Holiday home...I think not!!

We eventually arrived at our destination after 7 long hours on our wee boat on which we had both breakfast and lunch while on the move.  It is amazing what the cook managed to make in such a small space as you can see from the photo below.

 On arrival it was obvious it was not quite what I had been led to believe.  I thought I was going to one of the better floating treatment stations, but no, we were at one of the more basic ones, no electricity, no running water and one squat toilet.  If you wanted to shower you flung a bucket of water over yourself.  But as I wasn’t sure if it was lake water or not, I just wasn’t going there.  The lake is very dark and murky looking.  Everything happens in or goes into the lake.  They wash themselves in it, they wash their babies in it, they wash their clothes in it, they wash their babies soiled nappies in it, they wash their dishes in it, but they also use it as a toilet, including when they have infectious vomiting and/or diarrhoea.  A lot of them have diarrhoea and they are in a constant cycle of infection.  The guys set up their clinic as soon as they got there, but we didn’t have many visitors. Apparently they were too busy making cheese from fish paste….I know, I did ask, but I have no idea what they meant either!!

The photo below shows the view from my holiday home...we appeared to be looking out on to some of the posher floating huts, or at least from that angle we were.  The other angle would show you the poor neighbours view!!

 

Despite the odds, I actually managed to sleep ok.  We decided to sleep outside on the decking areas (gosh doesn’t that sound posh…it’s not!), under our mosquito nets. I thought I might have been in for a night on the floorboards on a mat, but joy of joy they had camp beds.  Not padded but better than floorboards.  As there is no electricity and therefore nothing to do when it gets dark, we ate around five and then started setting up our bedding by 6.  As the night drew in (by that I mean 6.30 pm!), I began to put more clothes on than I had on during the day.  Long length trousers and top to cover as much skin as possible.  But as I fumbled around in my little mosquito net tent I was sweating loads and thought I would never sleep, but fortunately as the sun set the air did become cooler and almost bearable.  It was so noisy though, boats going past, people talking and shouting, strange clunks and bangs in the night. The resident cats squealing and fighting with each other.  It was a case of take a nytol, put the ipod speakers in the ears and hope for the best.  Thank goodness my kindle has a backlight on it, and I remembered to pack my head torch!!  I would have taken a picture of what it looked like when we had all our little mosquito tents set up, but that would have meant rowing out on to the river, which (1) I had nothing to row out in and (2) it was so not happening anyway!

Morning was a bit of a faff, involving lots of wipes and grappling to change clothes under a towel.  As soon as I woke I was dreaming of the long hot shower I will get when we get back to Siem Reap and I get to my 4 star hotel….so glad I booked it now!!  Although I also felt guilty and extravagent as I looked around my current surroundings.  My hotel bill for 6 nights would be more cash than they would have in a year for sure.

Breakfast was rice yet again, and either chicken wings or fish, just what you want for breakfast, none of this toast or cereal malarky (if only).  The fish I know was there for my benefit being the only non meat eater, but as it is fish from the lake I was beginning to struggle more and more to eat it.  Every time I look at the lake my stomach churns to think what is in it and what might be in those fish! I nibble on a few bits of fish out of politeness and force down several mouthfuls of the stodgy rice. Yummy!!!! I have brought some snacks and crisps with me otherwise this would be a good weight loss programme for the 3 days!!  By the time I get back to Siem Reap, I may not want to eat rice ever again!!

Clinic started early, people began arriving before 7.30 am.  I pop in and out to watch what is going on fascinated by the people.  I mainly listen in to Jameil, the volunteer doctor from the US as he needs Savvan the TLC nurse to translate for him, so I can undestand what is happening.  Lots of stomach ache and diarrhoea, one little girl seemed to have a potential heart problem and it was recommended they take her to a hospital to have her checked.  Whether that happens or not is anyones guess as the nearest free childrens hospital is the same 7 hour boat plus 1 hour road journey we have just made.  Another little boy they thought might have pneumonia, they were not sure but thought it best to treat him as if he did rather than not.  It will be another month before the clinic is back here!

There's no appointment system here, you row up in your wee boat, register ,as they do have records of past and new patients, then plonk yourself on the ground to wait to be called.

Privacy is also a luxury as there are several patients being seen at one time in the clinic, and then you get eaves-droppers like me hanging around listening in and snapping your picture when you are at your worst!  Nonetheless, it is a good efficient system and the team work well to get through the patients as quickly as possible while giving them all the care they need. The team consisted of 2 doctors (one Cambodian and Jameil from the US), 2 nurses, a team leader and one person to register the patients as they arrive.  Most of them arrived clutching little cards in plastic bags, which was obviously their registration cards...the plastic bag being required for obvious reasons!!  Support staff included the boat man and the cook.

 

It goes quiet by 11 so we have an early lunch at 11.30.  Yes, you’ve guessed it, rice and fish.  But mainly rice for me!! Don’t get me wrong the food is delicious with some wonderful flavours, but there is only so much rice a girl can take and then there’s the issue of the river fish!!

This afternoon I have started to pace like a caged animal, well as much as you can pace in the limited confines available.  I have outdoor claustrophobia!  I feel trapped.  I can go from our floating building to our wee boat or the building next door, which is closed up and that is it! The thought of not being able to just wander off as I choose is driving me nuts.  I think about hijacking one of the patients boats and going for a paddle, but the risk of me tipping it over is high and although the lake is quite shallow at the moment, the thought of being in it sends shivers up my spine. And imagine if you swallowed some of it by accident....antibiotic emergeny I think!! 

I have a 7 hour boat journey back to civilisation, but I am counting the hours already.  What work I can do here is limited to reading TLS’s Financial Policy, not exactly riveting stuff!!  I have only a few hours battery power on my laptop so I have been preserving that as much as possible.  Oh to be able to go for a walk!!!