We started off the morning with an early wake-up call to catch the bus at 7:30 a.m. We would be journeying to the Metta Karuna Meditation Center in Siem Reap from our hotel in Phnom Penh. The bus ride was a long and arduous journey that lasted a total of eight hours, with bathroom breaks and a delicious lunch in between. On the journey, we observed the shift from the bustling city life of Phnom Penh to the rural countryside of Cambodia, where homes and stops were few and far between. We also took note of how houses had adjusted to the local climates and traditions of their surroundings. Houses on the flat plains had stilts to avoid flooding and were much shorter than the narrow and tall buildings in Phnom Penh. 

After a long and tiring journey, we arrived at the meditation center in Siem Reap. Once we arrived, we took part in a wheelchair building workshop led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Mr. Tun Channareth. We were fascinated by the fact that all of the wheelchair designs and components were designed and sourced by him, and by how passionate he was about helping others. Our day ended with a  nice quiet meal and an exercise reflecting on our journey thus far, and what we wish to learn in the coming days.

-Arjun and Zan