Gracy Bee

Cambodia 09 Mar 08

Posted on March 24th, 2008 by GracyBee.
Categories: Places, Travel.

3rd day: It is my birthday! HOT! HOT!

Baby was so sweet. He has insisted on buying a simple cake for me and wanted to celebrate with my on 12 midnight on the 9th. I was like: ‘no need la……..wanna zzz during this time and still can celebrate later after we wake up right?’

As much as I wanted to stay up to 12am, I was way too tired, that I zzzz before the time. Only to be nudged by baby to wake up to wish me Happy Birthday.

Only then I realised why he is so insistent of wishing me at 12am. He has a gift ready all this time and wanted to give me at 12am! I have already told him not to buy any gift and yet..this is a pleasant surprise from him.

My precious gift

Time to ZZZ!!

^^^^^^

It is a Sunday and our hotel had the weekend Breakfast special. A more filling one and worth the price of US$3.. Being an Irish hotel, they included their famous Black pudding, though it is not very well done.

 

Weekend breakfast

We decided to visit the Central Market 1st and then the Royal Palace. Wanting to save on transport costs, we decided to walk there ( around 20 min walk). Our guide book has said the things sold in Central Market are more expensive but we decided to go and take a look and see what it has to offer.

The Central Market aka Psar Thmei

Indeed, it is more expensive there. The prices are comparable to Spore, if not more expensive!! FYI, all transactions are dealt mostly with US$. And things are indeed not cheap over here.

Part of the Psar

The local delicacies

Seriously, I din expect to see this here!! Last seen: 22 years ago. Who: My grandma using this to brew soup

^^^^^^

We kinda lost interest in seeing the things inside. It was a very crampy and warm place. We decided to hope over to the shopping centre nearby - Sorya Shopping Centre.

The range of shops are slightly different from ours in Spore, and we were quite surprised to find Swensen in there. We decided to have ice -cream!! Greedy!

The Swensen there is purely an ice cream store and nothing else. No western meal as found in Spore’s Swensen. We called for the B’day ice cream to celebrate.

My B’day ice cream - Yum! Yum!

 

After the ice cream session, we saw another tempting scene.

 

These are also ice cream, displayed just outside the supermarket! Yum!!!! and really nice presentation!

 

^^^^^^

We headed back to our hotel, where on the way we settled down in a restaurant for lunch.

^^^^^^

While waiting for our food, there happened to be a birthday celebration going on opposite us. That is not what caught my attention, but rather a group of beggers going into the function.

Somehow, the guests vacant the tables at different intervals and the beggers just go to that empty table and get whatever they can get hold of: left over food and drinks, straw etc. It was the children who went up to ‘collect’ and take it back to their mother who were waiting for them.

Somehow I pitied them, but sometimes I do not.

Whatever they had got…

Anyway, after lunch, we headed back to hotel to rest before we proceed to the Royal Palace.

^^^^^^

At mid afternoon, we headed to the Royal Palace. According to the guide book(the latest edition), the entrance fee is US$3 per person. However we got a rude shock when we found out the price to be US$6.25 instead. WOAH?! The attendant there say it has changed.

We felt quite disappointed and cheated. The big increase of 50% is a bit too much. We decided not to go because it is not really worth the price.

We then settle for the Wat Phnom instead. This is the temple built on a hill. Now U turn back…………

This is the temple where locals went to pray for their wishes. Once the wishes come true, they must come back to give thanks.

 As the religion here is mostly buddhism, the temples there practise similarly as in Msia and Spore.

One of the statues

 What caught my attention is this.

 This is the statue that guard the entrance of all temples that we see (and later in Siem Reap as well), that I’m surprised to see this familiar sight.

The Lone Ranger

But amuse me is this. Our chinese counterpart always sit now, with either a ball or a baby kids,  but our Cambodian one don’t seem to be the same leh.

Juz can’t resist taking this photo 

OMG! They are half squating, half sitting! They must have powerful power strength!! Check out their butt too

We stayed there for a while then we headed back to the hotel. Decided to have dinner in the hotel instead. Starting not to feel well now. Felt tummy quite upset.

End of day

Another hot day. Already drink nearly 9 bottles of water for our 3rd day. Never seem to rain huh!

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Cambodia 8 Mar 08

Posted on March 23rd, 2008 by GracyBee.
Categories: Places, Travel.

2nd Day - HOT HOT HOT

We found our hotel in Hostelworld.com, and we knew that it is in the central location in Phnom Penh. The National Museum and the Royal Palace is in front of our hotel. We decided to visit the National Museum after our breakfast.

Our breakfast

The architecture of the museum mirrors closely to the Thai temples. For a moment I thought I was in Thailand instead.

 

The National Museum, Phnom Penh

 

The roof

No prize for guessing who!

The museum housed mostly buddha’s statues, which briefly reminded me of Egyptian Museum. Too bad, no photos are allowed. BUT, I took this for fun.

