Monday, August 22, 2011

Team BabyTree's Ankgor Wat

Half Marathon Fundraising Page



Click button to donate securely...

Amount raised so far (AUD): $340.00 (as of 22/08/11)

BabyTree grew out of one child's belief that the world is still beautiful and that if we work together, then we can change the world for the better. Out of this belief, a unique grassroots organisation has grown, from nothing, to something. Now with branches in five countries and countless volunteers from all over the world helping, reaching our vision of enabling children to create the life they want is already beginning to happen in our projects.

Usually, 100% of funds from these efforts go towards BabyTree's remarkable work in Cambodia. But this time, things are a little different. Recently, the youngest sibling of the Saly family was diagnosed with cervical cancer and while we are very relieved that she is recovering and all signs are good, the feelings of helplessness is still raw within us. But with support of friends and supporters we realised we weren't helpless at all. No matter how small or insignificant seeming our actions, there is always something we can do. That is why, 50% of money raised from this half marathon effort will go towards BabyTree and 50% will go towards the Australian Cancer Research Foundation.



To help us continue this story you can help by making a donation. Every little bit helps...click the donate button to make a secure donation through PayPal (p.s. you don't need a paypal account to donate ;)




We hope to raise a total of $10,000AUD.
As donations come through we will update total amount raised so far every Sunday.
The amazing team so far include: Tolyka Saly, Grace Paulionis, Sim Veacha and Koky Saly.


Important details:

- We would like to thank our major sponsor for supporting this effort with all our heart:


SUCIETA, 124 Toorak Road Sth Yarra, visit them at www.sucieta.com .

- For race details and history click here . Its a pretty amazing run around the world's largest religious structure. Its also over 800 years old.

- Its not too late to join us to find out how, email: info@babytreeprojects.org

- Donations are not tax deductible at the moment. BabyTree is working feverishly to make this a possibility for the future. We are glad this isn't the reason you donate to us though ;)

- Any questions email: info@babytreeprojects.org






Tuesday, August 9, 2011

The girls can sing...

Oneday, I hope to get some of the children over to Australia and sing for their village and themselves. Show us a thing or two about life.


One evening we were all enjoying milo with the kids and ofcourse music and dancing happens...but then one of the girls started singing and it was beautiful. They don't have TV's, CD players or anything. They just can sing...its a traditional Khmer folk song that farmers sing. I hope you like their impromptu performance...nothing was planned or rehearsed...Its a song about love...

Duncan Phillips talks...(one of our amazing volunteers)

Dunky one of our amazing BabyTree volunteers answers some tough questions about his experience in our projects. He was involved in our dance video project this February 2011 and we loved having him be part of it. The schedule was mad, but during the quieter moments we were able to ask him some questions. The kids couldn't say Duncan...so they called him Dunky instead. Thank you Dunky for sharing...we love you heaps ;)



Monday, August 8, 2011

BabyTree Dance snippet...

The kids learn how to point during dance practice...
There is no point for this post...
Sometimes having a point is over-rated...





Monday, August 1, 2011

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Triple R Interview 2011 (runtime 9.37min)

This is the interview I did with Triple R (102.7FM) earlier this year. The sound file doesn't work so I've had to layer it over some images and post it as a "video". It was part of a series on 'Faith'. I hope you like it. It gives an intimate insight into our story...watch it through to the end...


Saturday, July 23, 2011

Triple R radio promo for our trivia night...Come...

To book email: lucy@babytreeprojects.org OR mitch@babytreeprojects.org
Come its for a great cause Sunday 31st July 5pm.


Friday, July 15, 2011

BabyTree's 2011 Trivia Night...the details...


* Click on image to enlarge.
We say...Test your brains - Change the world...

When: SUN 31st July 5-10pm

Where: Gertrude's Brown Couch, 30 Gertrude Street Fitzroy

What: A night of trivia and entertainment
- Lots of prizes
- Chance to prove you're smart
- Great items for auction
- Help provide a secondary school for Anlong Kraing
- Glory

Entry: $25...all profits go to the cause.

Form a team, our last trivia sold out so pls book to make sure you're in.
Email: lucy@babytreeprojects.org OR mitch@babytreeprojects.org

Online auction leading up to the day of the event coming a week before actual event. (UPDATE: It will go live one day before event now...)

Saben La Ohhh ( Khmer for sweet dreams)

Thursday, July 14, 2011

BabyTree's Trivia Night 2011


BabyTree's trivia night will be Sunday 31st of July 5pm at the Brown Couch Gertrude street...all the awesome details...posted tomorrow! Click here for Facebook event page for details.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

The pen is mightier than the sword...

I would like to share this poem with you. Its one of my favourites and is a source of inspiration for me. No sword could have inspired me the way this poem did.

Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
~Yeats

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Join Team BabyTree Angkor Wat International Half Marathon...


Hi Babytreers!

If this isn't on your bucket list yet, then it should be. Tick it off now!

Join Team BabyTree in running the Angkor Wat International Half Marathon in Seam Reap Cambodia Dec 4th 2011.

Built over 800 years ago, Angkor Wat is the world's largest religious monument and at its height, was the capital of the Khmer empire with a population of over 1 million people (London at the same time had a population of 80,000). But Angkor Wat wasn't the only temple built then, sprawled through the forest and jungles are countless other equally breathtaking temples with their own story to tell.

