The Sreisaat Adventures in Cambodia

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.

Movie alert!

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Sat, 02 May 2009 15:57:00 +0000

Dear Pinoy Friends in Phnom Penh... do you want to chase homesickness away, or, are you looking for something new to do this weekend? Then head over to Meta House tomorrow, Sunday, 3rd of May. Meta House will be presenting NU PHILIPPINE CINEMA, featuring not one, but two Filipino (Indie) films back to back:

7PM - CAVITE (2005, 80 min.)
The breathtaking feature CAVITE by Ian Gamazon/Neill dela Llana focuses on terrorists and proves its mettle and drawing power by its searing and intense representation of a cityscape in the clutches of violence, poverty and globalisation.

8.30PM - PI7ONG TAGPO (2007, 130 min.)
Director Rahyan Carlos puts together seven films about seven lives, seven struggles, seven decisions, seven realities — all shot in one take.

Don't let the rain spoil your weekend. Call all your friends now and set a date for tomorrow night. Let's watch Indie Pinoy movies at Meta House. See you there.

***
META HOUSE
Street 264, #6
Sangkat Chaktomuk, Khan Daun Penh,
Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia

Meta-House is Cambodia's first art/communication/media center just a few minutes away from the riverside and Royal Palace. Know more about the Meta House and their work here.

Litratong Pinoy #31: Tulay (Bridge)

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 06:27:00 +0000

Panay Bridge (Roxas City Bridge
Roxas City, Capiz
Philippine

Sa susunod na taon ay mag-i-isang daang taon na ang Panay Bridge, isa sa mga landmarks sa lungsod ng Roxas. Ginawa noong taong 1910, at ilang bagyo at lindol na rin ang dumaan ay nakatayo pa rin ito. Ito ang nagdudugtong sa residential streets patungo sa commercial district ng aming lungsod. Ito rin ang nagsisilbing gateway papunta sa mga iba't-ibang lalawigan ng Capiz.

Napag-usapan na rin lang natin ang mga lumang tulay, ipapakita ko sa inyo ang dalawa sa nakita kong tulay sa Angkor Wat complex. Kuha ito tatlong taon na ang nakakaraan. Actually causeways ito pero nagsisilbing tulay na rin. (Palusot pa!)

Pasensya na sa makulit na kapatid kong bumalandra para mag-pose (nasa kanan)

Bago makarating sa main entrance ng Angkor Wat Temple ay tatahakin mo muna itong may 500metrong causeway na gawa sa sandstone. Actually hugis-krus ang causeway na ito.

Yan lang po. Bow.

Litratong Pinoy #30: Gusali (Building)

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit aliw na aliw akong maglakad sa Phnom Penh ay ang iba't-ibang eksenang nakikita ko. Katulad na lang ng mga gusali. Pinaghalong luma at bago, French colonial design o Khmer architecture, natatawag ang pansin ng sinumang bumisita sa syudad at di maiwasan ang humanga di lamang sa pagkakagawa sa mga ito, kundi pati na rin sa makulay na istoryang bumabalot dito.

Ang mga sumusunod ay iilan sa mga gusaling nakakatawag ng pansin sa Phnom Penh:

National Museum ng Cambodia (foreground)
Kuha ito mula sa gusali ng Foreign Correspondents Club, o FCC, dito sa Phnom Penh kung saan kami ay nananghalian minsan kasama ng aking asawa. Dati itong press club na ginawang watering hole/hotel na paboritong puntahan ng mga expats. Dahil sa dami ng tao ay sa may likurang bahagi ng restawran na kami nakaupo. Sulit naman ang pwesto namin dahil hindi man kami nakaharap sa riverfront ay nakatambad naman sa amin ang napakagandang pavilion ng National Museum of Cambodia. Ginawa ito noong taong 1917 sa tulong ng mga French colonialists. Kapansin-pansin na ang architectural design ay typical Khmer kahit na French ang nagpagawa ng gusaling ito.

Nakakatawag din ng pansin itong nabubulok na gusali sa may bandang kaliwa ng litrato. Isa ito sa mga mansyong naitayo noong panahon pa ng mga French na may istilong rococo. Pag-aari ng isang pribadong indibidwal, ngayon ay nabili na ito ng FCC upang i-restore at gawing isang luxury hotel at French bistro na magiging bahagi ng FCC.

