I was offline (involuntarily) for two weeks due to problems with my ISP. I've said it before and I'm saying it again, we weren't getting what we're paying for to this company.  We would be happy to continue paying them every month if only the Internet connection worked. So yeah, after almost three years we already said goodbye to Ezecom. If only you gave serious attention to my {your subscribers} call or complaints... 

Anyways, I'm back online now with a new ISP. For almost the same amount we used to pay to Ezecom, we get triple the speed from this new company. Apart from working online for my consultancy, I have blogs that need updating (luckily my web hosting site is very reliable) and needless to say, the speed, stability and reliability of an Internet connection is very much needed to do this - and which we weren't getting from Ezecom. While it is too early to give a review of the new ISP, I can say that we have no trouble watching youtube videos and downloading files so far, no cut offs while downloading or watching vids in progress.

Now that I'm back online, it feels like I missed out on a lot of things. I was surprised at the feedback by some bloggers arising from the recent introduction of an online site requiring their bloggers to have a static IP. It doesn't concern me much as, number one, this blog is not registered in that site; and number two, even if this were, I have a very good host who had the foresight of getting a dedicated server hosting as soon as the news of this came out. So, thanks for that!

Sana tuloy-tuloy na ang ligaya.

This is what's keeping me from blogging at the moment... STAMPING! I'm a bit of a late-bloomer when it comes to stamping but I've always been doing crafting way back.

Last month, I bought a mini stamping set via Etsy and I am so crazy about it right now. The rubber stamp set is made in Korea... aren't they cute?

{Kawaii} {Cute} I am such a sucker for everything kawaii. Are you?

I've been trying all sorts of mail art using this stamp set but they're too small for my liking and I need more designs to play with. Too bad there are no craft or hobby shops in Phnom Penh to get the materials I need. Purchasing online is great but it could get more expensive and my wish-list of crafting materials and tools is long! 

Anyways, I might explore the local shops that make rubber stamps near my place. I'll sketch a design and see if they can make it or not. Rubber art stamps is probably not even heard of here so I'll see what I can find. Keeping my fingers crossed.

These are French-styled Khmer flats that are for sale or rent down on the southeast coast of Kampot. These flats are unbelievably {expensive} as they are right in the middle of the town facing Kampong Bay river.

The Kampot riverside is lined with pretty French colonial flats that have, more often than not,  shophouses  on the ground floor.

My brother took this photo during a visit to Kampot last year and he gave me permission to post it here after my fruitless search for an entry that fits this week's theme.

 

Good morning, Phnom Penhners. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Aren't we all glad to be waking up to a wet and cool Monday morning?

Don't let the rainy Monday ruin your day.

This is my kind of weather... I love the rain as it brings out fond memories of my childhood in my hometown. So many memories. The sound of the rain, the smell of earth that comes out only when it rains, the reflected vehicle lights on the wet pavements, the sight of people scurrying for cover, the puddles and the feeling of raindrops on my skin whenever we (a band of siblings and cousins) were allowed to play in the rain. There is also the familiar aroma of caldo (chicken porridge) from my grandma's kitchen or batchoy (pork noodle soup) from the corner restaurant, and many more. But most of all, I love the rain because it cleanses everything... and we are off to a fresh start.

With today's weather, on top of all the reminiscing chuva, I'd like to think that the gods of tennis just realised they made a mistake last night. They all got it wrong. So they are sending the rain to commiserate, hahaha. But one thing is for sure, I'm one with Carlos Moya in saying this:

Y por ultimo, #yosoyderafa...ahora mas q nunca.

Totally sums up everything, ¿Es correcto, amiga, Ana?
Anyways, no sneaking back to bed today for me. There lots of things to do for me today and the rest of the week. Laundry, concept paper writing, mails, crafting, more painting (project garage) and a bit of blogging on the side. Oh, and looking forward to meet my friends for coffee this week :)
Hope we all have a great week ahead.

Time for another comeback at Photo Hunt! Here's my entry this week.

My dog is a sun-worshipper!

This photo was originally posted in My Dogspot, a blog by Max and Joe.

When not sulking or moping in one corner of the house, you can find Max out there in our veranda, quietly enjoying the sun and the breeze. She is turning six this year. Every morning, I pick up heaps of her fluff from the floor. Brushing time with her also yields lots of fluffs that I can already make a small pillow out of them. I kid you not. If she's not fluffy then I don't know what is :P

I don't usually eat breakfast. A cup of coffee is enough for me to start my day. Sometimes, on weekends, my husband and I would go for a bowl of kuy tiev (Khmer noodle soup) or a plateful of sach chrouk bai (pork-and-rice) and wash it down with iced coffee.

