I’ve been getting lots of emails, inquiries about my previous post about Finding the Ideal Internet Service Provider in Phnom Penh. And I also just realized the post was dated 2009 so its really out of date and cannot be of much help to anyone.

Thankfully, the fierce competition between ISP’s and with mobile phone networks joining the fray, has been so beneficial for us subscribers. On my previous post, I lamented the fact that internet here is so pricey. Not anymore. And that deserves a big YAY! from me. Whereas before one has to shell out hundreds just to get a lousy connection at home, now, you don’t have to spend big bucks to have a decent one.

I’m currently using Metfone’s METNET service. For some reason I think someone up above is favoring me and my 256 kbps connection has been reliable most of the time. Note that this uses a cable transmission wire and the only interruptions I’ve experienced was when the wires are cut off because of huge construction trucks annoyingly carting over the cable wires and cutting it off. And METNET’s technical team has been great at rushing over and getting it fixed usually within a few hours after I make a call.

I subscribed to a 256 kbps ($25/month) unlimited subscription. I was given this rate perhaps because were an old subscriber coz when I checked their current rates this is supposed to be $45. Also, whenever I do speed tests, I usually get numbers higher than my subscription.

So that’s why I’m sticking to MetNet for now. BUT, I can only speak for my location {Boeung Tompeun Area} coz some areas I’ve heard MetNet’s service is not as good. So I guess this is all a ‘wait-and-see’ game. If it doesn’t work, then its cheap enough to get another ISP provider.

Here’s a new and updated list of ISP’s here in Phnom Penh..{This is by no means a complete list, if you know new ISP’s, please leave a comment with the link so I could keep it updated}

Phnom Penh Mobile 3G Providers:

• CellCard (Mobitel)
• MFone
• Hello
• Smart (recently merged with Star Cell)
• Beeline
• QB More
• MetFone 3G
• Excell

Most of the providers introduces new packages, promotions, tariffs every so often so I won’t be including their internet packages in this post. Please just visit the links to get the most updated offerings.

Internet Service Providers:

• MFone Broadband
• Ezecom
• ClickNet
• Metfone’s METNET
• Online
• MekongNet
• Camintel
• CamNet
• AngkorNet
• CityLink
• TeleSurf
• PPCTV Broadband
• DigiNet
• Wizion (Chuan Wei)
• WiCam
• NeoCom
• CambodianBroadband

When I first visited Phnom Penh, one of the things that caught my eye are the concrete miniature ‘temples’ resembling bird houses usually found in a lot of Khmer homes. Along the streets too, you can see a lot of places selling them. Some simple, others are really ornate and big.

photo taken along the way to Kirirom National Park

Initially I thought this is something to do with pets, then I noticed no birds or anything alive living in this little houses. So I then asked Hi-ace what is that for. They are, apparently ‘Spirit Houses’. It has religious significance and can be seen in some predominantly Buddhist countries.This is a place for the spirits to dwell.

Khmers are ardent believers of spirits and they usually place regular offerings outside the spirit house. Why is there a need for a spirit house? My Khmer relatives tells me, this is to provide living space for the spirits and offering too so they would remain peaceful and not invade our / human space.

a typical Khmer spirit house

So, that got me thinking, I really should start making offerings too unless I want to live side by side with a ghost. Anyway, since Hi-ace family is Chinese, we don’t have a Khmer spirit house we have a wooden one inside the house, its really ornate, with miniature persons. The pot for incense is also replaced once a year only.

our version of the spirit house with offerings

I also noticed a bit of difference with the way Khmers and Chinese-Khmers offer. Khmers usually has flowers, wine, water and incense. While we usually offer cakes, fruits and sometimes meat with incense and tea.

Some may find it weird, but for some reason the presence of this spirit houses comforts me. Lol! You know Hi-ace keeps kidding me, Cambodia has  lot of ghosts floating around (from Khmer Rouge time..) and might visit me someday. I would much rather they go inside their spirit houses.

Enough blabbing about spirits, its giving me the goose bumps already hehe and back to work. Still got to search for some cheap auto insurance quotes so more later..

Been meaning to post this last week but its keeps escaping me. Had the photos taken with the other camera and lazy butt me wouldn’t budge from the seat and look for the cable to transfer the photos. So here’s the post, almost three weeks late lol!

Before New Year’s, Hi-ace, me, Chinks and his work friends went to have buffet dinner in The Spoon located in St. 122 (It’s very near Russian Blvd). I was thinking why do we need to travel so far (we live near Russian Market) and had to drive a good 20 minutes when there were so many restaurants much nearer. It turned out his friends picked The Spoon because of their buffet. All Khmer food.

The restaurant actually has two areas, downstairs with the entrance right at the main street and offers an a la carte menu with Khmer and international choices. The buffet lunch and dinner is on the second floor with the entrance on the side (with a huge signage -Buffet Corner – so you won’t get lost anyway).

The buffet area has a pretty good ambiance, upholstered roomy chairs, freezing aircon , and I like the dividers placed between each table for more privacy and there are also small private rooms for parties.

The food: Khmer and a good selection. They have about 15 viands, Fried and Plain rice, free coffee and tea, fruits for dessert. They have free water for drinking, but if you want other drinks then you have to order separately. With all that food, I was beginning to wonder if do weight loss supplements work?

