So two months have passed and we are really enjoying life here. Kids are happy at school and busy with their sporting commitments. Sienna has represented ISPP at a swimming carnival and also at a sports day.
Samuel is trying out for the Middle School Volleyball team and hoping to make it so he can play against some old friends from Vientiane International School. He is enjoying school and recently for the Week Without Walls program spent 5 days at the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre. He had a fantastic week making hammocks for the bears and enrichments for the animals, cleaning the enclosures, washing the elephants and collecting their poo, but the highlight was having a tshirt painted by "Lucky" the talented artistic elephant.........while he was wearing it!
Phil is settling into his role at the Embassy but he has been really busy and working long hours. I am enjoying the CLO (Community Liasion Officer ) role there and the 6hours a week hasn't been too taxing so far! The embassy had 2 new staff arrive this week so I had to give my first CLO tour of PP - it went well although it was a bit like the blind leading the blind. Importantly I had already discovered the good supermarkets, a great butcher and a lovely stop for lunch!
In the past month there has been a lot happening here. We had the 4 day funeral/cremation of the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk, which was an amazing event to witness. He died in Beijing in October 2012 and the funeral was held after the official 100 day mourning period. Millions were expected to arrive in town to honour him and be part of the ceremony. We were told to either leave town or get supplies in and stay inside as streets, shops, roads, schools would all be closed as everyone flock into town for the ceremony. We stayed here because Phil still had to work and in the end it wasn't as crazy and unpredictable as first thought. We were able to wander down to the Royal Palace and witness the crowds of people set up outside lighting candles and incense and paying their respects
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There was a 6km procession of the gold casket through the streets on the Friday with about 3000 people particiapting in the parade.
The cremation on the Monday was held at the purpose built Val Mean Crematorium and later the ashes were scattered in the Mekong River. Some will be also kept in an urn at the Palace.
The late King Father Sihanouk was a much loved figure, revered by millions and was responsible for securing independence from France in 1953. I don't at all pretend to be an expert on Cambodia's history because it is terribly complicated however I can tell you that he first ascended the throne in 1941, secured independence in 1953, stepped down from the throne to enter politics in 1955, became head of state at the death of his father in 1960, was toppled by the Lon Nol government in 1970, spent the Khmer Rouge years under house arrest in the Royal Palace and finally became the country's king again in 1993.
