Places

A Visit to Wat Vihear Sour in Prey Veng

Posted by Lui on Jan 19, 2012 | 2 comments

Prey Veng is a Cambodian province not usually mentioned in tourist guides, and for some reason places like these appeal more to me. So when my sister-in-law suggested we go there, visit some family friends and also visit Wat Vihear Sour, a well known pagoda, I was all set to tag along. We also heard that in this pagoda, there is one temple that is home to a deity, said to be generous in granting wishes of good luck, wealth and specially fertility. I think this is one of the reasons why my in-laws wanted to make the trip. My younger brother-in-law and his wife have been trying for a baby for some years already and now they wanted to make an offering in that pagoda and ask for help to make their wish come true.

When I heard about this I was mighty curious. I’m not Buddhist but that doesn’t mean I don’t try to learn more or understand more of their beliefs. I always try to keep an open mind about these things and who knows if your wish can be granted. We’ve also been talking about having a second child, with the kiddo very eager to wear her little nurse uniform and be a ‘baby sitter’. Lol. So it wouldn’t hurt if we pray for one while we are there. And besides this reason, drives to Cambodian provinces is always delightful for me. You never know what you’ll see or encounter, aside from the lush, almost undisturbed countryside.

We left about 9 am and the drive was really pleasant. Just under 2 hrs with the roads all new and paved. To say that it was a picturesque drive would be an understatement. Most of  the places around Phnom Penh are vast and unpopulated. Most are farmlands. Which makes me realize that Cambodia really has a smaller population compared to other places or perhaps majority are just concentrated on urban areas.  Anyway, I’ll let the pics tell my story now…

Wat Vihear Sour has this huge ‘lake’..

This pagoda complex is huge and has several temples you can offer prayers and receive blessings. One can offer food, flowers, incense. In this pagoda you can also get some blessed water and wash your face with it for good luck.

Sleepy, Picturesque Kampot City

Posted by Lui on Dec 3, 2011 | 0 comments

We’ve been to Kampot a year or so before but it was only a passing visit. I didn’t even get to take photos and I had been forever lamenting that little incident and bugging Hi-ace about when we’ll go back there and soak up on the Kampot atmosphere. We finally made the trip three weeks ago during the Water Festival holidays. It was a rather spur of the moment trip with no real itinerary except going to Kep and Kampot and just wandering about. This is a pic heavy post, so be forewarned, it’ll take a bit of time to load up.

Kampot is a leisurely 2-3 hour drive from Phnom Penh. National Road #3 is newly re-built? and is in great shape so the drive is smooth and very very picturesque. I love unspoiled, green landscapes and I was seriously tempted to ask Hi-ace to stop driving and let me get down and take photos but I just had to restrain myself. Lol.

Here’s some gorgeous riverfront snapshots..

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Harry Potter – The Deathly Hallows II @ Legend Cinema

Posted by Lui on Aug 25, 2011 | 1 comment

Are you a Potter fan? I am. Totally. Madly. My Harry Potter obsession actually started not with the movies but with the books. I remember rushing to National Bookstore in Manila every time a new HP book becomes available. I have all copies in paperback and I also have all books in e-book format. Just so I could read it again and again if the fancy strikes me. Perhaps some might say that is so geeky of me, but I don’t care.

See.. Even my Win7 Theme is all Harry Potter. Hahaha!

Why do I love it so much? Because it transports me to a different world. And whenever I feel like my imagination and creativity is on dead zone, I just read one of these books, and it makes me start imagining. Although I am not as impressed with the movie compared to the books, I still fell headlong into love with the Harry Potter movies as well. Not so because of the CGI effects but more with the actors portraying each role.

My favorite character in the series is Severus Snape. Perhaps I have a penchant for weird characters but I find him incredibly well written, and with a lot of depth. Plus Alan Rickman plays him superbly. From the onset, I always thought Snape must have some connection to Harry. And that there is more to him than simply being a grouch. And the last part of the series proves that. This movie is definitely Snape’s redemption. In the book, I cried buckets when he died and when Harry was walking thorough his childhood memories. While in the movie, it was tad less dramatic, but I was still affected. Yup, that’s how invested I am on Snape’s character. I find it incredibly sad yet happy {yeah conflicting emotions there…} that the last person he sees before he dies is Harry…The last words he uttered is just sooo poignant…”You have your mother’s eyes…” Sigh.

I’m thinking of reviewing the movie Deathly Hallows I and II but I’ll be posting it on my other blog – Unfiltered Musings. I think this is something much more nicer than just blabbing on about raypak heat pump at PoolSupplyUnlimited.com, don’t you agree?

Anyway, for Potter fans Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows I and II is now showing at Legend Cinemas {City Mall}. Do catch it. Part II has a 3D release and I attended the advance media screening, it was superb. Check out the screening schedules in their website. Also, Legend Cinemas has a pretty fun and interactive Facebook Fan Page so do visit and who knows you might just get some freebies from hanging out there.

