Really not sure where to start with my dear friend and Khmer brother Sim Sao, but here it goes. Sao was sitting on the steps of a dusty Guest house in Siem Reap over 5 years ago. Pontes, Reed and myself had just landed and were looking for a place to call home for a few days. We were dropped off at the Red Piano, but were told they had no rooms, oh well the pictures of Angelina Jolie at the bar made up for my disappointment!
We grabbed our gear and slowly walked down the dirt road. A voice in broken english yelled " need a room?" That is how it all started with Sao, he asked if we needed a room. I know I never thought if you fast forwarded to 2008 how much we would accomplish together! But as I set in front of my computer and look outside this chilled and frosty morning, I can't help but smile wide at how much I love Sao and his family!
During that trip Sao took care of us in every sense of the word, he got us a fantastic guide for the temples, he took us to the best street stall's for dinner. He made sure we knew how important the history of Cambodia was to him and how it affected his life. Every Khmer around Sao's age (40) has a story on how their life was ravished by the Khmer Rogue, but still he smiled, resilient beyond words!
Fast forward now, Sao has a tuk tuk, Sao is married, Sao has a beautiful son, Sao has a dream! When I flew over this year, this was the first year I really didn't come over as a tourist. We had just started Project Enlighten in November 07 and had raised a little money to put to work in our project's. I was trying to explain to Sao one morning all our TEAM members that were coming over to help. Brian and Gwen were coming, Riva and Matt, Bill Morse and Richard Fitoussi were all going to be here. I told him this TEAM works together to accomplish goals in your country. Sao didn't say much that morning, you could tell he was in deep thought. We took our 45 minute drive to the Land Mine Musem and started our work for the morning.
The next day Sao came upstairs at the Warehouse and excitedly bellowed, "I have a TEAM as well!!"
"What's that Sao?" I questioned.
"I HAVE A TEAM AS WELL!" he spoke louder.
"Okay, Sao explain to me, I don't understand," I responded.
"I have a dream," he said. "I have a team as well, I have good, trusted friends who are tuk tuk drivers. I had a meeting with them last night. We are going to donate part of our fare to help buy school supplies for the schools that we are building together! I want to call our TEAM "Tuk Tuk for Peace" what do you think?"
I was so proud at that particular moment. It is truly hard to put into words when a culmination of 5 years of friendship manifests itself into such a positive and moving moment! So if you are ever in Siem Reap Cambodia and need a TRUSTED and HONEST tuk tuk who speaks really good English or if you ever want to see PE's Project's or need a good friend to help you while in Cambodia, then please give Sao a call, he would love to hear from you.
Please have a look at his site!
http://tuktukforpeace.blogspot.com/
