The Pics

I know this is a wee bit late but better late then never. Btw, there more where this came from but i'll just show some of the hightlights or such.

Enjoy.

Day 5 ...the rest

Sorry to dissapoint but everything went smoothly. The check-in was fast. Aboarded systematically. The Captain was in a chirpy mood. Flight attendants looks genuinely happy, perhaps after eating KFC, bought at Bangkok Airport.

As for me, i ended up curling up in my seat, try to get some sleep while some annoying kid keep wailing and laughing his head off whenever a strange noise was heard coming from the mechanics of the plane. Thats not the weirdest part. He keeps playing around and making this hand movement to resemble his hand like an airplane, zooming nose down to the ground.

Was that a sign? Should i get hysterical and get off? Will this be the local version of Final Destination?

I shruged it off and went back to sleep.

2 1/2 hrs later, we safely touched down Singapore ground and was plesently welcomed back by my folks, waiting for me at the arrival hall.

Sigh, home at last.

Day 5 ...so far

Waking up 530 in the morning was that bad. Having to be at the airport 2 bloody hours to check-in wasn't really that bad either. Its the fact that they DIDN'T TELL ME THEY CANCELLE MY MORNING FLIGHT THAT PISSES ME OFF.

No. Not really. I wasn't REALLY pissed off. A little lost. Yes. Excited. Maybe. My image of Victor getting stuck in an airport like the movie The Terminal came across my mind. Time to activate my emergency number. Sms-ed my situation to my editor and thank god he replied to my plea. After several msg exchanges, I was finally informed of the back-up plan to re-route me back to Singapore by today. What's the catch? My next flight out was at 1310 ... to Bangkok. 6 hours away! So there i was, looking like a miserable food waiting for the check-in time.

Damn i was hungry, see-ing the airport staff going out for lunch almost made me ask them to buy a pack for me too.

Checking-in never felt so good and soon i was on my way to Bangkok.

And now, i'm stuck at the Bangkok Int Airport, waiting for my flight out to Singapore at 745. And since check-in time was 2 1/2 hrs earlier (why in the world is the check-in time getting earlier and earlier...). That means i have to be back at the airport by 515.

I HAVE ONLY 2 1/2 HRS IN BANGKOK??? DAMN!!

And to think this is my virgin visit to bangkok without even stepping out of the airport... sadness.

So here i slump, having a meal at BK and dragged dragged myself to the internet terminal to waste my time away.

Lets see if i can get myself tangled in another adventure...

Day 4

Missing the trip to the silk farm was probably a good idea at the time. Sure, the demontration of silk weaving would be intriguing. It might probably even make a good picture. But today. my priority is body maintainance. Not that i'm really tired, but waking up at 7, dragging myself out of bed, catch a motopod and be lured around for a silk tour just didn't quite fit my time off. Besides, i've already gotten the wood carving, stone chipping process right there at the Artisian Angkor. I don't think anyone wil be outraged at the miss.

Instead, my time spent staring the tele was worthwhile. So many good shows, so little time.

Noon. Enough was enough. I headed out to the Old Market to have lunch and went around snapping last minute pics for my collection. Burned 2 of my CF cards to a CD at a nearby local internat shop and voila~ 256Mb worth of free space. I don't know why, but i felt trigger happy, seeking out perfect frame work and composition to make my editor proud.

Soon it was 2pm and i rushed back to The Grand Hotel for the interview with the chef and photo shoot. Hope my photography of his food do justice. I coudn't get enough of his Sweet Prawn and Lobster Salad. Hah, free food. Of cos good lah...

A load of my chest finally when the interview ended. Mission accomplised. Now all there is left is back-up pictures of Siem Reap. Oh and shopping too of cos. Not like theres anything to buy here.. but its just irrisistable. Its not like i come to Cambodia often.

An idea struck. All this time i took either the motopod or tuk-tuk to go back and forth hotel to Old Market. This time, since i had time, i walked. Don't know about the distance, but it was quite an eye-opener with alot of thing you would normally miss while zooming pass. I even found a road side stall selling fried beetles and insects. Did i try them? I would if someone dared me. It would be a shame trying one with no one to witness it.

The day finally came to an end. I began packing my bag, wondering why it felt heavier, eagarly thinking to secretly stash the bathrobe for my vainly use at home. CSI acompanied through my night. And off into dream state soon after.

I can smell my room already...

Day 3

The adventure started early at 8am and i headed to Angkor temples...

..no wait..

There TOO MUCh things that happen/saw/did on this day that i'll have sore fingers by the time i finished with it. So i'll leave this with a minor hiatus and promise to be back with the pictures when i get back home.

Unbeleivebale place i'm telling you. So well preserved and humongously grand it's breathtaking.
The tired aching legs was worth it.

Day 2 ...the rest

Jumping out of my comfort zone and just be independant. Its funny that after awhile, you get used to the way of life and slowly be at ease. May it be haggling at prices, digging extra bits of info to speaking to a non-english speaking Khemer.