My favorite place -- Phnom Penh General Post Office
Ito ang palagi kong binabalik-balikan at di ako magsasawang balikan. Labs ko kasi ang snail mail kaya palagi akong nagpapadala ng sulat at postcards at hindi ako umuuwing empty-handed :) Dito rin pala ang opisina ng Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

Phnom Penh Railway Station

Psah Thmey or Central Market

Royal Palace - ang tahanan ng kasalukuyang hari ng Cambodia

Kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay ito ang (lumang gusali ng) Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Malapit lang ito sa Royal Palace.

Buddhist Institute

Litratong Pinoy #29: Hardin (Garden)

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 06:36:00 +0000

Naku, nahuli na naman ako. Nawili kasi ako doon sa embassy. Tumambay muna ako pagkatapos kong magpa-rehistro. Pangatlo at huling araw ngayon ng Khmer New Year pero bukas ang embassy para makapag-rehistro ang mga Pilipinong naka-base sa mga probinsya na nagbabakasyon ngayon sa Phnom Penh.

Maraming kaibigan ko ang nagtataka kung ano ang ginagawa namin sa Phnom Penh kapag walang pasok. Mangyari kasi ay walang masyadong pasyalan o libangan dito. May iilang sinehan nga pero di naman nagpapalabas ng mga Hollywood movies. E di ano pa ang magandang gawin kundi ang magbutingting...

Heto ang resulta ng aming pagbu-butingting:

Ang rooftop garden sa dati naming bahay sa Boengkengkang area noong 2006:

At heto naman ang aming hardin sa kasalukuyan; sayang at maliit lang ang espasyo namin:

Likas sa mga English ang mag-garden kaya nahawa na rin ako. Bukod sa mga bulaklak ay may tanim kaming sili, bawang, Thai basil, mint, lime at iba pa. Pagdating ng araw ng aming pagre-retiro ay balak naming bumili ng kapirasong lupa at maging farmers :)

Happy 2553!

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:22:00 +0000

I am finally breaking my self-imposed hiatus (err, more likely, procrastination) just so I could greet my Khmer friends and wish the whole Buddhist world a happy new year. It is now year 2553 in the Buddhist calendar and the year of the ox.

"New Year again?!?", my non-Buddhist friends responded to me incredulously, the same kind of incredulous response I get from them upon learning that after nine years, I am still here in Cambodia. But that's another story.

So yes, dear friends. Not all cultures celebrate the new year on January 1st, and one of them is Cambodia.

Today, April 14th, is the beginning of the Khmer New Year. It began around 1pm, according to the Buddhist astrology, and runs until Thursday, April 16th. Here, and in other Buddhist countries such as Thailand and Sri Lanka, among others, the new year is based on astrological calculations. When the old year ends and the new year begins, is also based on these calculations.

So today is the grand Maha Songkran, or the first day of the Khmer New Year. According to the Buddhist beliefs, angels known as apsaras or devatas come down to replace the old ones here to watch the earth. Read more about Khmer New Year traditions here.

The Khmer New Year is a big thing for the Cambodians and so the weeks leading to this event are pure madness with people shopping. Like yesterday, when we were on our way to the butcher's shop, we passed by Street 13, up to Psah Chah where the traffic was terribly horrendous. The market was overly-teeming with shoppers and sellers alike, spilling out to the pavements. Add to the shopping frenzy was the sea of cyclos, motos, tuk-tuks and cars of all models, competing to go ahead of others, all impatient, pushing and pushing, never to wait and give way. Some were just parked in the middle of the road. Along with the crazy traffic, the sun was at its hottest, and the excruciating sound of Khmer karaoke blaring from a nearby electronic store made the market scene all the more chaotic.

Look at how the tuktuk bullied its way into the traffic, making a U-turn in an already congested two-way road:

Look, a gap!

I know you're there but I'm not looking...

Nearly there...

... jeut-jeut...jeut-jeut... slowly... slowly...

... there... ahhhhh, the tuk-tuk driver smiles at himself proudly!

Can you imagine how pissed off we were behind him?

Wordless Wednesday #73: Postcards galore

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 05:25:00 +0000

After a two-week holiday, I came home to find a truckload of postcards and two parcels waiting for me. Total happiness!

Originally posted here.

Litratong Pinoy #28: Paboritong Litrato (favorite picture/s)

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:58:00 +0000

Unang-una, ipagpaumanhin po ninyo ang di ko pagsali ng dalawang linggo dahil ako po ay umalis at nangibang-bansa kasama ang aking asawa. At sa aking pagbabalik, lubos ang aking tuwa dahil isang taon na pala ang Litratong Pinoy! Woo-hoo! Maligayang bati!

