APAD 277: Images
This is another altar found inside between two huge boulders. See this post. There are two images of the Buddha, one of which is reclining. The third statue is of someone, looking emaciated. I could not understand the guide though regarding the relevance of the emaciated statue to the Buddhas. Perhaps another reason for a road trip there. This is why exploring the countryside is fun, investigate like Indiana Jones and learn folk stories!
APAD 276: Card
Every school day, my husband tasked me to take care of his students, 9-11 year olds, who wait for their parents to pick them up after their class. So what I did to prevent them from getting bored (and noisy) is to engage them in a variety of activities. My craftroom now doubles as a playroom for these kids. There, we have two desktop computers for those who like to play games or use the Internet. But for some who don’t, I introduced them to crafting…
Last week, was making simple cards.
I made a sample for them to see, lent them my paper punchers and coloured pens, and leave them to develop/make their own. And this is one of the finished cards.
A simple card made by my husband’s student.
My favourite was this one – I love how simple and yet visually pleasing it is to the eyes.
I do wonder though if arts and crafts is part of the Khmer educational curriculum.
My Red Dog
Just had to post this amusing photo of my puppy, Red, before I go to bed.
Superdog is fast asleep – tired from saving the world.
Isn’t he cute? He does have a knack for weird sleeping positions. And this is the most common – lying with his belly upwards, fast asleep. One time, after a trip to the EntirelyPets Pharmacy for his prescribed meds and vitamins, we were greeted by this sight (above). This position must be very comfortable to him. Sometimes, he sleeps like this under my chair. On his favourite chair. On his “bed” with his favourite toys. And look how charming he is with one of this incisor teeth showing. It never fails to amuse me whenever I see him enjoying la-la-land like this.
APAD 276: Change
Another old, Khmer villa with French-style architecture bites the dust.
See side story in the previous post.
APAD 275: Phnom Penh skyline
This is the view from the fourth-floor of an apartment building I visited last weekend. It was pleasantly breezy and had a commanding view of the sprawling city.
All changed!
Phnom Penh’s skyline has changed rapidly over the course of 10 years. New investments have come in and we are seeing new developments here and there. Prices of real estate have gone up where before the 2000s they were about the price of Cheaper Strats.
The government’s push for a modern Phnom Penh cost the city a huge loss of history and more importantly, loss of homes of thousands of people due to evictions. I do hope Cambodia learns lessons about rapid urbanisation from other Asean countries like Indonesia and the Philippines, to name a few.
APAD 273: Dinner
One of my favourite vegetables is this – kalabasa in Filipino, la poeu in Khmer, or simply winter squash. Growing up back in the Philippines, my siblings and I were served a lot of this as it is very rich in beta carotene that is important for vision and a good amount of Vitamin. They are cooked in many ways but I especially love it when cooked in coconut milk, or Indian-spiced curry, and is definitely one of my comfort foods.
Dinner tonight – curried winter squash.
A squash looks misshapen and have a tough skin on the outside but it has a rich, yellow-orangeish flesh in the inside. It’s available all year round here in Cambodia and they’re really cheap. Whenever I feel homesick, I turn to this vegetable and whip up something familiar that comforts me, just like a music friend that keeps me company whenever I feel the blues.
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