You will be running through these hallowed grounds where god-kings once ruled and where magic and mystique still pervades if you are lucky enough to be able to perceive it.

Team BabyTree will be raising funds for BabyTree of course and the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. We hope to raise $10,000AUD.

If you are even slightly interested then click here to read up on all the cost/details on their website.

For the map and route click here.

For a description and photos of some of the temples you will get to see click here.

For more information on Angkor Wat click here.

If after reading all this you would like to join Team BabyTree then email with your Qs: info@babytreeprojects.org

Places are limited so you need to make up your mind fast. So far the amazing team includes:

Toly Saly
Carlos Pereira
Georgii Speakman
Steven Salsberg
Koky Saly

Training has already started in Melbourne. Even if you can't do the run you can still train with us.

Run like mad - Change the world.

Koky

Monday, June 20, 2011

Miss Moi donates two necklaces...



Hello everybody,

Help us raise funds for the school in Anlong Kranh/ Big Hole village by making a bid for one of the necklaces kindly donated by Miss Moi. To the right are the pictures...but you must make your bid via our facebook fan page. Click here: Baby Tree Projects facebook fan page. You can also visit our friend Miss Moi.

Thank you and happy bidding! Bidding closes July 15th 2011.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Cut hair - Change the World


Today Mel (one of our amazing volunteers) received letters from the children of Anlong Krainh Village. They know her because earlier this year she lived in their village with them and helped me shoot the Life is Beautiful video.

She met some of the incredible children I always talk about. One of them was Sokkah and we all believe he is a born leader with limitless potential. Mel had told them that she would return to teach Hairdressing to them. The kids are ecstatic. They wrote back to her to say how much they are looking forward to these classes.

Here is the letter from Sokkah. Click on it to enlarge. He asked if Mel misses them. I think we all know the answer to that.

Thank you Mel for your creativity and just getting the job done. It must hurt real bad being so good ;)

Saturday, June 11, 2011

The school plans are in...

Recently I received in the mail the school plans. If everything goes well then the school will be built based on these plans. Click on the pictures to make them bigger.


Friday, June 10, 2011

Special offer for Babytreers!






Dear loyal Babytreers!

Well at BabyTree, we always think of all our supporters and we always think of cool ways to say thank you for all your generous support.

So we are happy to let you know that the best suit store in Melbourne, using the best fabrics available in Europe has agreed to offer 20% off all their suits to anyone that has ever donated or supported BabyTree Projects by attending our events.

To make use of this offer all you have to do is email: koky@babytreeprojects.org.

We will organise a convenient time for you to come into their store located on 124 Toorak Road South Yarra. They offer an individual tailoring service to make sure you look super smart at your next event, board meeting or wedding. Ladies, sorry they specialise only in menswear at the moment so they will extend their offer to your partner.

Visit their website: www.sucieta.com

Also, the first 5 supporters to make use of this offer wins a double pass to see whatever they like at the cinemas, courtesy of our good friends Village Cinemas.

Offer ends July 31st!!!

Thank you
xxx

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Yogaflame.com.au Thank you

Rarely do I promote businesses or organisations on my blog. Which is true...but I do a lot of thanking people for their generosity ;) Yoga Flame decided to have a fundraising event for us, un asked for and out of the blue and I thought it would be nice to let my readers know about them. If you want to get fit and healthy check them out ;)

always koky
xxx

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Water for Elephants - $3351 raised!!! Thanks Rosie!

Dear all Baby-treers!

Just wanted to thank everyone that came last night to watch a movie with us...and...also to all the people that donated even-though they couldn't make it. It was a great night as usual. I am starting to notice the vibe and excitement at all our events and its beautiful. Usually, I'm too energised and busy meeting new people to notice these things, but last night was a little different. I have to say THANK YOU to Rosie for organising everything, it made things so much easier for me. I cant wait for the next one. I was almost late for the event because I was stuck in West Gate Bridge peak hour traffic, but am so glad I was just in time to introduce video and publicly thank everyone for turning up. Mama Saly's chicken mince mint leaves salad was a hit. Sold out in 40min. Over 140 people rocked up, probably 150 including all the volunteers and stragglers that came late ;)

Next event will be a classy affair so get your fashion senses out and be prepared for your taste buds to explode ;)

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Watch a Movie - Change the World - THE DETAILS



Hi BabyTree-ers,

As we all know we just want to change the world by making the world dance and bringing quality education to the doorsteps or some amazing kids. Kids you may seen in our Life is Beautiful video.

We are having a movie night because movies are always fun. Here are the details. Hope you can come, pre-purchasing tickets is important you can pay cash to one of our trusted volunteers or call 0426 270 634 and leave a message. We will call you back ;)

When: Tuesday 17th May.
Time: 6pm doors open...presentation at 7pm...movie at 715pm
What: Water for Elephants (its not out yet view trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6b2XhXkPpg )
How Much: Adults $25 Child $15 (all profits goes towards quality education in our projects)
Where: Sun Theatre, 8 Ballarat Street, Yarraville.


On behalf of the BabyTree team...
www.babytreeprojects.org
kokysaly.blogspot.com
info@babytreeprojects.org
0426270634

Thursday, April 21, 2011

The Boy and the Bee

Below is an article that was published in a Japanese magazine called Young Tree Press (Issue 9, Secrets, 2008). I have decided to publish it here because there are new supporters who would find it interesting. It also describes my first experience of Cambodia as an adult and although it was supposed to be a quasi travel piece it turned more personal. Its semi-autobiographical.



As a boy, I had trouble telling people where I came from. Every time a teacher asked me this question I would answer Australia because at that age Australia was all I knew and understood. Why couldn’t I just say Australia like the blonde boy next to me and everyone would accept it as a perfectly acceptable and truthful answer and move onto the next child. It troubled me so much, I sometimes would lie down in the middle of my parent’s cornfield and look up into the Australian sky. Almost always next to me trapped in a redhead matchbox was an angry bee. Buzzing like crazy, I was sure it was telling me that if it ever escaped I was going to pay for trapping it. The bee’s buzzing was relaxing and so I always risked its wrath. I needed the bee and in my ten-year-old head I thought that in some cosmic way we had a connection or an understanding, the truth was I wanted to be like the bee. I wanted to fly wherever I wanted and if anyone annoyed me I could sting them. With the bee buzzing in my head I would think of my life. I didn’t even know where I was born, or how I got to Australia; I wondered why my parents seldom spoke to me and my brothers and sisters. Us kids were largely an ignored bunch. They never engaged us in conversation, unless it was about our school report card. Get good grades and you can do whatever you want, get bad grades and you’re in big trouble. But what I really wanted to know was why they never ever spoke about life before Australia. That big forgotten chunk of our family’s life that has everything to do with who we are and what we do now. From where I stood, they weren’t happy and neither was I, but they didn’t know this and neither did anyone else. Sometimes, half out of frustration and half out of comfort I would pretend that I had a higher being friend with the face of a sky and while lying, spread-eagled, I would ask my sky-god all of my questions. When I was finished asking I would let the bee go (I got stung over ten times) and while walking home I would wonder how or where, I would find my answers.

People, I have discovered are the biggest keeper of secrets. That normal person you sit next to on the train I bet will be a keeper of secrets. Husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, best friends all have secrets. We try to bury them inside ourselves and hope that no one else can see. You sit there in your own world, thinking you are safe, but knowing you are not. Everyone tells everyone that its bad to hide painful memories, that to overcome your fears is to face them, head on. But no-one knows how, it’s not a lock and key situation. That’s why we spend our lives trying to be something we are not. Covering up our true selves to fit in with the outside world. Being happy when we are sad, forcing a smile when all we want to do is frown, trying to be a bee when you are a boy.

My parents are the best keeper of secrets I have ever met. Getting information out of them is harder then beating world hunger. And since I think they should have revealed some of their secrets a long time ago, I will share one of them with you now. It’s something that I didn’t learn about until my adult years, it’s quite extraordinary really. I would even call it a miracle, not because of my role in it, but because of the sheer amount of luck involved. It’s more luck than we can ever expect in this world and much more luck than I deserve.

A woman stumbles through a jungle. She has lost a lot of blood. She has no energy, but here, energy or no energy, you push yourself. The alternative is unspeakable. Here, death comes often and mercilessly. Imagine, kneeling, hands tied behind your back, and a thin palm frond slowly slicing your neck. Imagine, your last image, are of children standing around you, they are cheering and clapping. Their starved bodies, empty smiles and dead eyes terrify you. You want to stop fighting for your life, but you can’t, because these aren't any children. They are yours.

The woman keeps fighting. Through the dark and with burning eyes she sees the outline of a ruined temple. Crawling she finds her way inside. She presses her lips against the cool stone floor. She barely manages to turn herself over before she collapses onto her back. Her gaze rests upon a night sky, framed by the jagged walls of a bomb scarred temple. It’s roof blown off. The light of the moon beams past. The stars seem to sing to her. But through the song she hears a wail. A newborn baby cries. Surely that's not her baby. Movement stops, and still as stone she pushes no more.

The time: approximately 3am, 28th of November 1976.

The place: Koky Temple, approximately 20km Southeast of Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

Now.

I couldn’t remember when I had lost feeling in my legs. Numb toes, numb thighs, numb bum. Pinch here, pinch there, yep, definitely no feeling down there. Add to this the nausea, the inability to sleep and a snoring old man between me and the loo and you have a pretty crappy trip. Oh and the afraid of heights thing didn't make it better either. I would have taken a boat, except the sea and me aren’t such pals either. The last time I braved a boat resulted in my breakfast being hurled with projectile force into the Indian Ocean. That was six years ago.

Now, I’m 10,000metres in the sky. In a 767 full of Korean tourist on a packaged tour. Their destination: Angkor Wat. To the world it is regarded as the largest religious monument ever built. At it’s height the seat of power of an empire that encompassed present day Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and parts of China. It’s rulers God-Kings. Angkor Wat has emerged out of the jungles and represents a saviour of sorts. The main draw card in a growing tourism industry and perhaps if managed correctly lead Cambodia onto the long road to prosperity, stability and peace.

To its people the Khmers, the temple is a national treasure. A reminder of how things once were. An impossible dream and provider of hope. Its image emblazoned proudly on the national flag. Its famous towers point towards the heavens. Its grounds sacred and holy. A place where gods walked when gods roamed the world. And soon I will get my chance to walk where they walked.

Alicia Keys is singing Karmastition on my head set. Outside, pitch black. Below shrouded in darkness and mystery is Cambodia. It’s a tick over 10.30pm local time and we are about to land. I haven’t been here since I was a three-year-old child way back in 1980. Then, my family and I had barely escaped with our lives and here I was coming back. Even now I couldn’t help but feel a little fear, it will always be, unreasonably, a land of danger to me. But I was determined to come here for two reasons. The first was to fulfill a lifelong dream and build a school here. The second was my quest for answers. If I couldn’t get it from my bees, my parents or my ‘sky god’, then surely I would find some answers here. Unraveling a story like my mother’s and father’s wasn’t going to be easy. But at least I had unstitched the first thread. I had an ace up my sleeve. Waiting for me at the airport was another one of my parent’s secrets. A brother I have never met.

Siem Reap airport is different to any other airport I’ve been to. True it is the first airport in a developing country I’ve been to so I expected smaller, which I got. But what I didn’t expect was to be the centre of a heated argument between the Visa people and the Customs people. Officially, to enter Cambodia you are required to purchase a visa, which cost $20US and needs to be renewed after a month. However, you can pretty much purchase longer stays if you are prepared to pay for it. I didn’t know any of this when I began to speak Khmer to the visa people who quickly warmed up to me. They must of felt I didn’t need a visa to come back to my place of birth as shown on my passport because before I knew it they had given me a visa stamped permanent, limitless re-entries, expiry date marked forever, fee: gratis.

For someone like me this was the best experience ever. My feelings of uncertainty had been wiped clean and I loved Cambodia. I can safely say the people where my family is from are really nice and friendly. They didn’t treat me like an outsider, I was one of them, and they wanted me to come here and help them rebuild our country and that’s exactly what I was going to do.

And then I reached customs. One look at my visa and they had dragged me back to the visa department where I spent the next half hour doing what the nice visa man told me to do if this should happen and pretend I didn’t understand. Not hard for me. In the end it all worked out. I got my visa for free and customs didn't get the bribe money they were demanding. But my feelings of uncertainty returned, Cambodia wasn’t so cool after all, I had just experienced first hand what most Cambodians see as the single biggest problem in Cambodia’s road to recovery, corruption.

The rest of the night was crap. After two hours of waiting, my brother never showed up. I caught a taxi into town where I got chased by a mongrel of a dog down some crazy alley way or drive way or come to think of it, it may have been a road, I still don’t know. The dog left me after I threw some pringles at it. I finally found a hotel that in the morning I would discover had overcharged me. Advice to everyone coming to Cambodia, If you are foreign the locals will try to overcharge you for everything. Finally had fried rice for dinner in a small restaurant watching in wonder all the geckos running along the walls and wondering why no-one else was watching this most fascinating sight.

Siem Reap is a flourishing city. Tourists flock here while exploring Angkor Wat and it’s surrounding temples. New hotels and guesthouses open on a weekly basis and many more are under construction. Dirt roads are being replaced by tarmac. The current rate of construction virtually renders it unrecognizable every six months. Markets and restaurants targeting the tourist dollar line the main roads. It’s easier to find an internet café here than in Tokyo and at 75US cents an hour it’s a lot cheaper too. The city operates on a dual currency system accepting US dollars or the local currency of Riel. But if you don’t have the right kind of money then the many family owned foreign exchange outlets littering the city will be more than happy to help you. Property that sold for $5000US ten years ago now sell for over $200,000US. People struggling to survive of the land from surrounding villages swarm the city’s tourist district and try their luck as beggars. Teachers and police officers make $30US a month. Almost every household has crocodile farms, once lucrative but now tighter laws mean the mainly Chinese buyers have dried up. The city’s growth is definitely chaotic and it’s reflected on it’s roads. Petrol stations on corners become quasi highways, the only thing a tourist needs to drive, is some courage. It’s not uncommon to see families precariously balanced on mopeds. Mums breastfeeding, father’s driving, toddlers hanging on the back and a bag of vegetables on their heads. Whatever you do, don’t try to enter a roundabout unless you are prepared to scream your head off. Seemingly, tuc tucs are the most common mode of transport, well for tourists anyway. They loiter around the markets, hotels and clubs fighting for business. Dust and sand fly everywhere. Walking down the street is like spending the day at the beach, because no matter how careful you are, you come home with sand in your underwear. And as I sat on my bag on Sivatha road, removing sand from my eyes and face, under the harshest noon sun I’ve experienced, staring at what Cambodia called a road, my brother shows up in an ugly ute, one wheel half flat and wheezing air and a muffler or something dragging underneath.

He had thick wavy black hair parted on the left. His skin was dark and weather beaten. He had a habit of sucking his saliva through his teeth. It made an excruciating slurping noise, which left you dreading and anticipating the next one. His mango coloured shirt was old, a little too large and hung loosely across his shoulders. It made him look droopy. He wore faded black pants and thongs which revealed wrinkled calloused feet. Large almond shaped eyes sat above a relatively large nose, his lips were thick and when he let himself go, they released an amusingly infectious high pitched laugh. His name was Ouen, he was my brother and running through my head while we hugged were feelings of happiness, awkwardness and sadness.

