year 10 ideals challenge week to Cambodia. RISS - Renaissance International School Saigon. Offers from pre-school to secondary curriculum under the structure of the British system. Located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

2. The Cambodia trip was absolutely awesome! I had a
great time with my friends, we get to know each other
more! We had so much fun with each other. My fa-
vourite time of all is when we live in the small camp.
We were given a tent between 3 people! Cambodia was
so hot and quite barren. On the first few days, we had
to dug to build the basketball court for the local school
for the whole morning under the hot sun. We were ex-
hausted! We also played lots of games with the stu-
dents in the local school such as: volleyball, football,
throwing ball games, and the games that we have to run
around. After that we had to walk the whole way back
to our tent and rest. At night we had a little competi-
tion between groups, we dancing, acting and mostly we
had fun!! I loved those days that we stayed at camp!
I also loved the days that we visiting Angkor Watt.
I learnt a lot from there, especially their history！
Overall I loved this trip, loved the time we all had
fun and we learnt lots more new things!!

3. Cambodia trip! I would say it was a great trip ever! I
had so much fun, with all my friend, stay with them for a
week. The very good time that I will never forget was
the 5 days in camp. It was hard, tired, but FUN! We
had 3 days of working, hot sun made us feel terrible, but
apart from that, all the time we had together was so much
fun. After a tired day of working, we rested by having
fun. On the first night, we had three groups to perform a
special talent: dancing, singing and laughing. Those things
made my tiredness fade away. For the first two days, we
worked very hard, so that, after that two tired days, we
had some fun with children in the local school. There was
different games for students to participate. There are [ Tired
but fun]
football, volleyball, and also a game that made from a
very big group of people which we could run around!
That day was really amazing. And the last day of camp,
the different feeling came top me. I felt like I don't
want to leave this place. There was something pulled me
back. There was so many memories and fun and laughs I
had. All of them, all of them came back to me at that
time, the time that I know I will never for get this
L [Boys playing volleyball]
A
S
T
D
A
Y
O
F
C
A
[This is the big game!]
M
P

4. Khiem—Nhat 9LV
Fun at Angkor Watt-Angkor Tom-Ta Phrom
Yesterday was a cold and freezing night. Everybody woke up
and must have carried a
blanket at least. After
15 minutes, we trav-
elled for 15 minutes to
travel to Angkor Watt.
First step we visit to
the entrance gate to
take photo to applied
to the ticket.
After that we meet our
tourist guide in the
Angkor Watt, he is very nice and he guided us to Ta Phrom
and he introduced us the place and the most attractive things
are trees and broken pillar of the empire.
Next we travelled to Angkor Watt and is a massive place and
very gorgeous place to visit. The tourist guide explained to us
a lot of things about Angkor Watt.
We also visited the famous Angkor Tom, but it is not as big
as the Angkor Watt.
Then we headed to the lunch section and then headed to the
shop to buy some souvenirs. Later we head back to the camp!

5. Last few months, we were in the
SIEM REAP province in the
UNESCO Heritage Temple, but
when we’re bored, there
is…………..
I might sing for around 20-30 songs but everybody
enjoyed it! Those are the best moments through-
out the trip!
First of all, we went to stay in Camp Bengmealea for 4 nights, where it
was UNCOMFORTABLE AT ALL!!! Mosquito bites everywhere in my
body!!
We only spent 2 nights in a hotel in Phnom Penh, then we went back to
our school, we spent around 1 week in Cambodia.

6. iCambodia
Six hours to Phnom Penh—we were all energetic and hyper the moment we first got on the
bus. And with the help of the early morning packs of Doritos, our stomachs were even
fuller than ever.
Our recreational electronic items were all snatched out of our bags and were immediately
consumed by our fiddly fingers. Across the aisle were the sounds of slicing fruits, shooting
pea shooters and groaning zombies, the latest Korean hit songs and, of course the devour-
ing of early morning snacks.
Two hours later—We were all frantically lowering the brightness of our screens and turn-
ing off the Wi-Fi to prevent our batteries running out before we get to the hotel. But even-
tually, our iPods, iPhones, and unknown MP3 players were all completely running out of
battery, and the games played on the tiny screens soon became tedious. It was then that
we looked over our seats to find Van uncovering the shiny, magnificent, revolutionary and
heavenly *whispering* iPad.
Chaos swept across the banks of seats as everyone tried to get their hands on the glowing
screen. Behind us we can hear the screaming and begging of the famish Year 9s to touch it
for only a split second.
In the following days the iPad eventually became the center of our attention. Everyday,
after a tiring session of digging at the local primary school, we’d all dive into Van’s tent to
finish another game of Tap Tap Revenge or Plants vs. Zombies. As the generators were
turned on at 8, the iPad immediately received a VIP plug-in space at one of the only three
power outlets. After the generator shut down again for the night, the iPad was strictly off-
limit to anyone but Van, as every droplets of battery were valuable in this electricity-
lacking environment.
The iPad was a real savior for us and it was something that kept us going on through the
days under the scorching Cambodian sun.

