Life is a journey.
Always taking the scenic route--and sewing along the way
Search This Blog
Cambodian Memories VI: the folks
Sokhum, my tuktuk driver for 5 days in yellow; Votah my tour guide for 3 days in the hat
I found the people in Cambodia wonderful--up until now the people of Viet Nam had stolen my heart. I found them open, helpful, gentle and smiling. My dear tuktuk driver, Sokhum, got me "off the base" several times in an effort to help me out; one with a visa issue (I needed my e-visa enlarged and a sheet of visa pics taken and processed--so off to a crowded hole-in-the-wall place we went one evening :) and another time to get an international sim card for my cell phone. It was a great way to get into back alleys, etc.
My tour guide, Votah, was a hoot with his Australian English; but I also found him to be extremely knowledgeable about his country's history. We had some great talks about our faiths and recent Cambodian history, the Khmer Rouge, and its affect on his own family. He also got me off the beaten path to a local family (not his) who were in the process of making palm sugar. Fascinating. Sokhum squatted right down and started stirring just like he did when he was a child. His brother fell from the top of a palm tree 20 years ago and became disabled so Sokhum would never climb the palm trees. But he was an expert stirrer. The candy is delicious! I tasted the palm fruit, too, and slurped the juice. The dad person cut it open and offered it--bottoms up!
These two guys both had small children at home and big dreams. It was a privilege to get to know them
The children speak for themselves, eh? The threesome were so persistent and irresistible that I bought a handful of bracelets from each of them. And gave them extra for the picture.
In the end, I just cannot help but smile when I think of this trip.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin Follow my blog with Bloglovin Let's give this blogging thing another go, shall we? I recently listened to podcast #18 at Clothes Making Mavens featuring Barbara Imodi of Sewing on the Edge that was SO encouraging. So on we go with my pretty bad photos featuring real me and my real life. We're back in Mongolia for 90 days with Randy's work. I've been tracking that over on Instagram and Facebook . Anyway, my official sewing enabler, husband Randy, made sure that I immediately acquired a second-hand machine and set up my Happy Place. Our furnished apartment has one picture on the wall and dinnerware for 6, but I have a sewing machine! I do have my priorities right. I have to say I've never been a Singer fan. That said, this little guy has really, really surprised me. There is a Singer store here in UB that is the only game in town. I got this Singer 323...
Last spring I chucked my 20-year-old bathrobe, giving me no choice but to replace it come winter. Granted, I never took it to Mongolia, so it only got worn when I was home in the US. But still. For summer I made several light weight robes, but I knew I liked the style of my old RTW one. When I saw reviews for Vogue 9232--on PR (all 3 of them), I knew I'd found my pattern. Interestingly enough, the pattern is actually for a caftan-type dress; but all 3 reviews were done up as a robe. Sham's review in particular had great tips. On a trip to Colorado Fabrics in early summer I spotted a beeeuuutiful pink sweatshirt type fabric. The outside is more like a thick knit and inside is dreamy soft. And it's baby pink! Which is hard to tell in the pics as we in Colorado have had lots of rain and no sunshine. And OK, I'm no photographer. But seriously, this is like stepping into a pink cloud. ...
Today I went to the grand opening of the New Life Quilting Centre here in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Selenge (in picture #2) began this work 5 years ago in an effort to help Mongolian women find a creative outlet for relaxation as well as create community for them. Selenge, as a single mom herself, has also tried to help other single moms earn income (and self-respect) through the art of quilting. From humble beginnings in a yukky basement apartment (where the toilets above would often overflow into the Centre's space) to this wonderful new location, the Centre is a success in every way. The day drew a good crowd of foreign as well as local women--and TV cameras! I think the pictures speak for themselves! Below is the the Centre's workshop--looks like one of Santa's, eh? A better woman would have left her own stuff out...but not me! It's been so long since I shared my stuff, I cannot resist. Here are just a few of the projects I worked on in the past few months, several ...
In the end, I just cannot help but smile when I think of this trip.
Comments