Meeting your brother for the first time is an utterly unusual experience. You have this sense of closeness because of shared blood but you have no history and no shared experience to back it up. He was the perfect host, but just like my parents he kept his secrets and I suppose he had his reasons for keeping them. I never did see his house and I couldn’t help but feel some envy from him. After all, fate could have shared out luck more fairly than it did.

The first place we went to was Sophy village about 20km north of Siem Reap. Nothing famous here, but a short conversation I had with my father about five years ago made this place a must visit village. It is the site of what I hope to be the first of many school building projects. A long time ago I expressed to my father my dream to build a school in Cambodia, he immediately made some calls and before long I had been given land under the condition I build a school on it and nothing else. What he failed to mention was that Koky Temple had been rebuilt and was less then a ten-minute walk from the village and that some of the village elders saved his and my mother’s life during the war.

Sophy village is a small village. About 2000 people live there along with their cows and chickens. Living in the village with the villagers during the school building project was one of the most difficult things I have done in my life. No hot water, no electricity and no flushing toilet made me feel like a caveman and not a very good one too because I couldn’t start a fire. Add to this the burning sun and torrential rains and you have a difficult life. As difficult as it was though, it was one of the most incredible things I have experienced. I spent almost every waking moment with the children. They were with me while I laid bricks, poured cement, planted rice and rode hay filled carts pulled by water buffalos. We bought vegetables together, we drew and painted, sang and danced under the stars. We watched a mega shooting star rip the night sky in half. They are some of the most amazing children. There is Vin my little Picasso. There is Ger, my little Charlie Chaplin. There is Janran, delightful and smart. Chead, a little soccer player in the making. Simonne, cheeky and stubborn and many many more.

There are few words you can use to describe the feelings you get when you build a school for a village. And when you learn that some of the people in the village saved not only your parents’ lives but also yours during a war that tore up a nation, there is absolutely nothing you can say about it and feel you’ve adequately expressed yourself. So I will keep my words to a minimum about this. The children and the villagers were grateful for our help and we were deeply humbled by the way they handled themselves and their lives.

My father was born into a family of fifteen kids. Just two remain. Himself and Uncle Rum. Uncle Rum lives in Samrong city the Capital of Oddar Meanchey province, in Northern Cambodia. It’s one of the most heavily landmined areas in the country, in one of the most heavily land mined countries in the world. He has seven children and like most Cambodians lives in a wooden house built on stilts. In front of his house is a small banana tree forest. Getting to Samrong from Siem Reap, turned out to be, what I call, the worst journey of my life. And not in a funny way.

In 1979 when my family escaped Cambodia we traveled by foot to the Thai border via Samrong. This time round we traveled to Samrong using my brother’s ugly blue ute with the wheezing wheel. Apparently he fixed the muffler. The trip normally takes five hours along some of the worst roads in the world. Any nostalgia I may have had traveling the same roads ended at first sight. Not a single stretch was smooth. It looked like watermelons had rained down on it leaving gaping holes, some at least 3 metres wide. And if there were no holes, there were chasms, where the entire road had collapsed, forcing our ugly blue ute to navigate through mini canyons. All this wouldn’t be so bad if we were in a Ford Explorer but we sat on steel in the back of a suspensionless ute.

While I was mourning the fact that I didn’t have the foresight to bring some cushions, I noticed my hair lashing me with extra force and one glance up revealed lightning and black clouds, a heavy storm was coming our way. Out came our plastic sheet for cover and while sitting down with a sore bum and in misery we became bogged down. Not on the road as you would expect but right on temple grounds and 5 metres ahead of us was my paternal grandma’s grave. Grandma must have really wanted to see us because despite my requests to get us out quickly we remained stuck for 2 hours. Not even the combined efforts of ten curious monks or the local tractor could get us out. Instead that got bogged down too. It wasn’t until a truck came by in fading light that we were freed. Thank you grandma.

All said, it took us 8 hours to reach Samrong. By the end of it I had huge welts running horizontally across my buttocks, leaving my bum looking like a hot cross bun. I would have laughed if it wasn’t for the fact that come tomorrow, I would have do it all over again on the return trip.

Some families love nothing more than to sit around the dinner table and recount special events. Relive such and such's wedding, or bring out photos and reminisce about so and so’s first word. Not my family. We relive nothing. Oh maybe I am exaggerating a little. We do talk about Christmas, we particularly like to focus on the next generation of Saly’s. I would argue my nieces and nephews are more photographed than the queen. But our past is hidden behind closed doors, sealed by a wall of elders reluctant to talk. I had hoped that in Cambodia things would be different to Australia, that just maybe geography had held the door slightly ajar for me, but I discovered some things are no different, no matter where you are.

My trip to Cambodia wasn’t as I had expected. Nothing ever is. I have many more trips to Cambodia to make and many more schools to build. One day, I hope family history won’t be such a mystery. It mustn’t be easy for my parents to talk about their life before and during the war. What they must have seen and endured I can only imagine. It maybe a little selfish on my part, but whether they like it or not I will keep on pestering them for answers. The more I find out the more I want to know. There is a sister I had but never knew about. Their firstborn child who died aged 11. Who is she and how can they erase all evidence of her so cleanly that their other children had no idea?

