The Sreisaat Adventures in Cambodia

Wordless Wednesday 079: Blazing trails...

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:16:00 +0000

More Wordless entries here.

Unconscious Mutterings #009

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:46:00 +0000

I can't believe it's over a year now since I last participated in this meme *sheepish smile*. Oh well, I'm back, Lunanina =) So for my comeback entry, here's my 9th for this week's mutterings.

Up :: high

Scram! :: scoot!

Smell :: stink

Belong :: part of

Doug :: Disney's TV Show (Doug Funnie)

Collar :: bone

Squirrel :: furry

Chinese :: Chairman Mao

Tracker :: dog

Apartment :: pad

O, isang ngiti (smile) naman dyan!

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Smiling is infectious,

you catch it like the flu,

When someone smiled at me today,

I started smiling too.

I passed around the corner

and someone saw my grin

When he smiled I realized

I'd passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile

then I realized its worth,

A single smile, just like mine

could travel round the earth.

So, if you feel a smile begin,

don't leave it undetected

Let's start an epidemic quick,

and get the world infected!

My contribution to the on-going Isang Minutong Smile (A Minute of Smile) advocacy initiated by fellow bloggers The Pope and Lord CM, a wonderful campaign to spread smiles all over the blogosphere especially during this difficult period of time.

So on December 8, let's stretch out our facial muscles and flash our sweetest smiles. It's not that difficult to do...

See? Even my pet Max can do it.
Magkahawaan na tayo sa pag-ngiti!

***
NB: The author of the above piece is unknown and the owners of the site where I took this from request to contact them if you are aware of the origin/own the copyright to the poem, or are the original composer of the pice, and wish to claim credit for it or want it taken down.

Birthday surprise

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:09:00 +0000

My husband and I were enjoying his birthday dinner, when, over a cup of tea, I was kinda forced to reveal to him (he was very persistent) my surprise gift.

I first gave out clues (dust, countryside, heat) and he looked at me quizzically with one eyebrow raised, thinking...

It's not target shooting, is it? He asked.

Oh no, no, no, no... way better than that, I assured him.

When I finally let my secret treat out, he smiled broadly. Then I realised that I had made a good choice. Will tell you about it more in the coming posts but will leave you with this picture as a teaser.

Stolen car battery

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:43:00 +0000

This is not a paid post. Seriously.

Our car battery was stolen today by some scumbag(s) near our house and in broad daylight. The car was parked just a stone's throw away from our apartment as Rob had the car parked there very early in the morning to give way to the wedding ceremony at a neighbour's house three doors down from where we are. As to how the culprit(s) was/were able to open the locked car hood, it's still a mystery. But it's the work of an experienced one. Car battery thieves are all over our place and apparently had already victimized more than a dozen of car-owners in the area. To say it sucks is an understatement. My husband's face turned beet-red but kept his cool. However, we take comfort in the fact that the car needed a new battery anyway (right away we bought new one at $65 per unit) and our $100 car radio remained untouched by these crackheads.

With used car batteries being worth from $5-$30, they prove to be a very lucrative target for thieves all over Phnom Penh. Without having to take the battery out when the car is not in use or locking it each night, how do we prevent this from happening in the future? I searched the net for answers and was not disappointed at what Google came up with, some unconventional anti-theft system. Click the link for a demo. I think after watching the animations you would definitely pay to have any of those installed when you buy a car.

And here's some more http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO7s9y9Vjtg

I hope the scumbag(s) who stole our car battery have internet access, and can see these, and will think twice before stealing somebody's car or parts of it.

Birthday kan Padaba (Mahal) Ko

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 03:05:00 +0000

After several weeks of being busy with the international women's conference that I helped organise, I am finally free and back to my normal routine. I was relieved when the last of the participants left Phnom Penh on Nov 25, coinciding with my husband's birthday. After sending them off, I didn't waste time and immediately sprung into action and planned a simple dinner.

