Phnom Penh, Cambodia - 18 Apr 07

The Heart Wrenching Past

i took a dragon fruits that i bought yesterday as my breakfast. It was 10 am by then, too late to start a day.

A moto driver approached me the moment i stepped out from the guesthouse, so we agreed on a price and he would be my driver for the day. The weather was still hot hot hot. So motocycle is not really a good choice!

We first went to Orrusey Market just opposite to my guesthouse. This market is very lively with people selling all kind of things from vegetable, flowers, meats, dried food, garment to anything you might need in your daily life! i keep these two rules as my guidelines to bargain: 1.) The more important is getting a price which you and the merchant could agree with, and not getting the cheapest price! (Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world) 2.) Always decide on what you are willing to pay first, then work on that price. Appreciate the room of negotiation and not taking the bargaining as some kind of 'hard labour'work.

Next, we went to Killing Filed. Although Ah Khoon said this place could be skipped because there is just a 'pile'of skulls. But i was glad that i was there. i found this place to give me a more stunning effects than over the genocide meseum later. You saw the 'pile'of human skulls from children, women to adults and the rag of their clothes. With so many of the holes around the serene compound, you almost could imagine that, the victims were brought to here, kneel down, got killed and kicked into the hole. I started to wonder, why there are people like to harm life? Then i feel happy that, i did my part for being a vegetarian.

i took my lunch a the garden oasis of a restaurant called Bodhi Tree. The food is superb and the plants around have a cooling effect. The restaurant is right opposite to the Genocide Museum (Toul Sleng Museum). At least by this second day, i discovered that, being a vegetarian probably mean i missed the local food culture and i would be expected to pay more for most of my meals. I meant, i went only to those restaurant where vegetarian food is served or at least where i know the staff will be able to understand me and got my food prepared in the way i want. This means a 'higher'end restaurant and cost more. Double of the price i would pay for a decent meal in Singapore in fact.

i spent longer time than i expected in the Genocide Museum. I watched an one hour movie (one at 10am the other at 3pm). The movie was basically about how the Pol Pot regime destroyed or separated a loving couple. This was pretty much the same experience for all people at that time. The museum used to be a school, but turned to a torturing compound later. You saw some of the apparatus they used, the cells they used to keep the people and many photos of the victims. It was sad and a part of the history that couldn't be changed now. With the death of Pol Pot, the 'truth'about why he ever committed such things are also unknown.

Due to lack of time, i skipped Russian Market and the orphanage. So i extended another day in Phnom Penh because i really wanted to go to the orphanage. i went to the restaurant at river side and waited for Mei Sing's brother in law, Edwin. He was very kind to show me around his working place and told me some interesting story about the casino. Basically, he and Frankie showed me a bit here and there of the life of an expat in Phnom Penh. I would say that, i don't mind to live in this place for a year or two too! Finally, Edwin and his driver sent me back to my guest house.

It started to rain after a while. Then i discovered that, if i opened the window and let the cold wind to come in, then my room won't be this hot! i did and i had a better sleep in the night then.



KILLING FIELD - This is the 'pile' of skulls. It is inside of a stupa.



This is how the stupa looks like from far.



GENOCIDE MUSEUM - This compound used to be a school but eventually used as a torture ground by Khmer Rouge. The photos of Khemer Rouge victims.



The school then the torturing ground of Khmer Rouge and now the Genoside Museum.



MONEY MATTER:
1.) Moto - Whole day USD 10
2.) Food: USD 6 (Far too cheap than actual as dinner is on Edwin!)
3.) Sights Entrance Fees: USD 2 + 8000R
4.) Accommodation: Capitol GH - USD 4
5.) Other: Internet- 2000R and Shopping USD 6

Phnom Penh, Cambodia - 17 Apr 07

Halo! The Capital of Cambodia!

i woke up at 4.30am and left Singapore with Jetstar flight at 7am. Arrrived a Phnom Penh at 8am (time in Cambodia is one hour behind of time in Singapore). What i could said is, hot hot hot.

i took the motocycle taxi from airport to Capitol Gueshouse 3. i was wearing my Laos skirt and yogi loose blouse. Then i found that, people on the road was staring at me. So i noticed that, women is expected to sit side way on the motorbike. It is 'únsighful' to sit with both legs open, especially when you are wearing a skirt! The women here also wear in a very western way, probably just more covered, long pant or T shirt. So i looked really really foregin then. But with my small eyes, i guess nobody will think i am local too. So it doesn't matter.

Phnom Penh is basically very modern now. She has a few modern shopping centres and many foreign cuisine! My friend , Frankie, who has been working here for 10 years surprised me even more by telling me that, there is one huge casino and more than 30 electronics casino/game centre in such a small place like this! i saw some very majestic and huge houses near the Independant Monument. So i could say that, like Laos, Cambodia has as very big gap of poor and rich. Probably this is just true at every where in the world!

I first visited to National Museum. They charge a USD 1 for camera, but you could only take picture at the garden. So i think this is a waste of money. Bacause i have been to Angkor Wat, this made the exhibits in the museum sounds more meaningful to me. (Don't expect any great explainations in the museum, but you can get a guide if you want to.) The garden was really beautiful, since i paid for taking photos as well, so i took quite a few!