Today, out of the blue, I woke up craving for tuyo (dried fish) and scrambled eggs for breakfast. Good thing I still have that fish tocino that my brother brought back from his holiday in Roxas. So, I swished my cooking wand and voila - a typical Pinoy breakfast for me!

Greasy, yes. But I felt like I was back home in Roxas while savouring the food. Priceless.

Even when the -silog fares became popular and I've grown to love kuy tiev and other Khmer food, I still prefer my tuyo and scrambled eggs combo breakfast. Served with hot coffee, to me, it is the best Pinoy breakfast!

How about you, what's your favourite breakfast fare?

I received a call from an unexpected source the other day and the person on the other end of the line is hinting on a possible employment. After years of being a stay-at-home-wife, the idea of working again is a huge welcome. While I am excited at the prospect, going back to work makes me nervous and meeting this person in a week's time is quite nerve-wracking... I had long forgotten how to "sell" myself to an employer. Maybe I need something like a consultant interview course to give me that important push to face {again} a panel of people and be in the challenging world of the employed again. What do you think? No harm in a little professional development.

A cousin of mine, J, based in the UK, has a doctor-friend who she tells us is a go-getter and really wants to be successful in his profession, to be always a step ahead. While working as a doctor in a London hospital, my cousin's friend took up a medical management course from a reputable medical training company in the UK. Almost after his completion of the said course, the doctor was promoted and is now enjoying the challenges and privileges of his new position at the hospital where he currently works. There are also doctors in their hospital who are taking a medical teaching course. J is a nurse and constantly wish  for a similar program for nurses and other health care professionals. He might even consider the teach the teacher course if the opportunity to study comes sometime.

There are times in my life when the stars align and I wake up earlier than usual with a jolly good feeling, sans body aches. It happened today. And I wasn't frantic about walking the dog and doing the morning chores, lucky me.

This morning I found our neighbourhood to be quiet - as quiet as when it is the Khmer New Year - and the kuy tiev restaurant and shops around us are shut. I made an impromptu decision to go for a walk, a wonderful idea since there aren't many vehicles today. It's already the second day of the Chinese new year but most of the Phnom Penh residents, the ones who took this auspicious time to go to their home towns for a  break, haven't returned yet. At past 8am, the sun was already scorching but I enjoyed my walk. The walk is sort of a "me time" and it gave me opportunity to think about things that I should be doing, without the incessant sounds of car and moto engines and the whines of my dogs. 

Apart from morning after remnants of the new year revelry - incense sticks, wrappers and firecrackers - that are scattered on the sidewalks, the red lanterns are everywhere.  They look like cherries from a distance. Surprisingly, I also found one shop that still has some more lanterns to sell... any takers? Must be already on sale, no? ^.^

Later today I'm looking forward to some exciting tennis action as my boy, Rafael Nadal, takes on Tomas Berdych, on the quarterfinal round of the Australian Open. And oh, a slice of that delectable dulce de leche brownie I made last night. Now, imagine that while I feast on it ;)

Happy new year of the dragon!

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Today is the first day of the new year in the Chinese calendar... so how are things at your end? How many ampaos (red envelopes) did you receive this year?

It may  be Chinese New Year but my my husband and I got some serious painting done on our garage over the weekend. It was not what I had in mind but with nothing else to do to spend the holidays... So it's painting we did. We probably put in about 8 hours worth of our "holiday time" spread over three days - scraping old paint off the walls and off the metal garage door and applying two coats of paint on the wall.

As if not enough, my husband scheduled another painting job on Saturday - this time it will be the garage door - and also cleaning up the clutter in the garage. So there goes my planned research on cash advance affiliate program. I guess it will be on hold for awhile as we take on another clean up project this weekend. No worries though as I already have bookmarked the Blue Global Media page for reference. For sure, it won't be difficult to find out more about it and how it operates. Now why am I so keen about this, it's because I read from a pro-blogger's post that one can be an affiliate marketer online - driving interested traffic merchants who sell/provide payday loan leads - and make money from it. Anyways, it's not that different from the affiliate adverts online that most bloggers subscribe to. But I digress.

Let's go back to our garage.
Painting is done and over with and we are happy about the improvement there. Although still cluttered - it should be gone over the weekend -  the newly-painted walls look brighter and more spacious. It was a surprisingly relaxing chore and it felt good to get something productive done, honestly :) I could do this... but not everyday, lol.

