Bringing in the "Year of the Pig" In Sunny Sihanoukville

Or, as I like to refer to it, beaching it on the hot white sands.... with a few fire crackers thrown in!
Left Phnom Pehn for a kick back at the beach in a luxury bus that left (almost) on time and arrived on time with no break downs. And the air conditioning worked. I think we've entered the twilight zone.
Travelling south from Phnom Pehn we passed the usual rice fields rapidly being transformed in to industrial parks. The closer we got to the beach there actually were hills on the horizon. Seems strange to have sandy soils inland and a rocky coast line. The beach, however, was very white and very beautiful. Much more built up here (compared to Myanmar) it is still not as crazy as Thai beaches. Not wanting to be left behind the number of touts is increasing daily along with the number of plastic bags tossed any which way. In spite of this we did manage to get to some secluded spots that were clean and beautiful.
Each morning, before the sun got too hot, we did a power walk along a deserted stretch of beach. The place we were staying in was near the end of the 'strip'which made for a long walk to town and a short walk to quiet beaches. Good choice.
We managed the walk to town a couple of times. We have all we need here, however, and were quite content to just wander around trying to decide what seafood we would like to try next. There is no shortage of people trying to sell you prawns, crab, lobster and some things that have yet to be identified. And the beer is cold (for the most part).
We were lucky to get a room as this is the busiest time of the year in Asia. The bus cost of the bus ticket went up a dollar overnight (they use US$ and Riel mixed here). Needless to say we got our return ticket as soon as we arrived. No telling what it would have cost the Monday after the long weekend!
There is another side to the beaches, though. A side that needs telling.

.........In front of me a man with no lower limbs creeps by. "Hello Mister... I need food". The closer he comes to us the harder my heart beats. This cou7ntry is still at war. Still with the unseen forces of land mines. All day people pass us, some with no hands, no legs, one, two or all limbs mangled in some way. One man, with no sight left, wanders down the beach singing songs. His little girl, maybe 4 or 5, guides him by holding one end of the stick he grasps. She know, even at her young age, who looks likely to give money. Some are not content with small bills. They ask for 1,000 or $1US. We have heard the beggars are well off here. Many victims, and there are many, can not travel the distance to tourist spots. They must rely on the charity of their families. Every family in Cambodia has some one that needs their help.l Little kids play catch with a bright object they don't understand only be killed or find their lives changed forever. Older men or women go for an ordinary day working in fields they have been in many times..... only this time they step in the wrong place.
Now, here on the beach, we sit in relaxed luxury. Every tourist here paid more to get here than some of these people will see in their lifetime. What they have seen, I pray we never will experience.
Again the question haunts us. Do we give or do we give elsewhere? How much? Where? Will it do any good? The only solution I can see is to find a group that gives training to the disabled. If they are not corrupt and if their training is adequate, then these people have a chance to regain their dignity and 'live'again. It's a difficult thing to come to grips with.

However, with that said, we were able to find peace in this beautiful peace. That is until today which was New Years Day. Everywhere you looked were locals here to enjoy the day with family. It was wonderful to watch. Grown men acting like 3 yr olds.... women, fully dressed, bobbing around in the surf. We had a great day... a great 4 days.... and tomorrow we leave for Phnom Pehn and hopefully on the next day to Vietnam.