Strange contraption on the river

Can you guess what the guys are attempting to build here ?

Climbing

Yesterday we went out to Mr Neil's farm to see what fruit was ready. Thy suggested that the coconuts might be ready for picking. Ms Chenda reminded him that he told her before that he used to climb coconut trees to pick them when he was young. Would he show us how it's done ?








Unfortunately when he got to the top he stumbled across an ants nest and the subsequent descent was extremely fast. (These ants bite!)



Chenda and the farmer at a good giggle at Thy who was quite in bits after the event.

Planting Rice

Yesterday I went out to Mr Rekha's house to plant rice. It was a really good day although I wasn't very good at it. The team was Rekha, his wife, sisters and brother in law and Hanna, our volunteer at Chumkriel.

Kampot Province is facing a very serious problem this year as there has been an endemic disease affecting a very large proportion of the rice already planted. As I understand it there has been an insect infestation that has destroyed about 80% of the fields. Although the Government has intervened by providing an insecticide, in the majority of cases it is too late. It is really awful to see so many rice paddies around Kampot looking withered and yellow.

Rekha will only get rice from two of his eight paddies this year. The economic impact in the area is going to be significant and I believe the price of rice has increased.

Here are some pictures of us planting in the paddy.







A cow looked on critically.


Here is Rekha planting




And here's me (do you like my 101 Dalmations shorts ?)



After completing the first field in the morning we retire for a delicious lunch back at the house.