My Top 10 Cambodia Highlights

Since April 01, 2009, Cambodia has been a dear friend. Keeping me entertained when I need it and knows when to keep its distance when I need my alone time.

Cambodia has provided for my needs, taught me how to de-clutter my life (very thankful for this). Who needs to watch a movie once a month anyway, and who needs to visit a mall at least 3x a week? :) Hopefully I get to bring this new lifestlye with me, especially since I'll be living in the land of capitalism soon. *dun-dun-dun-dun*

I've learned to be independent, resourceful, patient... I've caught up with the books I've been meaning to read and movies I've been meaning to watch. Simpleng buhay, na marmi ring entertainment value!!!

My top ten list of events I've cherished in 2009 here in Cambodia.

10. House Warming Galore! (Frick, Karen, Oliver -in HCMC).. and even an authentic Khmer Housewarming!

9. Wala lang drinking sessions.

8. Tryst *no-picture* but fantastic experience, kahit na meron nagka swine flu.

7. Mga bisita.. mostly friends of friends.

6. Khmer Wedding!

5. Unilever Win!

4. Staff Party (after Unilever Win) and Christmas party!

3. Boat Ride (and Despedida)

2. All the Birthdays! (Mine, Anne-Marie's, Fricks and Eric's)

1. Paolo's visit (of Course!)

Thank you, Cambodia. Thank you, Lord for the blessings.

Thailand Surprise

I'm not sure why I'm still surprised..

In my recent trip to BKK for a little R&R during the water festival, here's what I saw on the paper.

Sa halagang Php 77K, babae ka na- or does it also work for women? Hmm..good question.

BTW, I learned something new.

What is Orchiectomy?

Orchiectomy is the removal of the testicles. The penis and the scrotum, the pouch of skin that holds the testicles, are left intact. An orchiectomy is done to stop most of the body's production of testosterone, which prostate cancer usually needs in order to continue growing.

I honestly didn't know that. So for less than Php 10K, no more et-et? Amazing.

Time to Break the A'tini!

After six and a half months in Cambodia, I feel like I've been here for two years. Not because I know the country like I know my way around Greenbelt 1-5. Well, make that Greenbelt 1-4. Never been around that much to discover Greenbelt 5. Is there really a Greenbelt 5, or was it Glorietta 5? Damn it. I don't even know my Makati malls anymore. Anyway, I don't even know my way around Tuol Tumpong (aka Russian Market). That's about to change soon...

So, a long weekend is coming up (6 days, man, woohoo!) and I plan to know my way around Phnom Phen. I've planned to go to either Bangkok, Pinas and Vietnam and I've decided (for now) to get to know Cambodia better and to catch up on my Damages and Heroes marathon.

Also, I'm planning to do an Asian cuisine marathon. I've tried Khmer food, Khmer-Thai food and their absolutely yummy. Of course I've done Pinoy food here (c/o Bistro Lorenzo) and the ever reliable mother Helen. Oh, I've tried Korean, Malaysian, Chinese and Burmese food too. Hey..parang madami na pala akong na try. I guess that leaves me with Japanese and Vietnamese food in Camby. Wala na bang iba? Singaporean.. I'm kinda iffy to try chili king crab. Oh, I have to try Laos, Indonesian, we'll see!

Off to ride my trusty bike, y'all!

Bring in the tinis!!

Ugliest Food I've Ever Seen

Warning: Ugly photo ahead. Not for the queasy.

Yucky Duck. Can I hear a kolehiyala eew? (Ew).



Damn right I didn't eat.

Colorful Cambodian Wedding (my first)

Such a wonderful occasion!

My first wedding experience didn't disappoint. One of my co-workers had her wedding last September 24 and it was a must attend (despite the hectic work load). I personally believe you never say no to a wedding invitation.

This is the bride, Polynn. She's one of the prettiest Khmer women I've seen (if not the prettiest). She's sweet, smart, funny and soft spoken..pretty much what a guy looks for in a woman. {It was no surprise that she's getting married. Any guy is lucky to have her as his wife}.

This is her.


Beautiful! {ok, in case you're wondering why I have a before and after..I had to fix our org chart at work. I have photos of everyone in my team.}

This is her again, by the entrance, welcoming her guests:


In brief: The Khmer wedding is a three day long event. If you want to find out more, check out (www.khmerwedding.com).