I wasn't planning on posting today because I am still on my self-imposed blog hiatus but these pictures are too irresistible. A fire hit a residential house in St. 434 Group 4 Chamkarmon district about half past nine this morning. These pictures were taken by my brother (and with his permission I am posting some of the pictures here) who's office is just a stone's throw away from the affected area. He was on a ciggy break and saw the thick smoke building up. He then heard people shouting and running so he immediately grabbed his camera and, together with his officemate, they were among the first to arrive on the scene, ahead of the firefighters.

Bystanders at the scene said the burning house is a stockhouse or warehouse of firecrakers. It is unconfirmed though.

Phnom Penh firefighters arrived moments later, according to my brother.

Firefighters battling to put out the fire.

I can only imagine the fear and anxiety building up as next-door neighbours watch the house burn down.

By-standers.

I heard from a fellow expat, who lives on the other side of Chamkarmon district, that it's the third time that a fire broke out in this area. The fire was contained and there were no reported casualties, good. Let's all watch out for more details about this incident in the papers tomorrow.

... because Ethan Hunt and his best of the best team will always save the day {and the world}!

The vomit-inducing climbing scene.
Photo Source: Legend Cinema FB Fan Page

I've never been a fan of Tom Cruise and his movies but watching this latest MI installment courtesy of our friends at Legend Cinema, MI4: Ghost Protocol was a surprisingly thrilling and entertaining experience.  And with him perilously dangling on the window of the tallest man-made building in the world, jumping out of speeding vehicles and automated car garages, and basically running and sprinting on the screen almost the entire screening time, Tom Cruise (as Ethan Hunt) is unbelievably nimble, spry, buff and sharp from a man who is nearly 50 years old. Respect. It was insanely awesome, if not inducing a deadly vomit-and-vertigo combination in me. Had it been on 3D, I'd probably be very sick after the watching the movie! Lol.

Simon Pegg didn't disappoint as Benjie Dunn. The camouflage-gadget he and Ethan operated and used to sneak inside Moscow's Kremlin unseen is so cool! Plus, he had the memorable lines, I think. Buti na lang may Simon Pegg. I like Simon Pegg and his kind of comedy in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, just to name a few. W--what? You haven't seen these movies? You better. I was also drawn to this movie because of Jeremy Renner. He shot to fame when he starred and received an Academy nomination in 2009 in the acclaimed Iraq war movie, The Hurt Locker. The following year, he was in the Ben Affleck movie, The Town, and received rave reviews for his role in this movie. Tough roles. He looks and acts the part but why did he take the role of a squeamish, scaredy-cat agent? Just asking. Soon though, we will be seeing him in the Bourne Legacy as the main protagonist, not as Jason Bourne but an entirely different character. Confusing? Read this. Not the least in the cast is the exotic Paula Patton as the kick-ass agent Jane, she supposedly provides the girl-power in the movie but got the stereotyped role of the seducer :P

Over-all I enjoyed the movie. It was a lot better than I had anticipated but I still like the Bourne series more than the MI. My question is, would you still want/like to see Tom Cruise's character doing the impossible in the future MI movies? Go watch it this week and let me know what you think :)

Free entrance but you have to get this pass in order to be admitted.

Hey, guys. I was at Koh Pich two days ago to check out the One Province, One Product Trade and Exhibit with my husband. We arrived at the exhibition centre looking forward to what's in store for us. I loved what I saw.  All the provinces of Cambodia (and private companies from ACMECS countries and their partners) have individual booths showcasing their products. We did check out the booths  (not all though) and there were plenty to see:

There were so many things to see but we only stayed for an hour. We'll be back tomorrow.

 Just for examples: giant cassava crops and squash from Kampong Speu, assorted gemstones from the mine pits of Pailin, pepper from Kampot, mixed spices from Siem Reap, baskets from Takeo and Kandal, coffee from Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri and Stung Treng, and many others. Since my husband and I are coffee-drinkers, we got ourselves packs of coffee for our own consumption.

The exhibit ends today, Sunday, 18 December. Go there while you still can!

Although I am not a cat-person, I was compelled to go out of the house yesterday for the media screening of the animated movie,  Puss in Boots, at the Legend Cinema. To be honest, I could not contain my excitement about the invitation to watch this movie and I wasn't disappointed. It was a fun, funny movie that appeals to kids and kids-at-heart.