I’m definitely no longer that boy who wants to be a bee, and maybe I have ended up with more questions than answers but at least for now, when I lie down under the sky and speak to my higher being friend, I will be a little closer to understanding because even though I hate to admit this, I have secrets of my own.


Thank you for reading. A follow-up article will be published soon. Koky.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

A Romantic View

Below is an article that was published in Flash magazine (Issue 3, Flash, 2004). I was asked to write a piece to coincide with my first solo exhibition in Melbourne at the Centre for Contemporary Photography. It was supposed to be a reflection on the power of photography, but really, it gives a small insight into the story I was trying to tell. Even then, when I was young and free;)



A Romantic View

I first met Yukio Mishima in October 2000 in a dusty little bookshop in, of all places, New York. He just happened to be sitting on some Andy Warhol books, all dishevelled and creased, as if, someone had just ravished him then plonked him back down, discarded. He had his head tilted down but he was looking up, and when our eyes locked he gave me the most intensely soft gaze. He had thick eyebrows and a handsome face shaded in shadow and light. In his mouth was a rose, and even though I was now holding him in my hands, I wouldn’t be able to tell you what colour it was. He was a galaxy away. He had a sincere sadness about him that made me want to hold him, and keep him. I was on holidays, a poor student and definitely penniless, my sister impatiently waiting outside. And so, for the third time in my life, I committed a small crime. I hid him under my green leather jacket and I stole him.


I didn’t know it at the time, but my bid for Yukio was too late. From this introduction I became what some people have described as a ‘tad obsessive’. I prefer to describe it as ‘interested in learning about someone else’s life.’ The truth is, both descriptions are probably right. I learnt that he was a celebrated literary figure, who was nominated for the Nobel Prize for literature three times. He was the author of some 40 novels, poetry, essays, and modern Kabuki and Noh dramas. I learnt that his real name was Kimitaka Hiraoka, changing his name so that his anti-literary father would not know about his devotion to writing and when I discovered that Yukio, in a blaze of passion had committed seppuku (a ritual suicide involving disembowelment) in 1970, I mourned for him, as if he had played a truly instrumental part in my life and in a way, he did.


My meeting with him, some three decades after his suicide, has served to remind me of my own at times disdainful view of humanity, and yet, it has also served to remind me that life can still be beautiful. I admit I do have a romantic view of the world. But as a child of war from a family of refugees, my biggest fear is that I lose sight of this view. After all, a young Frenchman volunteering his time and risking his life to work in refugee camps along the Thailand/Cambodian border in 1979 held that very same view when he came across a family of ten, who managed to escape and remain intact despite a war. It was this same view that drove the young Frenchman to make a huge difference in this family’s life, and he did, because within two months they were on a plane to Australia. All because of some foolish view, a view that I will never let go of.


Should I ever lose sight of this view, I will always return to Yukio, with that rose in his mouth and serious eyes and quickly I will recall everything. Today, Yukio sits on my desk but sometimes I will take him out to the beach and we will sit together, like old friends on an old bench, and look out to sea.


Isn’t it a curious thing, that a mere picture manages to move and hold you in a way that some people in this world never will.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Triple R 102.7FM

The Triple R interview will air the 20th April 2011 at 9.45am. That's tomorrow ;)
I will post the audio at the top of this page after it airs.
The story is about 'Faith'.
I hope you get the chance to have a listen.

Koky

Thursday, April 14, 2011

The Triple RRR interview...

The interview went incredibly well I thought. I did ramble on too much, but I also hope I said a few interesting things for a decent story to come out. Jacinta and Caitlin were very charming and a part from having very very nice voices they are also beautiful women in real life. Too bad their listeners can't see them too :) The interview will air sometime soon. When-ever they tell me actually. Im not the boss of that. Jacinta also spoke about technology stuff which I didnt understand. A big thank you to Becky for thinking about BabyTree and mentioning us to her contacts in Triple RRR.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Another interview...another torturous attempt to not laugh

Everytime I do an interview I find it extremely hard to not laugh. No matter how serious the topic or the mood in the room. I will let you know of the air-time and if possible post the recording somehow. Wish me luck. For some reason I am no longer nervous about these things.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

E55 video screening update

Thank you to all that attended. I hope you had a fun time. I certainly did and cannot wait to see you all again. Thank you to Mel for organising and E55 for being so generous in their support. Some photos will be posted soon.

P.s. next article will be published shortly in the run up to our next event and launch of our soon to be revealed campaign in July 2011.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Life is Beautiful - Second screening - The details


BabyTree Projects would like to warmly invite you to the second screening of our short film.

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.

Next Sunday the 10th of April.
4 - 9 pm.
Screening will be at 6.30.
@ E55 (efiftyfive)
55 Elizabeth street CBD.


$20 donation and you receive a copy of the DVD.

All money will go towards our next project this December, we will be returning to anlong krang village to build a secondary school, document more of our journey and run art workshops plus lots more.

It would be a great honour to have your beautiful face and support on the night.

Much
love
&
Gratitude

Unite with us and thousands of children around the world in bringing quality education to the doorsteps of the most amazing kids you will ever meet.

