Funny....

(This blog appears in my Friendster blog, tabula rasa undone ... my not so explored passion, more than two years ago.)

21 April 2007

Funny….

Filed under: justaboutanything — cristyjones @ 8:34 pm

I came across the lines of a song that goes something like this, "When the ones you shared your memories with don’t even remember your birthday….", it got me into thinking. Why? I went through this…once. And I’m still struck with something like pain deep in my gut even if it happened many months ago. I guess there’s just no replacing one’s closest friend - one’s bestfriend. I can also relate with yet another line of a song, "You don’t miss the water ’til the well runs dry…" Sure, that line is easy to understand but it’s got more meaning to me now. Whew! LIFE. And what’s even more inspiring is that I’d go through the same experience again - now I know I can. Sure, my life went akimbo once but I know that I’m good at surviving in limbo and I have just proven that to myself. LIFE is indeed beautiful … especially if we do not forget to bring our sunscreen! hehehehehe. Gotcha!!!

Moving Out - Part 1

(This blog appears in my Friendster blog, tabula rasa undone ... my not so explored passion, more than two years ago. I never did got around to writing Moving Out - Part II but obviously I fared well. I am now living in my 3rd 'home' as an independent woman - this time overseas.)

2 September 2007

Moving Out - Part 1

Filed under: justaboutanything — cristyjones @ 6:34 am

I just finished part I of my packing. I’m moving out of my "home" of 5 years and moving in to a new place ten minutes away from school. I just found it senseless to wake up very early each morning and drive 40-45 minutes to school. The added traffic this school year, with the opening of the new site of a local school, definitely was THE major contributor in my decision to move. And so, I have to pack… which is no easy task considering the things that I have collected through the 5 years. A big chunk of these "things" were really the books, oh, my books. Tsk, tsk, tsk. I don’t wanna pack them in boxes because I’m too lazy to unpack them again. And so I started with the "small" things. And this took me almost two hours. When I surveyed my work after, the pile of trash was more than the pile that I’m going to take with me. Tsk, tsk, tsk - drives home the point of not keeping things which you thought will prove to be useful in the future. Did I strike a chord? Hehehehe.

I still have 13 days to prepare for the big move, though. And honestly, right now, I don’t wanna think about packing anymore - it just takes so much…

15 years ago

(This blog appears in my Friendster blog, tabula rasa undone ... my not so explored passion, more than a year ago. It consists of questions that I answered 2 days before I turned 31.)

27, September 2008

15 years ago

Filed under: Uncategorized — cristyjones @ 4:39 am

27 September 2008

(I’ll be 31 years old the day after tomorrow. Yahoo!)

15 years ago, it was 1993. Take this survey, post the results, and see how many things have changed since then

1) How old were you?

THEN: 16

NOW: 30 (Well, I’ll turn 31 the day after tomorrow – can you believe that?)

2) Where did you go to school?

THEN: University of San Carlos

NOW: I’m an independent, tax-paying, working woman

3) Where did you work?

THEN: I did not work. I was so enjoying my role as a student.

NOW: at an international school in the Kingdom of Siam

4) Where did you live?

THEN: Cebu

NOW: The Kingdom of Siam

5) How was your hairstyle?

THEN: (one length) naturally straight black hair that was shoulder length

NOW: still a one-length hairstyle (well below my shoulders) that’s recently permed straight (re-bonded) and oh, I’m contemplating having it cut in a layered style with bangs – haha (as per advise by Christine Zara)

6) Did you wear braces?

THEN: no (though I thought they looked cool but upon knowing of a friend’s discomfort over her new braces, I chased the thought away)

NOW: no, never did

7) Did you wear contacts?

THEN: no

NOW: no (though I wore contacts about 5 – 6 years back but had problems due to astigmatism)

8 ) Did you wear glasses?

THEN: yes

NOW: yes – the world would be literally a blur without my glasses

9) Who was your best friend?

THEN: Ianne (Where are you now?)

NOW: my mom and my two sisters

10) Which of your pets were still alive?

THEN: I didn’t have pets then

NOW: I used to have – Ting, a lab – but he passed away 8 Sept this year (I miss you, Ting.)

