PHNOM PENH: race day in Kep

 The bike race started from the Keo Krosang Pagoda. With orange clad monks peeping through the windows we tested our brakes and loaded our baskets with water. 

 


We raced 10k on the rocky dirt paths past village homes, pepper plantations and mango trees.  Stopping to take pictures of course. All along the way people lined the road to watch us, "hello! hello!" and to point us out to their kids. They must of thought we were crazy to ride in the hot sun for fun.



The race ended at the Community Learning Center. A village school teaching kids and adults literacy, english, computer skills, run by Hand in Hand Cambodia  because this village of over 500 families was too far from the public school.

The students lined the way "hello! hello!" cheered for us and high 5ed us as we came in.

And they were gorgeous. 
 

We peeped in the school for a bit. And shopped the items made from recycled plastic bags. The shop made $400 that day - more than a year's salary.





The kids LOVED seeing their pictures on the camera's screen again and again and again.

At the very end the bikes were all lined up and a person from the village assigned to each one.

I gave my bike to her. 

It was a good day.

 

(not bad for an iphone huh? thanks malia!) 

The next morning was the 10k run.  Same course. Like a cherry on top to finish it all off. 

At the end they announced the winners of the races. They stood up on a podium and had their prizes read aloud:

one family well, a community pond, a new toilet, a cow, chickens, pigs for the community bank project, training course in food hygiene and packaging for tourists, training in fish raising, veterinary services, 4 family water filters, training course in leadership and management, a newly renovated home. 

Another good day.