Bali

Bali. Role is a waste of time... stayed between Dec 09 to Mar 2010. Decided to follow my real dream and return to Mexico. But met some great people especially up in Ubud.

Philippines

Philippines & Bacolod. Arrived Jun 30 2009 to work with Association of Negros Products. 2 months and I am nearing the end. Some lovely people (thank you Cris Vilicin) but the place is not for me. Nada to do, no really different culture. No beaches, no textiles, no art galleries and the worst food in Asia! Off to Bali next to see about Wahana Kria Putri. And get a good massage!

Easter in Ratanakiri ... Actually it is Khmer New Year with not much going on. But it makes me reminisce that this time last year I was in Guatamala ...

CANDO & Khmer New Year Party

Ratanakiri Cambodia

A nice flight in a small Aussie run plane company (MAF) brings me to dusty Banlung in the East of Cambodia. Not much to the town for sure! But luckily I am staying in the top resort complete with pool (named Red Earth fittingly as that is what is here)! Thanks for getting me safely to Ratanakiri Pilot Winston!

Siem Reap Disabled Performance

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is still majestic & enormous. I decide to visit 3 of the temples closest together. Begin my journey at 6.30 am & it is still too hot! Tourist hordes at some temples making them seem smaller! Spend half day & than give up to the heat. Still very beautiful.

Siem Reap Butterfly Kids

At Butteflies Restaurant, local kids catch butterflies for release in their garden - and get $1 for their efforts.

Siem Reap Khmer Ceramics

I arrive in Siem Reap and meet Serge and his family. Very disappointed with his Ceramic Revival Centre - not much revival indeed. Small, dirty, ugly pottery. Oh dear. The 2 months here is a bit of a nightmare but luckily I find a nice room near to the place so I can escape to air con. Serge is very difficult to train .. in fact I dont train him but provide a plan and try to get his input. Siem Reap is also not a nice town - huge ugly hotels everywhere - not my thing at all. But it gives me an insight into the state of the handicrafts in Cambodia

Cambodia Phnom Penh

Next assignment is in Cambodia. 2 assignment in fact.The first is with Khmer Ceramics. I fly into Phnom Penh where a jovial French man who is friends with Serge from Khmer Ceramics picks me up and shows me around some key ceramic related sights. Phnom Penh is quite busy, but mostly not a pretty city. The boutiques are a notch up from Vientiane but no real great finds here.

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Laos

Jul to Nov 2008:
I have been in Vientiane, Laos for 3 months working with an organisation called Lao Disabled Women's Development Center (LDWDC). My role is through Australian Business Volunteers and I have been training the ladies in marketing, business planning, production, design & quality management to improve the Centers marketing of handicrafts and thus income.

The best thing is to see the women, who are bright and truly motivated, become confident young women with great ambitions. I miss them all!

Some fave places explored in 2007