11) Who was your boyfriend/girlfriend?

THEN: none

NOW: none still – haha!

12) Who was your celebrity crush?

THEN: Chad Lowe – haha! Yeah! After watching Nobody’s Perfect, I was hooked on him for quite some time

NOW: Mike Rowe – yes, the Dirty Jobs guy; Ami James of Miami Ink – he’s so hot and has a BIG heart; AND Anderson Cooper – imagine those eyes looking at no one but you – WOW - and I don't care if he's gay!

13) Who was your regular-person crush?

THEN: Jojo – haha!

NOW: secret! Haha! Basta he makes my day worthwhile WHEN I see him and see him smile

14) How many piercing did you have?

THEN: 2

NOW: 2

15) How many tattoos did you have?

THEN: none

NOW: none still – though I’m thinking of getting one, I just cannot decide yet. Maybe I’ll bust all my savings and have Ami James do the tattoo for me – hehehe.

16) Who was your favorite band/singer?

THEN: The Carpenters and Chicago – I broke two cassette tapes because I kept playing their songs

NOW: David Cook (?) Kenny G and Kenny Loggins

17) Had you smoked cigarettes?

THEN: yes – but just one puff and it was WITH consent from papa – just to get over my curiosity

NOW: not for many, many years, AMEN!

18) Had you gotten drunk?

THEN: no

NOW: not recently – haha! Honestly, I swore off drinking alcohol with friends for almost two years now though I buy 2 cans of beer every time I buy my groceries for the month but only to have something for the cramps I occasionally get during my period. And if the cramps don’t come, I consume the 2 cans on a Friday night, on separate Friday nights – alone

19) Had you DRIVEN?

THEN: sure! A motorcycle and a bicycle.

NOW: not since I moved to Thailand – I’m a happy passenger here and I’m enjoying it. Besides, i think I need a lot of time to get to used to right-hand drive vehicles. There were many times when I still get disoriented and ask myself, “Why is the driver on the wrong side of the road?” and then I remember, “Oh, it’s KEEP LEFT here. LEFT!” :-)

20) Looking back, are you where you thought you would be in 2008?

At sixteen years old, all I want to do is finish school, work, and live independently. Even at a young age, I was secretly harboring the dream of going to places thus I was so interested in reading and imagined the places described in whatever it was that I’m reading. Now, I finally get to realize it and what is more exciting is I’m doing things on my own, in a foreign country, doing my best to create my chances and make responsible choices. I’m immeasurably happy with what’s happening now and with what’s to come. So yes, I’m pretty much where I thought I would be: self-sufficient and happily single. Thank you, God! Ave Maria!

Allez!

* Take the same survey. Just copy and paste and change the answers. It’s pretty cool!

Rest in peace, Pairin!

It is a sad day at school today and will remain so for the next days. This afternoon, we were informed by our head of school that we lost a student due to a car accident last night and another is fighting for his life in the intensive care unit. The student who died was Pairin, a charming and diligent Grade 9 student. She was my Physical Science student this year and two things always come to mind when I think about her: her smile and her crying (early in the school year) during one of my classes because she was deeply troubled by a problem with one of her friends. From that experience I came to see her as a passionate individual - someone who values friends. And it is sad that we lost her. I do believe that she will become one of our angels - one of those priceless diamonds sparkling in the sky. Pairin, may you rest in peace!

(The student in the intensive care unit, Rick, an 11th grader, is also currently one of my Chemistry students. He is smart, soft-spoken, and very respectful. I am looking forward to the day when I can again see the dimples on his cheeks when he smiles. I pray that he will bear this storm and join us again.)

May the Holy Triune God live in our hearts and in the hearts of all peoples, AMEN!

It's my birthday, today :)

I turn 32 years old today! My second birthday where I celebrated overseas, away from family. My day was just like any normal school day but the best thing was when my friends at work treated me to dinner after work. I am blessed to have this 'family' away from home. Thank God for friends! And oh, I also celebrated (in advance) my birthday last Sunday in Hong Kong when Jane treated me and Nang Panyang to dinner in one of the best dimsum houses in the Kowloon area. I am blessed, thank you God!

from left: Pearl, Kay, Vanessa, Romel, Ruby, moi, Christine, Nailah

this time with Marose

Incredible Experiences

(The following blog appears on my Friendster webpage. I am reliving and praising God for the experiences that I have gone through almost a year ago from today in a foreign land, all on my own, and how quick thinking and God's grace saved me from what could possibly have been a very fatal event.)

