Singapore 2012

Today "should have been" our flight back from Singapore :(   We had a booked ticket for Singapore supposedly last August 21 - 26 but we didn't pushed through.  We thought we had the cheapest ticket for a steal,  we booked a flight for Singapore on Jetstar for only P3,000 sometime last April.  A few weeks shy away from our Korean trip.  While we were in Korea we decided not to pushed thru our Singapore trip anymore due to sched and expenses.  The most expensive tickets are those unused.  Anyway, if we ever plan on going it might also be cancelled the last minute because of the storm and my measles.  I've been to Singapore last summer with my sibs and mom but due to the hot and humid weather we only had limited place to visit. 

We stayed at Hotel 81 at Little India,  I choose this hotel because its near the subway station and they have a family room.  Although you have to get used to the "aroma" around the place outside the hotel, but the place is safe even during midnight.

We had the family room good for 4pax but even if were a party of five we fit in comfortably. Yeah we messed-up the room.

On our first day we went to see the famous Singapore landmarks.

The Marina Bay Sands from afar!

The Merlion

 

The One Fullerton Building

 

The Night Safari

 

Our second day was spent in Universal Studios

 

 

The Shrek Castle

This is the best ride ever, even mom enjoyed this ride

I was so chicken to try this, maybe next time I'll have the courage.

Missing this, Chicago mix!

 

 

Our third day was spent mall hoping in Orchard road since my mom is not feeling well due to the hot weather, we missed our Sentosa plan.  Maybe next time.



Rain Rain Go Away

Its been raining non stop since last night in my part of the world.  Hoping everyone's okay.  We may loose material things but what's important is we hold on to life and family.

Keep safe everyone!

Bangkok, Thailand 2010

After our 2 days in Siem Reap we go back to Bangkok, Thailand to go back to Manila.  We only have 1 night and 1 whole day to spend in the city.  We check-in to small hostel in Khao San road, the famous "backpacker ghetto".   I cant remember the name of the hostel, but its one of the many chains of hostel in Bangkok.  Its not recommendable, the ambiance and the smell, but fair enough as we only need a place to put our things, sleep and take a bath.  Our experience in Bangkok is not the best in my travel diaries.  Just like in Manila, you have to be careful in dealing with people, or it can be worse.  I thought that we can do a lot of shopping there, but the malls that we went to was just like our 168 in Divisoria.  After our disappointment with the malls, we went to Patpong and were able to watch "skills" you never know existed.  You have to be careful when you go there, as you can be charged too much for a beer that you wont even touch.

 Suvarnabhumi International Airport

This is funny, we were instructed to do this by a tuktuk driver.  Maybe he's dying of laughter while watching us doing this amf!

 

Reclining Buddha

chedis of smaller size contains the ashes of the royal family, and large ones contain the ashes of Buddha.

Wat Pho Temple Complex

The Grand Palace, we didn't bother to go inside because during that time the palace is under renovation and you have to pay for an entrance fee.  You cant go inside the palace premises if your wearing shorts or sleeveless shirts but you can borrow something like malong from them to cover-up.

We went to the country side to experience a canal tour.  I don't

know how it become a tourist attraction, as the water is dark and murky.

 

Lots of spices are being sold beside the canal

 

It was actually a community alongside those canals,  I wonder if ever they had a dengue outbreak in that place surrounded by murky waters.

 

There's a cobra show, I don't dare to watch

 

They worship their royalties, I heard you should not say anything against the King and Queen if you don't wanna be in trouble.

 

Their taxis are painted pink

 

 

 

 

Siem Reap Cambodia 2010: Khmer Food

Its raining cats and dogs outside, monsoon weather is here.  I lingered to much to in bed and enjoyed my breakfast just to realize that I need to account people in my team.  Haysss, even if im on sick leave I still need to do it.  How I wish I can go back to the days when all I need to think about was my deliverables and myself.

Anyway, let me continue my reminiscing of our Siem Reap tour last August of 2010.  One of the best thing about that trip is having a taste of Khmer cuisine.  I think its one of the best in Asia.  The flavors are so rich and the presentation is so regal.  If you like the strong taste of curry, basil, ginger and coconut milk like I do, you'll surely fell in love with Khmer cooking.

 

This at the rooftop of the guesthouse where we stayed, they served home cook meals.  We ate here everyday of our stay, breakfast and dinner.

 

Its chicken and pork viand with curry and coconut milk.  That's how it is served to us, in a coconut husk and shell.

 

They also served good coffee.  Its a simple black coffee that I put on fresh milk but its strong and bold.

 

Just like here in PH, they have a tropical climate so we have the same kind of fruits.

 

My caffe latte at Café Ti-amo.  I think we already have a shop of the Korean franchise in Libis.  I should try that sometime, they also served gelato.

 

 

 

 
 

Siem Reap, Cambodia 2010

I was sent home by our company doctor last Friday due to measles.  I need to be isolated.  Just in time with our last release before we GO LIVE!  You know how critical it is if your in an IT industry.  But I've been working my ass since this project began, I guess its taking its toll on me.  I don't want to check and be bothered with work emails, I know my mailbox is bursting with mails.  I don't care, I'm on sick leave anyway.  Let me have at least three days of work-worry-free if there's such a thing.  Otuke, otuke (what to do?)  the rashes stating to itch, I need to divert my fingers attention.  So I'm trying to draft my next travel itinerary.  If we failed to get a Japan visa we need to think of a plan B.  Maybe we can go to Beijing, it looks like the tiff between PH and China has slowed down.  But looking at a friends pictures from his recent trip to Cambodia makes me want to come back to that place.  Siem Reap has a different magic for me.  Now, reminiscing our Bangkok-Cambodia trip last August 2010 with the CGS girls.

There were no direct flights yet from Manila to Cambodia then, so we enter thru Bangkok and took the bus going to the border in Siem Reap.  We never thought, were just being adventurous, but according to my Tita who works in Phom Phen, its not safe to take those bus especially during the wee hours.

Its amazing how they manage to carry huge cargo with just a 2 wheeled cart

 



 This one even has their muse :)

 

its a Toyota Camry :(

 



 This is the place where we stay, not bad, its clean and the staff and the owner are very friendly.  They also arranged our tour and our tuktuk.  Were lucky that they accommodate us even if we don't have a reservation.  We just called them in the middle of the night when we arrived in Bangkok, and they even arranged a car to pick us up in the boarder.

 

Beautiful flower arrangement

Monk on the street

Ankor Wat

If I only have my only place I bought one of these paintings

This is were Tomb Raider was filmed

Giant roots

 



Local kids

I just love long roads

And I also love to take photos of couple biking

Our best photo in Cambodia, missing traveling with these girls!

The best picture I took of Ankor Wat, makes me want to have pro camera

At the boarder