* Below is a picture of the venue cool;)

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Big Hole Village Cows



Just a little note to report that we have purchased cows as promised for Big Hole Village primary school. The right to name the cows was won by Diana D (congratulations and thank you for supporting us). The naming of the cows, there are three, is a great privilege and Diana thought carefully. We are happy to announce that the cows, which are actually just calfs at the moment are named, Luna, Stella and Astrid. Name tags will be made for them soon. As yet we have been unable to get a photo of the beautiful cows, but I promise to post them as soon as I get them. (The picture above is not of the actual cow).

The cows will allow the children to learn the valuable skill of taking care of livestock. The cows will also assist in the upkeep of the vegetable garden, plowing the fields and providing manure. They will also contribute to generating an income through the selling of excess crop and the sale of offspring (if they have babies).

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Life is Beautiful - Video launch - Wrap up

Okay, I have been busy since the finish of our last event. Before I tell you what I have been busy with I would like to say that the video launch was a huge success. Apart from managing to raise over $3,600 dollars we also received the most encouraging, beautiful and positive feedback. One thing we did forget to do was to take photos because we were all extremely busy on the night. Which is how it should be. If I can find a photo I will try and put that up for your viewing pleasure ;)

In the meantime I have given two presentations about my experience in Cambodia to staff at World Vision Australia and the overwhelming response from that has been incredible. People have begun sharing their stories with me and it's amazing to experience. We have definitely managed to gather more supporters for our cause.

I am also busy at university and cannot wait for that to be over ;)

We have two events with definite dates coming up so keep them free.

The first is on SUN 10th April at E55 Elizabeth Street Melbourne. Its time to dance, party and change the world.

The second is on TUE 17th May at Sun Theatre, Yarraville. It will be a movie night plus more activities.

Finally, I have been busy organising our next Campaign to be launched in June. Wait for the details, it will be an amazing launch.

Oh and how can I forget. I'm also writing a book. Everything about it is top secret at the moment. But like everything else I do, I hope you are going to love it.

Koky!!!



***I did manage to find a photo, this is a picture of my mum. Its the earliest photo I have of her and I use it during my presentations***

***And below some more from the night, although mostly behind the scenes stuff***











Saturday, March 19, 2011

Video Launch was amazing...

I just want to salute all our friends that came tonight. It was amazing. The video will be published on youtube soon. And updates will be posted soon. I didnt take any photos because I was busy. But Im sure we got some. proper update later. Just got home and have a full day of intensive university classes soon.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Video Lauch Update/Map

Hi all,

Hope everyone is doing well, can't wait to see you there and if you are a maybe then here's 5 reasons why you should come ;)

1) You get the chance to name the school cows (There's three), seriously, when will you ever get this chance again?

2) Help us bring quality education to the doorsteps of the most amazing kids.

3) Watch a painting being created live by an amazing artist.

4) Finger foods: (which are complimentary) will be traditional Cambodian spring rolls, curry puffs, and Mint chicken salad. We have vegetarian options too because we look after vegetarians. Also a Khmer sweet called Nomgom. Little pyramids wrapped in banana leaves.

5) Chris Judd personally signed guernsey to be auctioned off, silently.

* For those that dont know where the Carlton Football club is: Here is a link to the map, You enter via royal parade, plenty of free parking available and trams go right past it. Look for green balloons at car park entry: http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode&q=Visy+Park%2C+Carlton+North%2C+Victoria&aq=0&sll=-25.335448%2C135.745076&sspn=43.569223%2C81.474609&ie=UTF8&hq=Visy+Park%2C&hnear=Optus+Oval%2C+Melbourne+Victoria+3054&ll=-37.776922%2C144.96314&spn=0.01869%2C0.042915&z=15

Any questions call us on: 0426 270 634

Koky on behalf of the BabyTree crew.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Life is Beautiful - Video Launch Details

Dear Babytreers!!!

Well its been a while but the time has come for us to have our first event of 2011. This one is going to be a cracker so hope you can make it and bring your friends, details as follows (flyer attached):

BTP humbly invites you to a screening of "Life is Beautiful" - A short film about how the innocence of a child can overcome the darkest evil.

See our trailers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oRVS6-EnYc and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OdfMWHZtYI&feature=related

Help change the world by joining us on this night and learn more about a unique organisation that grew from a child's belief that the world could change for the better.

When: Saturday March 19th 2011.
Time: 6.30pm-10pm * * Screening is at 7.30PM * *
Where: Carlton Football Club, Visy Park, Royal Parade, Carlton Nth 3053. (Entry via royal parade, look for green balloons at car park entrance. Plenty of free on-site parking).

$20 entry includes, screening of the film, a copy of the DVD and delicious finger foods PLUS know that all profits goes towards our crucial and inspiring work in Cambodia. We rely solely on volunteers here in Australia, Japan and Canada and of course Cambodia.

ALSO there will be music...a bar...finger foods...BTP merchandise...and...DANCING...
* Incredible door prizes...
* Lolly Jar Competition to buy the school a cow.
* And the opportunity to name the COW!!!
* The opportunity to unite with us in our 'Donate a dollar - Build a school' campaign
* Children welcome (entry for kids gold coin donation)

So...Dance the Night Away - Change the World......

For the latest updates visit our blog (website under reconstruction): http://kokysaly.blogspot.com/

Come.

Koky on behalf of
The BabyTree Projects Crew
info@babytreeprojects.org
www.babytreeprojects.org
http://kokysaly.blogspot.com/
MP: 0426 270 634

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Touring the venue...This is where we will roll...