Natuwa din ako dahil marami akong paboritong litrato na gusto kong ibahagi para sa linggong ito. Tulad na lang ng mga ito:

... mga lugar na aking napuntahan/places I've been to:

... mga borloloy (pamangkin) sa pamilya/ family's little rascals (nieces and nephew):

Pa-cute moments

Gulp War

... at ng isa pang borloloy dito sa Phnom Penh/and another rascal with us here in Phnom Penh:

I ar da boss hir!

Da queen of our haws

Sreisaat on holiday

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:39:00 +0000

I'm off to the land of million elephants, Laos, tomorrow, via Phnnom Penh-Stung Treng-Pakse-Vientiane route. The husband and I will be on a two-week holiday -- a much anticipated R and R. Miss Igorota will be with us as well, on her first road trip outside of Cambodia. Luckily for us both, we don't need to get a visa to enter Laos. Sweet. Sabaidee!

As we're looking at more time spent on rural areas where internet access is rare, it is with regret that I might not be able to update as much as I'd like to. I will try to update if and when I have time/internet access. If not, I will give you a detailed account of my road trip when I return. Ciao!

Litratong Pinoy #27: Blusa (Blouse)

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 04:33:00 +0000

Heto po ang mga maririkit na blusang Khmer.
Simple lang ang tabas at kulay puti ngunit napakagandang tignan lalo na't ang ka-pares ay ang makukulay na paldang gawa sa silk. Karaniwang sinusuot ito sa mga pormal na okasyon, tulad ng pagtatapos sa paaralan, at lalong-lalo na sa mga mahahalagang selebrasyon tulad ng pagbisita sa wat tuwing thngay sel, or araw ng pagsamba. Mas makulay ang blusang isinusuot kapag ang okasyon ay kasal. Talaga naman pong patalbugan ang mga Khmer pagdating sa pananamit, lalong-lalo na ang mga kababaihan. Naglalabasan ang mga mamahaling Khmer silk, kumikinang na mga ginintuang alahas at naglalakihang brilyante, at ang mala-Imelda Marcos na make up at coiffure sa tuwing dadalo sa mga kasalan.

Litratong Pinoy #26 : Bag

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:29:00 +0000

Hindi ako mahilig sa bag at ang tanging bag na gamit ko ay backpack. Pero itong borloloy na ito ay obsessed na obsessed sa bag:

Siya ay ang pamangkin kong si Beebop. Two years old pa lang siya nung kunan ko ito last year, at mahilig nang pumorma. Kita niyo naman? Marunong na siyang pumili ng kanyang damit, sapatos at mga accessories, lalong-lalo na ng bag. Ayaw lumabas ng bahay ng wala ang kanyang kikay-bag na puno ng mga abubot niya. Kakata-kyut, ano?

Litratong Pinoy #25: Bulaklak (Flower)

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:29:00 +0000

Ang Angkor Wat temple ay isang magandang ehemplo ng arkitekturang Khmer. Malaking bahagi ng istruktura nito ay ang mga palamuting makikita sa loob at labas nito - mga bas reliefs na kung saan ay nakalarawan ang mga eksena sa epikong Ramayana at Mahabharata (Khmer version). Buong-buo pa ang mga ito at makikita pa ang mga detalye na para bang ito'y inukit kamakailan lamang.

Isa sa mga napansin ko ay ang bahaging ito:

Sa isang bahagi ng gallery (di ko na matandaan kung saang banda) ay tumambad sa akin ang kakaibang carving -- dalawang manok (o isang uri ng ibon) sa gitna ng maraming bulaklak. Hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng bulaklak ang mga ito, at, naging palaisipan sa akin kung bakit ito at hindi lotus ang naka-ukit dito. Akala ko kasi dahil lotus ang pinaka-visible na bulaklak sa Cambodia -- makikita sa mga templo, sa bahay, atbp. -- ay ito ang pambansang bulaklak ng Cambodia. Maling akala!

Napa-research ako ng wala sa oras, at sa aking pananaliksik, napag-alaman ko na hindi nga lotus kundi rumdul ang pambansang bulaklak ng mga Khmer. Nasa kaliwang litrato ang bulaklak na rumdul. Magka-mukha ba sila ng bulaklak sa itaas? Ang bulaklak nga kaya ng rumdul ang naka-ukit sa itaas na litrato? Iyan ang mga katanungan na dapat hanapan ng kasagutan.