One might might wonder how to handle such situation where you're in a new world. with no one to guide you. Of cos you could get a guide or just be wild and get a good guidebook and a person you're comfortable to travel with.

Thom was his name after a pleasent flag-down to the Old Market. Speaks good english, pleasent to be around, knows the place well and best of all, a price undeniably lower then the rates at the hotel. My travel with him started off just a casual trip to the Old Market which ended up to the Handicraft center, Wat Bo temple, Royal Garden and back to my hotel. It was then i decided, what the hell, he seems like a nice guy, and so a plan was made and he was my official guide to the temples tomorrow.

A quick shower and nap freshened me up and i was on my way to the Grand hotel for my restaurant review. I hate formality. Being all diplomatic and prim-and-proper was not my idea of a good evening. But i had to go through it. On the consolation, the food was delicious and i was non the wiser to actually ask for more since it was just a taster. My company that night for dinner was the sales manager who originated from Japan and was pleasently surprised of her encounter. But still, being all formal and uppity, discomfort was still lingering and couldn't wait to get out.

Night life here is slowly building up, but its the expats and tourist who dominate them. Pub Street is the 'in' place to be and here we see a whole stretch of pubs, restaurant and massage parlor lined up for our entertainment. What about the Khemer people? Well they usually go home after a days worth of work and for the youngsters, 2 popular spots being the Martini Pub and the latest, Zone One. I haven't been to any because of my schedule or plain laziness.

I headed back to my confort-zone at 10plus. Watched a couple of movies on cable and off i went to dream land.

Big adventure tomo. Must rest.

Day 2 ...so far

Seems like i'll be doing this on a half day basis eh?

Internet access are abundent in this town as there were internet shops on almost every corner you go.

Woke late today, (read: lazily tossed around in bed watch tv, not wanting to leave me comfort zone...) and planned out my day. One thing for sure, i DO have to do my review on a restaurant at the Raffles Grand Hotel but that will be later at 7. Guess my dinner is all set.

Its 1248 now and scouring the Old Market area for lunch and i can't seem to decide where to settle. Western or Khemer food? Should i look for places where there are tourist or blend in the locals. Its a good thing i'm dark skin and asian looking. I don't get haggled about much often. I only do when i whip out my bulky camera.

Gotta go settle on some for lunch now. Will update again soon.

Ciao.

Still figuring out what 'goodbye'' in Khemer is...

Day 1 ...the rest

Was particularly free in the afternoon since its too late to visit the temples. So ended up making a trip to Angkor Spa at Sofitel Hotel for its review. Too bad there wasn't any complimentry treatmen for me but definately the manager for Angkor Spa left me swooning. Sekar Sari was her name and perhaps her PR manners left me uncounciously flirting with her. Verbally of cos. What kind of man did you think i was?

I soon left with a bitter sweet smile, knowing i wouldn't be able to meet her agian but then i do have her email. Better then nothing.

The sun came near to the horizon and i ended up walking aimlessly at the Old Market,looking out for sorvenirs and other knik-knacks to buy on my last day here. I steered away from anything that looks familiar to eat and optioned anything that looked new and Khemer.

It was near dark and the shops are starting to close. Flaged a motobike and headed back to the hotel and enjoyed back-to-back movies and documentries on my cable tv.

Day 1 ...so far

Its been quite a whirlwind, getting everything together try to make sense of what i was suppose to do. I know the schedule but it just seem to bother me that i'm not usually enjoying this trip.

Hah.

I think its all in my mind.

Anyway, as i stepped into the plane, the scent of leather hits you like a brick wall and i don't mean it in a negative way. Its nice. Whats not nice is the leg space. Makes you wonder if there was any warning sign for clusterphobic passagers. To add to that, the food are ridiculously expensive. I'll rather wait 3hrs for a better choice.

Finally did i arrive at Siem Reap at 7am (Cambodia time [-1hr]). Custom went smoothly with no hassle at all. Good thing Singaporeans don't need a visa to enter. As i stepped out of the airport, a herd of drivers were there to 'welcome' you. Well, it wasn't that bad as compared to other major cities like Hanoi or Bangkok. Maybe its also because it still too early in the morning.

Good thing about having a 5* hotel all book for your stay is that transport is all ready taken care of. Kinda cool to see a guy holding up a board with your name on it to welcome you to thier hotel like a VIP. A good 1st impression. Score point!

20mins later after i arrived and to my dismay, my room wsn't ready yet. Breakfast buffet did i hear?

An hour later, there i was, on my way to my room and behold, a room fit for a king. Damn i wish i had a partner to tag along with me.

Boarding Time

The time is 530am. Time for me to board and man i'm excited and nervous at the same time.
Got to rush now b4 they close the gate.

Prep Time!

Its 11pm, 2nd Feb.
My flight departs at 6am, 3rd Feb.
That means i have to get to the airport by 5am.

...and i just started packing....