21 September 2008

I woke up at around 5:45 am today even though it is a Sunday because I was planning to visit the Grand Palace again and other beautiful places in main Bangkok to try out my newly bought Olympus camera. I woke up to a slight headache though and without thinking twice, I took a 500-mg dosage of aspirin tablet. Then I went on to prepare my breakfast of microwave-reheated rice, sausages, and Chinese chorizo – I know - not a healthy choice but I indulged myself this morning thinking of the physical and exciting itinerary ahead. About halfway through my breakfast preparation, about 10 minutes after I took the aspirin, I felt an itchy feeling inside both of my eyes that immediately caused a light bulb to switch on in my head. I am so familiar with this itchy feeling: I had this approximately more than a year ago after I took a drug containing ibuprofen because I thought it would relieve me of the fever that I had during that time (yeah, self-prescription is VERY dangerous). I immediately went to the mirror and looked at my eyes and of course nothing is visible at that time and I sort of “dimmed” the light bulb inside my head a little bit and went back to preparing my breakfast. Then about 5 minutes after, the itchy feeling was now accompanied with tightness around both the lower portions of my eyes. It got me back to the mirror in no time and yes, the areas that I mentioned were indeed a little bit bloated now. I panicked – yes! I don’t know what possessed me but I immediately went to the refrigerator and got a piece of Hershey’s black chocolate and drank the coffee that I prepared before I started preparing for breakfast. That was so dumb of me – I should have stayed away from chocolates (and instant coffee) since I also had two allergic reactions about 4 years back on chocolates (the ones which contain so much artificial ingredient though like the chocolate powders back home in the Philippines that many local bakeries use to coat/add to their chocolate-flavored bread). As for instant coffee, it’s one of those beverages that contains natural salicylates and acetylsalicylic acid is aspirin – the culprit to the itchiness and bloated areas around my eyes. So, I didn’t eat my breakfast that is ready at this time. I went to the bathroom and got myself ready for the hospital. I was so much in a hurry that I didn’t bother to shut down my laptop and unplug the speakers (thank God nothing happened like electrical short circuits or anything). It’s a good thing too that I didn’t transfer my stuff yet to my knapsack so I practically have everything in my school bag: passport, health insurance card, work permit, and my wallet. I grabbed my bag AND shades and run out of my apartment towards the elevator (yes, I still have the sense to lock my apartment on my way out). During this time, the areas around my eyes were so bloated that I find it harder to see by the minute and I am having difficulty breathing already which is a bad sign because this means that my nasal passages are now constricted due to the allergy. Thank God there was a lift a floor above me (8th floor) so I only waited for a few seconds for it to come to my floor and was inside the elevator and going down to the ground floor in no time. I was hoping to see the guard of my tower on my way out and sure I saw him and told him to help me call for a taxi but he isn’t equipped with conversational English so we just ended up telling things to one another without really understanding each other. I know that he was concerned though gauging from his reaction when he saw my eyes. So I just gestured to him that never mind, I’ll get my own taxi right outside of Parkland. Sure enough, there were plenty of taxis waiting outside and the first taxi in line was driven by a man who looked to be in his mid-50’s and yes, cannot understand what I told him in English but then again, one look at my face and he said, “Thai Nakarin?”, which was the name of the hospital nearest to where we are. I gratefully nodded my affirmation, opened the door, got inside the taxi, and got ready for the ride to salvation. A 3-5 minutes cab ride to the hospital took about 20 minutes for two reasons: the U-turns in Thailand are far and it so happened that the hospital is at the same side as where we’re coming from thus the need to take the U-turn – 2 U-turns actually AND we were stuck in traffic for about 8 minutes because there was this group of motorcyclists who were so into drag racing at 6:30 in the morning and not minding the traffic