7. Abnormal Day
By: Yaechan & Seungdoo
When we went to Cambodia, It was really hot. We went to
sleep without blankets and some of boys, without clothes. But
we ended up coming out of the tent with blanket around our
body and shivering. It was really abnormal that usually we
wake up at the morning sweaty but this day we were
shivering.

8. Written by Eun Jee, Kelly, Giai Du 9LV
Member of Cambidge University
The Second Last
Day in Cambodia
After spending days in the But where the king lives Later, we went to the Na-
camp in Beng Mealgo, is closed to public so we tional Museum of Cam-
helping the local school to visited Silver Pagoda bodia where all the his-
build basketball courts compound and the cen- torical artworks are pre-
and incinerator. We finally tral compound contain- sented.
went back into the city Ku- ing the Throne Hall and
la Lumpur by bus for Chan Chhaya Pavilion.
about 5 hours.
We visited the Royal Pal-
ace, the royal residence of
the king of Cambodia..
Visiting Kumamoto lions club
school!
ing in the huge play-
On Wednesday 16th for a while and then ground. Soon we went
of March was a nice at last we arrived at to played with them.
sunny day. We there. The school During that time, we
planned to went to looked quite great were all had fun and got
local school named and it had a big closer with them. It was
Kumamoto lions club house where the stu- a very nice day.
school which was dents could study.
near the camp at When we went in
3:00pm. We walked everyone were play-

9. Trip To Cambodia
It was fun to go to Cambodia with
my friends and teachers
CJ sing behind this
temple a few time ago
Jong Won
Cambodia football team
(p.s. look careful one person
look like Cambodia guy )
First day we go to tent is very hot, but after first
day is cool, and we already come back to VN , we
meet the Mr. Tome when we come back to Q.7 we
go to KFC and eat chips (that day is rain).

10. Cambodia Camp
By Joshua Y9LV
Y9 went to Cambodia for school trip. It was very hot
weather for labor. It was very tired. We dig oot and
cut grass. It was really hard work because it was so
hot. We had a rest . If we do not have water we could
not work. Our skin became black.

11. Riss Y9
ing
students help farm
Soo min Chae young
Y9 students farmed for a We made basketball When we finish making
first time it was very hot court for Kumamoto lion basketball court we
and extremely tired school they watched us went to our camp and
Ms.Laura went to camp farming because we ready for shower. It was
Beng mealea and she were stranger. They really difficult shower so
played with the lizard however we were so
took our water bottle
and we was really sur- sticky and sweaty we
and filled up for us so prise because that was need to shower! When
we called her “ water really cool girls was we finished shower we
lady” we divided by 3 scared and we can’t get ate Our Lunch it was
team. our teams leader closer together. delicious
was ms Laura. Mr. Ad-
am, and Mr.. James it
was hard time doing that
but a little bit we had
fun too.
Secondary Story Headline
We tir-
were ing!
resting
for 5
min its
really

12. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
At the very first day we came to Cambodia, after 8 hours travelling
on the bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh. Just right after arrive
and stay at the hotel for only 20 minutes just to put all our luggage down.
“Come on everyone, we have to go to the museum fast because we have
no time left” Ms. Laura said. At first I thought: Oh, a museum..cool.. And
when I ACTUALLY went there, it is not as cool as I thought.
My first experience of the horror was the
torture room, it was terrible. There was blood on
the ceiling. The room was small, and there was a
window, also small but there was still light went
through it. On the wall, a picture was hanged on
the wall, describing how the torture happened. I
felt sad for them.
After that, we went to the picture room. It
was full of images of the prisoner who had been
executed right here. Their faces looked miserable
and worried. Some looked at the camera with
anger, pain and hatred.
The original of Tuol Sleng Museum is actually a high school is located
in an ordinary side road of Phnom Penh. Inside
the gates of the „school‟, it just look like any
other normal high school with three buildings
face a grass courtyard with pull-up bars and
bowling greens. Any one know how can the
Khmer took over the place that used to be a
high school. The site is a former high school
which was
used as the notorious Security Prison
21 (S-21) by the Khmer Rouge com-
munist regime from its rise to power in
1975 to its fall in 1979. Tuol Sleng in
Khmer language means „Hills of the
Poisonous trees‟. Most prisoners at S-
21 were held there for two to three
months. However, several high-ranking
Khmer Rouge cadres were held longer.
Within two or three days after they were brought to S-21, all prisoners
were taken for interrogation.

