Life is a journey.
Always taking the scenic route--and sewing along the way
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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...
Mental Rioting. Isn't that the coolest phrase? I just heard it minutes ago on a Nat Geo bio on Darwin. Thought it summed up a lot for me today. All good. Except for the head cold I'm getting over. A glorious fall day is outside and I've been cooped up trying to mend. Respiratory infections are not to be taken lightly here in UB. The good news is that I was able to snuffle about and cut out 4--count them: 4! sewing projects today. Very excited about them. Oh, and the really, really good news is that Mr. M indeed fixed my serger. The same day. He's a keeper. Before the cold hit, it hasn't all been sewing here. I started helping out with conversational English with bright young people working in Mongolian government who are trying to get to Australia to work on Master degrees. Last Friday I was thrilled to be invited to tag along on a tour of the Parliament Building. Quite a privilege for a local, nev...
My husband had meetings come up quick in Dubai and of course I tagged along! We were going to be there a week and I wanted a lightweight kimono-type pullover for the pool and getting out of the shower. I had snagged a gorgeous white linen/cotton (guessing on this) here in UB that was perfect. My inspiration came from Lisa's over at Lisa's Carolina | Handmade . I'm not good at pattern drafting and this was a quick FREE measure and cut tutorial of Stitch Sisters--find their Patternless Pattern Link here . I'm so happy with this! It basically took me an afternoon. The directions are great--and they include 5/8" seam allowances--yay!--as I wanted to turn under and top stitch them since I don't have a serger here. I left off the ties. Shapeless worked for this. I also raised the neckline by about 1.5" The neckline was a little trickier as I didn't have any bias on hand and there is no "running out" anywhe...
In the end, I just cannot help but smile when I think of this trip.
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