congestion they are causing. By now, I was really having difficulty breathing and tried to tell the driver that maybe he can alight from the vehicle and tell those motorcyclists that there is an emergency many cars back but of course I cannot tell it to him due to the language barrier. Thankfully, after what seemed like ages, the lines of cars moved and moved and moved and I was right in front of the hospital. I immediately went to the reception area where I asked where the emergency room was but wasn’t pointed to it right away since the gentlemen from reception asked for my passport and health card insurance first and also asked me to fill in a form which I was unable to do so because I really had difficulty seeing already. Sensing this (which they should have right away since my eyes were way so chinky during that time that it would be impossible for someone to think that I was born with it), they pointed me to where the emergency room is. So I rushed inside and was immediately attended by a very soothing nurse – thank God for this! I didn’t even wait for her to ask me questions, I just told her that I took aspirin and got these allergic reactions in less than 30 minutes after taking it. She then led me to an ER bed – and it struck me how silent it was in the hospital at this time of day. Anyway, she immediately attached an IV of dextrose to my left hand, took my blood pressure and monitored my heartbeat. After about 5 minutes of lying there, she injected an anti-inflammatory steroid to my upper right arm that really hurts. The doctor then came and told me that I should be able to breathe easier in about 10 minutes and that the palpitations that I will feel minutes after being injected the steroids are just side effects of the steroids. Then the “people” started coming: people from the reception/admission, nurses, nursing assistants, and they all have one thing in common: QUESTIONS!!! I don’t want to answer these questions until I feel somewhat relieved of what I’m feeling and I bluntly told them that. They respected this and came only again after about 15 minutes. At this point, the doctor told me that she wants to keep me in the hospital so that she can monitor me closely because there is still a chance that I can go into anaphylactic shock, a very life-threatening effect of allergy. My immediate reaction was please, no, I had this before and even though the first time I had this I was also brought to the emergency room (the first time when I found out I am allergic to ibuprofen) and injected the same steroids, the doctor then discharged me after about an hour and simply gave me medications of steroids and other anti-histamines. THIS doctor however, was firm on her decision of having me admitted in the hospital so I told her that okay, she can have me confined but if nothing bad develops or if my condition continues to get better (which I can feel during that time), I will only stay until 5 o’clock. She smiled and asked me if I had something important scheduled for after 5 o’clock and I told her no, I just don’t like the idea of being admitted to a hospital. Again, she smiled and agreed to what I asked. Someone then came with a stretcher but I told him if there is a wheel chair available because I would be more comfortable on it rather than on a stretcher (I told you I am feeling better already and I know that once I was administered the drug, I will be on my road to recovery). Of course there was a wheel chair and I was then marched to my room on the 9th floor of the hospital amidst smiles and get well wishes from the 5 nurses and inside the ER. Little do I know that I will be led to this quite large and well-furnished hospital suite. (I wasn’t really concerned about the bill at this time because my health insurance will take care of it.) Once inside, I made phone calls to two of my colleagues, informed them where I am and told them that I am okay. I also called my head of upper school (principal) and informed him (I actually talked with his wife, our head of school, because my principal was out swimming when I called) of where I am and why. At this point, I didn’t inform anyone member of my family back home because I don’t want them to panic (especially my mother who was so concerned the first time I had this that she had heart palpitations). Until now as I am writing this, they still don’t know. I just don’t want them to worry – that’s all – there’s nothing that they can do that hasn’t been done already and I know that I am always, always in their prayers.

