Jessie: Helo? Kak Z! Puasa ke tidak?

Kak Z: Ish, tentulah puasa.

Jessie: Ah lah, manalah tau, mungkin datang period.

Teheehee… the above is my usual opening conversation during the fasting month whenever I called to check chat with the gahment (spelling mistake on purpose!) bodies. I even use the opening line for a male! Anyway, it is good karma to make someone laugh especially early in the morning.

As usual, Hari Raya is not complete without a visit to the Ramadan Bazaar.

What is the food you must get? For those tengah puasa, proceed at your own risk ya 😉

1. Buah Melaka aka Onde Onde – I love those with generous stuffing of gula melaka (palm sugar) and the almost unforgotten heavenly feeling of lava exploded in your mouth.
2. Roti Jala – Can never go wrong with curry chicken. This is something that I must have. Have you tried the one with potatoes wrapped in it? Those are good too. Something like curry puff.
3. Kuih Bakar Berlauk – I love this and I have the recipe too. But you know me la, L.A.Z.Y!
4. Drinks – Someone have to educate them on food colourings. I think the blue ones is champagne flavour. *yikes*
5. Popcorn chicken (spelled as C.H.I.C.K.E.N. B.A.C.K.S.I.D.E!) – I tried to stay away from those if possible. They are too good to be true. Fried chicken backside is sold at RM1 for 10pcs. But my sis got hers at RM1 for 11pcs because…………….. because of me! *ahem* I was busy snapping pic at the stall. The makcik probably thought that I’m a Journalist and gave my sis an extra piece. rofl….
6. BBQ chicken giblet – … sehingga menjilat jari *smack lips*

1. Roti Boom – Made from roti canai with inner fillings of sugar and lots of margarine which makes them very crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
2. Ayam Percik and Nasi Tomato – BBQ skewed chicken with kuah kacang (peanut sauce). HEAVENLY!
3. Satay – My son’s favourite.
4. Lemang – Rumah siapa ada open house????!!! Nak makan!!!!

So, puasa ke tidak, Sila?

Me? i asyik buka saja. 😳

… continue from Day 3 – Loots of Siem Reap and Apsaras Dance Show

We have 2 hours to kill before catching our flight at 11am. Since my sister wanted to get more bracelet as souvenir for her colleagues we have to head back to Old Market again.

We spotted this cart and know for sure that this is our breakfast!

The one we had on Day One is with roast pork filling. This time, they have ham. They was so good I almost tapau one home for hubby to try. You can rest assured with me when I say it is good, it could meant HEAVENLY DELICIOUS. When I say the stall is clean, it could also meant SQUEAKY TOP NOTCH HYGIENE.

Tell me, comparing to the above photo and the one below, who will you buy the french loaf from?

Just imagine, if one of the loaf drop to the floor, will she throw them away or pick them up, give it a blow, clean them on her sleeve and put it back on the tray? Thanks but no thank you!

In the Old Market at the wet section, there is a stall selling flowers.

This is the local lotus which has been weaved. Or rather I would say, FOLDED. The actual lotus has very large petals.

We headed back to the hotel and have one last drink in the hotel’s cafe to quench our thirst. Or rather I would say, I will miss you thisssssssssssssssssssssss much *sob sob*

aitelyu, the Coconut shake is so good! Basically, they blend the young coconut flesh and juice together into smoothies. Another drinks that you must try in Siem Reap. Sugar cane! They are not some plain sugar cane that we drink in KL. Their sugar cane is mixed with local orange juice (green skin). We had this 2 drinks almost everyday especially sugar cane cos it is widely sold everywhere.

Those are my bitter and sweet memories in Siem Reap. Rewriting it down on my blog does bring back lots of fond memories. I’ve penned it down in details to benefit any of you that are going there for holiday or future reference. TOO MUCH DETAILS sometimes it does scare my readers away *rolling eye*

We paid US$3 for a ride in Tuk-tuk to the airport and US$25 for taxes (kanasai so $$$)!

While waiting to board the flight, I donated my last piece of US$10 to their tourist fund. *sarcasm* *slap self*

I think I am attracted to the pouch rather than the massage oil. rofl… Anyway, I love eucalyptus. They are very soothing especially if you have a block nose or migraine. Have I use them? Not yet. