Steps of Bayon Temple

I just received this photo from Chin and I will like to share how steep the stairways of the temples are. This was taken at the second level of Bayon Temple and that's me in a very unglam situation. The staircase is almost vertical!! I have to make my steps down very slowly! The stairways at Ang Kor Wat are even more steep than this but the authorities have already closed off the 3rd level area as a tourist fell to his death last year.

Photo Credits : Kenneth Chin

My favourite shout out and blog entry

For memories sake, I am saving my shout out in Friendster (09/04/2007 till 31/05/2011) here.

Qn:"Before the right Prince Charming finally comes, how many frogs must we kiss?"

Ans:"Never trust gypsies, kissing frogs does not help Prince Charming to appear. Frogs don't turn into princes, they usually end up in the pot for frog porridge!09/04/2007

I am also saving my favourite blog entry here. I wrote it after a trip to Korea and I took group tour! There was a family who left a deep impression on me, even till now.

Highlight Five - Affections

Filed Under (Uncategorized) by missyd on 17-02-2007

There is one particular group of persons who had left a deep impression in me during this trip. There is this family of five consisting of the mummy and daddy, the eldest son (24 of age), the daughter (21 years old) and the youngest son (15 years old).

The affection and love that they display and the way they showed care for each other has touched me. Till now, I still remember that happy look on their faces and I can’t help but feel a pang of envy. We all have families of one kind or another and the affection we share with them, often taken for granted, is among the most precious things we have.

I came across this article titled "Touched" written by Hwang Ho Yeon. It says (extracted) >>

Genuine physical affections are far more than bodily contact. It is a meeting of minds. In a world constantly getting smaller but seemingly as far away as ever from an end of sufferings, we may need true physical affections more than ever.

Bye Friendster, I am not taking my blog and photos! You can have it!

Bye Friendster!

I heard Friendster is going through a revamp soon! All the blogs, photos, comments and testimonials will be deleted!!

Statement by Friendster

“Your Friendster account will not be deleted. You will still have the same email login and password in the new Friendster. Also, your list of friends will be preserved, along with your basic profile information. However, all the photos, messages, comments, testimonials, shoutouts, blogs, forums and groups that you may have now will no longer be part of your account by May 31, 2011.

We understand that your photos, blogs and other private data are important to you. An application is available in the “Apps” section of the site, until May 31, 2011, to help you download or export them securely to third party sites, such as Flickr or Multiply.

If you do not wish to keep all this history or information, then you do not need to do anything. Whether you use the Exporter or not, your Friendster account will not be deleted. Your list of friends will be preserved, along with your basic profile information. Your wallet and games details will also remain unchanged

One of the blog entries that I penned after I came back from Hanoi. Cambodia reminded me of Vietnam.

We are blessed

Filed Under (Uncategorized) by missyd on 25-12-2007

A recent trip to a third world country, Vietnam, made me feel more appreciative of what I already have. The children in Hanoi do not play with playstation, nor do they play with Fisher Price toys. They mostly roam the streets and play with whatever they can find. And sad to say, most of them start working at a very tender age. Perhaps that is why we do not see any book stores? My gaze stopped on the stuffs on my (currently very messy) table; my PSP, digital camera, N95, ipod Nano, PC and some Christmas gifts. These are things that most us will have taken for granted and wouldn’t think twice about it. Aren’t we blessed?

It could have been due to poverty circumstances, some of the vendors and taxi drivers we met were really dishonest. They claimed that they have no change and refused to return us our money. One of the taxi drivers even tried to cheat us by claiming that the taxi meter is in USD, and not in Vietnamese Dong. And if you want to buy anything from the shops, you have to bargain for it. My colleague, Tam, told me that even the locals themselves have to negotiate for the prices!

Let’s start counting our blessings!

I entered the Canon Photo Contest!!

About the Contest
Wow us with your best New Lifestyle Experience!

Experience for an IXUS Contest

Trade your new experience for a shot at an IXUS!
Photograph something or someone extraordinary, a place or event that was a real-eye-opener, or an experience that was simply mind-blowing. Write a caption for it and share it with us for a chance to win an IXUS!