What really fascinates me as a woman (and a future bride), is that she gets to change her outfit 7 times!!! That's part of their tradition, ha! How fantastic is that?!! And quite expensive. Normally they say, they rent their wedding dresses instead of buying them or having them custom-made. I guess, that's the most practical way. Otherwise, you spend a lot. Get this: Rental for 7 dresses is at least $1,000 (still steep, huh?)

Where will you stash 7 dresses that you're never wearing again anyway?

This is her final wedding that she wears for the rest of the night (still rented). The traditional white wedding dress.


Hmm... wonder why the entourage is wearing white as well...but, hey, check out the bling!!

One of the must-haves whether you're the bride or in attendance, bring in the bling! Exquisite display of jewelry!

Colorful night of dresses, jewelry, dancing, alcohol and food!

Love the dresses:

It's like an 80's prom night.

Oh, and the hair (my favorite of the night):


She said it took 2 and half hours to do her hair, and she said for sure, she's going to have a headache the day after from all the the hair pulling and hair spray.

I also got to dance the traditional khmer dance around the cake. Uhm.. you would think it was easy, but really, you need grace and dexterity to do this the right way...

...needless to say I bombed. I think I did a rendition of a traditional Philippine igorot dance instead (Mamayug aken).

note: to my left is my mentor Socheath, he knows everything traditional and historical in Cambodia. You will learn a lot about the country with just 5 minutes of chatting with him. To my right is my ex-co-worker, David. He's the modern Khmer who's introduced me to the younger, hip side of Cambodia- Khmer style, not expat style.

Oh, and finally, the highlight of the night. The last food entry. The Duck. As in, what the duck?!!

They cooked and garnished donald.. (can you see his beak?)

They even stuffed donald..

Couldn't bear eat it, but I tried it of course!

It was a truly an interesting night in Cambodia. Oh, and, they finish early ah! Around 9pm, egress was in progress.

In some weddings, they invite a fortune teller or an elder and they advise the husband that he should "sanctify" the wedding bed before midnight to bring in good luck..hmmmm..

Enjoying the Sunrise

I tried to do a 180 view from the balcony of where I live. I know it's not NASA quality. I just want to capture the moment. It's serene. It's Pchum Ben Festival here today. I can hear the chanting from the nearby wat. Another reason to heart the Kingdom. Although, I'm getting cabin fever. Been inside for the last 48 hours because I have friggin work to do, but now, have to head out. All work and no play = unhealthy!

What Happened?

I can't believe a month went by and I haven't posted a thing in August. It's not called the "death month" for nothing.

I wish I were having that much fun in the Kingdom that's why I haven't been updating, but I think my boss saw my last post, thought I wasn't busy enough and decided to rain down on me. Haha. No, he's ultra cool. We're just soo damn busy.

So many things has happened, I can't even start to spell how work has been insanely busy. Good thing I heart my job. I can't complain. I love my job. I love the people I work with. I love Cambodia.

You just have to be here and experience it.

In a nutshell, the highlights are:

1. It's my almost 6 months in Cambodia. Honeymoon stage is not yet over. So many things to do, so little time.
2. I've been jetting to Thailand for meetings. Had my 1st fly-in fly-out meeting in a different country in one day (only to lose a business opportunity). It breaks my heart.
3. I've lost a potential co-worker that would have been awesome. Sucks, but what can I do right? No means no.
4. Finally finished reading the Time Traveler's Wife and Kite Runner. *sigh*
5. Saw more amazing everyday sights in Cambodia. I didn't get to take photos of most of it, but what struck me the most is, they ride at least 3 mos. old babies on motodops (it's Camodia's famous public transportation it's cost-efficient ). It's a regular motorcycle with seat extension that can seat at least 2 people. I think the most I saw are 5 adults in one go. Anyway, I saw someone carrying a baby in one arm while riding it. The baby was hanging by the side. I mean, man, my heart skipped a beat. scared sh*t for the baby.

Well, that's my top 5. Something to look forward to this month is my first Pchum Ben Festival (4 days baybeh! Looong weekend, yey! oh, and my first Khmer wedding. Hmmmm...wondering what to wear...

