Posted by The Insider on May 24, 2011 in A Photo a Day, All things Khmer, Cambodia life, That's My World, transportation | 6 comments
Door-to-door delivery service. Only in Cambodia. You can barely see the driver. I just hope and pray that he goes around safe each day.
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Posted by The Insider on May 17, 2011 in A Photo a Day, Addicted to Meme, Cambodia, Cambodia life, Kep, That's My World | 5 comments
It’s summertime and the best way to beat the summer heat is to head down to the coastal town of Kep in southern Cambodia. It’s been a while since we last visited, and I’m missing Kep big time. It’s a sleepy town, with lush mountains and facing the Gulf of Thailand. The beaches are not as pristine as the beaches back home in the Philippines, but nevertheless, it reminds me of home. What am I missing? Let me count thee… Fresh seafood caught and cook the same day, sweet and refreshing coconut juice, and the breeze and the sound of the waves that whisper in my ears till I fall asleep. It’s heaven!
My feet are itching, but the timing is not right yet. Oh, I just couldn’t wait.
More photos at That’s My World.
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Posted by The Insider on May 10, 2011 in A Photo a Day, Addicted to Meme, All things Khmer, Cambodia, Cambodia life, new temples, That's My World | 6 comments
It is actually more of a shrine, located in Sisowath Quay, facing the Chroy Changvar Peninsula. On
vesak days (Buddhist holy days), people flock to this shrine to light incense and to pray; some leave offerings such as lotus flowers and bananas. The pavillion behind it serves as the main stage during important celebrations, such as the Khmer Water Festival. It is where the King of Cambodia, other royalties, and high-ranking government officials sit to watch the boat-racing competition. More photos at
That’s My World.
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Posted by The Insider on May 3, 2011 in A Photo a Day, Addicted to Meme, All things Khmer, Cambodia life, That's My World | 7 comments
That is a spirit house placed auspiciously in a tree. It is built in the form of a miniature temple mounted on a pedestal. They’re actually seen everywhere you go in Cambodia – inside hotels, internet cafes, offices, factories, shops, and all houses in Cambodia have one.The idea is that it provides shelter to wandering spirits which could cause problems for the people if they are not appeased.
The above spirit house, on the other hand, was taken in Kep, a coastal town in Cambodia. It is for neak ta (local guardian spirit) because it’s left here by the tree and facing the sea . According to the locals, the trees and the sea are protected by neak ta. Hence, cutting the trees surrounding the spirit house is strictly prohibited. Here’s a paragraph I lifted from Andy Brouwer’s blog post on neak ta:
The cult of Neak Ta rests in nature. Local spirits inhabit mountains, rivers, trees, rice paddies, swamps and forests; even an odd shaped tree or rock can be inhabited by a local spirit. For Khmer, they are living, watching spirits of the land. Several types of supernatural entities are believed to exist, that make themselves known by means of inexplicable sounds or happenings. They are frequently asked for protection, as some are compliant, others are merciless against those who fail to show proper respect.
Visit Andy Brouwer’s blog to read more of neak ta and other Cambodian folklores.
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Posted by The Insider on Apr 26, 2011 in A Photo a Day, Addicted to Meme, All things Khmer, Cambodia, Cambodia life, That's My World | 7 comments
… and waiting to be restored.
Despite the many millions of dollars poured into and countless experts from different countries that raced to help in the restoration of this UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Angkor Wat – there are still other lesser known temples in the complex (but equally fascinating) that lie in shambles waiting to get noticed.
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Posted by The Insider on Apr 19, 2011 in A Photo a Day, All things Khmer, That's My World | 7 comments
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| The tree-lined Samdech Sothearos Blvd. |
Ahhh… the flower trees lining up the Sothearos Boulevard are in full bloom. My apologies because I know I have not the captured it on camera well enough but it is truly a marvelous sight! A welcome sight and very pleasant to the eyes despite the hustle-bustle of passing vehicles.If you are planning to visit Cambodia, this is the best time of the year, when weather is dry, the sun is out all the time and the summer flowers are in full bloom. These yellow flower-trees are called pkah reach.
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| Just before the Independence Monument is Wat Lanka, along Preah Sihanouk Blvd. As you can see, the front gate is also covered in pkah reach blooms! |
I’ve been attempting to capture the beautiful flower trees along Sihanouk, Monivong, and Norodom Boulevards and in our area in Tuol Kok but so far, I have not been successful. And I’m really disappointed. I think it’s really time for me to invest on a DSLR. I’ve been using a point-and-shoot digicam for years now (if you see it you’ll think it’s from the jurassic period! LOL.) that it’s about time I level up my gadget 🙂
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