Visit to Siem Reap

17 APR 2012: Grade Six Graduating Students, Don Bosco - Phum Chreh

The joy and excitement of the students and teachers were tremendous when Sr. Leeza announced that the Grade six students would have a cultural visit to Seam Reap in March and their trip would be sponsored by Dr. Margaret from Singapore to whom they are deeply grateful and through the kind intervention of Dr. John Lee. Dr Margaret was an ACTS participant previously, she was deeply touched by the children and wanted to give them an opportunity to travel to their own wonder of the world as most of them had never had the chance to even leave their village.

In view of the visit, the teachers took much care and attention to give them some background knowledge about the places that they would be visiting.

		Set out to Seam Reap The Secretary Ms. Kunthea prepared a booklet with a brief explanation of the various sites they would be visiting in Seam Reap province. The students were motivated to compose poems and songs about the heritage and culture of Khmer people and the beauty and the wealth of Cambodia. The songs composed were very meaningful and they sang in the bus with much joy and love for their country.
		Place of Accommodation For their physical nourishment Sr. Leeza and Sr. My Hanh did the marketing and shopping in Phnom Penh as food is cheaper and healthier there and decided to bring things to cook by themselves at the Jesuit service center where they were accommodated. The Jesuit Service Center is a place of paradise for the children with good bedrooms, mosquito nets, mats and pillows for each student, very neat and clean which they never had in their lives. The ambience and the surroundings were very conducive for them to play and enjoy themselves in the evenings after dinner.
		At the Cultural Center On arrival in Seam Reap the students visited the Museum, admired the various customs and traditions of Khmer people especially the tribes in different villages. They enjoyed moving around the villages watching the traditional scenes acted out and depicted. Late in the evening they, through a play, witnessed how the Angkor Temple was built. The Play made them wonder and imagine how brave and courageous their ancestors were and they admired the reality of its origin and how it was built in the 11th century by the Khmer people.
		At Angkor Temple It was a day of marvel and appreciation for the Khmer culture. The students spent the second day at Angkor Wat. Their Experience of mounting the temples, observing the art and listening to the guide gave them a lasting impression and an increase of appreciation of their culture.
		At Lake Boray On the final day they had planned to go to Mt Kulen where there is a beautiful water fall but unfortunately it was raining and it was too difficult for the buses to climb the mountain and so they chose to go to Lake Boray and it turned out to be a very enjoyable day. The children could satisfy their desire to take a bath before leaving Seam Reap.