Pretend Boredom in Cambodia

It's surprisingly a slow Monday here in Camby. Well, still busy with work, but I'm at a stand still, waiting for updates, reports, etc. Nothing really much I can do, but wait.

Ok, spoke to soon. I forget that it's the Monday afternoon that gets busy.

Alright.. it's Wednesday afternoon. Been busy *stupid Monday and Tuesday*, and still waiting for reports and updates.

Heniwei, assuming it was still a slow day, this is what I'd do... (Alright, confession time, edited these photos already, might as well upload them).

I was looking something up in google, I think it was something like where is the blah*blah*.. Typing the word where, some suggestions came up:


Uy, aliw! Highlighted the most interesting look-up suggestions I saw. Where does the vice president live? In the out-house? :)

Syempre, I tried the other W's and the H.

The Why


Why Do Men Have Nipples? Hmm... I think this is a book.

The What


What time is it? Seriously? If you're using a computer, you can see it in the lower right corner? Wala ka bang kaibigan or cell phone to check? (I already assume this person doesn't have a watch.) Adik sa Google ampotah.

The When


Sabi sa Mayan calendar, December 12, 2012 or 121212... Party tayo ha!

Q: What happens on 11.11.11?

The Who

This question was actually interesting, I was curious. Little did I know that I would get a boring answer. (Look it up if you want). Bottomline, There wasn't just ONE person that invented the internet. The internet is just a way to view files and information that someone puts onto a server. The internet is just a way to access the information. How lame is that. Therefore, can I claim that I invented the internet.


The How


Uhm..is this just another way to surf for porn?

Of course, I didn't stop there. Since i'm pseudo narcissistic (or is it pseudo AND narcissistic?), I looked my name up. How many Ascon's do you know?!

So, eto sya:



Hmmm..ano daw? Let's try it again..



still don't get it so I clicked on I'm feeling Lucky tab.

The result:


*WTF?*

-signed out-

My Cambodia 5

5 Things (in my list) that I've done in Cambodia so far:

1. Learn(ing) Khmer-I have classes every Sunday. I can now write 10 out of 33 consonants and 5 out of 23 vowels. Writing is easier than speaking. I swear, maybe one of the most difficult languages next to Mandarin.

2. Have customized shoes made. I was going for the Choo's. Looks different, but hey, the fit is not bad. Not bad at all. No complaints here. PLUS they're fairly cheap for customized shoes. $20 a pop!

The black sandals was copied to a T. except the heel was just 2.5 inches and everything was black. The orange shoes..quite a disappointment (quite lang naman) because they didn't have orange leather. So I had it changed to yellow. Still pretty. :)

3. I celebrated my birthday in another city, again. Yey, me! Hopefully next year I'll be in the Philippines to celebrate (or US).

4. Been to two countries at one time. Border of Cambodia and Vietnam. Cool.

5. Full independence! Which involves self regulation, discipline, patience and contentment. This is actually in my "Things to do before you pffft!" list.

Or Would You Rather Be a Pig?

A pig is an animal with dirt on his face
His shoes are a terrible disgrace
He has no manners when he eats his food
He's fat and lazy and extremely rude
But if you don't care a feather or a fig
You may grow up to be a pig

In my "little" world back home, the industry I milled for was dominated by divas, dyosas and diwatas.

In my "new" calling, the chauvinism is palpable. My gadz! Pee contest anyone? I mean, really. Sapakan na lang. Square tayo.

On the brightside, I can always make lechon- *insert game face here*.

2nd Half of the Year (in review)

It's my 3rd month in Cambodia.

2nd half of the year, done.

Spent Q1 in the Philippines, Q2 in Cambodia. Hopefully, I'll get to spend the a few days of Q3 in the Philippines and latter part of Q4 in the US with Siops.

So, what's up with me? Oh, nothin' much.. just a few milestones..

..managed to get my career going outside the Philippines, away from my family, my friends, my comfort zone.

I think, Cambodia is the new, New York. If you can make it here, you'll make it anywhere! Hey, it's my opinion. Try working your way around a non-existent traffic system, literacy rate of only 40%, mall-less, cine-less..hay, restless!

