Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Introduction
My love affair with Southeast Asia started in 2007 when my husband, Skip, and I honey-
mooned in Thailand - and our two-week trip turned into a journey that would change our
lives. We fell in love with the gentleness, warmth, and spirituality of the people and decided
wewantedtoexperiencemore,launchingusonaquestforopportunitiestomovetothispart
of the world. Eventually, we came across VIA (Volunteers In Asia), and a couple of months
after applying, received notice of two posts working with NGOs in Cambodia.
Sobegantheprocessofeliminationandchange.WesoldourhomeinMassachusetts,gotrid
of our cars, found a home for our cat Gracie, and gave away most of our stuff. In June 2010,
wefoundourselveswithaone-wayticketonaplaneheadedforPhnomPenh,notcompletely
sure what we were doing but very excited at the prospect of starting a new chapter in our
lives.
My world has always been somewhat nomadic. I was born in India to an English mother
andMaltesefather,grewupinBahrain,workedasajournalistinSouthAfrica,traveledcon-
stantly,workedatClubMedinMexicoandTurkey,andeventually landedintheU.S.where
Ipublished adiningguide,workedforanewswire organisation, ranmyownsmall business,
married Skip, and settled into a comfortable lifestyle in Massachusetts.
AndwhileI'vealwayslovedtheplacesI'velived,I'veneverfoundanythingquitelikeCam-
bodia. It's a country that is gentle yet rough around the edges, spiritual yet tainted by cor-
ruption, beautiful yet dreadfully harsh in its poverty. But it's a place where everyone smiles.
And it has captured my heart.
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