Friends, Partners & Participants

A Morning in Chanleas Dai

PEPY Journal Staff

By Sopheak Chheng

Sopheak Chheng is a rising senior at Middlebury College majoring in philosophy. He was the first Cambodian to be awarded a United World College scholarship after graduating from high school in Cambodia and spent two years living in Norway.

When he graduated from Red Cross Nordic United World College in 2007 he received a full-scholarship to Middlebury while at the same time becoming very active in Khmer IT development work. He was connected to PEPY via a common friend from PC4Peace and has volunteered with PEPY's IT team this summer. This is Sopheak's first time back in Cambodia in five years, but he plans to come back and work in his home country either after he graduates from Middlebury College or upon completion of a masters program!

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JETs on Jitenshas - the PEPY Ride Japan

PEPY Journal

compiled by Laura Graham

This Spring saw the biggest PEPY Ride Japan yet, with ten prefectures taking part in bike rides all over Japan. Hyogo, Hokkaido, Shizuoka, Tottori, Nagasaki, Aichi, Okayama, Hiroshima, Ehime and Yamagata have all entered teams for this year’s event, raising a massive 500,000yen (around $5000) for PEPY’s educational projects.

 

Jet Intro

 

The PEPY Ride Japan: JETs on Jitenshas event was started by a former Ehime JET Aileen Cameron and PEPY intern Josh Bloomfield last year.  The event involves groups of JETs and their friends getting together for a bike ride around their prefecture (or further in some cases).  All those involved pay a participation fee of 2000 yen which goes directly to PEPY’s projects.

These rides have ranged from a handful of hardcore bikers pushing themselves to some extreme distances, to large party-style gatherings including BBQ picnics and onsen (hot spring) stopovers. The event is held across weekends in April and May, just in time for the last of the cherry blossoms and start of the warm weather – perfect conditions for biking! Or at least that is the idea – a bit of snow didn’t put the Hokkaido team off! Read on for more details from each ride…..

Hokkaido

“They said it couldn’t be done. You can’t bring a yearly spring cycling event from Honshu and plunk it down in Hokkaido…They should know by now that Hokkaido JETs don’t take “no” for an answer. Our ride was about 20K through the countryside in front of the beautiful Mount Yotei, complete with a coffee break at the Weiss Hotel and an exhilarating 7K downhill finish. Now when I look at the pictures and see the snow piled up around our bicycles, it does look a little absurd, but I can’t wait to do it again. And hey, only a few of us fell off our bikes! As with any foreigner summit, the event snowballed from a bike ride into a fantastic beast of a weekend.”

 

Hokkaido JETs

 

Hyogo

In stark contrast to Hokkaido’s super chilly and crazy weekend, Hyogo’s team followed a route which took in drifting cherry blossoms, Sousha Shrine, Himeji Castle and a riverside picnic accompanied by beautiful spring sunshine. One of the team leaders, Emily Lemmon, wrote:

“All those who came out were cool people and I know that at least I personally made some new friends! Everyone seemed in pretty good spirits (I think the perfect weather and showers of sakura petals kind of helped) all day!”

Shizuoka

In Shizuoka (former home of PEPY’s founders and original PEPY Ride members) participants, many sporting attractive PEPY t-shirts, celebrated their triumphant ride with a delicious picnic lunch! “With the sun shining brightly and a gentle breeze blowing, the riders made their way leisurely down the Magome river to the ocean. We then followed the beach trail east as far as the Tenryu river before stopping off for an al fresco lunch at SurfQuest. Everybody had brought their own bowl, spoon and cup, and we were soon tucking into the delicious curries, raita, rice and naan breads that had been prepared.”

Shizuoka 2

Nagasaki

The ‘Let’s Biking Goto’ team did a sterling job in Nagasaki, getting support from the local community. Team leader Kelly Trombley wrote:

“Riders enjoyed flying down the mountains, stopping at a waterfall and other gorgeous lookout points, and enjoying bananas and mint water from the support car.  Everyone finished by 6pm and the BBQ party began. Some friends from the community also came to support PEPYs cause and brought more food! By the time everyone woke up on Sunday the BBQs were fired back up and we ate the loads of remaining food, while sun bathing, swimming and jumping off the pier until the last ferries left around 4pm. It was the perfect end to an amazing weekend!”

Nagasaki JETs

Aichi

Team Aichi got together once again for a 40km ride through Okazaki and Anjo. PEPY Ride Japan veterans Lindsey Tulloch and Karen Gawne worked together to create this ride for a small group of friends and showed their dedication to PEPY by joining this event for the third time. Here’s to many more Aichi bike rides in the future!

Okayama, Hiroshima, and Ehime

All three prefectures did the Shimanamikaido Bike Ride, across 77km of suspension bridges, beautiful islands, mikan groves and beachside trails. Ehime and Hiroshima briefly passed each other at the lunch-stop (great yakisoba!) and the hike uphill to the bridges was more than worth it to fly down the other side in the beautiful May sunshine and warm breeze. A group of Hiroshima JETs and friends stayed in Matsuyama Youth Hostel and made a weekend of it; others camped and a few impressive Okayamans turned round the next day to ride all the way back!

