Last Trip to Svay Rieng

Today Hilary and I traveled back to Svay Rieng to visit her sisters. The trip should have been 2 1/2 hrs but was instead about 3 1/2. We got the ferry across the Mekong and were stuck in weekend traffic. The ferry platform it a very frightening place and I never want to be there again in my life. While you wait for the ferry (which if you want to go at all, you need to bribe the gate keeper) there are beggars everywhere. They ask for money or try to sell you things and press their dirty faces against you car window and tap on the glass. Some have naked infants in their arms that are limp and you wonder if they are even alive. Hilary was brought to tears it was so scary. We will never go back. The ferry is a haven for food vendors as their targets cannot get away. The snack of choice is fried baby birds? The whole picture is revolting especially in 90 degree heat. This is the ugly side of this country.

Before we left for the trip out we phoned her uncle to say we were coming but only wanted the sisters to be there. It was very overwhelming to have all these strangers talking to Hilary and her not knowing what they were saying. Her aunt was especially loud and obnxious. We arrived to a crowd of about 15. Only one sister had arrived and that's because she lives there. As we waited for the other two, more people were coming. When you get out in timbucktoo land a car and a foreigner are quite a site! After visiting with the sisters for a little while I could tell Hilary was getting anxious. I told them we wanted to go somewhere with just her sisters or we were leaving. They finally took us seriously. We packed the girls in the car and drove to Toeun's house. It was so nice to visit and not be interrupted. The girls are absolutely wonderful and so are her niece Leak and nephew Makara. Funny and sweet. Hilary could not ask for nicer sisters. They wanted nothing except to be with her.
We spoke to Toeun about possibly relocating but she wants to stay with her family. The land Yoen had in mind was very far from home and isolated. I've also learned that you cannot do for one family member and not another in Cambodia. If you give only to the daughter's they are expected to take care of their elders first. We stopped on the drive out and bought three bags of rice at $40 each to give the families. I was told by a missionary that when we arrive to not go there as a sugar daddy. Give them something to help. Ideally the thing to do would be to get them some kind of education so they can support themselves. However, there is absolutely nothing in this area for them. They would have to travel the 2 1/2 hrs. to Pnom Penh. Tomorrow we will give a money donation for them to use as needed (they know what they need) and we will be moving on. I don't understand the Cambodian way but I will respect it.
We had scheduled one last visit for tomorrow. I told them if they wanted to see us before we leave they would have to travel to Pnom Penh because I will not take the ferry anymore. EVER!!
I gave them some money for gas and they are coming on motorcycles in the morning to say goodbye. We are not leaving until Tuesday but Hilary has reached her limit with the extended family smothering her and asking for money. One aunt kept looking in her purse. Her little sister kept closing it an making Hilary keep it close. It is so clear how much these girls love their baby sisters. The oldest would have been about 10, the next about 6 and the youngest about 3 when Hilary was born.

Leann found her birth family yesterday. You can read the other blog on the site for those details.

This evening we went to a Khmer dance show and had a good time. We need to switch gears and show the girls the beautiful side on Cambodia.

Tomorrow we are going to shop after saying our goodbyes and just relax and do whatever Hilary needs to do to unwind.

I'm going to bed as I am completely exhausted. Have a great day. Love to all.