After that, i tried to look for a vege restaurant. After almost half an hour walking under the hot sun, then i found the place but it was closed! XYZ$^*)(_&
i went to the restaurant beside of the vege restaurant then. i told them in English that i wanted some rice without meat. But later i found that, actually in Phnom Penh, Chinese is more useful than English. Many businesses are ran by Chinese and even the Khmer can speak a few Chinese words. Then, i started to talk to the local in Chinese first rather than English.

i was a bit regret for not purchased the USD 2 camera fees for loyal palace and silver pagoda. Even though you couldn't take photo inside of the building, but the outside looked so nice that it was a waste for not taking picture. Of course i could just take picture like that, since nobody is checking inside to see whether you have bought the camera ticket. But i did not want to be dishonest! So i did not take any pictures (now i think that, may be i am a bit silly. I could always take and pay later! A lesson lernt). It was interesting that, the weather is so hot that even the birds were bathing in the pool of water!

Wat Phnom was a bit far from the town central, but i have managed to walk there as well. This is also the last destination that i walk to. Subsequently, i took only motorcycle taxi. The temple was very very 'smoky'with incense. I did not pay the 'çompulsory'donation of USD 1. Instead, i used the money to do liberation of 2 birds. Then i gave 500 Riel to a landmind beggar.

The last desitnation of the day was central market. It looked like an old Russian kind of railway station to me. It was around 5pm when i was there and most stall has closed. i bought my breakfast for tomorrow there, a dragon fruits and an orange for just 4000R. The other garment stall doesn't interest me though.

Frankie drives. So he drove me around the city area. It was interesting because i normally missed the night scene when i am traveling abroad. Further more, Ah Khoon keep saying it is dangerous to go out at night, so i better don't do so. We passed by the Casino, many shopping malls, some kind of local fun fair , night market selling roasted insects ....

I was really tired when i got back to guest house. But i took an hour to bath and do other 'body maintenance! This is record 'breaking to me! But i really don't want to fall sick or got any health problem, so it is important to apply body lotion, face toner, foot gel ...

* When i woke up in the morning, my body was sticky. i did not sure it is because of all the lotion that i applied or because of my sweat!

MONEY MATTER AND LOGISTIC:

1.) Transport:
- Jetstar Singapore - PP : SGD 139
- Taxi to Changi Airport: SGD 24
- Motocycle to guest house: USD 2
- Motocycle from Wat Phnom to Central Market: 1000R
- Motorcycle From Central Market to river side - 2000R
- Motorcycle from river side to Olympic Stadium - USD 1 + 1000R (i was charged double for this, but due to New Year, i don't care much for just a few cent. The driver gave me a name card and asked me to contact him if i need any further transportation service, but why should i? i don't feel angry doesnt mean i like to be cheated. :)

2.) Food n Water: SGD2 + USD 3 + 7500R

3.) Entrance fees for sigh seeing (including donation): USD 8 + 2000R

4.) Accommodation: Capitol GH - Fan, attached bathroom, clean, small but quiet USD 4

5.) Internet: 2000R/ hour

OTHERS:
1.) Taxi (car or motorcycle) from airport to town: The car counter is at the right side right after you come out from the main entrance. It is more expensive, at USD 5. Don't worry if you want a cheaper option. What you need to do is just to stand there and some motorcyclist will approach you. It will cost you USD 2.



The National Museum of Cambodia. There are many beautiful sculptures from different era.



It was just one week after Cambodian New Year. There was some kind of celebration just out side of the Royal Palace.

Singapore, 15 Apr 07

Chijmes is one of my favorite places in Singapore.
It used to be a school but it now houses bars and restaurants.
(Must be quite sad to the previous students though.)
It has a beautiful yard and very good dinning ambient, but is expensive.



I always like this kind of colonial time buildings.
You can find many in Penang but in Singapore, many of these buildings have been renovated and converted into some kind of expensive shop or bar or restaurant.



This is the shrine hall of an Amernenian Church.
There is a cementry in the church compound. It took some pictures but somehow accidentally deleted them when i cleared my memory card.
I like those statues in the cementry. They gave the grave yard a kind of very peaceful and holy ambient.



One of the buildings of Singapore Management University.
It is proudly situated in the city area and if i am not mistaken, all school buildings are connected underground.



Clarke Quay is looking very nice after the renovation.
This fountain looks a bit like the one at Parco Bugis Juction.
Again, i like those old buildings.



One of the bar.
Some bar serve a kind of smoke. It has a mouth and a long tube.
I don't know what exactly it is called, but i saw the similar kind of smoking apparatus at some bars near Raffles Place too.
i am not a smoker, so this thing is not an attraction to me.
But somehow, i think public sharing the mouth of the tube is very very dirty and unhygient.



The roof changes from one color to the other.
When we passed by Boat Quay later, we could easily noticed that, the business here is very much affected by all attractions at the Clarke Quay now.
When you walk pass each bar or restaurant, the waitress/waiter will somehow ask whether you want to take a drink or eat something.