BANG!!

We spent about 1 hr+ in the museum, and just wanted to go back hotel to chill out after that. The weather was juz way tooooooo hot.

^^^^^^

We decided to try out the Vietnamese cuisine in An Nam Restaurant, which according to the map is not far from our hotel. So we walked there. Now then I realise, can never fully rely on their maps, as it is not really 100% accurate. Some of the pictures took along the way.

Baby

Don’t know who this is…

^^^^^^

After a long walk, we managed to find the restaurant. We ordered a simple chicken noodle soup and dry pork noodle. But this is what we had after our order.

We were puzzled. At first we thought that is our vege salad, but we didn’t order that. We tried mixing a bit of the vege with the sauce. Tasted quite good though.

Then………this is what we get shortly after. Eh? This is what we had ordered. Then wat are the vege for?? The waitress then told us, the vege are meant for the soup noodles, then the sauce meant for the dry noodle….OORH……….understood! ahaha….

Tasted juz like our malay counterpart Mee Soto, very very nice!

Something different…

^^^^^^

After lunch, we walked around the area. We came across the National Monument and then came across the Paragon Shopping Centre. WOAH, also have Paragon! We are dying for air con, and we rushed there..

Didn’t take any pix here. The shopping centre, obviously the latest hype over there, is juz like our shopping centre 10 years ago. We went to the supermarket and bought some necessities like drinking water and fruits.

Baby had to carry the whole box of carton of water back to hotel, but we lost our way while going back. We knew we were around the area, but somehow we are walking in circles. Then we decided to take the tuk tuk to take us back. Ah….it is on the other side of the road, but need to walk in circle to reach there. ALAMAK!!

After resting in hotel *again*, we went out for dinner. We went up to FRIENDS. This is kinda of a charity restaurant. But it is very expensive with their small portion and unusually salty hor fun. But their tom yam is good. Too bad….portion too small.

Tom Yam

Hor Fun

We decided to take short walk around the area. Before we came here, we have told by people to stay indoors by 7pm. Initially we thought the people are too paranoid. But once you were there, you would understand why they say so. By 1830, you can feel the tension. The traffic was horrible with mixture of cars, jeeps, motorbikes, bicycles and tuk tuk. We hurried back after taking a short walk around. Never been glad to be back to hotel.

Town area at 1830

 

 

End of day

Very hot day, felt tired from walking.

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Cambodia 7 Mar 08

Posted on March 23rd, 2008 by GracyBee.
Categories: Places, Travel.

My 1st day of the trip.

I have took leave for the trip, starting 7 Mar. Due to some work commitments, I have not able to do a lot of packing/ purchases beforehand. Hence on Fri, I have done all the last min things I needed for the trip. Been so busy for the last few days with work, and finally it is time to rest. Really really look forward to the break!!

Then somewhat, I kaypo and wanna read the company emails to see anything urgent to clear. How I regret doing that. So many emails after I have cleared all the previous day!! In the end, I have to clear some of the urgent emails, and find other colleagues to help me do the work while I’m away etc…. ALAS!!

Have planned to reach airport at 1630hr to meet baby’s parents for dinner. In the end, we reached 1730hr. Eventually we had quick dinner together, where his parents were telling us what to do and what not to do, be careful etc…

^^^^^^

Ooooh…Juz couldn’t wait!!

It is my 1st time taking budget airlines: Jet Star. All seem normal and the same to me: checking in, boarding etc. The seatings arrangements are the same, though there are no business classes. The seats are crampy but comfortable to my standards, and are of leather, wow…not bad!

The leather seats (taken on our way back)

The interior

Until one thing that differentiate between full service and budget airline: that is refreshment on board. I’m so used to taking the full service airlines, that I TOTALLY forgot they DON’T serve any refreshments on board FOR FREE.
Oh yeah…baby reminded me that there are no refreshment on board. AH!! DIE!! I felt so thirsty that I’m so desperate for a drink that I have to pay $3 for a small bottle of mineral water. ALAMAK…very ‘cheap’ leh……… felt heartbroken Say me stingy, but I’m not prepared to spend that amount of money!

It was a short flight, and I was exhausted. Reached Phnom Penh at 8pm local time. We had arranged for hotel taxi.

My 1st impression of Phnom Penh while in taxi: it is like back to Malaysia. The row of shophouses, the cars etc. What is slightly different: the roads are much wider and the type of cars on the road.

Finally reached our hotel and after checking in and paid our money, we went to our room and zzzzzzzzzzzzz

^^^^^^ 

End of the day:

Felt very exhausted.

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Cambodia - Preparations

Posted on March 22nd, 2008 by GracyBee.
Categories: Places, Travel.

I have wanted to visit Cambodia since……a while ago…and as usual, whatever there are plans to go and I’m all ok and cleared……the plans would be cancelled last min. That is so annoying.

