swells from 1.2 million to over 3 million for the week end with people travelling to the city, from the provences, for the event.

It is a time when families get together and drink beer and have fun whilst watching the boats race. I think it is actually more about ''family'' than the actual event.

Food is plentifull as are beggars and hawkers so watch your wallet if you are intending to visit the festival next year.

Local delicacies can be had from the ladies selling them on the street, like these beetles and grasshoppers that the Khmer people eat as snacks much like we would eat sweeties...

On the last evening of the festival the heavens opened and everyone either got wet or ran for shelter. We ran for shelter. Many interesting sights to be seen. What is this little girl thinking whilst she looks at my friend Chianthy.

Well I'm back in Cambodia and itts good to be ''home''. I was immediately sad to find that Cara and James from Share the Health Cambodia had had to leave the country as Cara had be attacked and badly beaten up after being forced of the road. This is very sad as the service they were providing has now gone.

I am staying in Phnom Penh at the moment and will be searching for an appartment ASAP.

I have had little chance to do much photography since my arrival, still acclimatising as it is realy hot.

Its Water Fetival this W/E so will be trying to fight my way to the riverside to get some shots.. keep watching.

Getting Ready

Just getting all my kit packed and ready for my trip to Cambodia. Flying with Emirates on the 21st of this month (October) and will be staying for at least 1 year. Emirates is good as they give you 30Kg checked baggage to play with. Most of mine will be taken up with Camera equipment with just a small bag of essential clothing as I intend to buy some new stuff on arrival in Phnom Penh. I will be basing myself in Phnom Penh, staying in my usual haunt, The Walkabout Hotel on 51st

Got a few trips planned, another visit to Angkor Wat is definately on the cards. I am also planning on visiting, and hopefully, working with Share The Health,Cambodia, a small hospital that they have set up between Siem Reap and PP. I hope to do an article and photoset also there to publicise there sterling work..

I also intend to visit and photograph Stung Mean Chey, the PP dump and its people, and spend some time at the school.

The times I have spent previously in Cambodia have been relatively short stays (6 to 8 weeks) but this time I will be using PP as my base for at least 1 year and will be travelling widely into places the normal ''tourist'' will rarely get to.

Travelling with a Camera

The whole point for me of having a camera with me when I travel is to document my trip and retain memories. I carry at least a little high quality point and shoot in my pocket at all times but my DSLR is normally not far away. If you have no camera with you that is when you will miss the important and irreplaceable images. Sometimes it's hard to carry all the gear, it's heavy and has to watched tp prevent sticky fingers from pinching it, but the effort can be worth it.

I usually take 2 bodies (1D and 1D Mk11) plus a selection of lenses from 15mm to 300mm, all bases covered. My fav being Canon 28-70 f2.8L and Sigma's 15-30 DG.

Photography at NEM's - Photo Forum

Come and visit when of the best and friendliest of the internet Photo Forums. Lots of talent, support and know-how is being shared on this site.

Photography at New England Moment's

New Camera.

Just picked up a Canon 1D Mk2. The Old 1D was my favourite camera up until now, the baby is amazing. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_eos1dmkii.asp . Take a look..

Share the Health Cambodia

Not many people have the opportunity, or have the inclination, to help those less fortunate than ourselves, other than maybe a few dollars given to a charity of our choice. This is a story of two amazing people who took this one, two and three stages further and decided that they wanted to help in a more direct way.

Cara and James Garcia went to Cambodia for a holiday in 2008 with plans to see the normal things in the country, Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. This they did, but they also saw past these things. What they saw was the poverty and lack of health care available to the poorest members of Khmer society. James is (or was) a paramedic in the US and his wife Cara an RN. After returning to the US, and I'm sure after much debate and soul searching, they decided to return to Cambodia and open a FREE primary health clinic in a rural area. They accepted that to do this would mean they had to sell everything they own, their house, their car and all their personal possessions. This cannot have been an easy decision as the have two young children, but make it they did. (Web Site)

This, in many ways, turned out to be the easy part, then all the applications and requests for support for this project began. They accomplished charitable status in the US and after many months gained initial support in principle from government officials in Cambodia and finally with the help of a Cambodian MP Mr. Thavy Nhem, found a suitable location to begin providing services.

Through the gracious assistance of Cambodian Parliament Member H.E. Thavy Nhem, we are operating the Chong Doung Community Health Center in Baray Distric, Kampong Thom province.