So the long wait until my 6 hours are up starts (which should be at around 1 pm) and within these times, I got 2 visits from a specialist who was so kind and explained to me all about aspirin and NSADs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) which include ibuprofen (of course!) and visits from nurse assistants who took my vital signs, two nurses who came in every 1 and ½ hours, and the cleaning team. One o’clock came and went and finally at around 2:30 pm, the doctor specialist came back along with the head nurse and examined me again, asked me questions again, and told me that I can go home – in about 3 hours yet since my papers have to be processed by the hospital and sent to the health insurance. This actually only took about 2 hours and at around 5:10 pm, I am on my way home! J Oh, I was given medication, which is good for 3 days, by the hospital’s pharmacist and when I asked if there is any medicine that I ought to buy aside from the ones she’s giving me, she said no. Okay, this is great! I also get paid-for medicines! I got home at around 5:20 and rushed to my laptop to save it from it’s running on reserve battery agony and to write this experience. What should have been a sight-filled Sunday turned out to be a “blurry” sight Sunday. :-)

The Kingdom of Siam – where everyday is an adventure. I have so many firsts here: first time that I ever had problems with the labor department during my first 2 weeks (this is solved now though, I am legally working here in Thailand. I have work permits and all.), first time that I lost a new colleague to death due to an accident in a water fall during our staff bonding activity (during the last week of August), first time that I experienced wading through flood on my way to our school bus in the morning and in the afternoon (this started during the 2nd week of September), first time that I am denied a visa to a country (China – due to the strict regulations brought about by the Beijing Olympics and the Paralympics), first time that a dove dumped its early morning gory “glory” on me (and I have to go back up to my apartment and change which caused me to miss the school bus), first time that I explored a place on my own (especially during Saturdays and Sundays-and enjoyed it so much), AND first time that I am admitted to a hospital. Whew! So many firsts – bring it on! Hmmmmm, what could be next? All these are teaching me a lot though on living on my own abroad and creating my chances. Also, my experiences tell me that indeed, experience is the best teacher ;-) On top of that, nothing really is impossible with God. Invoke His name, ask the Virgin Mother to mediate, along with the angels and saints, and everything will fall into place like pieces of jigsaw puzzle falling into place.

Ave Maria!

ebidensya (21 Sept. 2008, Thai Nakarin Hospital)-btw, wrong DOB ;-)

outside Room 903 (21 Sept. 2008, Thai Nakarin Hospital)

outside Room 903 (21 Sept 2008, Thai Nakarin Hospital)

outside Room 903 (21 Sept 2008, Thai Nakarin Hospital)

outside Room 903 (21 Sept 2008, Thai Nakarin Hospital)

view of Parkland (yellow and green bldgs) outside Room 903 (21Sept2008, Thai Nakarin Hosp)

(I still live in Parkland)

Feliz Dia de las Madres

This year's Mother's Day is one of the first mother's day celebration that I will miss celebrating with the rest of my family back home. It's quite sad as this is one of those celebrations that our family always make a point of celebrating (the other being Christmas, father's day, town fiesta, and each of our birthdays - all 5 of us - mama, papa, elder sister, me, and younger sister). I called my mother early Sunday morning though and I was able to hear her vibrant voice and I can gauge that she is happy but that she misses me. Oh, how I would have wanted to be right beside her and hug her at that moment. Distance though makes that wishful thinking. My choice of a career and how to live life can sometimes really get in the way of things but I accept these as part and parcel of my choice. I consider myself blessed to be granted one of the things that I have dreamt of since I realize the joys of travel (way back in my early teens) and this is to live overseas and not just get stuck in one country but be presented with another chance to stay in another country after 2 or 3 years. Like a nomad, yes, but not quite. This blog though is not directly about me but about Mama Cita, my mother.

She and my father got married when both of them were 29 years old. She was a public school teacher and was successful both in her career and her main job as a mother. I can still remember those afternoons when we were still very young and she would arrive from school bringing lumpia or what-have-you to us her 3 daughters. She always have something delicious in her hand bag that if one goes through the contents of her bag, you won't come away disappointed. You'll always find candies or bite-sized chocolate inside. She even has this 4 0r 5-L volume of plastic container stashed under her bed with chocolates inside - yes, chocolates! She was very keen in pointing out though that in no way are we going to abuse that plastic container of chocolates. That's my mother, a disciplinarian. I grew up with something akin to fear with her because she's the disciplinarian in the family - she goes about setting things straight and in my immature way of looking at things at that time, I mistook this as her being strict. Things changed though when I was in university. I got to open my thoughts to her and we started having long conversations and as my outlook in life became more mature, I was able to fully appreciate and admire her more. Now, I can say with perfect confidence that the person who knows me more is my mother. Not surprising yes, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Mama is also regarded by many of my cousins (and I have a lot) as their favorite aunt and I think this is because there is something in her that invites confidence, that invites trust. She respects our views and do not impose her beliefs on us, she lets us be but she also makes it a point that we know her views. We are not that big on showing our love and care through hugs - we are learning though - but the way she shows how much she loves and cares for us is immensely greater than any physical touch can give. It takes time sometimes, though, but like I said, we are slowly realizing that a hug can provide temporary relief. She's soft spoken at the same time stern, both her and Papa are, and her voice have calmed so many turbulent feelings, so many raging emotions in the past.

