Dariene, Elisabeth, and I (Angela) went to the Wat Phnom temple in the morning and admired the statues along the steps. There were several Cambodian people that came to pray and tons of people that just came to hang out in the surrounding park. While we were walking around the base of the temple, we notices several small birds, maybe finches, that were cooped up in small cages. Confused about why the birds were in cages, a local Cambodian, purchased a pair of birds and said a prayer before releasing them back into the wild. Elisabeth saved a bird as well, and said a prayer for the injured man she saw the day before on the streets of Phnom Penh. After visiting the Wat Phnom temple, we got a tuk-tuk and saw the independence monument signifying peace and freedom in Cambodia. We also had a short visit to the Russian market, where us foreigners were trying to bargain with the many vendors. After purchasing a few souvenirs, we headed back to the hotel to await pick up to One-2-One Cambodia HQ.
The hospitality at the Khairos guest house is amazing. I have never felt more loved and taken care of by a complete group of strangers. All of the residents at Khairos are from very underprivileged areas in Cambodia and have sponsors that help pay for their education. They are trained to maintain the guest house for volunteers and visitors. When we arrived we sat in a medical team meeting.