That had happened twice already! 1st in Xmas 2006 and the other CNY 2007. First pple are so hyped to go, then at the very very last min……..they then come and say: ‘Sorry, can’t go cos have other plans etc etc’. Argh!

Finally…this year, I have told baby about my desire to go Cambodia. And he has decided to go during my b’day week. Yippee!! Thanks baby!

We started to make plans for this trip since January. Of course, I would want to go free and easy for this trip and wanna get the best deals from the air tickets and accomodation.
As usual, my travel guide book by Lonely Planet is my guide.

This time round, my planning get some disrupted here and there due to work commitments. Hence what do I do this time. Find the air tickets 1st. Then see where we wanna visit. Then plan how many days to stay there etc.. The little details of what /where to visit shall wait till we get there. So many of our things are brought at the very last min!

We originally planned to go on 8 Mar (Sat) and be back on following Thurs. But too bad, air tickets are not available, and so we have to settle 7 Mar and be back only on 16 Mar. In the end, the original 5 days trip has extended to 9 days.

After that, I have planned to stay 3 days in Phnom Penh, 2 day to travel and then 4 days in Siem Reap.

Day set off: 7 Mar 08 evening

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Work

Posted on March 2nd, 2008 by GracyBee.
Categories: General.

I’m feeling very tired from work lately. What is so annoying is that, I’m not busy because of my work scope, but rather dealing with some stubborn colleagues who don’t seem to like accepting alternatives I have for them. If they don’t get what they want, they have the habit to go up to the TOP so that I’ll be scared. Well, 1st of all, I don’t see the reason why you need to go to the top. 2ndly, what you want from us, is a waste of time because what I have suggested to you is a more effective and faster way to learn for your staff.

Oh well, for the last 2 weeks or so, I’m working with some spoilt brats that whatever they can’t get what they want, they go to boss. Alamak… So what if you all are more senior at work that you can throw your weight around? Geez, really waste my time on them as the whole hoo ha can take me hours, and different episodes of the same kind can just happen for days!!

OMG!! Is it worth my time dealing with them rather than doing my real proper work? Really, I felt very mentally tired dealing with these bunchs of spoilt brats.

Work has been tiring also, not just because of them, but rather, I’m very short of manpower. Already, the training is running on tight schedule, due to some changes in airline’s requirements. The top is pressing for more training schedule for the existing ground staff, but ironically, they are pulling few pple out from my department to help support other areas.

HEELOO!!! YOU ARE GRAPPING THE WRONG PERSON! And if my people are to support you, then who is supporting us? I felt so pissed off!!

AH!!!! I CAN’T WAIT FOR MY HOLIDAY!!!!!! I WANNA GET OUT OF HERE!!!!

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Words

Posted on March 2nd, 2008 by GracyBee.
Categories: Everyday life.

Alas…words are funny creatures sometimes. A word that is so innocent and simple and yet it can trigger series of misunderstanding.

The 1st incident was when my brother is coming to Singapore. He didn’t inform me that he is coming today. But he insisted that he told me.

On msn:

Him: U know I’m coming today right?
Me: Ah? You told me you coming meh?
Him: Yes, I did. Remember I ask you about where to eat in Spore?
Me: Yeah, but that does not mean you are coming! That question could mean you are asking for a friend, or just to keep a note
Him: Neh, I wouldn’t waste time on asking that question, unless I’m coming to Spore
Me: Oh yeah, as if I can read your mind.

Great. Expect me to read and think like him. Oh gosh…how can like that? He say he wouldn’t waste time, but my personal opinion is that, he is wasting even more time by beating round the bush when eventually no message is spread across!

^^^^^^ 

The 2nd incident involved me and my baby. We are preparing for our trip to one country. I wanted him to buy earplugs as I know he is a light sleeper and would wake up at any slightest noise. The hotel we are staying would be near night clubs so I think there would be very noisy.

Me: come, we go buy earplugs, the next on the shopping list.
Him: but very funny leh
Me: no ah, u are such a light sleeper, better buy if not u can’t zzz
Him: omg, we are buying so much for this trip, even earplugs! When I go overseas, the lowest hotel grade I’ve stayed is 4 star leh! Now staying in budget hotel…
Me: ok…you are rich wat, dat y u stayed in 4 star!
Him: No…that is not wat I mean!
Me: if not then what?
Him: I just say I found strange
Me: ….

Eventually he did apologised to me and said that was just a comment. But somehow I felt disappointed. To me, it is not just a comment, but rather looking down on budget hotels where he used to stay in 4 star hotels. It is like a downgrade. Look like my efforts are all in vain, where I keep looking at maps and try to look for hotels that are not too expensive, and yet near to places we want to visits. Felt so sien at one point.

He told me he has never stayed in budget hotels before, so he don’t know what to expect. Well, I tot he would know. I thought the word Budget would explain it all. Alamak…need to work out the communication. Alas…Words, that can cause trouble here and there.

I’m still feeling a bit sore now but why I’m still like that despite him apologise profusely already?

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