13. A great experience
In March 2011, we left to
Cambodia. It took 6
hours. We were tired be-
cause of long travel, but
when we arrived at Cam-
bodia we were so excited.
At first, we went a hotel and
unpacked. We spent our first day in hotel and
we moved to tent next day. The tent was not
comfortable as a hotel,
but it was funny to stay.
We went many places.
We went Ankor Watt. It
was a temple and it was
huge. We had to wear
long pants so we had to
change pants. We
worked for making basket ball field. Also, we
went a Cambodia school and played with the
students.
It was a good trip to me.

14. Stella 9PM
Fun at the school
I enjoyed playing with kids in
school. We played game and I
think everyone can enjoy from
this game. The game looks like
the photo. And if runner touch
or hit your hand, you have to
learn with the person next to
you. And if many people play this game, you have to run
more.
First, it started with very small circle and then
every one joined, so the circle got bigger.
Beside the circle game, boys played
foot ball and volley ball and other
girls played Bullying game. And then,
girls joined to our circle game.

15. Above: bus that we road first time. Amusing time with Cambodia students
Below: To much overpopulated tent.
At bus At camp
The trip to Cambodia started with enduring 6 hours The Second days in Cambodia. We arrived at
of unforgettable time. On Sunday morning 39 stu- camp place by taking 6 to 7Hours . The camping
dents in year 9 gathered at RISS at 7 AM and our trip place quite basic. The internal structure like this;
started from the „amazing bus‟. small thatched roof house seem to use for cooking
Before I got on the bus, I was thinking that it was big- and several tent that we going to sleep .
ger than what I imagined. But I shocked when I saw After short break to eat lunch ,we unpack our lug-
inside the bus. Oh my god! There was a toilet in the gage and bag and than bring simple thing like wa-
backside of the bus! ter and hat which were going to be need at long
I think the most of us didn‟t go to toilet and waited for time walking to ancient temple of Cambodia .
6 hours. When we reach entrance of temple ,we could see
After few hours passed, I became bored. So I grubbed the seven headed snake called “Naga” I really
the bag to find the something to eat. At same time, a enjoy short trip to temple .
cockroach fell down from the wall. That was terrible .I
hope this bus would be last time to see.

16. We, year9 went school trip to Cambodia, and the most impressive
thing was having a nice time with Cambodian school students. We
had quite many games that volleyball, football and something else I
don’t know what its name. I was playing football, our team mem-
bers were me, Chang hoon, Won sok, Joshua, Jong won. It was ex-
citing and this picture, these 3cambodian boys were the best and
most friendly with us.
Ken - 9Lv
Yr 9 students went to Cambodia. They visited the prison,
Angkor Wat, and we visited Cambodia school. Joshua, Won
suk, Ken, Chang hoon, and I played soccer with Cambodian
children. It was very fun. They are good at soccer. We
played soccer during teachers playing volley ball.