* Sophia & Adam (the Head Dancer of the Melbourne Jew Glee Club) reveals to us the theatre we will be using. 80 seats for the important people and about 20 places for peope we kind of like on the steps.

* Mel trying to edit the video.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Sophia working hard on our next event...

How the Dance Video "Life is Beautiful" was conceptualised.

I have such a great creative crew to work with. Here is an exchange on Facebook between my sister me and a consultant who is Head Dancer of the Melbourne Jew Glee Club (MJGC). We are talking about a photograph of two hot Geisha's who inspired the costume part. As you can see one person likes this exchange. NB: Some words may have been edited as I know some of my readers are children ;)
*



Takeshi Miyamoto likes this.
*
o

Sophia Saly who are the hot geishas??

August 22, 2010 at 8:55pm · LikeUnlike
o


Koky Saly Dont know, but they are also hot dancers...I need you to watch my routine and give it objective critique. Should I make the kids wear costumes. Or should I just make them run like in love lost.

August 22, 2010 at 8:59pm · LikeUnlike
o



Sophia Saly amazing, hot and talented. when can i watch this routine, i will even let you use some of my signature moves that will blow the audience away. just let them run..

August 22, 2010 at 9:09pm · LikeUnlike
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Koky Saly I want to do it in the rainy season...so that we all run in the rain and hopefully we all start running with less clothes. If we do fireworks on the side do you think that is way too much. The geishas can sing too. Ive heard they have the voice of angels.

August 22, 2010 at 9:14pm · LikeUnlike
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Sophia Saly yes good idea, maybe wear whote tshirts and let them get soaked... no fireworks will give it that little more.. oh my sing too?? i will be in a trance by the beauty of the voices, looks and moves.

August 22, 2010 at 9:16pm · LikeUnlike
o


Adam Sapar Do u want me to show u some hot jew moves? Also, I used to be in an acapello group - my nickname was Saparotti

August 22, 2010 at 9:22pm · LikeUnlike
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Koky Saly Yeah I know some people just have it all. Its sickening. Wet white tshirts are hot. I will make them wear white shorts too.

August 22, 2010 at 9:22pm · LikeUnlike
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Koky Saly Sorry Saparotti didnt see you comment. I didnt know you were in a jew glee club. I would love to see your jew moves.

August 22, 2010 at 9:24pm · LikeUnlike
o


Sophia Saly he fav song is by the bangles.. "close your eyes,give me your hand darling"

August 22, 2010 at 9:25pm · LikeUnlike
o


Adam Sapar I can critique your coreography too - I was a judge on the israeli version of dance with the stars

August 22, 2010 at 9:26pm · LikeUnlike
o


Koky Saly Get OUT!!! That's one of my signature karaoke songs.

August 22, 2010 at 9:27pm · LikeUnlike
o


Adam Sapar I really can feel your heart beating koky. Do you understand

August 22, 2010 at 9:27pm · LikeUnlike
o


Sophia Saly do you feel the same....am i only dreaming...

August 22, 2010 at 9:28pm · LikeUnlike
o


Adam Sapar Hang on, so is koky actually in charge of putting together a song dance for 200 kids??? Where will they get all the pink lady apples?!?!

August 22, 2010 at 9:30pm · UnlikeLike
o


Koky Saly only if you feel the same or am i only dreaming...

August 22, 2010 at 9:30pm · LikeUnlike
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Sophia Saly and its burning... an eternal FLAME! SAY MY NAME

August 22, 2010 at 9:32pm · LikeUnlike
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Adam Sapar Koky, can I borrow ur loin cloth for my trip to campuchia?

August 22, 2010 at 9:36pm · LikeUnlike
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Koky Saly with a body like yours it would be a sin to cover it up with a loib cloth.

August 22, 2010 at 9:39pm · LikeUnlike
o


Sophia Saly I believe he has a sarong

August 22, 2010 at 9:39pm · LikeUnlike
o


Koky Saly ‎*loin not Loib

August 22, 2010 at 9:39pm · LikeUnlike
o

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Life is Beautiful - Dance Video Launch - March 19th

Hello everybody!

Get excited for the launch of our dance video. We know that it is on the 19th of March 2011. This is a Saturday so we can party on. We also know that it will be in a very convenient location in Melbourne city. Keep this date free. I will post the details as they roll in because that's how we roll. If you want to see a better quality version follow this youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oRVS6-EnYc

We've been busy...

Hello everybody,

Recently myself and a team of volunteers went to Cambodia to do many things. We worked tirelessly with the community and our team of volunteers in Cambodia to ensure that we are moving in the right direction, and, I am very happy to say we have achieved some great results. The most important thing for us though are the children and their inspirational stories. We can not wait to bring their stories to the world's attention ;) We also conducted a dance workshop because once when I was a lot younger I thought I could change the world through dance (I have a dance degree, yes this is true). We are so happy to announce that the children participated with such brilliance and didn't complain once. Please check out the trailer attached. Photo's are forthcoming and just so you know our website is under re-construction. So for now please check my blog for updates. The launch of the video will be held in Melbourne on the 19th of March 2011. So if you are in town keep this date free. Please don't think about it because you really don't have to. Just come.