G'dao na!!!

G'DAO NA!!!

In English that means it is freakin HOT over here.

The weather report for this week says that the last 3 days have been the hottest of the year.

Today the temperature is about 95, but feels well into the 100s. And the humidity is runing in the 80% range. Our house is dark inside with high ceilings and ceiling fans, so it feels a bit better. BUT the a/c in the bedroom is on the fritz and working only at about 50% efficiency. I have the repairman coming out today at 2 to take a look at it. Money is no problem in getting that thing fixed!

Today is the Buddha's birthday and a holiday in Cambodia. Buddhist monks from throughout Asia are meeting at Angkor Wat this week. This morning Jill and 3 others went to Bayon Temple at 7:30 to give gifts of food to the monks. I was a bit under the weather and stayed home (and slept). There were thousands of people there today, many arriving as early as 3am to be able to feed the visiting monks. Jill and I bought 100 packets of noodles (like Top Raman - for $10) and she distributed them along with a bit of money.

Mikki, our dog, is dealing as well as can be expected with the heat. We thought we'd have to cut her coat (she's a border collie) but she's shed most of her undercoat and has found the coolest places in the house.

We got real decadent over the weekend and bought a vacuum cleaner. We're running out of tape to pick up the dog hair, and there are just places we can't clean well with a broom. My car also needs to be vacuumed pretty regularly. I brought a Dust Devil back with me from the states earlier this month, but the motor burned up in the 220v system here. Ah well......

More holidays are coming this next week, including the planting festival where King Sihimoni plants a field to open the planting season. It happens at the Elephant Terrace at Angkor Wat. We will be there for that.

We've pretty much had visitors since the first of the year. Most recently Pierre Odier, a buddy from the Adventurers Club of LA was here for 2 weeks. We're not expecting anyone else til fall, but if you want to visit, let us know.

More later
Babu in the Jungle

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

WELL.....

The 3rd Annual Landmine Relief Fund Auction and Fundraiser was a roaring success.

The turnout, in person and online, was outstanding and we raised $6,775 to help clear landmines and unexploded bombs in Cambodia. That will clear nearly 22,000 square meters of land, and change countless lives.

On behalf of Cambodian Self Help Demining and all the people who are served by their work I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I'll be returning to Cambodia later this week to continue our work and this money will be put to use immediately to help people who are unable to help themselves.

The selflessness of all who support us, especially in these difficult times, is deeply appreciated.

I carry a notebook with me so I can remember what I talk about in meetings. On the first page I have quotation from John Donne:

"Every man's death deminshes me for I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee."

I am proud to have all you as friends and on behalf of all of us.....thank you agian.

Babu