This is an update to my previous post – Direct Flights Phnom Penh To Manila. I’ve been waiting for developments and updates about this and I must have missed this(:P allow me some slack hehe I was on a ‘Pchum Ben‘ holiday hangover).

Anyway, its finally confirmed that the much anticipated (it’s probably just me haha!) signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Cambodia and the Philippines allowing direct flights between the two countries happened last September 16, 2009. I got this update from my fave Cambodian news portal – Phnom Penh Post. Yahoo! So that’s one step along the way.

The Philippines’ proposal to open seven weekly flights from Manila to Phnom Penh, 14 flights a week from Clark to Phnom Penh, plus 14 weekly flights to the capital from elsewhere in the Philippines is currently being reviewed by the Cambodian government.

SSCA Cabinet Chief Long Chheng is optimistic that both the Philippines and Cambodia will reach an Air Service Agreement by the end of this year.

Great news right?  The number of Pinoys working here and vacationing here in Cambodia are increasing in numbers so this would definitely be a big help for us. Shorter travel time and cheaper air fares. Now, hubby is worried if this pushes through I might decide to go on a weekly Phnom Penh-Manila jaunts Haha come to think of it, isn’t that a fab idea?

Latest Update here – Update to Direct Flights: Manila – Phnom Penh

I’ve been amiss updating my blogs since I’ve been quite busy with other web projects and coincidentally, the rest of Cambodia has been celebrating the Pchum Ben Festival. So it was holiday for sometime, with lots of going ons specially around the markets and of course, the pagodas. This festival has a solemn quality to it with most people going to pagodas for prayers.

Pchum Ben Festival is a religious festival, and is one of the most celebrated festivals among Khmers. For them, this time is for the Commemoration of the Spirits of the Dead. The festival usually falls on the first few days of September. On the Khmer calendar, the Pchum Ben Festival is on the 15th day of the waxing mmoon on the 10th month, also referred to as the Pheaktrobotr. And this festival lasts for 15 days.

The Pchum Ben Festival is so much a part of Cambodia culture whose daily lives are intertwined with Buddhist religion. This time is where Khmers pray for their departed loved ones and would visit the pagodas and give offerings for their dead loved ones whom they believe are trapped in the spirit world.

Khmer blogger Kim Heang has a good collection of Pchum Ben photos. Check out his blog and find really good photos as well as write ups about Cambodian culture and traditions.

Within the 15 days of the Pchum Ben Festival, Khmers bring offerings to the pagodas. Offerings usually consist of sticky rice balls and cakes wrapped in banana leaves. They also place incense, flowers as well as candles with these offerings.They also bring cooked rice as well as some more home-cooked Cambodian dishes which they share to the monks. The rice is the also divided and placed on several containers.

Trooping to pagodas for the offerings usually happens early in the morning as they also believe that most souls are afraid of sunrise and would wander around during dawn or early in the morning.

The festival is held for 15 days (:D bit long isn’t it??) and the first 14 days is called Kan Ben or holding the offering and last day is called the Phcum Ben or the Gathering for the Offering. The last day is specially important for the Khmers, and they would all go to the pagodas, usually make small boats from banana trunks, fill it up with rice cakes and let if float in the rivers to journey with their loved ones.

This festival is another fascinating insight to the Cambodia culture. My in-laws are Chinese-Cambodians and their rituals varies slightly from these but I was nonetheless fascinated by it. One difference I’ve noticed is that among Chinese they have a small altar at home built for their ancestors and that is where they offer food and prayers instead of going to a pagoda. However, they would pick one day out of the 15 day festival and also go to several pagodas for offerings the same way as Khmers.

We have also opted to visit pagodas that are farther out from the city. Most of these pagodas are really out of the way and the offerings and donations are much more needed by the monks..

I was in need of a little retail therapy. I had been in a horrendous mood for the last couple of days, must be PMS or I simply have tons to do and no time to do facials or even have pedicure. Anyway, a few days ago, I decided to treat myself to some shopping. I wanted to go early so the malls were not an option so I went to Psar Tuol Tompoung (Russian Market) to see what I could interest me.

That’s one the things I miss in Manila. The malls and shopping . From where we lived in Cavite, an SM Mall was just a couple of minutes stroll so I usually have my retail fix every so often. Here in Phnom Penh, though there are air-conditioned malls I find them too smallish and some vendors are really in for the kill (I mean they really overprice!) so I prefer going there with a Khmer (more bargaining power..) or I just go over to Tuol Tompoung Market. I guess malling isn’t yet so much a part of Cambodia culture .

I decided to play a little game and see what I could buy with $20. I figured not much. I was wrong. One of the reasons Tuol Tompoung Market is really popular with the tourists – Brand Name Clothing @ a fraction of its original price. No, they are not second hand. All brand new, I don’t have any idea how it got there but I have a few guesses. They are all from garments factories from all over Phnom Penh. Brands like Calvin Klein, Levis, Gap, Colombia, Billabong, Banana Republic, Dockers, Old Navy, H & M to name a few and in-house brands of some US chains like K-Mart.

