We are watching the next Typhoon with concern. It does appear to be turning away from us and will hopefully give us the chance to start recovery. Siem Reap is now totally under water, and I am writing this just 200 yards from what is now the river, which was half a mile away last week. We have had to abandon the Orphanage as power has been cut, and living with that level of dirty water lapping at your feet is not healthy. The children have been moved to temporary accommodation.

If you look across South East Asia at the moment of course many have far, far worse stories to tell. So here is a positive one. We at Cambodia Orphan Fund have relations with a village called Treak where around 300 families live in traditional Cambodian homes. They are poor but live a hand to mouth existence, living on the crops they grow. Others have a job in the town, will be paid and buy provisions from the market before returning home. The floods have left the community under a couple of feet of water, which is survivable due to the construction of most Cambodian homes. However the food supply has been wiped out, and those without employment in the town now have nothing.

A new boutique hotel has recently opened in Treak and has established itself as its main employer, with all of the staff working there coming from in or around the village. The owner organises trips into the village for the visitors and donates 50% of the takings back to the community. The villagers thus get to interact with the visitors who in turn have their visit to Siem Reap enhanced by actually living in the rural suburbs rather than in the busy town itself.

Sojourn is not cheap but is very good value, especially for the peaceful surroundings it co exists with.

Boutique luxury really. The owner Anthony has been at the forefront of relief efforts spending a substantial of the sum of money out of his own pocket to arrange a relief effort. The guests have also contributed, but to only about a third of the investment Anthony has put in. Sojourn has a sister property in town ‘The Villa’ which deals with budget accommodation upwards. I joined the staff yesterday as we arranged to divide up the food into 60 bags, one per family, with a substantial portion of rice in each.

By the time we got to Treak a queue had formed outside the property, sat politely just waiting. The village organiser arrived with a list of names who would each receive a relief package, along with rope, clothing and blankets for distribution. The distribution was peaceful and respectful. I wonder what would happen if we were not here.

COF have set up a school here, bringing English lessons to the village and with it the job prospects this knowledge will bring. When not being used, the villages can use the facility for social welfare training, and practical skills training.

Anthony and his wife Fiona provide a true example of not only sustainable tourism but go far beyond that and have become part of the community they work in. This is tourism really making a difference.

http://www.sojournsiemreap.com/ http://www.cofcambodia.org