CAMBODIA ORPHANAGE PROJECT

Cambodia Orphanage Project Daily Itinerary:

Day 1 (Tuesday): Relax and prepare for a world-class trip on Singapore Airlines. Prior to your departure, you will have received your pre-departure packet, which includes your Rustic T-shirts, airline tickets, and important contact information. Once you arrive at your international departure city, our Flight Liaison will help you get checked in to your international flight. Working with our Flight Liaison will be your Flight Leader, who will escort you all the way to Cambodia! Our Flight Leaders are most often schoolteachers or good friends of our organization who happily fill this role for us each year. Once you're checked in, feel free to relax and get acquainted with your new friends before boarding your flight to Cambodia!

Day 2 (Wednesday): Ghost Day - This day is officially 'lost' as we pass the International Date Line. We'll be sure to pick up a free day for you on your way home.

Day 3 (Thursday): Suis-day! Welcome to Phnom Penh! Once known as the Pearl of Asia, Phnom Penh has long been a center of international intrigue. Situated between the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers, this amazing city serves as the political hub and economic center of the country.

As you exit airport customs, your Rustic Pathways trip leaders will be waiting just outside the door. From here we will take our private vans to our hotel and let you freshen up before we head over to the bustling riverside for your welcome dinner.

Day 4 (Friday): In the morning we will hop in our vans to explore some of the history of Cambodia. We will meet up with our guide for a tour of the Killing Fields before we head north to the Orphanage. Once we arrive we'll meet all the great children that you will be working with, be prepared for them to swarm the van with excitement when you first arrive. They will take you by the hand and show you around the place while smiling and jumping around like crazy. You will fall for these kids immediately and want to get right to work improving their lives!

Day 5 – 9 (Saturday – Wednesday, Service Days): Students will be participating in a number of different service projects over the course of their week at the center, most of their days will begin with meeting their staff around 7:30 to get breakfast before heading out to the project site, where they will begin working on their community service project which can be anything from building bathrooms in the community and painting to teaching English and Art classes with the children. This last year we built a playground and planted several gardens, which allow the children to learn how to grow and sell the vegetables, which they keep the profit. We will break for lunch and return to Kampong Cham town where the students will have an hour or so to relax and escape the heat of the day, and we will return to the project site around 1:30 and resume work on the project. We will leave the facility around 4:30-5pm and return to the hotel to take showers before heading out for dinner at several of the great restaurants in town. Students will return to the hotel around 8pm, where they will have time to hangout and relax, however all students will be asked to be in their rooms by 10pm. At the completion of each session students will be asked to come up with a project that they all feel would benefit the center the most. Each successive session will have an opportunity to build on the previous project or start something of their own.

Day 9 (Wednesday): After we wake up, we'll grab some breakfast and either head out to one of the unique temples that Kampong Cham has to offer or if you'd rather we can take the bicycles across the ferry to Paen Island for a fun ride through the countryside. We will have lunch along the Mekong river and then begin to prepare for our big event! On our last night we throw a big party and invite all the children over to our Base House for dinner and dancing. We show a weekly slideshow of the best photos taken that week, which is always a huge hit with the kids resulting in them clapping and yelling for their favorite ones.

Day 10 (Thursday): Off you go, to continue your journey. Whether it's home or on to your next amazing destination, your time spent in Cambodia will stay with you for a lifetime. After hugs, and maybe a few tears, it's time to say goodbye… Lee-hi! Cambodia will miss you!

A quick note: Many students over-pack and sometimes have to pay for overweight bags on domestic flights. The weight limit is 15 kilograms (33 pounds). You'll have frequent access to laundry on this program, so you won't need that many clothes. We won't tell on you if you wear the same t-shirt twice!

Carry-on Luggage: A small backpack works best.
Passport and Wallet
A photocopy of your passport
Sunglasses
A durable camera, smaller is better for this program
Journal
A good book
A pen

Checked Luggage: A duffel bag, suitcase, or large backpack. Wheeled suitcases are fun, but may not roll so well in rice paddies. All items listed with "Plastic Bag" should be packed inside a plastic bag in case bottles leak or break.
2 Photocopies of your passport
1 NALGENE OR PLASTIC / METAL WATER BOTTLE (empty on the flight), you will use this every day.
Insect repellent with DEET, one small bottle-PLASTIC BAG. If you are not sure what to buy, a product called BEN's BUG REPELLENT, which has 30% DEET works very well and is what I use. Most Outdoor Retailers carry this brand or a similar one.

