This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Started depart from Phnom Penh to Ratanakiri at 07 September, 2011. I went there for 3 nights and 4days because I have the mission to complete my Writing Competition for UNDP. Before I started to go there, I discussed with many people such as my junior, UNDP staffs and people who live in Ratanakiri. In that time, I felt afraid, enjoyable and joined there. Moreover, when I sat on the bus with my friend (Leng Len) and my junior (Sok Eng), I always imagined about the view of Ratanakiri and thought of the activities that I contact people, I thought about the way I interviewed them. Furthermore, the views on the streets were very interesting. It made me happy with the rivers, the houses, the buttons, and so on. However, when I arrived in the station “Ratanakiri”, I felt strange when I saw the people there. Luckily, I met my friend’s aunt and my friend’s friend. When I saw them (Bong Sres and Bong Vannak), I didn’t know who the woman I know yet is. A few minutes after, she asked me and told me about her relationship with my friend. In that time, the man named Jean who UNDP staff introduced me and my friends arrived the station and waited us. More importantly, they took me and my friends to the hotel (Sovankiri). In night time, we ate dinner (Stick rice with Deer meat fried, baby duck eggs and some poisons etc) together at Beong Kansaeng.
In the early morning 08 September, we all went to work at Borkeo district (around 20km from Banlong City). We spent around 45mn by motors. After we left from the hotel, we went to eat rice at Bong Sres house which sold rice, noodle cafe, and so on. In addition, we drove the motor under the rain on the mountain viewing with the green forests. I saw many people who are Indigenous people brought many kinds of vegetables from their house to sell in each Khmer market on the streets. They brought it very heavy and sometimes they took their baby in the front of their body to carry with. Even their houses are far away from the markets, they tried hard to find money in a different way. Furthermore, they earned a little of money to support their families. When I arrived in health centre (Borkeo), I met the chef of health centre and interviewed him about maternal health of the Indigenous women. After I finished interviewing with him, I continued to interview with pregnant women about their problem containing with their health. In that time, I interviewed a few of people like midwife, indigenous woman and her husband, member of pregnant woman. The views that show me there was expressed my observation about indigenous activities. They tried to sell their products even in the health centre. I talked with them and took some bread to give to the indigenous child. They were very happy and nice to smile with us. Besides, we went through to other village such as Chhrung village and Kok village to meet the chef of each village. If I looked the small road up to the mountain, it was very bad with a small hole, but it was nice green views there. But I couldn’t meet him or her in one village; I wanted to interview chef of village. We continued to Chhrung village and tried to our best to meet him successfully. I asked them many questions and he welcomed to answer it for me. I got the answers not only him, but also his wife who was a traditional midwife in the village. I was very tired and happy to finish my interview with them and I admired to my friends that took me to the special place like that.
In the afternoon in the same day, after I finished my work, we continued to Beong Yark Leam in order to have lunch. Especially, we ordered deer meat with stick rice again and we told about joke stories and laughed together (Me, Len, bro Eng, sis Vannak, sis Sres, sis Theany, and bro Jean). The time we finished lunch, we went for a walk and took many fun photoes with the view of Yark Leam.
In the evening, we came back from Yark Leam and we had a shower already. So, we went to eat soup together. Moreover, we ate soup until 10pm and we went to each location in order to rest for interview tomorrow morning (Health Unlimited staff). In that time, I went to Ratanakiri market with my friends because my friend who from Phnom Penh wanted to meet her friend’s mother in order to observe and interview her to get some information that she will write. The woman who she interview is her friend’s mother and she was very friendly and kind. After my friend finished her interview, we came to Health Unlimited Organization and I met with my interviewee who I already contacted by phone since Phnom Penh. I interviewed her around 10mn and discussed with her about the problem of maternal health. As the result of my interviewing, my work was done well in that time and got the information that related to my article. Continually, we went to market again on the purpose to buy some vegetable and some meat to cook at sister Sres’s house for having lunch time together. We cooked it and enjoyed eating on the square table with sis Sres, her mother and her sisters, sis Vannak, my friend (Len), bro Jean and her neighbor.
In the noon time on the same day, after we finished eating rice, we prepared to see the Fall Water (Kachaggn), the Flower Park (Thida Phnom), and the Phnom Yaklom. We went on the rain again to Kachaggn water fall first, and we went on the swing bridge to enjoy the nice view there. It was so cold when I was on the bridge and sometimes felt afraid of something such as security, environment like snake, and other wild animals, but it gave me a nice feeling there.
Back way from this waterfall, we continued to Beong Yak Loam again in order take nice pictures and we backed. Finally, we arrived home and enjoyed Soup as a dinner together with a lot of fun. This is my memorable that I love Ratanakiri and people there. I LOVE YOU!!!