Ehime JETs

Yamagata

For Yamagata, this was no ordinary ride. This was a mission. Did they achieve their mission? Read on to find out…

Primary Objectives: 

-To boldly bike where no one has biked before (aka Atsumi) – accomplished.

-To raise money for PEPY - accomplished (16,600 yen).

-To have fun - very, very, tres, hontouni, mecha mecha accomplished!

Secondary Objectives:

-To stick our feet in one of the most wonderful foot onsens known to humankind – accomplished.

-To avoid dropping any food in the foot onsen while eating lunch – failed.

-To avoid getting poked in the butt by kids with toy guns – failed!

-To minimize casualties - under review.

Notes: No hostages were taken despite the warning on the PEPY waiver. It was a great time, the weather was fine, the large Shonai hills were alive with the sound of musical screams of agony, the coastal view was idyllic, and we hope to do it again.”

Tottori

Tottori’s ride was so popular that even the local press came to find out what it was all about: “We rode around Lake Togo, in Yurihama, out to the ocean, and along the coast. We stopped at several scenic points to take photos and to have short breaks. The ride lasted about 2 hours and 30 minutes. After we returned the borrowed bikes, we went to a nearby onsen to clean up and relax before an AJET-organized cookout. The local access cable TV station was on hand to interview participants and shoot some footage of the ride, as was a photographer from the town newsletter.”

Tottori JETs

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in these rides and continued to support PEPY’s work and increase awareness in Japan. We are looking forward to more rides in the future! If you are interested in organizing or participating in this event please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Videos from the PEPY Ride V

PEPY Journal Responsible Tourism
This is a treat!  If you want to know what the PEPY Ride is like, you can now experience the sites from your home!  PEPY Ride V participant, Eli Baron took over 2000 pictures during his three week trip with us in Cambodia and has turned them into 18 photo-videos!  There is almost one video for each day of the trip!  Here is your chance to experience Cambodia from your desk (though you will miss out on the great food, the chance to meet amazing people and be part of an inspiring team, and the freedom of riding your bicycle across a country..... so there's still reason to join us!).  Thanks for putting these together, Eli!  

01-Dec. 19, 2009. Phnom Penh:

02-Dec 21, 2009. Siem Reap and Angkor Wat

03-Dec. 22, 2009. Siem Reap to Baray reservoir and Bayon

04-December 23, 2009. Bantey Srey

05-Dcember 24, 2009. Siem Reap to Kralanh via silk farm

06-December 25, 2009. In Kralanh visit to Chanleas Dai and temple in Hill overlooking Kralanh

07-December 26, 2009. Kralanh to Samrong

08-December 27, 2009. Samrong to Bantey Chhmar

09-December 27, 2009. In Bantey Chhmar

10-December 28 and 29. Bantei Chhmar to Sisophan to Batambong

11-December 30. In Batambong.

12-December 31, 2009. From Batambong to Pursat:

13-January 1, 2010. In Pursat:

14-Juanuary 2 , 2010. Pursat to Kampong Chang. - January 3,2010. Kampong Chang to Phnom Penh.

15-January 4 and 5. Phnom Penh. The Killing fields, Cambodia Living Arts (CLA) and RDIC.

16-January 6, 2010. Phnom Penh to Chuuk

17-January 7, 2010. Chuuk to The Vines and Kep... and Kampong Trach Mountain

18-January 8, 9 and 10, 2010. Kampong Samaki, Rabbit Island and Kampot
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Thank You New Zealand Fundraisers!

We want to send a thank you out to Helen and Brendon who took it upon themselves recently to support PEPY via a bike ride in New Zealand.

Here is what Helen wrote to us about the trip: "I am happy to say, after 9 hours and 24 minutes of pedal, sweat and tears, Brendon and I conquered the 160km Solo Ride Challenge, biking all the way round Lake Taupo here in beautiful New Zealand via some hills that can only be described as evil, but all in the name of PEPY. Through kind donations from friends, families and colleagues, we managed to raise $364.00 NZD (255 USD) which is already winging it's way to your account."

Below is a picture from their ride.  If you are wondering why Helen looks so familiar, it is because she is the girl in the red PEPY t-shirt who starts and ends the reflection section of our original PEPY video (she's at 2:25) by Daniela Kon.  She says she will "be involved with PEPY for the rest of her life," and we are delighted that she has held very true to this so far! 

Thank you Helen and Brendon!






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Tales from the Czech Republic

By Thavry Thun and Monkol

Thavry's Letter:

"Two Cambodian students have been selected as a full time student for the three years scholarship in Czech Republic. We are really lucky to be here to get the standard education.  We have been in Czech Republic for two months. We have learned so many news things, funny, sad, excited, new friends…….When people meet us and asked “ where are you from?”, We said “ We are from Cambodia,” they asked “Where is Cambodia?” Now our a great opportunity to do a presentation about our country to everyone know about Cambodia. In 18 of September 2009, 7:30-9:00PM was a great time for us to share information about Cambodia to everyone know about.

