Rock Your Life – Cambodia

Met up with Mike Handcock, founder of Rock Your Life, in Siem Reap this week to hear more about his trip from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh on a eight day trail of discovery, learning, and assisting people in Cambodia.

Mike’s will lead a group of social entrepreneurs on an eight day adventure tour which will include visits to historical sites such as Angkor Wat, the torture chambers of Pol Pot, as well as visit to orphanages and schools.

In our discussion, we noticed the following changes in Siem Reap over the past twenty four months

5) The airport is clean, efficient and effective – on the spot visa were processed without fuss and the queues through immigration moved smoothly and swiftly. Beware the incoming visa is US$22 while the departure visa is US$25

4) The city is the city of MORE - More hotels, more restaurants, more internet cafes, more ATM machines, and more tourists. Cambodia just celebrated 2007 as a year of international travel and surpassed there target of 2 million visitors to Cambodia.

3) Upbeat and a sense of renewal – construction is everywhere and, while the dust, does making walking a little uncomfortable, transportation is all around with most motor bike drivers willing to take you around the city for S$1 to S$2. There is a sense of optimism, especially in the 20 something crowd that we met.

2) Inspiring Young Entrepreneurs – it was great to meet the guys from Green Elephant – they really understand about the importance of TEAM – Led by the charismatic tour leader Mr V or Vivit (sounds like V Pitt and he likes to joke that he is Brad Pitt’s Cambodian brother). The Green Elephant team conducts guided tours throughout Cambodia and into Thailand and Laos. We had the opportunity to meet and drink with the team and were amazed at their sense of team – there was the ideas guy, the tour guys, the finance guy and the operations guy – WOW! I was impressed by their sense of team and their wisdom in allowing each member to play to their strengths and interests. Many MNC could learn from Green Elephant – for guided tours by folks that are proud to be Cambodians providing services to foreigners.

1) Make A Difference – everywhere we went, there was a sense that we can make a difference, that you can make a difference, and I can make a difference. It was a wonderful feeling that a small gesture, gift, donation actually appeared to make a difference. That is a feeling that I hope the people of Cambodia can embrace and nurture as economic growth and development continues in this land where darkness lived just forty years ago.

Where will you be making a difference in 2008?

Inspiring the spirit of enterprise,

Dave Rogers

www.daverogers.net