*Ang litratong rumdul ay hiniram ko (ng walang paalam) sa Laibeus Lord's Gallery.

Wordless Wednesday #72: Hand signs

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:06:00 +0000

Can you guess what these hands are for?

My entry for Tuesday-Wednesday edition of Wordless Wednesday.

Wordless Wednesday #71: Market sights

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:19:00 +0000

This is my entry for the Tuesday-Wednesday edition of Wordless Wednesday. Other Wordless entries are here.

Litratong Pinoy #24: Puso (heart)

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:49:00 +0000

Heto po ang lahok kong puso para sa linggong ito:

Bigay ni mahal. Hindi yung artista, ha!
Si Mahal ba, yung taong mahal ko at minamahal ako. Yaiikkss! Kurni. Ayaw ko ng red roses, at lalong ayaw ko ng stuffed toys. Higit sa lahat, ayaw na ayaw ko sa mga bagay na hugis puso - pwera na lamang kung ito ay tsokolate. Pero itong isang pusong ito ang hindi ko matanggihan :)

Wordless Wednesday #70: Manicured tranquility

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:01:00 +0000

Moghul Museum
Dhaka, Bangladesh

Photo-hunt #39: Bridge

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 09:07:00 +0000

Panay Bridge
Roxas City, Capiz
Philippines

Panay Bridge is one of the enduring landmarks in my hometown of Roxas City. It was built in 1910 but despite the long years and the many typhoons that hit the city, the bridge remains standing and as strong as ever. The bridge connects the main streets to the city's commercial area and the gateway to most of the municipalities of Capiz province.

*NB. I was told that the bridge is now known as the Roxas City Bridge.

Friday Fill-ins #010

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 04:33:00 +0000

1. Please don't tell I ate the last cookie.

2. Can you count well early in the morning?

3. The color yellow makes me want to go ooh-ooh-yeah-yeah-yeah!

4. I have a craving for falafel and shawarma. *drools*

5. If my life had a pause button, I'd pause it during times when I want to look back, or in times when I need to reconsider things before doing something or reacting to something, or simply just to have quality time with my husband.

6. Eyes are the gateway to our senses.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to barbecue dinner and drinks with my husband, tomorrow my plans include shopping with a friend and Sunday, I want to have brunch at our favorite Irish pub after visiting the post office!

Litratong Pinoy #23: Tsokolate (chocolate)

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 02:19:00 +0000

These are a few of my favorite chocolate stuffs:

Tabliya - cocoa tablet. Gamit ang batidor, the tabliya is beaten/whisked to the max to make a frotty, hot chocolate drink called sikwati. Kung ang eggnog ay tradisyunal na iniinom tuwing Pasko sa mga bansang tulad ng Amerika, sa Bisayas naman lalo na sa lalawigan ng Cebu at Bohol ay sikwati ang iniinom, at ito'y ipinaparis sa mangga at puto maya. At dahil sa Cebu ako nag-kolehiyo at marami akong housemates na Boholano ay natuto na rin akong gumawa at uminom nito, lalo na tuwing tag-ulan. Nakaugalian na rin naming gumawa ng sikwati kapag meron kaming tabliya sa bahay.

Kapag walang tabliya o tinatamad gumawa ng sikwati, nandyan ang paboritong chocolate milk powder. At sa mga kasayahan, nariyan din ang paboritong chocolate-flavored liqueur.

My favorite mug of hot choco and a shot of flaming B-52.

Wordless Wednesday #69: Cambodian cyclos...

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 08:14:00 +0000

... and uniformed drivers and pretty matrons all in a row!

For Wordless Wednesday's Tuesday and Wednesday edition. Check out other Wordless entries over there.

Photo-hunt #38: Furry

noreply@blogger.com (Sreisaat) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 04:54:00 +0000

Years ago I was assigned to the coastal town of Kep. My only means to go to the different villages was a motorbike. Since I could not drive a motorbike, my husband gladly took on the role as my driver. Rain or shine, we traveled to 11 villages with our furry little pet, Max.

She huddled behind my husband when it rained, and put her nose in the breeze when it's sunny. Villagers found Max highly amusing (she has the color of a monkey), tame, and approachable. She was a good ice-breaker wherever we went. We came home one afternoon and saw a mob of schoolchildren trying to coax a monkey out of an isolated roadside tree. The monkey looked terrified, and so did Max when the crowd turned to look at her. She’s a “monkey-colored” dog. My husband and I laughed when she gave us an alarmed glance as if to say “please hit the gas!”.