Onward bound - LPQ-PNH via BKK

Yesterday was a travel day, so there's nothing exciting to write about, particularly if you're sequestered for hours in the miniature departure lounge of Luang Prabang's airport.  It's Gate 1 or Gate 1 and there's no possibility of comprehending anything that comes across the PA system.  If your plane is sitting on the tarmac, then you know you are about to board.  If your flight is two hours late, well, it's always 5 minutes to landing.

Flooding in Bangkok is no joke.  From the air you can see that the flood waters extend miles and miles beyond the banks of the rivers.  At 20,000 feet, it's water all the way to the horizon.  I cannot imagine how long it will take to recede, or where it can possibly go.

Phnom Penh continues to develop exponentially.  It's been 3 years since my last visit, and the changes are immediately noticeable.  Electronics store and car dealerships.  High end clothing stores and coffee house chains.  It's not the same city anymore.  A new middle class has emerged.  The streets are choked with cars and motorcycles.  Overpasses are being built at the busiest intersections to handle the volume.  It even smells clean.

I am met at the airport by a nice, young man who takes me directly to the hotel dodging cars and motorbikes like a pro.  Driving is not for the faint of heart.  I suspect that driver's ed is non-existent....it's a by the seat of your pants sort of thing...something that has not changed in all the times I have been here.

The team is starting to assemble.  Pat from Singapore arrived shortly before me and Terry Ann from Ottawa arrived later in the evening.  Michele and Mike came in today with tales of their cycling trip from Saigon to Siem Reap.  I took time this morning to meet with Tabitha staff to finalize details for our house building schedule next week.  Everyone is starting to get excited.  It's a very busy week for Tabitha...with 6 house building teams arriving for orientation on Monday.

Janne Ritskes, Founder and Director of Tabitha-Cambodia,  with Managers Srei (L) and Heng (R)

Friday is admin day for Tabitha managers and the shop was full of hustle and bustle.  It was great to see so many familiar faces.  Tabitha employs over 50 Cambodians to manage their programs.  To date, Janne was telling us over lunch, that since 1994 Tabitha has quietly but efficiently helped 2 million Cambodian poor work their way out of poverty.  Cambodia's population is 14 million, so Tabitha's impact has been significant.