This is the photo that I have submitted. http://www.flickr.com/photos/technicaltango/5712798978/
This was taken at Tonle Sap Lake, Siem Reap. I feel that this is a suitable entry because 1) it is a new experience (to me) to see the daily life of the local fishermen, 2) tour Tonle Sap Lake which is listed under UNESCO! and 3) after visiting a third world country always makes me re-think about my life priorities and remind me to be thankful for everything I have.

Please VOTE for me!! Thank you!!

Crocodile farm (home style!)

Our tour guide took us to visit a crocodile farm in a Cambodian's home! How do you feel about having a neighbour that rears crocodile for a living?

IMG_1726 Resize, originally uploaded by Technical Tango.

Tonle Sap Lake and the Fishing Village

IMG_1529 Resize, originally uploaded by Technical Tango.

The Tonlé Sap is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia and is an ecological hot spot that was designated as a UNESCO biosphere in 1997.

The Tonlé Sap is unusual for two reasons: its flow changes direction twice a year, and the portion that forms the lake expands and shrinks dramatically with the seasons. From November to May, Cambodia's dry season, the Tonlé Sap drains into the Mekong River at Phnom Penh. However, when the year's heavy rains begin in June, the Tonlé Sap backs up to form an enormous lake.

Angkor Wat means "City Temple"

The highlight of the trip - Angkor Wat. It was also the 4th temple that we visited in a day. By then, we were all tired and parched. I had exhausted most of my energy at Bayon Temple. If there is a chance, I will like to visit Angkor Wat again.

IMG_1186 Cropped, originally uploaded by Technical Tango.

Angkor Wat is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation – first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. It is the world's largest religious building. It has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and it is the country's prime attraction for visitors.

Bayon Temple

IMG_1008 Resize, originally uploaded by Technical Tango.

The Bayon is a well-known and richly decorated Khmer temple at Angkor in Cambodia. Built in the late 12th century or early 13th century as the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII, the Bayon stands at the centre of Jayavarman's capital, Angkor Thom. Following Jayavarman's death, it was modified and augmented by later Hindu and Theravada Buddhist kings in accordance with their own religious preferences.

The Bayon's most distinctive feature is the multitude of serene and massive stone faces on the many towers which jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak. The temple is known also for two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which present an unusual combination of mythological, historical, and mundane scenes. The current main conservatory body, the Japanese Government team for the Safeguarding of Angkor (the JSA) has described the temple as "the most striking expression of the baroque style" of Khmer architecture, as contrasted with the classical style of Angkor Wat.

Bamboo rice

On the way to Tonle Sap Lake, our van past by some hawkers selling bamboo rice and we stopped over to try. It has red beans in it hence reminded me of my Grandmother's rice dumpling. She uses red beans in her rice dumpling.



Left OR Right

1) Our hotel transfer.

Right side steering wheel

VS

2) Our tour guide/driver

Left side steering wheel

CONFUSED?

The second one (left side steering wheel) is correct and approved by the Cambodian Government. However, long long time ago, the Cambodians purchased vehicles from Thailand as it was much cheaper to buy from there and these vehicles comes with right side steering wheel instead. This had since been banned by the government but the Cambodians who own such vehicles are allowed to continue driving it.

Victory Gate

IMG_0781 Resize, originally uploaded by Technical Tango.

Victory Gate is one the gates into the ancient town of Angkor Thom. Of the five gates, this is the 2nd most visited. The gate can be reached at the end of the Royal Road that extends from the compound of the Royal Palace of Angkor Thom, near to the Terrace of Elephants, past the Prasat Suor Prat towers, and then eastwards toward Chau Say Tevoda. Victory Gate Highlights include the marvelous carved heads (Gopuras) leading up Victory Way to the gate, and the similar carved faces which make up the head of the gate, which are representations of both Gods and Demons, facing in the four cardinal directions.

Banteay Srei Temple

Banteay Srei is a 10th century Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Located in near the hill of Phnom Dei, 25 km north-east of the main group of temples that once belonged to the medieval capitals of Yasodharapura and Angkor Thom. Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still observable today. The buildings themselves are miniature in scale, unusually so when measured by the standards of Angkorian construction.

IMG_0678 Resize, originally uploaded by Technical Tango.

NO!!!! This is not how we 'open' the durians.

We bought durians in Siem Reap; once at a durian stall along the road side and once at the market.

The way the Cambodians cut their durian is totally different from our usual style.

