Cambodia - Last Day

Had breakfast at Ah Man's. Final lap of shopping spree at the Central Market.. Went to Cafe Malaya for lunch. Saw another halal Nyonya Restaurant nearby.. Back to the hotel.. Packing.. To the airport..

It was raining heavily and flash flood kick in... Thank God we reached the airport early.. It was time to leave.. Goodbye Cambodia.. Till we meet again.. Can't wait to be reunited with my kids..

Cambodia - Day 2 in Phnom Penh

Breakfast was disappointing at the hotel.. Served bacon in our order... We headed to the Central Market.. Did some precious stones jewelry shopping.. Souvenirs.. More bags.. :)

Back to the hotel for short break.. Lunch at the Leston Paris Restaurant for some Pho (kuey teow served in special beef broth)..

Next, we went to visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.. It was very depressing to learn about the violence of the Pol Pot's regime to people of Cambodia.. Silence crept all of a sudden.. One of the inmates were there to sign his bibliography..

We then proceed to the National Museum..

Walk along st 178.. Quaint street with lotsa chic boutiques.. Thot of getting a massage at Bodia Spa but they only got 4 therapist.. Hubby and I walk towards Sisowath Quay.. Taking more photos.. Until we stumbled upon Amara Spa at the junction of st 110.. We both went for massage session.. Nice place but I wish they allow us to shower first before the massage because we were sweating!

Later, joined the rest for dinner at Beirut Restaurant for middle-east cuisine.. Then back to the hotel..

Cambodia - from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh

We took a Cambodia Angkor Air flight to Phnom Penh.. $90 per pax one way.. The hotel provide airport transfer but they sent 1 tuktuk! We were cramped together with our luggage in 1 tuktuk.. It took almost half an hour from the airport to Royal Mekong Boutique Hotel..

Checking in was smooth.. Got upgraded to a Junior Suite room.. Had lunch at Ah Man Green Restaurant which is less than 5 minutes walk from the hotel.. Nice Malaysian food..

Ah Man Green Restaurant
No. 129, Keo Chea (St. 184), 12210 Phnom Penh
Mobile Phone 012 336 630
Mobile Phone 089 845 544

Hired Thon, the tuktuk driver who pick us from the airport.. He brought us to the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda.. Passed by the riverfront.. and to Wat Phnom.. We asked Thon to bring us to D'Wau Restaurant for dinner..

D'Wau Restaurant
New York Hotel (Ground Floor),
No 256 Monivong Blvd,
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Back to the hotel.. Freshen up.. The walk to a nearby cafe for coffee.. Got CIMB ATM.. It's easier to find CIMB ATM lagi dari Maybank :P

Cambodia - 3rd Day in Siem Reap

Yusof had to handover his job to another tour guide - Mr. Lucky.. He brought us to Les Artisan D’ Angkor to learn the process of craft making..

Then we visit the Civil War Museum. The Civil War Museum, Siem Reap is run by a guy who was forced to join the Khmer Rouge as a boy and trained to make as lay landmines, something they were all too good at. After the Vietnamese-installed government rescued him in the year 1985, he helped the government in clearing areas where landmines have been laid. The Civil War Museum has a lot of the weaponry on hand that has been used over these past few decades, during Cambodia’s civil war and the long struggle against the Khmer Rouge that followed.

Next, some leisure shopping at the Old Market and back to have lunch at D’WAU restaurant.

Afternoon, we requested to visit the Cambodia Cultural Village as recommended by Yusof. The Khmer food fine dining at Malaysian owned TERRASS DES ELEPHANT Restaurant.

Tips: Their Civil War Museum and Cambodia Cultural Village have a lot to improve.. Hubby said the war museum in Vietnam has better exhibits.. Should go to the National Museum instead.. Old market is hot and humid.. I prefer to go to the night market.. There's an art market opposite the night market..

Standard room at TERRASS DES ELEPHANT cost about $71 per room per night.. I would consider the location is strategic as it is close to the night market and other shopping place and night life..

Cambodia - Angkor Wat and Surrounds

We have been anticipating this day.. Started the day early to visit Angkor Thom that was the masterpiece of King Jayavarman VII. Following the occupation of Angkor by the Chams from 1177 to 1181, the new king decided to build an impregnable fortress at the heart of his empire. Angkor Wat, believed to be the world's largest religious building, this temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry and a source of pride and strength to all Khmers. Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, this is most famous temple at Angkor.

We continue to the 'Indiana Jones' temple of Ta Prohm. Left as it was ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhout in 1860, the tentacle-like tree roots here are slowly strangling the remaining structures..

We stop by at the Takeo Temple.. Unlike other temples in the complex, this one has no exquisite carving on the wall.. This is due to a lightning mishap during the development process..

This temple has Hindu exposures in the details..

We then visit the Terrace of the Leper King. This intricately carved platform was the royal crematorium and the statue that was originally thought to be the leper king is now believed to be Yama, the god of death. We continue along the Terrace of Elephants, originally used as a viewing gallery for the king to preside over parades, performances and traditional sports.