Well, you would think. Buti na lang, I drive in the Philippines. (Chaos pa din dito. Multiply the *worst* Pinoy drivers by 20). Buti na lang, marunong ako mag charades. May I charades my way around! They have updated boot-leg dvds naman. End of story. All-in-all, v livable, otherwise I won't be here. I like it here. Quiet with a stress level of 10 (or less). Plus: in just 6 hours, you can be in Vietnam for $24 (RT) bu bus. Or in an hour, you can be in Thailand for $80-$120 (RT), depends on the airline and the season. Kewl!

...I am now officially engaged. Key word "official". (I assumed I was, even waaay before..) Being offered a ring was a nice surprise. Wearing it is even better. I think I will name my ring, B- not short for bato- but for bulaga! (Corny.) Scratch that.

...Living alone is a milestone. But I'm not alone. He's just not here. YET. Birit: How do I get you Alone? How do I get you Alone? Alooooone!

Ok na. Quota na ko. Thank You, Lord. Love you.

Cambodian Dessert

First Khmer Parteh!

Ok, it's not really a parteh, parteh in its truest sense. I just attended a house warming get-together. It was held on a Thursday, holiday in Phnom Penh because it's the Queen's birthday! Hail the Queen!

The reason why there's a "formal" invitation is, you have to return the envelope to the host and traditionally, you put $10 if it's a house warming party To cover at least the food that you ate at the party. $15-$20 if it's a wedding, and I think 30,000 riels, should be (3) 10,000 riels (or $7.50) if it's a funeral. (Three is a special number as in Christianity, The father, the son, the holy spirit- or something like that).

Back to the parteh..you know what they say, pictures says..and pictures will.

This is the entry hall of the party. You'll often see this around Phnom Penh (I see at least one everyday). It blocks traffic as it eats up almost 3/4 of the street. It blares loud *lata* music (but the neighbors don't seem to mind). It's colorful if it's a festive celebration. Black and white cloth surrounds this make-shift venue if it's a funeral.

All tables look like this. It seats 10. You have to fill out the seats before they serve you food. Also, Johnny Walker Black Label is present in all tables. They say it's staple. So, cool.

This is their own version of a Chinese lauriat.

First on the menu is the eight kinds of cold appetizers. Yummy!














Then the noodles/salad.












Garlic beef w/ pickled vegetables. Mmmm..













Followed by the plain rice/fried ice.












The soup came with the rice. I asked the locals what it was called, and they said it's sour soup. I asked my Pinoy friend what it was, and he says it's tom yam. Ok... It was tom yam.. only with pineapple. It's sour, spicy and sweet at the same time. Surprisingly, it's delish. Although, I'd much rather have the pineapple for dessert- not on my main dish.

Speaking of dessert, the dessert deserves its own blog entry. It needs proper labeling and introduction. :)

That's it. Happy Father's Day to my dear, dear daddy. I heart you, Ike!

Miss You, Mea!

Daming dogs dito na may breed, iniwan sila ng mga expat owners nila! So you'll see poodles, labs, shih tzus, rotweillers (God forbid..haven't seen one) walking around town without a leash.

In all the dogs I've seen, you're still the cutest (and most baho) doggie. Hope dad gives you a bath and gives you hugs and kisses always.

My Cambodia 100 (1st of 5 parts, the list is just too looong)

Early on, before moving here to Cambodia, I've made a list of the things I wanted to do and experience here in Cambodia (I like doing lists). I got most in several websites, I forget what, so I'm sorry I can't jot down my references.

After almost three months, here's my take on it now.

My 100 (first top 20 list)

1. Take a river cruise along the Tonle Sap from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. It's a great way to laze through Cambodia's wetlands. Uhmmm, I just found out that this takes almost a day- vs. taking the bus (6 hours) or a plane (1 hour) to Siem Reap. I know what I am, and I don't think I'd want to be "enjoyong" (stuck) along Tonle Sap for more than 3 hours.
2. Go for an elephant ride in Raettanakiri and Mondulkiri; remember to grab a tour guide. Yes, I'll do this, first, let me find out where those places are.
3. Be a part of the extravagant Water Festival. Taking place in October/November, it is around this time that the Tonle Sap changes direction, leaving behind an abundance of fish. Crowds mingle on the river banks in Phnom Penh to watch hundreds of brightly coloured boats and their paddlers battle it out for top honours. I plan to. I know traffic is the worst during this time around the city and around Mo Tonle. The crowd size rivals EDSA 1 and 2 (comnbined), but the crowd can smell like EDSA 3 (sorry, but true).
   