So, if one really has a thing for brand name clothing at super discounted prices then you wouldn’t mind, the hot and claustrophobic market. It’s actually fun and reminded me so much of Divisoria, Manila on its not so crowded days.

After about an hour shopping around, I spent a total of $16 and here’s what I got!

2 Old Navy Tank Tops, 3 Old Navy Stretch Pants (perfect for working out!) and 2 H & M shirts for Chinks. Not Bad for less than $20 bucks. Now, I’m planning my next shopping outing..

If you’re visiting Phnom Penh, Tuol Tompoung Market (check the map here) is a must visit. Not only can you find Western clothing at bargain prices, but this place is also full-packed with quality souvenirs, Cambodian silk, and if you’re gastronomically adventurous, try out the yummy Cambodian food on the food stalls in the middle of the market.

On the second day of our Mondulkiri trip we spent a lot of time visiting schools and the second school we visited is located in the village called Putang where there are tribes living. You’d easily get seduced with the surroundings, grassy hills, valleys, pine trees, and cool breeze. I envisioned a village that is rural and lacking the trappings of modern life but I was surprised that the houses were modern enough but still constructed in traditional Khmer style – held up on stilts and some are concrete. The photo below is what a typical rural Khmer house looks like. Though the roof is already made of tin. I’ve seen roofing made of clay tiles and I find it really fabulous.

I assumed before that this style was because of the frequent flooding in the lowlands but then traditional houses in the uplands are the same so that must be really the traditional style. I asked a couple of Cambodians why traditional houses are high up and help up on stilts and they said its mostly because farmers and families in rural, agricultural areas usually have oxes or cows for farming and they are sheltered under the house. The extra space down below also give them extra space to do housework with a lot of breeze. That made sense to me.

Minority tribes here are very welcoming and when we went to the village school they even prepared a welcome dance and prayer in their own tribe dialect. The tribes elders all gathered around in a circle with a big jar with bamboo straws for drinking. I was curious about the contents and I was later told it was a traditional wine and since the place was an upland and cold at night so they like drinking wine. It also part of their tribal ritual. After the tribesmen said their prayers and extended their welcome to us, they all took out their simple “gong-like” instruments. It looked simple but they could definitely whip up some good rhythm out of it. Then they danced in simple steps in a circle.

Tribe elder

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I was fascinated by their colorful cloth, the women’s hair accessories and the earrings. Check out the photos, you’d obviously see why.. This visit to the minority village certainly added a different, eye-opening aspect to our trip. For a foreigner like me things like this brings valuable insights about Cambodia culture. I really hope that though these tribes embrace modern conveniences, immigrant as well as foreign influences, they’d still be able to hold on to their beautiful and unique culture.

I’ve been browsing the Phnom Penh Post and LadyPenh – (an excellent resource for Phnom Penh events and to-do’s) for some events we could add to our calendar this month when I came across this.

Date: September 1-21, 2009
Where: Wat Phnom Culture and Fine Arts Museum. See map here.
Admission is free.

The Embassy of Japan and the Municipality of Phnom Penh together with its sponsor, the Japan Foundation will be presenting the Japanese Doll Exhibition where about 70 dolls will be exhibited.

Japan has certainly a very unique and fascinating doll culture and we get to see a glimpse of this. Each doll is unique crafted and each theme has a deep connection with the Japanese way of life.

If you’re interested in things Japanese or simply on ends looking for what to do in Phnom Penh on your weekend, then check out this exhibit.

Our last stop on day 2 of our Mondulkiri trip – Phnom Bai Chuw Hill. This is a really popular spot for sunset watching. We got a bit stuck below the hill coz there were ongoing drainage works so we couldn’t pass through. The driver got creative though and we used another ‘route’  meaning we passed through somebody’s backyard with a couple of stops to hoist up some clothes lines..

The road was pretty narrow, then after a couple of meters you’re suddenly on top of the hill with a really astounding view of emerald tree tops..Now I know, that’s why they call it “The Ocean of Trees”. Can you imagine being on top of a hill looking out across the ocean? Only this time it’s not water there,  just a vast valley full of trees. Jaw dropping view, definitely. I was just super frustrated my camera ran out of batteries so I had to snap photos with my cellphone..:( which sadly did’nt capture much of the beauty of what I was seeing..

The breeze was getting cool and we lazed around and decided to wait for sunset.. And we weren’t disappointed. The sunset was beautiful.. A fitting end to our Mondulkiri sojourn..

View from Phnom Bai Chuw

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I’m a bit late posting all of these Mondulkiri photos and stories and I still got a lot more interesting Mondulkiri photos. Perhaps, I don’t wanna let go of it. To say that this place would be one of my favorite places of all time would be an understatement. I don’t know but Mondulkiri simply got to me.. Maybe, its the natural beauty of it, the isolation, or perhaps the interaction with the tribes people. Whatever it is, I got so hooked and I definitely will be going back sometime soon..

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