Faces from Kompong Thom

Pending a series of posts from my recent trip to Phnom Chi, here are some faces from my visit to Kompong Thom, starting with my best friend and his lovely daughter, Sokhom and Kunthea. I've known Sokhom since December 1999 and his friendship and consummate skills as a moto-driver have been invaluable on my travels around northern Cambodia ever since. This photo was taken the night before our trip to Phnom Chi as we enjoyed a meal and fruit-shakes near his home. Kunthea is still top of her class in most subjects and has another two years at high school. Her spoken English is at a very high standard for one so young, encouraged and cajoled constantly by her dad.
This group of youngsters were getting ready for dance practice at the Kompong Thom Culture & Fine Arts headquarters when I met them. Chhunly - wearing a pink top with white lettering in the centre of the photo - introduced me to everyone and told me that they were practicing every day in the lead up to the forthcoming Khmer New Year, where they were scheduled to perform a series of classical folk dances at various events. They are all still at school or college and all have a love of dancing and it was great to see their enthusiasm for their art, and their determination to work hard to make sure they were as polished and professional as they could be. Just a pity I won't be able to see them perform.
This young boy is sheltering from the rainstorm that hit Kompong Thom soon after my arrival. He's standing outside the Arunras Hotel in the center of the city and is a street kid, spending his time scouring the streets of the city for cans, bottles and anything that he can either re-sell or utilise in some way. He was in a gang of three boys but the other two were too shy to have their photo taken.
This smiling face belongs to Theary, a twenty-three year old pineapple seller at one of the regular bus stops outside Skun. I was on the Sorya bus heading for Kompong Thom and they always stop at the same place for a toilet break and a bite to eat. Theary came up to me and said she remembered me from a previous visit a few weeks earlier and was keen to practice her English, so we spent the next twenty minutes in conversation. Her English was pretty good and she helped me with a few Khmer words too. She didn't even try to sell me any pineapple, but I bought some anyway! Nice girl, say hello next time you are on a Phnom Sorya bus that stops near Skun.