Beach Cleanup Batu Ferringhi, 2010

The Star publication ,a couple of weeks back, advertised for Penangites to participate in clean ups of three of our beaches. They are Gurney Drive, Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi. Three of us decided to register for the one at Batu Ferringhi as we are residing there. Registration was a big hassle but I did not give up. Finally a Mr Tan gave us reply via his mobile phone. Today I text him as I still have not got any reply from the Batu Ferringhi side. I was told that there are too many participants. I was wondering why they can't tell us earlier that they cannot accomodate too many people so that we can plan for other activities????? We are very disappointed. How inefficient the committee for the Bt. Ferringhi clean up is. No more such participation for us in future. Instead Mr Tan texted back to apologized. Basically this Mr Tan is the only one with full responsibility. He even texted back to apologized. WHAT ARE THOSE SUPPOSED TO MEND THE BATU FERRINGHI BEACH CLEAN UP DOING???? SLEEPING?????

We were looking forward to offer our help in installing a clean beach. Once bitten twice shy....I don't think we ever want to participate in anymore such projects. I have to do so much running around just to register.

The Royal Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Here we are at the Royal Palace where the present king resides. Of course this is the area where we were allowed to browse. Where he stayed is off limit. It is a beautiful palace and very vast. This is only a tiny part of palace ground. This building is where the coronation takes place. In there we can see jewelleries being exhibited that were worn by earlier queens. They were authentic. Sorry photos were not allowed in the building itself.

Cambodian cuisine

This is Amok Fish. It comes in two version. The grilled or curried. This version it grilled Amok Fish. Amok Fish is one of the many delicious cuisine in Cambodia. It tasted like our Otak-otak but it has its unique ingredients added. I just can't get enough of it. YUMMMMYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Siang and me at the National Museum, Cambodia

This museum is full of statues from the ruins. Photos are not allowed and so we cannot snap any. Behind us is a statue of a Garuda. We were allowed to take this one as it was at the enterance. In the museum, I found a few ladies collecting donation to upkeep the place by handling us a stick of jasmine to be place at one of the Buddha statues. The amount donated was up to individuals. At first, I was thinking that it was rather weird for people to pray to statues placed in museums. After Rith explained to us, I felt at ease.

Cambodia

Finally 13.1.2010 arrived after waiting for months. Siang and I left for Cambodia. We were supposed to accompany our maid, Phan Yen, back to her home land but she made a big fuss in wanting to leave sooner after our parents passed away. We were well prepared for the trip after many feedbacks from friends. Siang was told to look out for beggars as we stepped out of the airport building. To our amazement, we did not see any. Our guide, Rith, told us that their government forbidded beggars greeting tourist at such points.

One of my friend said to get ready to dig my nose every night before bedtime. She said Phnom Penh is very dusty. Before seeing the city, I regreted forgetting to bring some masks. Anyway, the masks would have taken up some precious space in by luggage as I did not see that much dust in the air. I did dug my nose as instructed but it wasn't dirty. The only place that was dusty was on the way to angkor Wat. But no problem for us as we travelled in a limousine. Of course it would be adisable to wear masks if you take the tut tut which is the national taxi.

Yet another told me to be prepared to experience some skin ailments due to the yellowish water from the tap. Oh, well, no yellowish water flowing from the taps and definitely I did not have any skin ailments. My skin came back as good as I left. Ahem, I did become a little darker....Ahhhhh, any Caucasian would be jealous of what I got. Anyway, the water there is very clean.