The 6-km city

Angkor Wat reflections

“I have wondered all my life, and I have also travelled.The difference between the two being this, that we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment”-Hilaire Belloc.“

Now where was I?”, I wonder.  Oh yes… the 6-km city. Its not everyday I get a free flight and hotel stay with breakfast thrown in. In fact hardly, unless it’s some contests I’ve won.  Lucky charm must have crossed my zodiac star. I was  in Siem Reap with my boss and about 20 delegates from Malaysia for the Annual International Rubber Conference recently. One of the participants suffered a slip-disc at the last minute. Despite some earlier apprehensions as I was the only rose among the thorns, I threw caution to the wind. With so much being written and talked about, nothing is like seeing the place with your own eyes.  Don’t let the “long walk, the climbing, the heat” stop you from visiting this ancient ruins, a UNESCO heritage.  I called it a 6-km city because Siem Reap is such a small place but rich in histories, ancient sites, a shoppers’ paradise and handicrafts. From the tuk-tuk to riding pillion on a motorbike, to taxis or even public bus is at the snap of a finger. The commercial center from  banks, government offices, hotels or restaurants is confined within the 6-km radius. If you are going during the hot season, be prepared with masks or scarves to cover your nostrils. The choke-filled air is quite bad. But if it rains the night before, then going sight-seeing in the tuk-tuk for US$2 per ride or US$8-10 for a whole day, is a breeze. If you intend to enjoy your visit to Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, buy a three-day ticket. Some who went there with children finds it a drag. Under the shady trees, there are rows of stalls selling local coconuts or drinks to quench your thirts, food for your growling tummy or browse through the many well-crafted silk tablecloth, shirts/T-shirts and souvenirs if you need to rest your tired legs.In the outskirts, besides Angkor ruins, there is the Tonle sap (Floating lake), a heart-wrenching experience for me, the silk farm, Land Mine museum and the Cultural village. Besides these, the town has many things to offer :the National Museum, Royal garden, Asia craft and gems center along the Pokambor Ave. Many food stalls lined the roads. If you are in the vicinity of National Museum , drop in at the Borey Sovann or Chaopraya restaurant for your food. Most tourists take their meals here. There are a variety of choices, from local to western food for US$2.99 to US$5.99. From the Angkor Holiday hotel where we stay, it was walking distance to the Centre and Old market. After 8.00 pm. you can visit the night market where you find more handicrafts and souvenirs. Along this same street, Sivutha Ave, there are some night spots such as Jasmine Angkor or Blue Wave bistro for karaoke or enjoy a few drinks watching scantily clad dancers.

And don’t forget to taste their French loaf. One of the best. Can be found in most of the food stalls. That must be a legacy inherited from the French, who occupy Cambodia in the 19 Century.

 

  

       

Bas reliefs on the South-West gallery

boat people in Tonle Sap, “Floating Lake”

A full time working mum(FTWM)

Judy has me tagged. Sometime backI submitted a 600 words contest on “Must women give up their jobs to be good parents” to qualify for a free one day seminar organised by eHomemakers.

I am all for woman who sacrificed their jobs, some high paying careers for their children. You don’t want to look back and said, “I should have spend more time with them etc….”. And a part-time job would be ideal too. Of course there were times I told my husband he should have work for his business man father so that I too can be a SAHM but….

Some of you have the luxury of being a PTWM, SAHM, TTWM. Sadly I don’t. Before I even finished my last piece of exam paper, I had to hit the street to look for a job. So except for the holidays that I looked forward to and the annual leave, most of my life is spend working, working and working. The day God send Adam and Eve to till the ground, instead of having a life of luxury, both man and woman got to spill sweat to enjoy the fruits of their hard labor(for woman - labor pain).

The only occasion I did part-time work was during my schooling days, if that is considered part-time. Its not juggling between baby sitting and work. Rather its juggling between schooling and earning some pocket money to pay for my school fees. I have neither position nor title in my years as a worker but I could write a whole book on the Many faces of Malaysian bosses.

