Results tagged “Ith Rady” from Kimberly Reed Photography

I flew back into Phnom Penh late Sunday night after spending the day at the temples. After breakfast on Monday I went to a spa down the street for another 1 hour foot massage, and, being adventurous, figured I'd give a Thai massage a go. I have to say it wasn't very enjoyable at all. About halfway through, my masseuse was standing on my bum, and then walked up my back. She wasn't a tiny girl, but before I could figure out how to say "Pardon me ma'am, but that really hurts...please stop" in Khmer, she stepped of and continued contorting me around for another half an hour or so. On the upside, the foot massage was good, and when it was all said and done, my total was $16 for two hours of massage. I could get used to that.

I spent most of the rest of Monday editing images, and met up with Tim, Fritz, Seth, Laine from SISHA, and Athena, Alison, and Liz from Transitions for dinner. Several hours and a few bottles of wine later, we called it a night. Good times.

Tuesday morning I was in the shower when a gecko ran out from behind the shower head and scared the crap out of me. Not that a gecko is all that scary on it's own, but it was rather startling darting around my shower, when I was sleepy and not expecting company. At least, I think it was a gecko. It could have been a guy in a green T-shirt.

Met up with Tim and he and I were off to the Ministry of Justice for Tim's scheduled interview with Ith Rady, Under Secretary of State for Ministry of Justice and Deputy Chair of the Cambodian COMMIT (Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative Against Trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-region) Taskforce. I assisted with audio during the interview and acted as a lightstand afterwards as Tim took a few portraits. Afterwards our translator explained that proper protocol would have dictated that someone from the National Task Force (who had set up the interview) should have accompanied us to make an official introduction, and the first order of business would have been an exchange of business cards. Also, the proper channel to request the interview should have been a formal letter, on letterhead, explaining the purpose of the interview and the intended output, as well as an outline of the questions to be asked. So we went in with a few strikes against us. Fortunately, our translator was pretty fantastic, and Tim can be charming when he needs to be, so all ended pretty well.

Below: Tim sets up his video camera and gets ready to put the mic on Ith Rady. From left to right, Ith Rady, Tim Matsui, the translator.

Following the interview we went over to Transitions so I could get a tour of the transitional living center. The image below, depicting receiving a beating from a pimp, was taken in the counseling room, where the girls receive intensive trauma therapy, including art therapy.
 
When I was leaving, one of the girls hugged me and slid a friendship bracelet she made for me on my wrist. (Ladies who grew up in the 80's: Do you remember making friendship bracelets?)

Then Tim and I were off to Sophea's house to interview her. That deserves it's own post, which will be forthcoming.