For our food, I decided to prepare my husband's favourite. Nothing fancy, just his favourite samlor kari saramann, nom pang (local version of French baguette), and beer. In my mind, I was also debating whether I should bake or buy a birthday cake instead.

Cooking samlor kari saramann is a story in itself. It was easy to make as the recipe I used was taken from the cookbook that my husband bought for me months ago. However, selecting and preparing the ingredients for the curry paste is quite tedious. First in my to do-list was to get fresh ingredients from the market. Although I live in Tuol Sangkeo, Psah Boeungkengkang, for me, was the place to go. There, an array of fresh herbs and spices, such as lemongrass, coriander, ginger, garlic, shallots, chilli, and anise seed, greeted me. There were so many to choose from! I'm glad one ming (older woman) helped me out with my choices. Once the ingredients were selected and washed, these were pounded one after another to make a perfect curry paste. This task, I learned, required the strength of Wonder Woman to endure more than an hour of pounding in order to achieve the ideal consistency. I used a mortar and pestle made of stone, the one I 'inherited' from a Nepali friend who left Cambodia years ago. It's really heavy, so you can imagine my ordeal. But, as I said, I love doing this so I went about the task merrily.

Originally, the recipe requires beef, but I substituted it with pork when I came home and found out there was no more beef in our fridge. Also, I added potatoes and string beans which are not in the original recipe just to add something filling in it.

After an hour or so of boiling and boiling... here's the result of my labor of love...

After a hard day's work, my husband came home and feasted on a steaming bowl of samlor kari saramann. Rich, savoury, spicy and creamy...

This dish is very popular especially at Cham (Khmer Muslim) and Buddhist weddings in Cambodia, served with either rice or nompang. Old folks, especially our landlady's mum-in-law, told me that this dish tastes even better when served the next day.

Initially I was planning to bake a cake for dessert, but I thought that with the pounding and stirring of the kari dish, I wouldn't have enough strength to do so. Against my better judgement, I bought a double-choco cake at Lucky's. Bad move. It was dry and forgettable. I knew I should've made my own carrot cake topped with the special frosting that I successfully invented months ago. There's always another time, my husband chirped. There goes my dear husband again... never demanding, always understanding. How lucky am I to have a husband who appreciates my efforts, especially in cooking! *lol*

Sure, the birthday dinner was nothing jaw-dropping or something, as some of you might be saying now. But hey, after being busy (especially me) and spending very little time with each other during those frantic weeks, the simple dinner was our 'reunion of sorts'. It gave us back the missing closeness and connection making the night more memorable. It is certainly the kind of stuff we want to be included in our good times list.

Again, happy birthday, Mahal :)

Overheard...

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:37:00 +0000

... at the Russian Market, aka, Tuol Tumpong Market:

Last Sunday, Rob and I went to the Russian Market. Noontime was our choice since we expected it would be less crowded. It seems to be pretty much the time when the market stalls/stores attract interesting characters. While Rob and I were quietly checking out one of the stalls at the books section, a couple in their early 20s walked behind us and were talking in a not-so-hushed tones. The girl probably comes from an expat family in Phnom Penh, as she was obviously showing the boy around.

Girl: So yeah, this is the book section. You can actually find cheap books here. Any kind.

Boy: Uhmm, that's cool.

Girl: They sell all kinds of books, like, novels, memoirs, guidebooks... you know (pointing to the wall laden with guidebooks), Lonely Planet stuffs. What kind of books do you want, anyway?

Boy: Uhmm... I want thin ones...

Toink!

Wordless Wednesday 078: Rural cambodia

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:22:00 +0000

Joining the Wordless Wednesday meme again this week. Check out other Wordless entries here.

Shutterday 001: Going to the dogs

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:46:00 +0000

Hi guys, it's my first time to join :)

That's our Joe, our 3month old puppy, checking out one of our friendly and shiny visitors.

Hujambo, Kenya!

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:49:00 +0000

My sister is flying to Kenya on Thursday!