I miss Mama, I have always missed her. I miss her familiar scent, the way she calls us to tell us that dinner is ready, the way she recites the formulated prayers when we say the Holy Rosary, the way she would tells us, "Ayaw pagsamok!" ("Don't bother me!") when she is doing something that requires her full attention, the way she would call me, "Cristy!" in a singsong voice whenever she has something for me or there's something that she wants to share with me, the way that she would ask for the TV remote control or DEMAND that the TV channel be switched back to the television series that she is keeping tabs on (otherwise she'd just tell us to go to the other room and use the TV there), the way she cooks mais (corn) or rice, pancit, caldereta, humba (pork stew with vinegar and spices), inon-unan (fish stew with vinegar, onions, and garlic) na bilong-bilong (moonfish), lechon kawali, otan bisaya, etc., I miss everything about her. Sometimes, I would miss her so much that I would ask myself why do I have to live so far from home. I'm always faced with the same answers: because it's my choice and my mother have prepared me for it (both her and papa did). Life is indeed interesting - not so much a mystery really but interesting!

Mama Cita, happy mother's day and I thank you for giving me YOU. I love you!

Papa Ben and Mama Cita: my all.

(Originally posted on May 11, 2009)

mish mash

Family traditions are family traditions. That’s why even if I am on my first New Year’s celebration away from home; I still forced myself to overcome my laziness (hey, it’s still Christmas break and I am entitled to being lazy) and went to the supermarket this afternoon to buy 12 kinds of fruits and other stuff to usher in the new year. When I got to the supermarket, I realized that it’s not only me who is preparing for tonight (I thought Thais celebrate New Year in April during the oh-so-famous Songkhran Festival), there were a lot of people doing their last minute buys. I even saw David, my department head, following a line to the cashier’s!

As always, I ended up buying more than the stuff that I was planning to buy. It’s a good thing that TOPS Supermarket offers free home delivery for purchases beyond 1,000 baht.

And when I got home, I tackled the house cleaning and then arranged the fruits in the fruit basket and offer these for a more bountiful 2009. Oh, I ended up offering some eggs, too! And some mint chocolates and cookies! J

Happy new year and all the best for 2009! The present year is full of learning experiences for me and there wasn’t a dull moment especially during the second half of the year. I cherish every heartbeat of 2008 and I am as always thankful to God Almighty for my family, aunties, uncles, cousins, friends, colleagues, everyone whose paths crossed mine in any way. I love life and I love living it, and am thankful for this chance to live it the way I wanted. Nothing is perfect and that is precisely why life is spectacular!

Hail Mary!

(Originally posted on 31 December 2008)

Love Day

Approximately 3 hours ago, I became an aunt and I am so happy. My younger sister gave birth to a beautiful 7 lbs. and 11 ounces baby boy. Not that I saw my nephew already but according to my elder sister, my mother and my brother-in-law cannot stop looking at the precious little bundle of grace. And not that I’m surprised either since my brother-in-law and my sister are gifted with good genes thus an offspring should also be good looking. That’s the adoring aunt in me speaking – the truth – that is.

This wonderful event made me reflect how important family is and how important life is. As soon as I received the news yesterday afternoon that my sister is undergoing labor pains and is in the hospital labor room, I cannot understand what I was feeling. It’s a mix of anxiety and excitement. Anxiety because I want my sister to not go through so much pain, to give a painless birth (limited my knowledge may be at child-bearing still I know that a painless birth is impossible), for the baby, whose gender we knew months before, to come out without any hassle, and excitement because finally, me and my elder sister will become aunties, my parents become grandparents, and my sister and her husband become parents themselves. However, it was not going to be an easy ride (especially for my sister) for all of us who are awaiting the baby’s birth for he came wailing into the world almost 24 hours after my sister’s water broke. Thus begun the frantic lub-dub and I may be thousands of miles away from where the action was unfolding but still, I was beside myself with worry for morbid thoughts attempted, and some successfully, entered my brain. All these were quelled with prayers, though. I bent my knees in prayer, especially asking for the intercession of Mother Mary and Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. And everything turned out perfectly well.

