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Organic Rebar

By Steve Hyde October 24, 2009 8 Comments

One way we keep costs low is by using locally available materials. That includes “organic rebar”. Concrete is an amazing thing. It can handle huge compression forces, but yet, it pulls apart very easy. It has very little tension strength. That is why for building with concrete, you need to use rebar. If you don’t, it will crack very quickly. It holds the concrete together. Well, in Cambodia, we use bamboo for road work. Bamboo does not deteriorate over time. The road will be replaced long before the bamboo will show any ware and tare. Bamboo is flexible and strong.

Culture Shock in South Carolina

By Steve Hyde October 22, 2009

Road Kill on the menu in South Carolina!

Lokeśvara

By Steve Hyde October 21, 2009

You see, “Lokeśvara” is Sanskrit translated Loke (Earth) and śvara (lord). The Lord of the Earth. Sound familiar.

A Foreigner At Home

By Steve Hyde October 20, 2009 1 Comment

“Velkom Xhom!” I was greeted by the immigration officer at Los Angeles airport. Obviously he was of Russian decent, very recent decent. I was already being hit with culture shock.

Ordinary Amazing

By Steve Hyde October 20, 2009

Who knew a recession was on. Who would know that this community of believers was facing dire financial situations. They were just thrilled with the opportunity to show the love of Christ to people they met each day. They were making a difference in the Kingdom of God. They were ordinary people doing amazing things. This is how Jesus intended Christians to behave.

Making Roads in the Jungle

By Steve Hyde October 17, 2009 1 Comment

There are many ways to get through a jungle. The easiest way to travel is to follow those who go before you. Usually they just walk on a path which becomes warn over time. The path is narrow and small, and is hardly ever straight, because a person is constantly adjusting his weight and movements according to the obstacles he faces, so the path reflects the journey.

Apocalypse Now

By Steve Hyde October 16, 2009

Apocalypse Now was one of the historic Vietnam War movies starring Marlon Brando and Martin Sheen in 1979. The story was about tracking down a maverick colonel who went rogue and set up his own kingdom in Cambodia where he was running operations. Most of the movie was traveling through the jungles. About half way through the movie they stopped at a French chateau in a remote border region between Vietnam and Cambodia. Off the beaten track where Lonely Planet guide books dare not even travel, I know of an abandoned French Plantation house. It sits up on the spine of a hill called “Crocodile’s Back”.

Dinosaurs in Cambodia

By Steve Hyde October 13, 2009 1 Comment

Among the thousands of ancient temples and millions of carvings there is in one temple [Prasat Ta Prom] which was built in 1186 (some 800 years ago) which has a carving of what clearly is a dinosaur (Stegosaurus). In this same temple there are other animal carvings such as horses and rhinoceroses. So are dinosaurs 150 million years old or 800 years old?

Girls at $1.25

By Steve Hyde October 5, 2009 1 Comment

In Cambodia, life is cheap. Girls can be bought for $1.25. Unfortunately many tourist frequent these massage parlors as do Cambodians themselves. As Christians, the best things we can do is to just stay away from the temptations of sin that are around us.