H2O UPDATE

I was excited to finally get word yesterday from charity:water's Director of Development, Carrie Sanders, about my $10,000 Trazzler campaign! She expressed enthusiasm and gratitude for our efforts to secure the win! She also clarified that, while she realizes I'd like to give back specifically to Cambodia, mycharity: water fundraisers are not able to designate the location of the water projects they are helping to fund.

So, although I would be so gratified to help the people who inspired me to write my entry in Siam Reap, I would be equally as proud to provide wells for those suffering from polluted water in any of the dozens of nations in need. Fresh water is fresh water, and nobody knows that better than the team at charity:water, who guarantee that 100% of your donations will go directly to a water project.

I'll know on or around September 21st whether I'm the Trazzler #NYCGO contest winner, and halfway to my $10k goal. The rest of the year I will be working on creative ways to raise the other $5k through mycharity:water campaign.

Stay tuned, cross fingers, and keep voting...we've still got 3 days before Trazzler polls close!

VOTE NOW: Water 4 Cambodia

Awaiting final confirmation from my friends at charity:water on exact details of my donation, but let's keep geting the word out there. We've got VOTES to make and money to raise!!

Get Voting!
VOTE for my travel entry in the Trazzler NYCGO writing contest: http://bit.ly/e62r7. It's about the beautiful spirit but murky water in Cambodia. Just click "Add to Wishlist" to vote and follow short instructions.

With Charity:Water it only takes $5k to build a freshwater well in a village and provide 250+ people with clean drinking water.If I win the Grand Prize, I can build a well!

Why Cambodia?
I toyed with dozens of ideas for the Trazzler #NYCGO writing contest but was struck time and again by this photo that I snapped of Than Bon, my tuk-tuk driver from Siam Reap. We became fast friends. He was reliable, funny, and incredibly proud of his tuk-tuk, one of the most well-maintained and polished in all of Siam Reap. On the August day that I took this photo in 2007, the heat was too much for Than. He left his belt and khakis on and dove into the muddy water. It was his ultimate oasis.
Than Bon is part of a community where 63% of the population don't have access to safe drinking water.

I was intrigued when Than suggested that we get out of the city centre and visit some floating villages on the Mekong River. We rode on the back of Than's friends' mopeds, fulling trusting that we'd arrive safely at our destination; and we did. Immediately I was bombarded by children; the most beautiful children. Some wanted money, some wanted me to buy their bananas, all wanted attention. One young Mom passed her child into my arms. I hugged her and held her for an unusually long time. I had to be beckoned to move on and give the child back, as our boat was about to depart.

It was a bustling water world floating atop the Mekong River. More children and teenagers were tending to much of the daily tasks: begging for money, chopping fish heads, operating boats that were bigger than them. Everything was floating: schools, markets, homes, churches. A community whose livelihood depended on one element: water.

The people of Cambodia are special. They embrace travelers with genuine care, curiosity and generosity. They left a lasting impression on me. They deserve to drink fresh water.
Learn More:
About Charity Water
About how people are already helping. Watch this documentary.
About Trazzler

Chong Kneas Part 2: Hook, Line, and Crocodile

That's me, fishing pole in hand. On the other end, a catfish dangling helplessly from the line. He was at my mercy. I grazed his wriggling body along the surface of the lake to send a signal..."lunch time!"








Within seconds, the Chong Khneas crocodiles appeared. Beady eyes and snaggletooth grins, these crocs meant business. I tapped a few of them on the head with the fish, but no movement. "Are they more interested in me?" I worried. Suddenly, "SNAP", one of the biggest crocodiles grabbed on. Unable to support the pole anymore, I used the leverage of the railing to fight with him for a few seconds, but his jaws were too powerful. Lunch was served!



Cost of feeding crocodiles: USD 5 (with a little bargaining)



R.I.P.
John Catfish
2007-2007

Planes, Trains and Tuk-Tuks

There was a time in my life, not too long ago, when the A train from W. 4th Street to Times Square was my idea of a thrill ride. But since June I've racked up some serious frequent flyer miles, hit the open seas, and taken many a road less traveled.

In fact, some of my biggest adventures this summer were in transit. from crashing on the banks of the Mekong River in a rickety Cambodian motor boat, to zipping around Bangkok in a 2-person Tuk-Tuk with five robust Italian men, to treacherous scooter rides along the jagged coastline of Sorrento, getting from point A to point B was never dull. Here are some of my most memorable moments:

Yellow Pages Delivery Van
Cost: Free (hitchhiking)
Perks: The driver graciously offered us the latest edition of the Milano yellow pages, hot off the presses!


Cambodia Speed Boat on Mekong River
Cost: 20 USD per person
Perks: We sailed beneath stiled houses and through thick groves, waving at curious children as they splashed about in the water. Sit on the bow for the most unobstructed view, but beware: our boat crashed into the brush, breaking the wire attached to the motor and stranding us for a good 20 minutes. I nearly went overboard.

Horse and Carriage
Cost: Free activity - part of Cirie' English Camp
Perks: La Mandria park in Torino is even more beautiful when toured atop a vintage carrozza from the beautiful Cascina Vittoria. www.parcomandria.it/index.shtml





Capri Self-Driven Motor Boat
Cost: USD 25 per person for 2 hours
Perks: Check out my previous blog entry "You Drive It" for all the details. It was just too go to be true!








Than's Tuk-Tuk
Cost: How well can you negotiate?
Perks: Aside from being a cool dude, Than knows Siam Reap like the back of his hand and has the cleanest tuk-tuk in the city. Here's Than photographed on the bow of our boat trip. Not only was he a star Tuk-Tuk driver, but look at his moves. Email him next time you're in Cambodia and tell him tell him Courtney says "Sues'day"! (thanbontuktuk@yahoo.com)









Thai Sea Planes
Cost: USD 100 (THB 3,285)
Perks: Great views of Ko Samui and Ko Phangan. Not sure why, but something about the experience reminded me of a scene from Weekend at Bernie's.


Dirt Bikes
Cost: Free - an extension of our Tuk Tuk ride with Than
Perks: When monsoon season hits, the roads become too narrow and muddy for tuk-tuks to pass. Than called some of his buddies who took us deep into a remote village on their dirt bikes. I should probably have been holding on with two hands, but I coudln't pass up the chance to snap this photo of Alby and Marco.

Other interesting ways to get around:
Romanian family's luxury sedan, overpriced Milano taxis, Cirie' bicycle without breaks, Guiseppe's race car (never again), Italian buses...ticket? What ticket?