| The Catholic retreat center at Kampong Som (Sihanoukville) is a really useful and practical facility that is well utilized by various groups. It offers small groups a pleasant place to pray or work at a very reasonable price, something the Cambodian people can afford. It is set on a hillside with the Gulf of Thailand visible a mile or so away. |
| This is one of the very few actual church buildings in Cambodia and is probably the oldest. The Khmer Rouge deliberately targeted churches for destruction during their reign. The parish in Sihanoukville is based at this church on the retreat grounds. |
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| The tabernacle in the church is locally made and exhibits classic Khmer style, both in the use of the wood and in the design. |
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| The rectory on the grounds is home to two priests who work in the parish and in several small mission stations throughout the area. |
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| The retreat buildings are arranged around this open courtyard which offers some unity to a group staying there without making them feel closed in. |
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| The rooms are simple but quite adequate. Some of the features are a little foreign to non-Cambodians. For example, the red satiny sheet is not tucked in under the mattress but is just draped over it and has ruffles. |
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| Each room has its own toilet but they are a little different, too. Probably to save on initial costs and to avoid maintenance, the toilets have no water tank for flushing. The bucket of water is used to flush the toilet after use. |
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| This building like most in Cambodia was constructed when electricity was not on people's minds. The only outlet in each room is beside the door, far away from where a laptop or lamp or alarm clock would need to be. I have learned to bring my own extension cord. |
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| Once the rains started—and continued—all the meals were moved inside. |
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| One of the features of Cambodian meals is the plethora of fruits that are available. Fruit is served at every meal, partly as one of the dishes but also as a replacement for desserts. Cambodian people find many western desserts far too sweet and sugary. |
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| One of the rainy afternoons. |
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| The worst part of the time at the retreat center was the pack of semi-wild dogs that were allowed to roam around and in the buildings. They were constantly barking, even fighting, and woke people up during the night. |
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