Puss in Boots (PNB) and the cast of characters. From left: the devious Humpty Alexander Dumpty, the alluring Kitty Soft Paws, PNB, and the evil husband-and-wife tandem, Jack 'n Jill. Source: Legend Cinema's Facebook Fan Page

Puss in Boots (PNB) is a spin-off from the popular movie, Shrek. The story is set long before PNB crossed paths with Shrek and the donkey. In this story, PNB teams up with his old pal Humpty Alexander Dumpty, aka, Humpty Dumpty, and the street-smart Kitty Softpaws to steal the magic beans from the evil duo, Jack 'n Jill. Quite a plot, eh?

Who would not love Puss in Boots, this orange swashbuckler outlaw of a cat with a  suave personality and a mesmerizing purring Latino accent. Even if I'm not exactly a cat-person, I could fall for that! Easily. LOL.

No, I will not give away much of the story -- you should go and watch it yourself - but I must tell you that it is worth your while! The 3D effect is great on some sequences, like the chase scenes on the rooftops and tarps and the scaling of the beanstalk to the giant's golden castle.

Also, watch out for the sparring match and the dance fight, between PNB and his masked rival, Kitty Softpaws - the "choreography" and the musical scoring is just awesome!  Of course, there is a bit of romance and flirtatious scenes for our boots-wearing hero but the only kiss that happened in the movie is behind the cover of a drop cloth -- oopps, just kidding... let me say it again... the only kiss in the movie happened behind the cover of Puss's hat!

I know, some of you would say mababaw ang kaligayahan ko but I did come home with a good feeling, even if the road on the way back took more time than the usual as it was  blocked by people trying to put up a wedding tarp. No reason to get annoyed now, I thought, I just had a good two hours of entertainment with my friends. Watch the movie, it's showing now at Legend Cinema.

At the outset, let me tell you that, prior to this post, I had eaten persimmon only once. I see them in the markets and groceries but this dark yellow-orangey fruit never really caught my fancy. The first time I ever tasted persimmons was at the prodding of my dear friend Fe who loves them very much especially when chilled and, now that she's left Cambodia for good, they remind me so much of her. But no matter how many times I have noted mentally to get me some whenever I went to the market, I never really got around to buying them. Until last Sunday...

I'm liking persimmons now. They have a fibrous texture and light in sweetness. I think I can eat this everyday but only when chilled.

My husband and I were buying our vegetables and meat stock over the weekend when we both walked past the fruit stands and the sight of this attractive fruits caught our attention. Then I remembered Fe and instantly had the urge to buy some.  So we went back and grabbed six of them, equivalent to one kilo, for 6,000riels ($1.50).  When we got home, I immediately rinsed them and put them in the freezer. Several hours later, I sliced 'em and ate 'em for snack. Yum. It's malutong (crispy - the same crispiness you get when you eat green mango), sweet (but not too sweet), and a bit grainy in texture (almost like pears). In between the crunchy morsel, I remembered the many good times - and the few not-so-good ones - I shared with my good friend. For sure my friend will approve if she sees me eating now. I bet she never runs out of persimmons in her fridge - there are lots of these in Hongkong!

The ones I bought might still be manibalang (half-ripe) because the ripe ones are actually squishy/mushy and not firm and crispy. Anyways out of the lot, I only had one that had a bitter taste. I checked the Internet for other ways to cook/use persimmons and found out that they are also used to make jams and preserves and flavour cookies and muffins. Which is great to know as I now I have another idea worth pursuing in the coming days... that is, if I can find the ripe ones :)

Today is the last day of the Water Festival but, since this year's celebration was canceled due to the recent flood problems, it is quiet in the city. The hordes of masses that usually come to Phnom Penh are missing. Instead of a festive Water Festival mood we are having a sombre Pchum Ben-like atmosphere here. This year also marks the the first anniversary of the Water Festival tragedy and the whole country is still mourning the lives that were lost

I took advantage of the long holiday arranging and re-arranging my stuff. The postcards and stamps, especially the recent arrivals, needed sorting out so I put out several small boxes to store them all in. I browsed through the recent batch of postcards that I received thinking about the stories behind each postcard and the great distance each had traveled. What a great way to spend my morning! Out of the lot, this postcard is one of my favourites (see below). It is an official postcard from sent by a Postcrossing member from the USA.

Originally posted in Postcards Crossing.
Postcard ID: US - 120,6847
Postmarked 14 July 2011
Oakland, CA, USA

This is a beautiful postcard, don't you agree? It has an enchanting illustration of a pixie called Princess Nobody and a flock of birds, probably finches.  I love how the little pixie is using a twig in directing a chorus of  seemingly attentive and enthusiastic finches. I wonder what kind of songs they are singing :)

I love this kind of artwork.  I researched a bit and found out that this is actually a reproduction of a vintage image from the collection of works at Castle in the Air, an online shop selling all sorts of  paper ephemera and other inspiring materials and supplies. One look at the site and I instantly fell in love with it! I want to get me some paper ephemera there :) :) :) I wish I have a fairy godmother I can summon whenever I want to and give me what I want in just one flick of a wand.