I am so envious. And who wouldn't be?
She will be the first in the family, from either side, who will step foot in the African continent. How can I beat that! :)

She will take her post as a VSO Volunteer in Lukore in the Mombasa district of Kenya. For two years, she will be working with a Kenyan cooperative run mostly by women. As a VSO Volunteer, she is expected to focus on institutional and individual capacity building which will include trainings of cooperative officials, developing cooperative development strategies as well as laying down institutional/organisational systems such as financial and accounting procedures, marketing plans, and even By-laws. The tasks ahead of her are daunting and the conditions are, well, not the same as what she's used to, and I wish her all the best. She has a strong character and an excellent people-to-people skills and so we know she can rise, and she will rise, to the challenges that may come her way.

Her post in her blog today, Hujambo, Kenya!, is very touching. She tells of her son who seems to be okay about her going away. I can't help but feel for her. Two years is a long time, but I agree with her, time will just fly quickly.

Good luck, MamaGirl.
Take care of yourself while there. We'll take care of Joshua for you.

Pinoy mugs

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:54:00 +0000

I recently got in touch with a long-lost friend who just returned to PP and she gifted me with this:

What a perfect timing! Just last week, I dropped the last of our coffee mug and so we are back to using our old tiny cups as we didn't have time to get new ones. This mug is just the right size for R and I, not to small and not too big, perfect for our daily brew. The handle is large enough for easy grip as well. I also love the classic white body painted with the ubiquitous tricycle of our homeland. Oh how I miss our colorful tricycles! Thanks, F! Now whenever I get homesick, I'll just take this mug out of the cupboard and make myself a cuppa.

Would you like one as well? My friend has three more mugs left and she wants to sell them to anyone interested. Leave me a message.

Blog revamp

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:19:00 +0000

I am currently re-constructing my blog template so please excuse the clutter. Just a few more tweaks in the codes here and there, photo adjustments up there... and it'll be up and running in no time. I hope old friends will visit and see me blogging again, and if not, hopefully new ones will come find me here.

Litratong Pinoy #36: (taga-) LINIS (Cleaner)

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 01:08:00 +0000

Humanga ako sa kalinisan ng kapaligiran, lalo na sa rural areas, sa Japan noong minsa'y nakabisita ako doon. Talagang seryoso nilang sinusunod ang pagiging clean and green. Sa syudad naman, napagawi ako sa Asakusa district ng Tokyo, kilala bilang entertainment district ng mga Hapon. Dito makikita ang maraming entertainment venues tulad ng mga parks, shopping arcades, pachinko parlors, traditional Japanese music and kabuki halls at meron ding Western opera, at iba't-ibang klaseng strip shows/seedy clubs. Sa gabi ay nagkikislapan ang iba't-ibang makukulay na ilaw at nakakabinging tugtog na nagmumula sa mga tugtog at barkers na nagsasapawan (halos mapigtas ang kanilang ugat sa leeg) upang manghikayat o mang-akit ng maraming customers.

Pagbalik namin sa umaga, ay ibang eksena ang bumulaga sa amin. Sarado ang halos lahat ng clubs at pachinko parlors, tahimik at may iilang turistang ang naglalakad at nagmamasid-masid.

Sa isang dako ay napansin ko ang mamang ito. Di ko akalain na ang siya pala ay taga-linis sa lugar na iyon. Parang Metro Aide sa atin. Ang kaibahan lang niya sa Metro Aide ay may pasan siya sa balikat ng dalawang drawer (gamit ang mahabang kahoy) kung saan nakalagay ang kanyang mga gamit-panglinis. Di rin halata ang kanyang dala-dalang walis at dustpan. Kung inyong mapapansin (please click to enlarge the pic) ay meron siyang parang prosthetic sa ulo para mag-mukhang nauupaw siya. Bahagi pa pala ito ng gimik sa Asakusa.

Litratong Pinoy #35: Karatula (Signs)

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 06:52:00 +0000

Mga karatulang di-sinasadyang magpatawa subalit nakakatawa, sa kabila ng babala o mahalagang mensaheng ipinahihiwatig nito sa madla.

