Cambodia is an amazing country, challenged by its recent history. Tuol Sleng (genocide museum) and the Killing Fields are disturbing places to visit but provide an understanding of just how much these gentle, friendly people have suffered and how difficult their emergence from this oppression has been.

Touching down initially in Siem Reap I was amazed at how flat and dry the landscape was and how hot and humid the climate. We had only a few hours exploring the temples here (I would strongly recommend much more extensive exploration). These temples are masterpieces: built in the 11th and 12th centuries, they disappeared for over 400 years. It wasn’t until the middle of the 19thcentury that the ruins were discovered overgrown by dense jungle. These remains, currently being restored, are a pure wonder to behold; it is quite definitely an extraordinary place.

Then on to Phnom Penh and touch down just in time to meet the rest of our building friends for a drink in our hotel. People reunited after meeting on previous trips and many first-timers like myself. Our team was made up of people from all walks of life and many different parts of the world.

We find out now that we have raised enough funds to build nine homes and that we will be working for two days and in two different villages.

After a day of meeting Janne Ritskes (who is a truly inspirational soul) and doing the historical visits mentioned above we travel together by bus from Phnom Penh to the seaside town of Sihanoukville, which will be our home during building. After a trip of approximately four hours we arrive in this wonderful little paradise. Beautiful fresh blue ocean and white sand, fresh squid cooked on the beach and goodies galore to barter for.

The time has come to do what we came for!! Up early for brekkie as the vans leave at 7 o’clock. After a journey of about an hour and a half, we arrive at a small fishing village where today we will house five families.

The anticipation is almost palpable as we all gather to be allocated to our teams. We are issued with hammers, don the nailbag and off we go. The enthusiasm and noise of frenetic hammer on wood and occasionally nail has to be experienced. Our teams are building with teak planks, which are hard going, but no one complains; the job must get done. After many hours and a thunderstorm, we are finished for the day and the time has come for those who have earned their homes to take possession. Janne performs a handover ritual, which is a very emotional and touching moment. The look on the families' faces was PRICELESS.

At the end of the day we return to Sihanoukville and relax on the beach. A well earned rest.

The next morning we visit another village and totally different landscape. The families work with us and children collect and straighten nails as the hammering continues. Once again, the hand over is very touching - these people look so proud. Our task is completed but there is a feeling of how much more we could do, there are so many more in need.

Everyone is exhausted and on the trip back the journey is very quiet. We have at least made a difference to nine families' lives and maybe inspired some more to start saving.

After a wonderful party, many gins and lovely food, everyone sleeps well.

The next morning we pack up and head back to the big smoke for a couple of days shopping and sightseeing. The museum and markets await us. Unfortunately, this also means that we now all go our separate ways and must say goodbye to many of our new-found friends.

I would highly recommend a building trip with Tabitha without any hesitation. Janne Ritskes is an amazing woman. Her insight and foresight in the creation of Tabitha is invaluable to these people. She is truly a treasure, as are Jude and Doug Quarry who run things from the Aussie end. These people work tirelessly to ensure everything runs smoothly. (Doug is also pretty handy with the heated paperclip to relieve pressure from under a fingernail, walloped earlier in the day. THANKS).

At this point the haggler extraordinaire also needs a quick mention. Lisa McIntyre, who helps Tabitha out from the WA side of things, is invaluable in the market situation. Her inside knowledge and haggling technique needs to be seen to be believed!!!!

To sum up, I would say this trip with Tabitha was great fun. It was, for me, an adventure. I would highly recommend it. Don’t just think about it DO IT!!!!!