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Fun, Fun Fun @ Legend Cinema

Posted by Lui on Aug 12, 2011 | 2 comments

Duh?! If my youngest brother would read this he would probably laugh his head off and ask  uh? why are you writing about a cinema? He is my worst critic you know. And he would definitely say, cinemas are so common place and perhaps I’m running out of blog topics. Hmmp, as if! A cinema is a big deal. Period. For me and I think for the rest of Phnom Penh. Why? Because after three years of living here without Hollywood movies on big screen…well..you sort of miss it. And celebrate the day, a bonafide cinema opens. Complete with the frills {the popcorn!!!} and real, not pirated Hollywood movies.

I’m a movie rat. Ever since I was in high school, I love going to the movies. At the height of my movie addiction I go to watch a movie at least twice a week. I was lucky coz when I was living in Manila, our house was just across a mall with an 8 hall cinema. So I guess you can imagine my dismay when we moved here and discovered the only cinemas around were the ones showing Khmer horror movies. So that left me hounding the DVD shops in the markets for the latest movies. But the experience is not the same, and yeah, it kinda needles that I’m watching a pirated film. This is really enough for me to think that I was living under a rock.

When I heard that a cinema was opening in City Mall here in Phnom Penh, my reaction was, ‘Are you for real?!’  Then a friend said, yes, its for real. Cue for a happy dance from me. Hehehe. Legend Cinema is located at the 3rd floor {right beside the food court} of City Mall, Monireth St., Sangkat Veal Vong, Khan 7 Makara, Phnom Penh. A friend and I got an invite for the media screening of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and you guessed right! We were giddy with excitement, {you know not just because we’ll be seeing James Franco on big screen..although that’s a great incentive}, but we get to experience the the latest talk of the town.

And I was surely in for a pleasant surprise. Here’s what I liked:

• Well lit and well appointed lobby.
• Lounge seats for those waiting for their screening to start.
• No long queues. {or perhaps we went during the early part of the day? and it was weekday?}
• Friendly and accommodating cashiers.
• Affordable snacks although the choices are a bit limited.  But the caramel popcorn was yummy {it even deserves a post of its own, sigh!}
• Clean screening hall.
• Well groomed ushers – I actually thought I was seeing Matrix doubles when I saw their uniforms. Hahaha. But they do look nice.
• Good sound proofing.
• Seats were comfy.
• Sound quality was superb.
• And the movie was great!
•  And oh, they have 2D and 3D Screenings and also several types of seats you can choose from.

Cambodia Snapshots: Preah Vihear Temple

Posted by Lui on Jul 11, 2011 | 0 comments

Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn more about Preah Vihear here.

I was supposed to post this last weekend since my Cambodia Snapshots is scheduled every Saturday and Sunday. But I was out of the house and gallivanting about Phnom Penh so I missed this. It has been awhile since I posted some photos of Cambodia but I’m back in business. Lol. My files are all in a jumble coz I’m moving out of blogging from my good ole desktop {she has been sequestered by the Kiddo..:( } and now I’m blogging from my laptop and moving is as disorganized as only me can get, so I’m still trying to get my bearings.

So what’s the featured snapshot for today? The famed Preah Vihear temples. Shot courtesy of my husband who went there last year. I’m making it my goal to visit the place at least before I turn 35. Serious. The idea of that long winding climb on top of a 4×4 pick up intrigues me and of course, this beautiful and controversial temple is a must see..

Phnom Penh Sunset River Boat Cruise

Posted by Lui on May 5, 2011 | 4 comments

Phnom Penh is such a laid back city. The pace of life is not crazy fast, and you can still actually enjoy walks in the parks, badminton on a side street, group calisthenics along the river side.  It’s one of the things that I really love here. That you can enjoy free and simple things. I won’t be surprised when one day I might just be in my sport shoes and jumping/dancing with a group to whatever tune those boom boxes in some corner is playing. Lol.

river boats for rent…

Lately, when we don’t have have much to do we usually end up taking a lazy river boat cruise. These cruises are available at sun down about 5:00 pm and leaves every 30 minutes with the last boat at 7-8pm. We usually pay 5000 Riels {$1.25} and 2000 Riels for kiddo per ride. Expect to pay a little bit more if you’re a foreigner {about $2.} The cruise usually takes about an hour and is a wonderful spot for sunset watching. If you want your own boat you can rent one at the same place {along Sisowath Quay, beside Bopha Titanic Restaurant}. Bargain hard. Prices depends on how long you want to rent the boat. But average prices are from $20-$30 for two-three hours.

Here’s some photos from a recent boat cruise..

@the boat top deck..waiting for some more cruisers..