Long pants - one lightweight pair (not jeans, as these are heavy and do not dry)
Shorts-two or three pairs (CONSERVATIVE PLEASE) ;)
Swimsuit
Underwear-5 pairs
Socks-5 pairs lightweight fast drying synthetic athletic socks are best
T-Shirts, tank tops, and athletic shirts.
A collared shirt for visiting the schools.
One light long sleeve shirt
Materials such as polypropylene and capilene dry fast and help you stay cool.
Rain jacket-lightweight, vented is nice
Sneakers- light, breathable, fast-drying as well as sandals or flip-flops
Personal first aid kit , Several band aids of assorted sizes
Double antibiotic ointment
Medical Tape
Preferred mild pain reliever
Sterile bandages-4-6 Ace bandage
Antiseptic wipes 10 Sunscreen-PLASTIC BAG
Hand sanitizer-2 small bottles PLASTIC BAG
Watch / travel alarm clock
Medications - don't forget to let the staff know if and which meds you take
Travel toothbrush, toothpaste
Travel soap container and soap
Contact lens care supplies if needed

Optional Items:
Pictures of home, family to share with the Khmer people you'll meet
A Deck of Cards
Khmer / English phrasebook
Travel pillow
A bag for dirty clothes-this can be a mesh bag, a pillowcase, or trash bag, etc.
Allowance: $150-$300 The local markets have an amazing variety of crafts, clothing, and unbelievable miscellaneous trinkets and shopping there is a real treat, so budget more if you're a big time shopper and less if you're a go light, less is more, bring home only the memories kind of traveler

Where do we stay while at the Cambodia Orphanage Project?
Students will be staying a local hotel in the town of Kampong Cham.  All rooms are very nice, clean beds, hot water and a/c.  We sleep two to the room (gender separated).  Rustic Pathways also has a base house in the local village where students can stay if they want a taste of a traditional home-stay and village life. At the base house we provide the students with their own sleeping pad and hammock, mosquito net, and a fan. Be prepared to take a “bucket shower” however.

What kinds of food do we eat while at the Cambodia Orphanage?
We will be dining in traditional Khmer style, at the local culinary training restaurant supported by this project.  The older students in the program train in a Khmer/Western kitchen and serve up some delicious food, and it’s the best in town!

Will I be able to talk to my child?
All our staff members in Cambodia have cell phones and are in constant contact with the main Rustic Pathways office. In the case of an emergency, we will be notified by our main office and pass any necessary information on to your child. Our students, however, are not permitted to have cell phones because these tend to interfere with group dynamics. Our staff members will notify you by email within 24 hours of your child’s safe arrival in Cambodia.

Is Cambodia dangerous? Should I be worried about landmines?
Granted, Cambodia has had a rough past but the country is experiencing a booming recovery thanks in large part to tourism. The villages where we will be staying are ones in which we have many friends and safety has never been cause for concern. As far as the danger due to landmines, the areas where we will be have been thoroughly cleared and very safe. That being said, we always take precautions like walking only on well-traveled paths to ensure our safety.

What should I bring?
Check out the packing list but please pack lightly! Remember that you are in charge of carrying your bag so the lighter your bag the easier on your shoulders! It is very easy to purchase additional clothing or items that were forgotten at home.

Will the students be drinking bottled water?
Almost all water served is from a bottle. Students will always be supplied with safe drinking water at all times.

How often will we be able to do laundry on this program and what will it cost?
Cleanliness is a big part of Asian culture so we keep as clean as our traveling allows us. We will have access to laundry facilities throughout the week. The cost is usually $3-5, which is taken out of allowance.

Can Rustic Pathways cater to specific diets on this program?
Yes, to a certain extent. If you have any serious dietary issues please contact our USA office prior to booking your trip to make sure that we can accommodate you. Vegetarians are easily accommodated.

Will mosquitoes be a problem on this trip?
Generally speaking, no.  This area is dry and hot during the day and we are indoors in the evening.  Mosquitoes are present so you do need to bring along some bug spray that contains DEET (30%).  It’s a good idea to wear the repellant as a safety precaution. 

What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
Rustic Pathways only requires an up-to-date Tetanus shot, however the Center for Disease Control often has recommendations that are kept updated regarding Vietnam and Cambodia. Since we do not know your child’s medical history, we recommend you reference the CDC website at: www.cdc.gov or the World Health Organization website at: www.who.org for more information. We also suggest consulting with your local travel doctor prior to your travels for further information.

What sort of electrical voltage adapters do I need to bring?
Generally a universal adapter that will accept almost any plug and plug into almost any style of outlet is a good idea. Be sure they include a 3-2 adapter as many US products have the third grounding pin and many Asian outlets do not accept.  They cost around twenty dollars and are available at office and travel supply stores.  All other electrical outlets in Southeast Asia accept standard two prong plugs (such as ipod chargers).

How does this program connect to other programs?
This trip connects seamlessly with all other Asian trips.  Connecting is a great idea if your travel plans allow for it!

Are there still spots available for the Cambodia Orphanage this summer?
Yes! Please contact the main office at 1-800-321-4353 to find out about availability so you can come join us this summer!