Khmer food

The staple food for Cambodians is rice. A wide range of curries and soups are served with rice. Khmer Cusine shares much in common with Thai and Vietnam food although it is generally not spicy.

A typical meal at Siem Reap consists of  ....

1) Fried Spring Rolls

2) Khmer Curries

 3) Mixed vegetables

4) Angkor beer

Ta Prohm Temple

On the second day, we bought the one-day pass at USD 20. A photograph was taken and we had to keep the pass with us at all times. It was subject to checks at the temple entrance. A hole was punched at the checkpoint. The visiting hours is from 5.30AM to 5.30PM. We can visit all the temples except KULEN mountain and BENGMEALEA Temple. A three-day pass cost USD 40 (any 3 days in a week) and a seven-day pass cost USD 60 (any 7 days in a month). 

We visited four temples - Ta Prohm Temple, Banteay Srei Temple, Bayon Temple and Ang Kor Wat. (Side note : Siem Reap is not just about Ang Kor Wat).

Ta Prohm Temple was built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and originally called Rajavihara. It is located approximately one kilometre east of Angkor Thom and on the southern edge of the East Baray. It was founded by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Ta Prohm has been left in much the same condition in which it was found.

IMG_0577 Resize, originally uploaded by Technical Tango.

A new star is born!

Pursuant to Section 49, Sub Section 70, Paragraph A of the Parliamentary Act, I hereby declare.......

I heard this 27 times. I admit I was feeling a little irritated by this because I wanted to know the results at the soonest! Then, I couldn't understand why is Potong Pasir SMC taking the longest to count? It was already 3AM when Mr Yam announced the result. It was no wonder; the margin was so close that they had to ask for recount. SPP lost by 114 votes (0.7%). What happened to those 200 over votes that were rejected? This feeling is akin to getting 49.5 marks for exams. SUX.

I felt sad for Mr Chiam. Although Mr Chiam switched from Potong Pasir to Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and lost, he had fought well. The result of 43% is commendable!

With his straight-laced and deadpan expression, Yam delivered his announcements in an even-handed monotone, without fear or favour to any of the parties, as should be. Hmm, very professional indeed! Read more @ A new star is born!

First day in Siem Reap

We arrived at Siem Reap International Airport at noon (local time). After checking in at Royal Empire Hotel, we decided to explore the town. It is only ten minutes ride on the Tuk Tuk. I enjoyed the ride more than the Tuk Tuk ride in Bangkok. It is also very easy to get a Tuk Tuk. We were asked by numerous Tuk Tuk drivers if we wanted a ride. Some of them also offered to be our tour guide.

 

In the town you will find, the Old Market, Angkor Night Market which opens from 4pm to 12 midnight, numerous restaurants, cafes, massage parlors, fish massage and shops selling handicrafts. We also found a KFC restaurant!! Because of this, I concluded that Siem Reap is less "ulu" than Hanoi, Vietnam. There were no fast food restaurants during my last visit!

IMG_0147 Resize, originally uploaded by Technical Tango.

The aftermath of Siem Reap....

Me : ...not many photos, I only took slightly less than 2100.
Chin : So many?
Me : 宁可刹错 不可放过
Chin : Then you must have alot of  错
Me : *roll eye*

One of my favourite photos from the trip.

These children were playing by the lake. When our boat past by, they smiled and waved at us.

Siem Reap International Airport and Royal Empire Hotel

As expected, Siem Reap International Airport is a small airport. We were slightly amused at how lax the security was; tourists were seen taking pictures of the Immigration counters. I took one too except that I took from a distance and zoomed in.

Siem Reap International Airport

We spent three nights at Royal Empire Hotel. It is a four star hotel, with a three star service and two star buffet breakfast. The bed was hard like a wooden board. The bathroom was not in good condition; the lock and the shower head were faulty. The hotel lobby is always dark and everything looks old.

There was not much variety at the buffet breakfast and the hot dishes were always cold. This is a very strange hotel; we noticed that they switched off the aircon at 8.15AM everyday (during our 4D3N stay). And the buffet breakfast is from 6AM to 10AM!

The location of the hotel does not bother us as we can easily get to the town by tuk tuk. The journey takes about ten minutes and cost USD3 for 3 persons.

Royal Empire Hotel

The daily buffet breakfast

The ugliest fried egg I ever had (at a hotel)