extremes/ken just saying

A couple of days ago we were staying at a beautiful B&B in Siem Reap. This B&B is a socially conscious American owned place closely associated with Journeys Within Our Community, (JWOC) one of many NGO's (non governmental organiztions) in Cambodia trying to help Cambodian people rise from the devastation and genocide of the Khmer Rouge in the 70's and the turmoil of the 80's. Brandon, the owner, opened the back gate of his place, where we walked maybe 100 yards and came upon a "squatter's village" of 3000 displaced men, women and children living on both sides of a 15 foot wide government owned dirt road trying to eke out a living. Behind them were fences cutting off land selling a $100 (U.S.) a square meter. JWOC, among many other fine helpful services, has built and maintained deep, functioning wells there so at least there is sanitary water. The fact that the village is there have given the "squatters" a sense of security, although in fact the government could bull doze the road at any time, if that becomes impt. on their agenda.
Today, in Sihanoukville, we swam in the Gulf of Thailand, by far the most comfortable water I have ever been in. We watched a spectacular sunset. I got an amazing Khmer Message of 90 minutes for $20.00- kind of expensive in this country.
Mind numbing at times, spectacular, grateful for the beauty of Cambodian people we have met and are meeting...