4. Watch a traditional Cambodian Apsara dance. Siem Reap is probably the best place to watch a dance display, although travellers can occasionally catch a spontaneous one in the villages. We've (Pao and I) saw one briefly in Siem Reap at Temple Bar. We said we'll come back the following night to watch while having dinner. We didn't get to. I think we did something that's more fun instead, so it's still on my list.
   
5. Go dolphin-spotting near Kratie. Viewing Cambodia's fresh water dolphins is immensely rewarding. The best time to go is early morning or late afternoon. I better get me a travel buddy. Asan na ba tong si Paolo..psst, lezgo!
6. Swim in volcanic Yak Lom lake near Banlung town in Rattanakiri province. The water is clear and cool and the surrounding forest is ideal for a picnic. Ok, I'll hit number 2 and 6 in one go.
7. Fire a rocket launcher or M-16 in Phnom Penh. There aren't many other places in the world that would let you near such lethal weaponry. A serious reminder of the troubles Cambodia's been through. I fired an AK 47 in Vietnam. The rocket launcher seems like a sweet, sweet idea. Iz nice (said like our good friend, Borat).
8. Cambodia Cooking Class . The Cambodia Cooking Class will be one of the highlights of your trip. Even the kids will love it, too! Lots of mortar and pestle action to make the curries, then you get to eat your delicious... oh yes, you're on my list baybee!
9. The Killing Fields (Choeung Ek). These were the execution grounds for the Khmer Rouge. Can't believe I've ever been here. I'll do this + #7 in one go.
10. Wat Phnom. Bring plenty of small change because beggars are pretty thick on the ground here, even early in the morning. Take it one at a time visiting inside the temple, as there are plenty of small children...I've seen it, haven't been to it. It gets pretty scary at night because of the young gangs (word úp).
11. Heart of Darkness. This dark bar is known as one of the more popular nightlife attractions. haha, ok, better see what thie Emba of Phnom penh is about soon.Get it off my list.
12. Independence Monument. This obelisk commemorates Cambodia's freedom from France in 1953. Yes, see this every single day, but haven't had a photo taken next to it.
13. Martini Pub. This popular pub is centrally located, affordable and features a movie screen. aba's nasan ka ba, Martini Pub? You'll be 12.5- not very important. Sharky's. This bar, a rock music venue, is a favorite of American travelers. ok. you'll be 13. I know where you are, just don't know what the fuss is about.
14. Naga World Hotel Casino ok, a NFF (new found friend) works here. Let's see what it has to offer. Maybe I'd hit 12.5, 13 and this in one go.
15. Schools for Children of Cambodia; School Tours Reviews. Organizations like Schools for Children of Cambodia (SCC) offer free tours of local schools for tourists. The tour guide is a long-term volunteer at the organization and gives a great description on the education system in Cambodia including teaching conditions and cultural issues. alright, as a future educator (yes, still want to teach) I have to know how education is like here in Cambodia.
    
16. Hot Air Balloon Ride. I didn't get to do this in Siem Reap when Paolo was here :(
    
17. Travel through time and learn more about the various periods of architecture with Khmer Architecture Tours on the city's most relaxing from the transport- cyclo tingnan natin kung kailan ko maisipang gawin to.
18. If you can't fit in a guided architecture tours with Khmer Architecture Tours, then download their free walking tour map for Phnom Penh and walk around some of the city's architecture highlights. alrighty then. Maybe?
19. Pay a visit to NYEMO's boutique in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap for charming silk handicrafts and that make for perfect souvenir for both adult and children alikdo the, and tour a production work shop if you have time. Do I really want to do this?
20. Relax after a visit to Killing Fields by dinning at Lotus Blanc, vocational training restaurant, or getting a massage at spa, two of initiative from Pour un Surire d'Enfants , set up to look after children who live and work around the Steung Mean Chey dumpsite. I'll do this together with 7 and 9.
21. Treat yourself with beautiful silk handbags and accessories produced by the disable artisans from Rehab Craft Cambodia in both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. sure, I would!

