MÖTLEY CRÜE's NIKKI SIXX: 'Our Lives Have Been Changed Forever'

MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx has posted the following messages in his online diary:

"Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam - November 28, 2005, 4 pm

"Left this morning from Tokyo at 7 a.m. We had a lay over here in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (at one time Siagon) but our flight has been cancelled, so here we sit chain-smoking, drinking a very black coffee and waiting for another flight to Siem Reap Cambodia. Donna [wife] has been there for a few hours but we have no way of contacting her. She's probably asleep by now from the 30-hour plane flight from Los Angeles. I’ve never flown in so low when landing as to when we were just coming into Vietnam. You can't help but to think of the Vietnam war when looking out the window of the plane since we've seen the same images on TV or in movies hundreds of times. The people here seem softer than in Japan, maybe it's just a simpler culture."

"Siem Reap, Cambodia - November 28 2005, 9 pm

"Finally here at the hotel. The airport isn't far, in fact nothing is. This is a small town and only the main roads are paved, everything else is dirt. Driving in its really apparent that in the city one of the main forms of transportation is the bicycle. Two and three people to a bike too. It's nice to finally get to the hotel, but even better getting to see my wife. Donna is still out cold. I can't wake her, so I've chosen to wait 'till she wakes as Paul and Kimo headed out to explore. I've secured an undercover cop to be with us (suggested by the American embassy). Right now it seems a long way away from rock 'n' roll, and that's just fine by me, for now."

"Siem Reap, Cambodia - November 29, 2005

"Woke up, we all packed our equipment, loaded the van and head out at 7 a.m. We had Mikto (security and guide) and Virak (translator) and a driver, but more importantly we had no idea what was about to happen to us. I think I speak for Donna, Paul, Kimo and myself when I say our lives have been changed forever. I will try but I don't know if I can even put into words the level of poverty, desperation and hopelessness we encountered. To bring it all full circle, the spirituality of the Cambodian people is so high, it beams in their eyes and it blasts you from their smiles which makes it even harder to see there way of life. 40 dollars a month is the average income per family. Many have 10 to a family, few have less than 4. We stopped in a village of maybe 200 people to by some trinkets and take photos when these children came up to me to sell these little sugar balls they make. Of course, we always buy stuff, even stuff we don't need. Kimo had handed me 13 one-dollar bills (we were outta money, having given all of it away near Angkor Wat) and I hand this little girl (maybe 9 years old) the dollar for the candy, then another child came up to me, saying 'Please sir…' and pointing to her mouth as if she was saying, 'Food, food, please.' As I was handing these children one-dollar bills it quickly turned into a frenzy, like sharks during a feeding frenzy. I quickly ran out of money and there were around 25 kids around me, all jumping and screaming, 'Please, sir, please. I looked over at Donna and she was in tears. She couldn't take seeing this, but she couldn't walk away. Donna never walks away. Mitko said, 'We have to leave,' it was going to get bad. The parents were coming and more kids running down the dirt road towards the van yelling, 'Please money,' and we were outta money. I knew then, when we drove off, looking at my wife she was gonna do something, but what I didn't know. We all sat quiet for about ten minutes when Donna blurted out, 'I have to do something.' We stopped in a cafe for coffee and it there happened. Donna came up with a genius idea to drive education, which in turn drives jobs and starts the path towards a better life. Mitko and Virak jumped in an said, 'We can introduce you to the correct people to make your idea happen.' There were many things that happened, too many for me to type. Impossible for me to put into words. Maybe the photos will paint a clearer picture."

"Sydney, Australia - December 2, 2005, 7 am

"I sit here in Australia thinking of what we left behind, knowing Donna is on a mission, one which will change people lives.

"When I arrived at the hotel today, the hotel manager said in a very chipper voice, 'Hello, Mr. Sixx, how was your holiday?' I said nothing, neither did Kimo. She said, 'I hear it was short, I hope you had a nice time.' I looked at Kimo and we both looked at the floor, like I said, I just can't seem to get it into words.

"2 p.m.

"Just got back from a press conference. Walked straight into a wall of journalists and photographers. Firing off questions like, 'So, do you guys still get along? ' and other mundane, lame questions. It seemed surreal. So unimportant.

"I haven't been able to pick up my camera since Bangkok. Nothing seems important enough to photograph. I hope some of Donna's, Paul's and my photos will move some of you to look deeper inside yourselves, to be grateful for what you have and to not complain about what you wish you did have."