Cara, James and the kids arrived in Cambodia in early 2009 and after a lot of hard work have got the clinic up and running and are seeing many people everyday from as far away as 50 miles (it is the only medical clinic in the area).

These two amazing people have achieved a lot in a very short time but could do with our support financially, a few dollars would go a very long way towards the continued provision of this important service . They a not a big multinational care giver but two people who just want to make a difference for those who need their help in this small part of Cambodia. They are not in this to make profits ( other than the emotion and spiritual I suspect ). If you can PLEASE HELP, no matter how small (or large) everything will be put to good use I am sure.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK CARA AND JAMES

Share the Health Cambodia for the price of a couple of cups of coffee,or an icecream for your kids, you could save a life. If you have a PAYPAL account why not give a little today..

Health for CAMBODIA

Subject: Got an extra five bucks? By Ann-Marie Lindstrom

Five dollars can buy two dengue fever blood tests. Bet you didn't know that. I didn't. I don't even know what dengue fever is. So why do I care? I do know a paramedic from South Carolina who is living in the jungle in Cambodia. The blood test is important to him, because 80 people a day are coming to his free clinic from as far away as 50 miles. Right now he has an eight-year old patient with dengue and a fever of 104. He says all he can do is push IV fluids and hope the kid doesn't hemorrhage.

With all the grief and suffering we hear about every day, all over the world, maybe in our own neighborhoods these days with job losses and home foreclosures, this kid grabs me. Probably because I know the man struggling to keep him alive. Probably because a man, his wife and two young daughters--ordinary, middle-class people--gave up the convenient lifestyle we take for granted and moved to Cambodia, committed to spending two years of their lives to establish a free clinic. (OK,I'd guess the girls probably didn't have much of a say in that decision.)

They are doing this without governmental/organizational/church financial support. They don't have paid fund raisers. They don't have offices with executives making decisions. They don't spend money on advertising their efforts.

They are funding this endeavor with the proceeds from selling most of what they owned and donations.

He has invited me to come share the adventure. "Your life will never be the same." Yeah, I'm sure it wouldn't be. I'm equally sure I'm NOT going to the Cambodian jungle. If my own daughter had dengue fever in the Cambodian jungle, I'd have to hope there was someone like the paramedic and his RN wife to help her, because I am NOT going to the Cambodian jungle.

What I am doing is making small, periodic donation via PayPal. And I do mean small. I sent $5 today. I feel assured my $5 means something to the small clinic in the jungle. Much more than to larger charitable organizations that get mega-donations from corporations and governments.

Whether my $5 goes for two dengue fever blood tests or food for the two American girls yanked away from cable TV and trips to the mall (can't you just hear the older girl whining, "I didn't ask to be here in the jungle. I didn't even ask to be born. Why are you doing this to me?"), I am sure it will make a difference. I don't do very much in my every day life that feels like it "makes a difference."

Share the Health Cambodia's Web site is http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.sharethehealthcambodia.org. There's a DONATE button on the home page. Share the Health Cambodia has a FB page, but it isn't kept up to date. For some reason, the paramedic and his wife seem to spend their time doing other things. James D. Garcia has a personal page on FB. That's where the news comes from. And where the photos are.

Before the clinic even opened, Cara Garcia delivered a baby on the back of a tractor. Recently, they saved a cardiac arrest patient. James says that is unheard of in the Cambodian jungle.

I've read about people doing what I consider noble deeds. I've even known a few people who set out to do something to make life better for other folks. I've always admired them. From a distance. Without getting involved. Always thought "how wonderful that someone wants to do that." I repeat, I am NOT going to the Cambodian jungle, but for the first time I feel I can participate in spirit and support. Their project is small enough that my contribution can make a difference.

I invite you to participate, too. Remember that $5 can buy two dengue fever blood tests. That means even $2.50 can make a difference...it will buy one dengue fever blood tests. And if anyone knows what the heck dengue fever is, let me know, will you?

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COULD YOU HELP IN A SMALL WAY $5 OR $10 CAN GO A VERY LONG WAY AND MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO SO MANY PEOPLE.

Iraq 2003 - 2009

Just been watching a prog on TV about the British Soldiers killed in Iraq during the 6 years we were there. Really sad. I served in Iraq in 2004 and was surprised hpw many names I actually knew. I was part of one of the field medical teams and spent a lot of time with different units on the ground. Iraq was hot, dirty and dangerous but many of its people were glad that we were there and a small number were not so happy. I made many good friends as you do when your all in the poo..

Cambodia my second home.