There are a couple of things I've done that's on my list. Will blog about them if I get the time. Soon!!

Pinoy Fever

Cambodia celebrated it's very own Philippine Independence Day celebration last Sunday. The ambassador hosted lunch at emba (the real emba- I wasn't there), and the SAMAPI (Samahang Manggagawang Pilipino- I'm not a member) "hosted" dinner at Intercon Hotel.

Not bad for $8. Buffet dinner and overflowing beer. (Money well spent). Although, I was expecting the beer to be San Miguel- since they were a sponsor of this event.

The highlight of the night is the Pinoy's Got Talent competition. Cheers to our two "pala"Eng and Eric.

Engrid came in as 1st runner up. Performing Kuh, Zsa2, Lani and Regine. I definitely heart drags!! My gadz, I didn't get to capture the whole dress and the killer shoes!

His outfit comes second to his 4 diva renditions. Walang sinabi si Anton. The sound system was crappy at that, but he still delivered. Clap, clap, clap, clap!

Our ultimate contender was Eric. He didn't win, but he did a mean Ogie A. performance. I really felt in my heart of hearts that he should've won. Ganon talaga. Hindi naman ako ang judge. Hahaha!

Over-all, it was an experience, to be in a room full of Pinoy's in Cambodia. For a second there, I thought I was in Manila.

A Nose for a Nose

One of the most fascinating characteristics I've seen in most Cambodians, is that they're very coy and unassuming. They smile by default if they don't understand you or when they're embarrassed, they're generally polite...which brings me to this question, "How come they can pick their nose in public, even in the middle of a meeting without a hint of embarrassment?"

I'm Quite Impressed

Is it just me, or most people over-look "civilized" invitations?

While I accept sms, verbal invite, last minute advise for parties, I got a formal (printed) invitation from one of my co-workers for his house warming party a week and a half before the "event".

My other Pinoy NFFs told me to get used to it. It's common practice here. Sooo classy, right? I'm impressed! Walang ganyan sa Pinas! :) The last f0rmal invite I received back home was for a wedding-and NEVER for a house warming party! (Well, there's always a first).

Kaka-aliw!! Heart it.

Pwedeng, pwedeng, pwede!!!

My Samsung phone got busted (rest in peace), so I was out yesterday to hunt for a replacement. I was thinking of getting a Nokia 6500 (because it's just sooo pretty!) Instead, I got me a point and shoot Sony DSC-S950 and a Sony Ericsson W350 phone. (I need a handy digicam since I can't lug my SLR around everytime- yes, I need to justify that).

I usually go to Amazon to score my gadgets or to compare the price..The verdict, something to love about Cambodia more, the price tags for gadgets are very competitive!!! The camera I got costs $129.97 (plus 8.25 %tax) so roughly it's around $140 in Amazon. I got it for $150, baybeh!



I didn't really need a high-end, 13.1mp camera. If they actually had an 8mp, I would have preferred that. Needless to say, I'm very happy with this purchase. (Even used it for my new 'do portrait shot).

Now, on to the phone. The phone was a very good buy. I got it for $85. It may be cheaper in Greenhills, I dunno. But a (wicked) phone that costs roughly Php4,000, I'm not one to complain.

It sells for about $100 (w/tax) + shipping.

Diba? Pwede!!!! Woohooo!! -insert happy dance here.

Sporting the new 'do

Yeah, baybeh!

Kulot na ako ulit! :P

Vietnam on the other line..

It's a witch hunt!



First Pao and I saw this, thought it read Viets eat tourist (our bad!)



hehe.


Courtesy of lovely city, HCM.


I'll be back!

First Hand Experience

You always get funny emails exchanges or hear about them, I never expected that I would get one this early in my new office.

Today, I introduced myself to a media partner via email to discuss a proposal they sent. Most people know my closing salutation is "cheers".

Ano daw ang pangalan ko? (see below)


..and BTW, I'm used to be called sir. *sigh*

Seen in FCC Phnom Penh

Special Guest

Looking bored and sleepy...

