Water Festival Tragedy - updated

Many of you may have already heard about the tragedy that occurred on the night of 22th November 2010 with the deaths of 347 Cambodians and hundreds more injured. ( The death toll was revised down from 456 to 347 on Thur 25th)

During the last evening of Water Festival many people were killed in what appears to have been a stampede on a walking bridge possibly caused by panic about the stability of the bridge when it became overloaded. Apparently there were 7 or 8 thousand on the bridge with a million in the area during an evening music festival.

At this stage we do not appear to have had any of our fellow staff or their families caught up in this tragedy. Though one of our previous staff members was on site and assisting the Red Cross on the night and is likely to have been affected emotionally as she assisted the injured. Please pray for her as she grieves and processes the situation.

On Saturday 20th we did go as a family to watch the boat racing on the river. This was a time of conflicting cultures as we first sat upstairs in the Kiwi Bakery (overlooking the river and racing) enjoying fellowship and food with a few fellow staff from school. We also wondered the Riverside amongst thousands of Khmer and Tourists, and found ourselves sitting like kings and queens (well special guests) under a marquee.

The organisation and security of the days events seemed effective. There were roads closed and patrolled to allow more public thoroughfares and a big police presence on the promenade. To enter the foreign visitor seating area we had to walk through a metal detector booth. Fiona was carrying her camera with her largest lens attached. She was stopped and had her gear checked. She even had to take a photo and show the security official so he could be sure it was a camera and not a weapon.

This little girl was playing on some concrete stairs that lead to the water while her mother collected recycling along the waterfront to earn money. It was a hot day, so we bought her a bottle of cold water from a passing vendor.

Whenever her mother returned she tried to cover the girl with the cloth to keep the sun off her, but she would continue to skip and play once she had gone again.

Please pray for the many families affected by this huge tragedy. There seems to be an air of

disbelief about the people today. At this stage I am unsure about the specific needs of the Country, however pray that appropriate support will be offered by the Government and also by other countries able to assist.

On a brighter note we are on holiday for the rest of this week returning to work Monday next week. This is a week of much needed rest after a 14 week term with only a few days break to celebrate the Kings Birthday.

Graham and Fiona

Photos from my phone

I have been meaning to upload some photos that I have taken on my phone as I wonder out and about.

A simple procedure of bluetoothing to my PC, shrinking in size and posting...

But a time consuming process because when I have internet access I usually don't have bluetooth available and vice versa.

Anyway I have achieved my outcome. So here is an odd collection of photos from life in Phnom Penh.

Heading to School ( Don't you love our "Front Door").

Nathan Heading Home from School during flash flooding.

Our School during flash flooding.

One way to keep dry when it rains.

(The traffic is slow - the speed limit is 40kmphr but not reached often especially during peak hour)

I just thought that these two were funny.