At the southern end lies the Baphuon, once of the most beautiful temples at Angkor, dating from the reign of Uditayavarman 1 in the 11th century. It has undergone a massive renovation by the French and is now once again open for viewing. Unfortunately we were too tired to visit the temple..

Our climax is the enigmatic and enchanting temple of the Bayon. At the exact centre of Angkor Thom, this is an eccentric expression of the creative genius and inflated ego of Cambodia’s most celebrated king.

We had lunch at the My Hibiscus Hotel - a Malaysian owned hotel.. Back to the hotel for short break..

Late in the afternoon we went to the Phnom Bakheng to view the sunset... One thing for sure, it was too crowded and you couldn't get nice view from up there.. If you want to experience climbing the hill on an elephant, you must make a reservation and it's $20 per pax - one way!!

It's nice to see local people having picnic overlooking the Angkor Wat in the late afternoon.. How lucky.. The view was breathtaking.. On the way back we stop by at a small stall selling this awesome daging bakar.. So authentic and yummy!

Dinner was at a Champa Muslim Restaurant.. After dinner, jalan-jalan kat Night market.. Went for $2 for half an hour foot massage.. Biasa2 saja.. Had better massage but the price memang murah sangat..

Tips: keychains sold at the temple area are cheap - $2 for 5-6 keychains.. Fridge magnets sold at $2 for 5 pieces.. If you are lucky you can get $1 for 3 fridge magnets.. Not sure about the t-shirt but t-shirts at Phnom Penh Central Market are sold at $2 each.. The quality is good too.

Bring some snacks if you want..

Cambodia Trip - Siem Reap We Love

After months of planning, the day is finally here.. Sign up for ground tour package directly with the local travel agency in Cambodia... Great deal.. Muslim tour..

Got up as early as 2 a.m.. Gotta to catch a morning flight to Siem Reap.. Siblings trip.. Everything was smooth.. arrived on time.. اَلْحَمْدُلِلّهِ.. Greeted by our very good looking tour guide.. And he's a malay-speaking Champa Muslim.. Behold.. I present you Yusof.. :)

He's very sound of the subjects.. Very personalized.

We started of with visiting the Angkor Silk Farm.. Lis was assigned to be our guide there. He brought us around the facilities.. Telling us all the processes involved in the silk making.. Starting from the silk worm breeding to silk thread harvesting, spindling.. To the production of the end products..

Next, Yusof brought us to the West Baray.. This is a man made lake.. Dug so that the soil can be used to build Phnom Bakheng.. A temple on a hill overlooking the magnificent Angkor Wat..

Then lunch at Bopha Angkor... Nice ambiance.. Great interior.. Overlooking the riviera.. Great halal Khmer Food... Just awesome..

The cruise at the Tonle Sap lake was a great experience. Tonle Sap was build to hold the flood water during the wet season which just ended recently.. October is the last month of the low peak season.. By next month tourists will swamp Cambodia and the hotel price will be very expensive..

Tonle Sap is the lifeline of Siem Reap.. It's interesting to see the floating village there..

On our back, we stop by at a mosque at the Muslim community area there to give our donations.. Used to be on a raft but now they build a permanent structure already.. It's nice to find out that my school alumni was greatly involved in the upgrading process.. Felt so proud..

Check-in at the Angkor Pearl Hotel.. Quaint small hotel owned by a Singaporean.. Yusof gave us time to rest and freshen up before dinner..

Dinner was at D'Wau Restaurant.. Nice food.. Love the chicken soup.. We went to see the Apsara Dance show after dinner. Loving our first day so far... #Blessed..

Thursday.. and already anticipating the weekend...

Feeling blue today... but saw this photo in yahoo.... featured in Forbes magazine.. pictures of among those who spent big portion of their wealth to help others.. give back to society....

Titans of Philanthropy

and this number is from Yuna.. (yuna lagi).. Live Your Life... 

Fresh Seafood @ Kuala Selangor..

Last Saturday, mama, hubby & i went to Kuala Selangor to buy some fish, squid, prawns and many more for the steamboat preparation... the seafood semua fresh gila.. beli kat jetty..

balik singgah makan cendol and laksa kat Cendol Borhan... yummy and cheap!!

More Raya Pics..

This year bersemangat sangat beraya... and bergambar.... :)

Birthday Steamboat Luncheon

It's my 35th birthday.. i love dim sum.. this time nak try dim sum at Maju Palace, Maju Junction... and both hubby and I decided to treat the whole family sekali... dim sum in Maju Palace is served in bigger portions and the size is bigger too.. i'm comparing to Sime Darby and Quality Hotel... kat Mandarin Oriental lagi kecik and more expensive... so now i'll stick to Maju Palace... and next time i know how much to order... hehehee..

 met asyraf..

 siblings, in-laws, daughter..

petang tu my sister bought me another cake... for tea time celebration...