We would love share all kind of information we have, because one of my friend believe sharing is love, and so do I. Many people came for our presentation. To me, I was feel fear, but I told myself “You can do it”, I love this sentence, whenever I feel afraid, I always take this sentence to remind myself. Anyway, It is natural I would try my best to do, and I will improve somehow.

When I stand in front of many people, I feel nervous at the beginning, but I keep telling myself “You can do it, do your best ”, after my friend told them about the meaning of Cambodia flag , He show some video about the history that has been kept 1000 years ago, some short video about history of Cambodia.   some useful information, weather currency, geography and we make them laugh, I notice two points that make people laugh when I read my country’s name, and my king’s name they both are long name, then I saw they seem feel relax and interesting in our presentation and ready to get information, so it made me feel better.

I talked about the “Unforgettable History of Cambodia.” I made some girls cried. It is true information, they really interesting to know about, I was glad to share this information. I was talk about how cruel of Pol Pot Regime. How they killed the people, and explain house no one stay, way no one walked. Jail without wall. First they seem wonder what does it mean, I started to explain why then I saw many girls who came for our presentation start crying. I did not want them cry but I could not stop them, about five minute later they fully understand what was the meaning what we have put, and how cruel it was. I turned back to Monkol started to make them feel better from the darkness time that I have talked.

He talked about the end of Pol Pot Regime, and sunrise of Cambodia, well sun always rise and set everyday in Cambodia, I believe even I am not in Cambodia, what we wanted to say was ”Smiling faces, new life was born, children could go to school after the darkness time, people can live with their family, culture, tradition, religion have been restarted ”. He also talked about where you should do when you go to our country, and the natural resource in Cambodia. We have a small country, but we have everything. We have sea, water fail , thousand of temples, rice field, fruits…….When we talked about our winter, the difference between here and Cambodia, they could imagine how hard it is for us to adapt from the hot weather to the very cold weather like the Czech Republic. Then we talked about culture and traditional, We do not shake hand or hug to each other, we do “Sompeah/Jom reabsure=put your hand together and bow your head”. Our tradition clothes which was very interesting for most people who came to our presentation. We also showed them how we dance for our traditional dance, I asked Monkol ”Hey are you sure, we should show them how we dance?” He said” Sure, try our best.” We asked for two volunteer to join us, and finally all of them were really enjoy what we were showing them, and we gave them a gift from Cambodia.

I talked about foods, truly when I was talking about food, I was very hungry and I wanted to go back my country, and eat all kind of my favorite foods. We have much difference kind of foods, fruits…..and so on. I also showed Cambodian language, I taught them how to say some useful words and sentences in Khmer, and finally, we have some quiz for the volunteer who would like to try, and also gave some gift also. After we finished they made a party for us. I was really tired, I was not sure whether to go or not. I joined the party, because I thought, it is my party, and I should enjoy what I have done and be remember your first success of giving a speech to the people. Most of the people who came the party asked Monkol and I teach them how to dance our traditional with the rock music, “ Oh Monkol we are success and we both smile and enjoyed teaching them.”

Oh my god! I could do it, and I could do it well, I was really happy, and then I believe myself and one sentence “I can do it”, When the presentation was end, everybody came and told me ”Thank you for your presentation, it was really good and full of information, we really like it”, I was smiling and say “thank you, you are welcome”. Now I would love to do it more, and I would love to share about Cambodia’s information. I would keep sharing the information to the people to know about my country."

Monkol's Letter:

"After I have lived in Czech Republic for 2 months when I have learned many difference tastes of life like seeing, feeling, meeting, and face something new. I am really satisfy to have the opportunity which I was began an amazing adventure for my study life. After the plane landed in Zurich in Switzerland at the 7 o'clock in the morning, it was really surprised and excited that I was in Europe. Because of this feeling which didn't make me feel afraid of everything new. 

After the plane landed in Prague airport, fortunately they are 5 generous Czech people who came to pick me up at the airport and brought me to see some nice places and warmth feeling. Every a fews weeks, they invite me to visit in Prague, and they bring me to see different places in Capital city furthermore, offering me some delicious Czech food. Additionally, I have meet some nice friends and also teachers which made me feeling confident to live in the nice country. 

Another point of view while I am being in here, I can see that everywhere they used technology which are working automatically not only in the big place but also in the toilet. Interestingly for me, I really feel happy and comfortable with nice, modern university and qualify teachers who are experienced of being teachers for more 10 years like my mathematics teachers. Despite the fact that some subjects are quite difficult for me like principle management and Microeconomic but now I used to enjoy study them also. consequently, my study is going step by step and I also enjoy keeping myself busy with study also.

One problem, that is quite difficult and I am try to face and change is that it is difficult to getting used my roommate behave habit. 

Lastly, I have to go shopping for life now.

Miss you so much and also looking to meet you

PS: Thank you for your clothes and I miss khmer's food very much......"

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