I cannot wait to go back home in less than two months. The newest addition to our family will be there, the best gift of love that we all could possibly receive today, Valentine’s Day.

Ave Maria!

Jush Matthew M. Ricaplaza @ 2 months old

cradled in my elder sister's arms, Jush's Auntie Melet

cradled in his mother's arms, Mama Sha-sha

cradled in my arms, Auntie Cristy (I finally got to hold him in my arms when I went home for Spring Break in April - he was 2-months old then)

intently focusing on me while I took his photo, our Baby Jush Matthew

(Originally posted on 14 February 2009)

Symbols and Foreign Letters

fabric softener (pink) and dishwashing liquid (yellow)

I mistakenly opened a pack of dishwashing liquid taking it for a fabric softener. It's a good thing that I realized my mistake while mixing it with water: it formed so much bubbles and the smell wasn't quite right - you know what I mean. Confused, I looked at the pack closely and realized that it's dishwashing liquid - the symbol on the pack says so! Oh, if only I know how to read Thai. It's a good thing though that I wasn't THAT excited to put my washed clothes right in, it would have been additional load (not that my clothes mind the second washing).

(Originally posted on 19 December 2008)

Siem Reap

I have always been drawn to KAMPUCHEA (Cambodia in Khmer) since I was a little girl partly due to my then stamp collection which had so many stamps of Kampuchea and what I later on learned about the country's plight thanks to the books my mother used to share with me. The 3-day trip to Kampuchea with Ms. Ces right after Christmas 2008 may be too short but we had fun! :) We visited the famous Angkor Wat, Ta Phrom Temple (where Angelina Jolie's Lara Croft was partly filmed), and other temple ruins. Many countries are contributing in the effort of restoring the temples to a resemblance of their former glory and two of these are India and the Netherlands. We also had a boat ride along the Tonle Sap where we saw many floating houses along the riverbanks. I also had the chance to do reflection photography thanks to the many moats that surround the ruins of the temples that we visited. From the under-nourished children selling trinkets in a sing song voice of "One dollar, one dollar!" to the friendly tuktuk driver telling you how he has to feed his family with his daily income to the interesting respite offered by Blue Pumpkin (a very good restaurant) where tourists abound and laze around after a long day out and to the mass burial grounds of those victimized by Pol Pot's regime, one can say that Siem Reap is a beautiful and interesting place.

Here are some of the photos I took with my Olympus FE-340. More photos can be found in my Flickr account http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeofone/sets/72157618615213824/

and even more in my Facebook photos page

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=77630&id=743294883

The majestic Angkor Wat

broken slabs leading to Angkor Wat

bullet-ridden column (part of Angkor Wat)

highest level of Angkor Wat where the public can access

stairway to "heaven" ... the last level is where the king used to pray

only the king and his ministers can mount the stairway to heaven (Angkor Wat)

what used to be a library undergoing restoration

three generations of Cambodians taking a respite inside Angkor Wat

grand-dad and grandson selling souvenirs

young monks checking out what's for sale

Angkor Night Market sign welcoming everyone

inside the night market

cultural dancers at Tonle Sap Restaurant

a Cambodian tuk-tuk

yours truly in front of the East Gate of the Bayon Temple

temple ruins

part of Bayon Temple

a smiling Hindu Buddha

stone carvings of Royal dancers

a scene in the Ramayana carved on one wall of the Bayon Temple

tourists listening to guides inside the Bayon Temple

a faithful being given blessings by a monk

elephants standing guard on the steps leading to the Temple of the Leper King

Temple of the Leper King

the Leper King

Temple of the Leper King

an unfinished 12th century Hindu temple

a group of blind musicians making beautiful music

temple ruins

site of the filming of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie

humungous

head of an Apsara dancer (royal dancer) partially framed by a tree's trunk