Travel

APAD 166: Altar

Posted by The Insider on Jul 29, 2013 in A Photo a Day, Addicted to Meme, All things Khmer, Cambodia life, Cycle 2, sights, That's My World, travel, What's On in Cambodia | 0 comments

In 2007, my husband and I went on an exploration trip of the Kampong Trach mountains in Kampong Trach district of Kampot. The moment we entered the pagoda, we were greeted by the locals and ushered us to this altar/shrine inside the cave:

It was very dark but cool inside and we noticed interesting rock formations there. Just before the cave’s exit is this altar and statues of a meditating Buddha sitting on top of a seven-headed water serpent called naga.

APAD 146: Rainy season

Posted by The Insider on Jun 18, 2013 in A Photo a Day, Addicted to Meme, All things Khmer, Cambodia life, Cycle 2, Expat Life, sights, That's My World, travel, What's On in Cambodia | 1 comment

Folks, the rainy season has officially started.

The roads in most rural areas in Cambodia are now, more or less, like this:

This photo was taken years ago when I was on a fieldwork in Kamchai Mear district in Prey Veng. The soil has turned into a red, sticky, slippery matter that was ankle-high. In some areas, there were lots of potholes filled with water. When this dried up, they were as hard as cement. I kid you not. I can show you my shoes, if you insist, lol.

I pity the guy as he maneuvered his moto through this sticky mess. A little further down the road, it was even worse that our 4WD got stuck for an hour. It took about a dozen village folks to extricate our vehicle from the mud. Imagine the schoolchildren who walks to school everyday. The villagers we interviewed wished for better road conditions.

Several years after that fieldtrip, this wish was somehow granted. A former colleague told me that almost all of the roads to Kamchai Mear are now better, wider and cemented. Thanks to international funding, life is now easier in this rural area. Good news indeed.

APAD 144: Rustic

Posted by The Insider on Jun 13, 2013 in A Photo a Day, Addicted to Meme, All things Khmer, Cambodia life, Cycle 2, Expat Life, Signs of Times, That's My World, travel, What's On in Cambodia | 1 comment

APAD 140: Silhouette

Posted by The Insider on Jun 4, 2013 in A Photo a Day, Addicted to Meme, All things Khmer, Cambodia life, Cycle 2, sights, That's My World, travel, What's On in Cambodia | 4 comments

Yearning to visit this place again… It’s been years since we last came here and I want to go back soon.

This is the silhouette of Phnom Bokor, in the province of Kampot, as seen from the window of our guesthouse in Kep.

Just counting the days till I see Kep and Phnom Bokor again.

APAD 139: Waiting

Posted by The Insider on Jun 3, 2013 in A Photo a Day, Addicted to Meme, Cycle 2, sights, That's My World, travel | 4 comments

This is one of the waiting areas at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. It was a quiet time when I took this photo as I was waiting for a very early morning flight to Kathmandu. My travels are only limited to Asia, so far, but let me just say that this airport is one of the flashiest airports I have ever been to.

Massive, delicate and modern.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport is one of the largest hubs in Asia. Millions of passengers come and go through this airport notice the massive glass and steel structure with a sleek, modern design. On the top photo, the yellow triangular-shaped object is some kind of a stupa.Other signs plastered on the glass rails are also in yellow. The colour stands out for everyone to see, even if the hall is filled with people.

I love airports, they fascinate me. I love the frenzy. The sounds. The United Nations-esque feeling when you meet people of different nationalities and brush shoulders with. And I like people watching. In airports. And make up stories about them inside my head. But this crazy hobby aside, I am also fascinated with airports. In the system(s) that they operate. I wonder about what goes on behind the scene, so to speak. From the control towers, aircraft maintenance, passengers, luggages and most importantly, food (catering)! And oh, this airport is also a haven for shoppers.