Plagiarizing Brian again

So we are here in Siem Reap making plans for the first ever Angkor Bike Race. We have people coming in from 20 countries to ride around the majestic temples. The funds we are raising from the event are going to support livelihood projects for survivors who have lost limbs in land mine explosions and performance circus youth groups for street children. Everything is going so well, our events and plans are falling right into place. It feels great to organize this event...After all I have found that "action leads to inspiration" and it is powerful for me to live out karma yoga (spirituality via service).

Below, Brian reflects on the trouble with being 6'3" in Asia and our event planning. I will write more of my own reflections soon, just being lazy on a Sunday like I would be anywhere in the world...:)

" There are many hazards in Asia that I hadn't foreseen. There
is no getting around it: the Asians are a short people. At somewhere around 6'3'', walking down the street, through doorways or onto buses can unexpectedly result in disaster. The first such instance was in Bangkok walking home from dinner with a baby elephant. There I was minding my own when my skull was suddenly confronted with the fact that according to the law of averages, I am an out-lier in this land.

"The shop owner whose sign I had busted my head into lost it and went from stoic mug to peals of laughter. She couldn't help herself, despite my quickly leaking dome. Another instance, while less bloody was definitely sharper and more crippling. Moments after introducing myself to the folks at the Village Focus Cambodia office I think to be mindful of my dishes before I left.

"As I headed in a brisk walk to the kitchen to return my half-full (or, depending on your philosophy...) coffee and water glasses I was again reminded that I am a foreigner in this place. My vision went white and I crumpled, alarming the staff and dropping my glassware. These and other lumps remain to be renewed and time to time smacked, bumped, and thumped.

"Travelling to Siem Reap via speed boat is more fun than I imagined. We embarked at 7am up the Tonle Sap River for a 5 hour journey through floating villages and tropical views that make your eyes pop out in wonder. The best part of all is that no one really rides IN the speedboat, but rather sits atop it as it skims at roughly 40 mph up river. After four hours in the sun atop the boat, I found myself a tad more sunkissed than I had planned, but a day later it has already faded into a good base tan.

"Upon our arrival to Siem Reap, the first sight to greet us as we deboarded was the requisite crush of Tuk-Tuk drivers vying for attention. We settled on Thee (I am only guessing at the spelling and it's pronounced "Tea"), who was holding a sign which said "Only 1,000 Riel", about a quarter and far too low anyhow. Our bags piled up on the seat opposite us, we bumped our way through the squatter settlement that had sprung up around the boat "dock". Naked children capered about and adults went about their business in and out of makeshift shelters of bamboo poles and thatch. Many of the dwellers of these temporary settlements had no doubt been displaced from their land for one reason or another and come to Siem Reap in hopes of securing work.


"Along the way, Thee stopped to get some petrol at a gas station (see picture, not what you think) and said in measured, but clear English, "I wait at dock because I hope to be your driver in Siem Reap." For 7 bucks, Thee got his wish. We have spent the past two days visiting all manner of venues and hotels looking for a place to hold several satelite events for the main race and run. Thee spent a lot of time driving us around this morning to Siem Reap's many oversized hotels, many of which dwarf the surrounding architecture.


"Getting basic information to plan an event in another country isn't as simple as it might sound. Luckily, in our efforts to secure a venue we visited a mess of bars (research, you see). At one called Abacus, we met a local bartender. She was quick to laugh and kind enough to show Jess and I several places it would have taken us ages to discover seperately all at once. Led by our expert, this little mad dash tour of Siem Reap's finer dining establishments cut our search in half and sped negotiations by conducting them in Kmer which otherwise would have been half-pantomime, half-pidgin English."