All of that costs only $4 per person, that’s why I’m calling it budget friendly. There are a lot of buffets in the city at similar prices but with less choices as The Spoon. I would definitely recommend this, especially if you’re on diet hahaha coz Khmer food is more on vegetables and more vegetables. There weren’t much meat in the selections except for chicken. And even the fried rolls were made of taro and other veggies.

my plate: salad, taro rolls, fried fish and egg, cucumbers..of course, I didn’t eat just this.  Shhh, I went back a couple of times, if you must know.

Next time you wanna try out Khmer food, this is one way of sampling a lot of them at a low and affordable price.

It’s a new year, so I made up a list of things to do, to accomplish. Haha at least looking at this would wake me up out of my lazy stupor and start to do something.  I hate procrastination with passion but why do I end up doing it on crucial moments. I vow to be rid of it.

This is what I love about new years! It inspires me, and for awhile I tend to develop a tunnel vision hehe  I fervently wish I could retain the whole year. One thing hubby and I have decided for the year 2011, it’ll be our tighten our belts, and save a lot year.

Here’s a list. You might ask, why the heck are you posting this, well its an added motivating factor. Haha somebody else got to read what I intend to do so I feel like I have to put in double effort.

One, save and save more. We got a lot of big purchases planned for 2012. We were supposed to have our home extension/renovation done this year, but since hubby would be based somewhere else again starting August till December then were putting it on hold and doing it 2012 or early 2013. It’ll be a huge expense as were almost starting out from scratch and not just replacing a bathroom sink, so I think we have to double the saving effort.

Two, eat healthy and maintain the right weight. Started this last December and it has done wonders for us. I want to keep eating healthier so I really won’t need to worry much about the added calories.

Three, visit the parents in the Philippines. Plans are in the works, but it’ll probably just be me flying over coz of schedule conflicts.

Four, be a little less cluttered and more organized at home. Heeehehhe this is giving me the heebiejeebies just thinking about the work involved hahaha.

Five, work on getting myself enrolled on the diploma program that I want. This is where a big weight of procrastination went in last year, so I have to get this rolling this year. I should really stop wasting time.

Six, Finish my dangling web projects started late 2010 and get on with the new ideas on board. I’m setting a new earning goal this year from my web projects, but how much would be a secret.

Seven, look into business opportunities. This is one of the things I want to focus on this year. =)

Eight, enjoy life more and take some more rest and relaxation time.

Nine, see more of Cambodia. Visit at least one or two more different provinces.

How about you? What’s on your new year’s resolution list?

I’m not exactly in tip top shape right now so forgive the sporadic posting. I had been really hit with an asthma attack. Lol! I blame it with my mad dash to clean the house before new years, and also its really chilly here in Phnom Penh the past few weeks compounded by the ever present dust. So I had to confine myself to the house for the time being.

So what had I been doing? Thank God for photoshop. I’ve been doodling, learning and trying to master the use of graphic tablet in illustration. We’ve also been crazy about playing wii games. Chinks and Hi-ace playing, me mostly watching and screaming at them hahaha. I want to play though at times I have hard time breathing so I’m giving the wii a rest.

Guess who is now so into playing with it? Hi-ace!! When he got it, it was like he has no interest and he has just been watching me and Chinks play. Then last week I goaded him into trying to play bowling. Lol! For a first timer, he was good. Really good. Then he tried boxing and now there’s no turning back.

You can’t talk to him when he is wii-ing. Hahaha I even took a video of him playing boxing but I dare not post it here he might just bar me from blogging forevah. It was that funny! He says he didn’t realize boxing is so much fun and he gets to exercise. Ssssh, the next thing he’d be asking me to get him some wrestling equipment!

Anyway, since were enjoying it, I’ve been looking for new games in malls here. LOL! Apparently all wii games here in Phnom Penh are the pirated variety. Which I could not play on my console because I either have to crack open it and insert the mod chip therefore voiding the warranty and also I would not be able to update it because that would risk ‘bricking’ the console. The tech guy in the wii shops here said, that all wii’s here in PP they open up to insert a chip so they could play the copied game, and if I want to I could just bring my console and have it done, lol but they won’t guarantee that it won’t be bricked eventually.

I could also do a soft mod on it but I’m kinda wary about doing that so I’ll probably be looking for some original games somewhere else. It’ll be costly but let’s indulge once in a while.

For Christmas! That’s because I procrastinated, hee hawed about  preparing stuff that needed to be prepared for the holidays. Truth is, I haven’t even done a single speck of shopping! And yesterday, I just thought of what to cook for my friends party, but a menu for our own Christmas dinner or lunch, well, I still have zero idea.

Tomorrow, I still have lots to do at home and also some errands to run. Then on Monday, I have to go and pick up hubby at the airport, and we’ll be having family lunch and dinner with my in-laws. Tuesday I’ve got lots to do so I only have Wednesday and Thursday to do some marathon shopping. Ugh, I think that would be me making a mad dash for flowers and gifts!

I think I should start now with a list. I don’t really have time for leisurely browsing so I have to come armed with lists. Thank God, kiddos Christmas party would be on the morning of 24th so I can include the gifts she needs on my list. And another thing to be thankful for, Phnom Penh’s shops are not as crowded this season as only a minority really celebrate Christmas and its usually just restaurants that are crowded.

So, yup! I’m gearing up and getting ready. Lol! I even now have Advil ready on hand, coz I never fail to have migraine whenever I do my Christmas shopping.