There goes another wishful thinking...

Have a great weekend everyone.

Day is done

Gone the sun...

... from the sky...

Witnessing the slowly setting sun amidst the traffic is one of the best moments I ever had here in Phnom Penh. I wonder how many people at that time have noticed.

 
From afar, drawing near

Falls the night...

- Excerpts from the Taps

This was originally posted in my other blog, Inside Cambodia.  I love how the light was beginning to fade out, as if slowly melting into the horizon, and the darkness setting in. In an instant, the light died down and the darkness crept in,  covering the city in a black blanket. It was a profound moment.

Dear Rain,

For only 5mins of this, please. (Source)

We haven't seen you in a long time. I don't remember the last time it rained here in Phnom Penh. Please come our way. We miss you.

My  heart goes out to our brothers and sisters in some parts of Cambodia and neighbouring Thailand who have been underwater for so long now. I am only asking for five minutes to cool the weather, water the dying plants, and fill  small ponds up for home use and for cattle to get drinks from. And besides these, I also need a good bath!

I would do anything, maybe do a rain dance - even though I'd look silly doing so. I would do it just to have a five minutes dash of rain. So I'll be looking out my window to see if any rain clouds are coming our way. And please, don't skip my house.

Ktnxbai.

Sreisaat.

It's been almost two years since I had my own self-hosted blog.  In the beginning, I thought that building my own self-hosted blog was a very complicated process, messy even for a non-techie person like me. I didn't want to disrupt anything so I chose the easier way and depended on the hassle-free blogging services. Then my friends started having their own domain names. It was the cool thing to have, you know. Lol. So of course I jumped into the bandwagon not wanting to be called "un-cool" :)

Anyways, now, I am running three blogs on my own. Yes, three, and that's not counting the ones hosted in WP. Do I look like a serial blogger to you? Bleh. I have an unlimited web hosting service. So far, so good. Never ran into major problems. Not yet, anyway. Apart from the reliable help-desk, I have a "fairy godblogger" who has answers to my never-ending questions. She knows who she is.

So what is the point of this seemingly senseless post? Nothing, really. I just want to blabber... that I love the freedom, flexibility, and wide-ranging choices that go with self-hosted blogs.

Picked this up from my veranda garden just this morning. 

Beautiful, isn't it? Best of all, it grows in my garden!

... and a movie poster of The Sorcerer and the White Snake... but only for the female movie-goers. It's part of Legend Cinema's Ladies' Night promotion for the previoulsy-mentioned movie.

Photo Credit: Legend Cinema Fan Page

If you are a fan of Jet Li and his movies, then this is for you. The movie is an adaptation of a classic Chinese fable, a tragic love story between a demon and a mortal. Jet Li steps away from his Hollywood roles and went back to his roots to play a role he's been known for before his entry to Hollywood - that of a monk with super-dooper kung fu skills and powers. In this movie, he played the role of head monk-cum-powerful sorcerer of the Fahai monastery whose sole purpose is to exorcise all forms of demons plying his town. I watched the movie last week, and I tell you, it was a non-stop action and a spectacular visual feast for the eyes, albeit the scenes done mostly in CGI. The actors are quite pleasing to the eyes as well - especially Eva Huang. She is so beautiful and lithe she is just perfect for the role of the human-incarnate of the White Snake. If I am not mistaken, she also played the deaf girl in the hugely popular Stephen Chow movie, Kung Fu Hustle. While Xu Xian, the medicine man, is played by the oh-so-dreamy Raymond Lam. I can understand why the White Snake risked her immortality to  pursue this lowly medicine man! lol.

The movie is just too long, I think, and the melodrama between the White Snake and her lover was stretched too far. Plus there are moments that the special effects are just too much - too many things going on and you don't know which or where to focus on. But that doesn't matter, it was a good, cheesy, fun movie and Jet Li will always defeat the demons. That's why he has a special place in my heart. lol. And oh, I also have a spot for my new crush, Raymond Lam :) Ladies, I am sure you will find yourself swooning over this dreamboat, too! ^.^

So ladies, watchitwatchitwatchit. And get a free popcorn, for tonight only, from Legend Cinema.