Seen while on my way to Kep:

And this one was spotted somewhere in Shenzhen, China years ago:

Litratong Pinoy #34: Almusal (breakfast)

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 07:06:00 +0000

Hindi ako mahilig mag-almusal. Ewan ko ba kung bakit. Isa marahil ay ang pagiging malayo ko sa mga mapang-suring mata ng aking Ina nang ako ay nag-aaral pa sa unibersidad. Sa boarding-house kasi ako naka-tira, at, dahil wala ngang parental control, ay nakasanayan ko nang pumasok ng walang almusal-almusal.

Nakasanayan na rin naming mag-asawa ang di mag-almusal sa umaga. Kape lang ay okey na sa amin. Pero noong mga nakaraang taon na ako naka-base pa sa Kep, ay na-engganyo kaming tularan ang mga locals. Sabi nga, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Kaya naman ay tuwing umaga bago pumasok ay dumadaan kami sa mga kainan para mag-almusal ng kuy teav. Ito ay gawa sa rice noodles at sangkap tulad ng baboy o baka at piling herbs. Masarap ang sabaw na galing sa pinakuluan mga buto-buto.

Heto naman ang isang version ng noodle soup na paborito naming mag-asawa kapag kami ay nasa Kep:

Simpleng chicken noodle soup gamit ang instant noodles, laman ng manok at sari-saring gulay.

Noong pumunta naman ako sa Japan ay sinubukan ko rin ang traditional breakfast nila:

Tamago gake gohan ang tawag dito.

Paalam po, Tita Cory...

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Ang iniwan mong mga alaala ay mananatiling buhay sa aking puso at isipan.

Announcement from the Phil. Embassy in PP

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:43:00 +0000

ANNOUNCEMENT : DEMISE OF H.E. CORAZON C. AQUINO, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Phnom Penh regrets to inform the Filipino Community in the Kingdom of Cambodia that H.E. CORAZON C. AQUINO, former President of the Republic of the Philippines, passed away on 01 August 2009.

In this regard, please note the following:

01. A Condolence Book will be opened from 03-07 August 2009 during office hours.

02. The Samahan ng Mga Pilipino sa Cambodia (SAMAPI) will also offer a mass for the late President Aquino on Wednesday, 05 August 2009 at 06:00 p.m. at the Embassy. Those who wish to attend are requested to wear a yellow shirt or dress.

A period of national mourning for ten (10) days has been declared in the Philippines. During this period the Philippine flag will be flown at half-mast.

For information and clarification, please call the EMBASSY at Tel. No.
+855.23.215.145 or +855.23.222.304.

** Photo Credit: Originally uploaded by my dear friend Seralulalu's On My Palette.

Litratong Pinoy #33: Protektado

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 06:29:00 +0000

Ginamit ko na rin ang litratong ito sa nakaraang LP natin. Pero dahil sa angkop na angkop ang litratong ito sa tema ngayong linggo ay ipinasya kong ibalik ulit ito.

Wala nang hihigit pa sa proteksyon ng sraom anamay (condom). Nandito ang kwento.

Photo Hunt #40: Utensils

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 08:24:00 +0000

Wow, it's been more than 6months since I last posted an entry for Photo-hunt. I miss you all guys.... I hope old friends find me again here :)

Here's my entry for this week's theme:

It was, about two years ago, that I had one of the most delightful dining experiences of my life. With old-world Nepal setting the tone, food was served in antique, traditional bowls and heavy silverwares. Amazing. Come with me as I relive my old-world dining experience in Nepal.

Closer view:

Sunday laughs

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:49:00 +0000

Today I am breaking my self-imposed hibernation to bring you this hilarious piece I found from another blog. But first let me say that I am still very much alive and kicking in Phnom Penh. Contrary to what my friends think, I didn't fall in one of the many manholes in the city, nor was kidnapped by some wayward highway robbers while on field work. And no, I haven't abandoned this blog.

