Year in Review

2008 has been a year of seemingly constant motion for me, perhaps the most I have ever traveled in 12 months. The year opened on a beach in Sihanoukville, Cambodia and then went like this: Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City, Mui Ne, Da Lat, Phnom Penh, Stung Treng, Siem Reap, Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Paxse, Phnom Penh, Home in NC, Salt Lake City, Zion & Bryce Canyon, Salt Lake City, St. George, Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyon, Jackson Hole, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Eastern ID, Western MT, Jackson, St George, Canyons again, San Francisco, Portland OR, Salt Lake City, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Salt Lake City, Portland OR, Dallas TX, Home in NC, LA, Phnom Penh, and finally Siem Reap, where I have been for the last 6 weeks, the longest I've stayed in one place all year!

Following are some photo highlights from each month:

January


Part of the PEPY team, Phnom Penh



Coconut bike, en route to Kep, Cambodia

February


Students read new books in Chanleas Dai



White Sand Dunes in Mui Ne, Vietnam

March


Marina in Mui Ne, Vietnam


Sunset over the Mekong, Kratie, Cambodia


April


Monk drinks at Angkor Wat


Strong boys at the entrance to Beng Mealea


May


Feeding the lambs


May morning in the garden, Gurley Holler

June


Fishing with Andrew on Cane Creek, Bakersville NC


Camp Kitchen, Zion National Park

July


The Tetons


Fishing with Pop on Secret Creek

August


Grand Canyon Traverse


Angel's Landing, Zion National Park



September


Lambeau Field


Mt. Hood



October


Camping Next to Water, Near Brightenbush Oregon


The Woodards, October 19 2008



November


Students at the Chanleas Dai Primary School


West Entrance to Angkor Thom

December


Two boys play chess on the street in Siem Reap

Sunrise near Chi Phat

Apsara

I didn't get any photos that quite captured the grace and poise of this Apsara dancer, but she was stunning to watch. The traditional Khmer arts were nearly extinguished during Pol Pot's regime--it is truly special to see young artists practicing them now.

One of PEPY's partners, Cambodian Living Arts, is working to connect the few master artists who survived the Khmer Rouge with young students. During my first stint in Cambodia, I was fortunate to see both masters and students perform several times, some of my finest memories here.

Cycling, Vinyasa, Climbing.

No shortage of activity since arriving in Siem Reap--it's great to live with so many people who constantly like to get out, exercise, and have fun. Besides the paintball, we've been biking several times a week in and around Siem Reap and Angkor. This weekend some of our crew will join a cycling race around Angkor and a few of us will lead a mountain biking trip around the Western Baray on Sunday.

I am also going to a yoga class twice a week, which so far has been powerful for body and mind. I quite like connecting spiritual and physical wellness in one practice--it is invigorating and relaxing at the same time.

Last Sunday I went rock climbing for the first time. A group of Japanese people currently working in SR started a climbing group, and invited a few of us along to climb with them at Phnom Kulen (Lychee Mountain). I had tried free climbing and bouldering before but was never quite comfortable on the rock, so it was nice to try climbing with gear and with Japanese folks, who can make a complete amateur feel like an expert (上手ですねえ！）We had a wonderful morning scaling an enormous rock in the middle of the jungle, and spent the afternoon cycling back to Siem Reap. Quite a day.


On the rock


A group of youngsters, puzzled by our efforts


The group お疲れさまでした！

All photos courtesy of Adam Vaught

PEPY Paintball

A few weeks ago the new PEPY crew went out for a surprise team building session at the paintball/entertainment center on the edge of town. Because there's no better way to get to know your work/house mates than by shooting them in the face with a high-powered paint rifle. Sorry Adam.