Such a busy but fantastic day! I started the day a bit worse for wear but after a lovely big breakfast and a few cups of tea I was awake and raring to go!

When I first arrived in Siem Reap I won a pottery making class for two, so Gemma and I got stuck in and I ended up making a lovely vase.....with no help at all (wishful thinking). I gave my right quad muscles a work out too, since it was a manual potters wheel- I dont know how they can do this all day!

A few refreshing drinks, some lunch and a rest. I then prepared myself for the Giant Puppet Street Parade 2012. A few weeks ago NGO schools made puppets and decorated them in a local centre in Siem Reap and this parade was a showcase for them. It was AMAZING! Hundreds of people came together, leaving their restaurant tables to gather in the street. Locals emerged from everywhere to see the street parade. All the children had to hold the puppets up high and walk through the crowds-starting near pub street and ending up at the gardens along the river. Our kids loved it and our Scorpion which they made looked fab! A red/orange base with multicolored patterns, moving legs and pinchers and all lit with light bulbs. Mon and I even spotted our section which we worked on, as wonky as it was (oops!) I must say it wouldnt have quite been the same without it. The parade itself lasted for over an hour, an hour of dancing and chanting various ABC songs along the way. After this a party was put on for the puppet parade- dancers. Singers from around Siem Reap put on a show. By ten o'clock it was all over, so after a few drinks in Warehouse, myself, Rosie and Anne-Marie decided to go to 'Hip-hop' which is a khmer club. It was a great experience. We met two khmer teachers who we already knew, we were the only white people and it was great and we will definitely go again and go with the teachers from ABC's and Rice.

P.s: Today i received a lovely invitation to a fellow teacher's wedding (11th march), so will look forward to dressing in a khmer fashion and experiencing their wedding rituals........after school today I'm off to plan my trip to Sihanouk Ville (thinking this Wednesday-Sunday) with a few others, looking forward to it!

x