Today on March 29th, we had an incredible start to our morning at the APOPO Mine Action. There, they train African giant pouched rats at an early age to detect hidden landmines across Cambodia. The trainers would teach the rats to get comfortable to human interactions, to listen for a clicker sound to indicate a positive reaction, and finally, to detect and smell out the particular scent of landmines. These rats have an incredible sense of smell, which allow them to have nearly 100% accuracy, and a light weight, which doesn't trigger the landmines if they step over them. Each rat has 2 handlers and all together, they create a particular routine to detect mines, section by section. After our tour ended, we all got to hold some of the active rats in training! The names of the rats were Jordan, Jenna and Sam.
We, later, all took the bus to the Cambodian Landmine Museum founded by Aki Ra, a former child soldier who changed his life to become a savior for the people of Cambodia. He talked about his life and how he wanted to fix all his past deeds. So, he made the bold decision of personally taking out all the harmful items that he himself planted. Till this day, he continues to do the same, undoing the harmful actions of others with now, a team of loyal helpers.
After our lunch, we took a drive up into the ancient Khmer Empire, where we visited two temples, one being at the capital. Ta Prohm Temple had beautiful ancient carvings and stones with small holes, which were to transfer them with sticks that expanded when contacted with water. There were also enormous trees that grew on the top and sides of parts of the temples, seeping into each crevice. Bayon Temple, at the heart of the Empire, contained a grand statue of the Buddha and winding halls deep within.
