Last you heard I was in Strasbourg, France. I made it to Germany, down to Switzerland and Italy then across to southern France. I had a fantastic time in Europe thanks to many of you.Now I have taken up the position in Ban Lung, Ratanakiri, Cambodia. Arriving back in Cambodia was a shock to the system after ultra-developed France. It is like two completely separate worlds.
I’m working as “Information Systems Trainer/Computer Specialist” for a project that manages Virachey National Park, here is a little boring background information (sorry it’s all I could find) if you are interested:
It is a very interesting environment. Working in Cambodia is much different than visiting it as a tourist, it is like two completely different perspectives. I am based in a small rural town of about 17,000. There are dirt roads and it is now the rainy season so it’s very muddy. The power is intermittent and internet access slow and expensive. There are some natural attractions in the area, including a crystal clear volcanic lake and waterfalls. Ban Lung is located in the north east of Cambodia in Ratanakiri province, near to Lao and Vietnam. Here is one traveller’s perspective on Ratanakiri province, selected from many possible perspectives (try a search on Google) for no particular reason other than I visit his website to read his Cambodian monthly newsletter:
http://talesofasia.com/cambodia-ratanakiri1.htm
It is very cheap to live here, a house can be rented for $10US/month. I pay a local restaurant $30/month for 2 meals every day. I’ve also bought a mountain bike and get around the small town on that. Kids still shout out “Hello!” at me when I go past, they don’t seem to get sick of seeing foreign faces. Socially I like to spend time at the local guesthouses, having dinner and chatting to the tourists passing through.
There are quite a few other expats of varied nationalities working here. As a remote rural area, and so probably seen as particularly marginalised, there are many NGOs (Non-Government Organistions – donor funded non-profit organisations working in the community). But a lot of Cambodia is probably seen as marginalised, and there are a lot of NGOs everywhere. There must be about 30 expats all together, some having been in Cambodia 4-7 years. A lot of them are or have been Australian Volunteers.
So I am gaining a new perspective on Cambodian life, and finding it quite a stimulating environment. I have a spare room and keenly await any of you as visitors 
I will be here at least until the end of November when the project and thus my contract finish, although the project/my contract may be extended.
So tell me about your varied life,
Take care