The names given to each of these bosses defines whether he is a favourite among his/her staff. We have the Square head, the Fish in the glass tank, the Mamak, the China Ah Pek, the Kopi kaki, the Monk, the Egostic, James Bond and Hally Berry. We even have the Power Crazy lady boss. I remembered Anita Bruzzese who wrote “45 things you do that drive your boss crazy and how to avoid them”. I could write a possible sequel to that : “45 things you do that drive your staff crazy”. Who would want to read such a book? The bosses would be quick to point a finger at us and said “”you are the not-so-stellar worker, the stupid worker who could not write a proper letter “. Like Anita was quick to mention “if you dread going to work, you may need to stop blaming the boss and start seeing yourself as part of the problem” -quote.

For a mere RM3 during the 70s , you have to face a lady boss who is all sweet and loving on the line with the male clients, and turned into stepmother as soon as she hangs the phone.

If you have a boss who has not has his morning fix of coffee, pray your intercom does not buzz. You are in hot soup.

But not all bosses fall into the naming category.We have the exception - the boss who always sees the good side of you. The boss who does not keep scores and the boss who treats you like just like family.

If you have anything that you like to share on what type of boss drives a worker crazy, any personal experiences, I would like to hear so I have tagged the folllowing:

1. Alice

2. LeePing

3.Firehorse

Write, write n write

If there’s any work under the sun that can be consider ‘light’ work, I would definitely say WRITING. It doesn’t involve hard labour e.g like gardening, under the sweltering blazing sun. Another example baby- sitting. It’s a 24/7 job to be always on the alert, keeping your eye on the baby, even if the baby is sleeping. What about office job? If you are a good worker and in boss favor, life is pretty good. Otherwise, your stress level goes up and down like a bouncing rubber ball.

My office boss have read some of my articles published by TheStar daily, so he loaned me this book “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. He thought I should read this book to further help improve the way I write with the Right stuff and to unblock things that gets in my way. So here I am starting what the book say “My morning pages” - 3 pages a day.I let you know if I fail to keep the pages turning…….

I RESOLVE

I have been sending my resolutions to friends and guess what? They like it. I know everyone of you post something on 1 2007 except me. My line was like the tortoise, so I just curled up on my sofa and read, read, and read. I finished Jeffrey Archer “False Impression”. My friend’s “The Flight of the Dragonfly” by Elizabetg de Guise. Great books. Now reading “The Cell” by Stephen King. Want to post a synopses for you once  my connections improve…until then MY RESOLUTIONS 2007

Some things I can change and some I cant, some I just dont bother.
But whatever it is, for 2007 take me for the good as well as the bad, but I hope you can remember the good ones and tell me the bad ones so I know. Or else if you think I am easily hurt, just DISCARD them away……….

For all my blogger friends( not that I have many, but I appreciate the few of you who has spend much time reading my stale blog day after day, but kept me writing), I resolve to be improve….

 

3’s not a crowd

the 3 pretty ladies found an innovative way to hide themselves from the blazing sun. this picture was taken during my trip with a  group of ladies to road less travelled- Country View and Recreational park in Jeram Besu, Pahang. We were unaware this beautiful place existed in our very own Malaysian soil due to lack of publicity. Activities incl. water rafting( a milder version compared to those who have gone to Kota Kinabalu), jungle tracking, flying fox n abselling, ulu dong waterfall, 4-wheel challenge, visit to the waterfall, Kerling cave, tau fu n groundnut factory….. many more.

website: http://www.crpadventure.com

sorry unable to load more pictures….

Quirks still uncovered

I am at a cross-road on what to put up at my blog. I have read many other interesting blogs - people who has a good cause to share-  be it environment, elderly, children from poor country, heritage. Where am I heading…..? Appreciate any input or ideas.