What is it about Cambodia that I like it enough to call it a second home. Its dirty, run down and can be smelly and fly ridden, but apart from these small problems its a fantastic country, with wonderful history, friendly and generous people and from my point of view as a photographer it can be supremely photogenic with lots of stories to tell, some hard, some sad and some happy all of which need to be told.

Photographs of my SON

Rikky likes to come with me when I go out to take pictures and he is getting into taking some images himself. Rikky is original from Cambodia and was born in Phnom Penh its capital city. He was 4 years old when I adopted him as my son ( I was then married to his Mum) His mother an I are no longer together but I still see Rikky as my Son.

He is my little buddy and he is learning about photography very fast. He is currently using an old Samsung point and shoot that he seems to be able to handle OK. Good enough for now.

A Day Out

Took my son to see his first Castle a couple of days ago, he loved it. Nothing like this in hos home country of Cambodia, he was quite awe struck.

Stung Meanchey. Cambodia

The large Phnom Penh municiple Garbage dump is situated in a slum area of Phnom Penh known as Stung Meanchey. Close to 3000 people, men, women and children live and work on this dump . They collect recycleables,bottles,cans,pieces of metal or plastic and food stuffs, to sell for a few Reil in order to survive day to day. Many earn little more than a dollar a day.

Most of the rubbish pickers at Steung Meanchey are either from Phnom Penh or came to Phnom Penh looking for work and ended up in the slums. Many of the approximately 600 children have parents or relatives who also work on the dump and look after them. Some of them go to school, but most do not - at least not on a regular basis -, and it is safe to say that virtually none of them ever completes a primary school education. The school fees are too high and their families need them to collect rubbish to contribute to the family income. Adults earn, on average, 4000 to 5000 riels (US$1.00 to $1.25) a day; children earn on average about half that amount. A whole family working together can actually earn more money than they could in the rural village from which they originally came.

Travelling in Cambodia

Cambodia is a great place to see but travelling can be long and difficult to some areas of the country. The main roads are improving but many of the minor roads are in a sad state of disrepair and are better tackled only using 4 x 4 of off road motor cycle, especially in the rainy season. The buses are generally quite good and cheap but can be uncomfortable.

Cambodia the Place to Be

Cambodia is a land of extremes, cultural and weather, landscapes and people. So many great things to see, with friendly people with big hearts.



Ethical Tourism

1. Ensure that your money stays within the local community. If possible, try to avoid businesses run by overseas companies. Stay at locally run hotels, visit locally owned restaurants, and shop at merchants where products are created and sold by residents of the community. If you choose to participate in a tour, find one that’s locally run and gives back to community. These souvenirs and experiences will likely be more personal and memorable, while also supporting a range of industries in the community.

2. While it may be tempting to give a quick donation to an individual on the street, restrain from giving handouts, especially to children. It’s often hard to walk by someone in need and know that your money or gift could help them. However, giving handouts ultimately leads to dependence on further handouts. Children are often pulled out of school to beg on the street for their parents. Giving handouts only encourages this behavior and limits the child’s future potential.

3. If you wish to make a donation, find a legitimate NGO or charity in the community. Many organizations work to create sustainable programs that help residents become financially independent. Guidebooks often provide a useful list of successful organizations in the area of your travels.

4. Negotiate fair prices for goods and services. By regularly overpaying for certain services, tourists often price out locals. For example, when tourists artificially inflate the price of taxis, locals are no longer able to afford them. Similarly, when specific careers move up the pay scale, other industries not directly impacted by tourism suffer. Ultimately, more locals focus on this artificially inflated career path, limiting the number of individuals entering other high paying professions that require further education. This leads to a less educated and diverse population and an unbalanced economy that is dangerously dependent on tourism.

5. Don’t support government run businesses in politically corrupt countries. Additional money given to these governments only strengthens policies that have historically harmed the citizens. If possible, find locally run businesses that allow your money to stay within the community. While you do not have to avoid all travel to countries with poor human rights records, you should still be sensitive to where your money goes.

















The Cambodian economy is based around textiles, increasingly tourism and farming.
















The rural communities of Cambodia benefit very little from the increase in tourism unless they happen to be with the tourist areas such as Siem Reap, Sihanoukville or Phnom Penh although the more adventurous travellers do seek out these more rural centres.

The long-term development of the economy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure. Recurring political instability and corruption within government discourage foreign investment and delay foreign aid. On the brighter side, the government is addressing these issues with assistance from bilateral and multilateral donors. So long as political stability lasts, the Cambodian economy is likely to grow at a respectable pace.