Lost in Translation #1

Define lost in translation: Creating a blog post in a meeting because everyone is speaking in Khmer. Wala akong input sa meeting. *sigh*

I'm not generalizing, but these BKK women are so mean!!!

Having visited BKK, maybe about 2 sizes smaller 2 years ago, I never had a problem buying pants in MBK or Pratunam.

Now that my metabolism has slowed down, and BKK, although can overwhelm you with their shopping menu, forbids you to try out their wares. Ergo, I can only rely on the goddesses (aka sales ladies) to measure my size.

So, I went to Platinum, the air-conditioned Pratunamesque mall for my shopping. Maybe it's the language barrier, maybe the heavy rains ruined their mood, maybe they were tired for the day, maybe they didn't like that I'm touching the clothes on their rack, maybe they doesn't like that I took their time away from their precious grilled squid on a stick (or mangga with iodized salt), maybe they just don't like me period..

Long story short, I asked the goddess to measure my size with her trustworthy measuring tape, and she goes, (looking pissed off, as if I've asked for her mangga-which I was tempted to, but didn't) "Sorry, too big, no size!" Sabay far-away-look. Thought ballon: Eh gago pala to eh. Sasampalin ko..

Long story short, I didn't get to buy pants or shorts in BKK. Thanks, anyway!

Cut to: Airport scene. Wearing my jersey brown dress. It's loose and comfortable. I like that dress.

Scene: Airport, boarding
Cast : Me, ground stewardess 1, ground stewardess 2

Me: handing my boarding pass to ground stewardess 1

ground stewardess 1: Boarding pass please (checks my boarding pass). Thank you madam (hands my boarding pass).

As ground stewardess 1 hands me my boarding pass and looks at me, she goes..

ground stewardess 1: Madam, are you pregnant?

Me: Blank stare. "Do I look like I'm pregnant?"

ground stewardess 1: Oh, I'm sorry. Have a good flight. Please fly with us again.

ground stewardess 2: (Snickering).

Me thought balloon: Mga P%$!ng 'nang to!

Me in actuality: searing look, irap, walk-out with my hand-carried curtain rod.

So you ask me, how was my trip to Bangkok? Uhm..ok naman. :) Haha.

Hingang Malalim

I knew the minute work officially starts on Monday, after the Khmer New Year and after all the office transfers, something is looming under my head.

True enough, ang unang sabit, ay sabit nga naman. Maling presyo ng pakete. Ang nasabi sa cliente ay monthly cost..eto pala ay weekly cost. Hindi lang naintindihan ang difference between a week and month as a period of time. Kakaloka. It's not my sabit, but as they say, command responsibility-kesehodang 2 hours pa lang ako sa trabaho.

Wed-Fri, is my baptism of fire- client presentation/orientation. Good luck to me. Pat on the back. This Friday also is my first execom meeting. Sa mundo na puro lalaki ang nananaig (vs. sa Pilipinas na almost all the media heads are women), I will just sit back and try to enjoy the ride.

Celebrating My First Birthday in PP

Awesome that my birthday falls on a Khmer New Year here in Cambodia. I get to have a 3 day vacation everytime my birthday comes around? Yahoo!! =)

It was sweet that my NFFs took time to celebrate with me. One with a birthday salubong and another a birthday lunch/KNY celebration.

I feel blessed, thank you, Lord!

Missing Galileo

I miss Galileo with the girls :(.

I made my own wannabe wine and cheese. Since Khmer New Year naman tomorrow, might as well..

Had a hard time opening my wine. I bought the regular wine opener (with bottle cap opener), it was quite hard pulling the cork!!! (sonuffa). Ending, I had to use both my hands and feet to open it. Hand holding the bottle, while the feet is pushing the cork screw. *Hay*



The wine is fairly good. It's a Shiraz-Malbec from Argentina year 2007 (parang alam ko kung ano yon- well I'm just saying..)

With it are- grana (one of my favorite cheeses), fontal colombo, perche dried suasage (which is too fatty for my taste), and garlic mashrooms.

Happy Khmer New Year!! Ye! Wishing Aileen, Beth, Christine, Joyce and Len were here to share the W & C with me!