17. Renaissance
International
School
Saigon
Year Nine Cambodian Trip
2010—2011
Angkor and the Khmer civili-
We had the pleasure to go to the Angkor area of the temples from the Khmer civilization. It was told that Angkor was
the largest cultural and religious structure in the world. It belonged to the
Khmer civilization that had conquered and reigned over the South East Asian
parts close to Vietnam and bordering with Northern Malaysia of the current
day. The Khmer civilization was deeply religious and had many religious as-
pects about their life.
The Khmer Empire believed in the Hinduism and Buddhism. Cambodia has a
religious mix of the two religions. The Khmer civilization rose to power in the
9th Century to the late 13th Century when the civilization began to decline.
However they did not leave without a legacy. The Khmer Empire has built
many temples to honor their gods, in their temples their can be deities of Hin-
duism and Buddhism. The temples were mostly made of sandstone and there-
fore are in poor condition, although there are many projects of restoration
that are currently in action.
Bengmealea's Main Entrance
In Hinduism there are three main deities that the Khmer worshipped. There
was Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer. Brahma was the deity that has four faces
and four hands; each face was facing in each direction, north, east, south and west to symbolize is all seeing power.
Brahma is the one that created the world at first and is one of the gods in the Hindu “Trinity”. Vishnu the Preserver
was also one of the main gods of the Hindu religion; his job was to preserve the world. He was symbolized to be a
blue deity and had four arms. Vishnu very much enjoys the affairs of the humans and often interferes with them, and
when he does, it is said that he would be in the form called an avatar. Shiva the Destroyer is the last Deity of the
Trinity. Shiva is the deity that ends the current world and readies a new world to be born. Shiva would perform his
dance of destruction when there is the Kali Yuga. These three gods are the three main and the temples often wor-
ship one of the three.
The very first temple that we went to was the Bengmealea Temple that was about a 20 minute walk from our camp
was in a state of ruin. There was a lot statue called the Naga which is usually a nine headed snake or serpent that
represented luck. The front gates of the temples are blocked by the wreckage of blocks. We had to enter it’s perime-
ters by going one if the side gates. The temple is built is very much to symbolize what the Hindu world ideology is
like. There was a moat around the Temple grounds to symbolize the vast ocean surrounding the Hindu existence and
there were many Nagas around the Temple both inside and outside. They represented the gods and the evil oppos-
ing them as well. The inside of the temples were mostly wooden paths that lead from one collapsed monument to
the other. The reason for the collapse was the decline in the civilization there in the 10 th Century where all the peo-
ple left the temple and nature took over and destroyed the structure slowly. There architecture there was one of the
most detailed that I have seen, such detail and precision in carving the reliefs and the walls and yet the Khmer still
managed to keep it in symmetry and in the correct proportion all the way around. When we went to the centerpiece
of the Temple, it was a mass of blocks that have been collapsed over the years. The guide who was with us

18. told us that this temple worshipped the god Vishnu the Preserver. The trees have invaded all of temple monu-
ments and it seems that nature was everywhere. This is the place where true adventurers would want to go if
they wish to experience and see the Khmer culture a millennium back.
A window
or opening
in Ta-
Promh that The Second temple that we visited was the Temple of Ta-Promh. It was
I have tak- also quite a large temple. Ta-Promh is almost twice as large as the one
en over. near camp. The structures there were going to be restored by the joint
Poor win- cooperation of Cambodia with India as we know it, so there was a lot of
dow.
trucks and tools lain out. The trees that took over the compound here are
much larger than the ones in Bengmealea. There were more relief crav-
ings in this temple than the Bengmealea one. The relief carvings in this
temple were telling stories about the gods and their deities. We could
see a lot of animals that we did not know; perhaps it was a Garuda, a bird
of the Indian culture. Ta-Promh was also the place where the movie “The Tomb Raider” was filmed and since
then has been a big attraction in the Angkor area. There were a lot of dark areas in the Temple where the light
didn’t come through and it always makes me wonder how the people of that time navigate through such large
complex.
The third temple what we visited is the legendary and much spoken about Angkor Wat. This is the largest reli-
gious structure in the world and was the seat of power for the Khmer Empire. We entered the area through the
back entrance, which was impressive already. The back en-
trance looks very symmetrical and proportional. There
Angkor
were spires erecting from sides of Angkor Wat. As we en- Wat's back
tered the through the temple the steps of the stairs kept entrance.
going steeper and steeper. When we reached the inner This is the
complex there were a lot of mass relief carvings which inner gate
of Angkor
were about a few miles worth in length. There was a lot to Wat.
see and it was indeed an impressive sight. As we ap-
proached the inner center monument of Angkor Wat, the
stairs were now so steep to go up and there were con-
structed stairs so that the tourists can walk up. The steep stairs symbolizes the difficulty on the road to Nirvana
as they would call it in Buddhism which is the equivalent to enlightenment or heaven. Then when we exited the
massive complex, we went through the main gate the path was very long. It was about one kilometer I would
assume and with the sin in the sky it was torture, although the visit was worth the heat.
Finally in the afternoon when all of us were beginning to get tired, we visited the temple of Angkor Thom. Ang-
kor Thom I must say has the most base-relief carvings of all the temples that I have visited. The compound is
made with 4 entrances to the centerpiece. The centerpiece is surrounded by a wall of an impressive base-relief
carving that stretched to every corner of the walls surrounding the center area. The base-reliefs told a lot of
about the Khmer civilization including sports, entertainment, gods and great battles that they did against other
kingdoms and empires such as the Chinese. As you entered the the center area of the compound, there are a lot
of statues of the god Brahma, there were so many faces of Brahma and there were also some statues of the
sleeping Buddha as well. One thing that I regret about that visit was that we were too tired to actually appreci-
ate the view on of of the center building and we were all shining about how our feet hurts.
One thing that I would say that I don’t like about the temples was that the doors were too small and I had a lot
of bumps to the top of it and it hurts.