The truth is, I am currently doing two consultancy jobs at the same time. How courageous, isn't it? But hey, as long as the jobs keep me busy and moolah is coming in, I wouldn't mind the stress that goes with work. After all, I have long asked for this to keep myself from going bananas and from driving Rob further up the wall. Tee-hee-hee. The work arrangement is in my favor because I could both work at home and correspond to my bosses online, and do house-chores at the same time. I only go to the office near the Russian Market once a week, when needed. In addition, they phone me or send me text messages, much to my surprise since most Cambodians are not fond of sending text messages at all. They'd rather pick up their phones and call.

Which is so much different in the Philippines. Texting started out as a craze, especially for young people, but now, it is no longer a craze but a way of life. If you see a man or a woman, hunched in one corner, two hands gripping the cellphone and their knuckles almost white and body seemingly trembling. Well, don't fret folks... look again, because, more often than not, this person is merely writing a text message with great speed! Making a call is not a priority and ignoring someone's call is not a big deal. However, ignoring text messages is unspeakable. So you can imagine how many millions of cellphone messages are being sent by Filipinos everyday!

Just a thought... If God has a cellphone up there, have you ever wondered what kind of messages He would send us? And if you receive one of His messages, would you likely respond? How would you respond?

Anyways, while I was checking Max's blog today, I came across Tony, the funny guy behind the The Old Fart blog, who left a comment months ago. He probably thinks Max got eaten alive by ants by now because we'd never replied back. I was chuckling while I was reading his past posts, and one particular entry caught my attention because it just answered my question (see previous paragraph). Here's is one example of a message God would have sent to us had He got a cellphone up there:

1. no1 b4 me. srsly.
2. dnt wrshp idols.
3. no omg’s.
4. no wrk on sat.
5. ur m&d r cool.
6. dnt kill ppl.
7. :-X only ur m8.
8. dnt steal.
9. dnt lie.
10. dnt ogle ur bf’s m8 or ox or dnkey. myob.

M, pls rite on tabs & giv 2 ppl.

What a hoot! You should head over The Old Fart's blog for more funny takes on his daily life in the land down under.

***
Photos were also taken from Tony's blog.

Litratong Pinoy #32: Basa (wet)

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:58:00 +0000

Nagbabalik po ako sa ating lingguhang Photo-meme. Pansamantalang inihinto ko muna ang pagba-blogging dahil ako po ay sinuwerteng nakasungkit ng dalawang raket na walang takot kong pinagsabay! Halata bang matindi ang pangangailangan? Hehehe.

Ang lahok ko sa linggong ito ay kuha nuong nakaraang Abril. Isinali ko na ito sa isang photo-meme pero isinali ko pa rin sa LP dahil angkop na angkop sa tema natin. Kuha ko ito nuong kasagsagan ng summer dito sa amin sa Phnom Penh. Subalit, imbes na matinding init ay nagraragasang ulan ang sumalubong sa aming tag-araw.

Sabi ng mga eksperto sa klima ay ito na raw ang climate change. Oh well, as long as it doesn't snow here yet, I guess I'll be alright.

Wordless Wednesday #77: Still messing about in the river

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:53:00 +0000

Sights along the Tonle Sap.
My entry for the Wednesday-Thursday edition of the Wordless Wednesday.

Still busy with my short-term consultancy. Deadline is looming so please excuse the lack of posts. Will be back to regular posting as soon as things slow down a bit.

Wordless Wednesday #76: Messing about in the river

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:40:00 +0000

Sights along the Tonle Sap.
My entry for the Tuesday-Wednesday edition of the Wordless Wednesday.

Wordless Wednesday #75: Climbing Angkor Wat

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:07:00 +0000

...a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the epitome of high classical style of Khmer architecture, and the highlight of every tourist's visit to Cambodia...

... with steep and very old stairs.

Definitely only for the flexible, agile, and fearless!

Wordless Wednesday #74: Freak weather

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Tue, 05 May 2009 09:58:00 +0000

This is what summer looks like now in Phnom Penh.

Experts say this is climate change. Oh well... As long as it doesn't snow here yet, then I'll be ok.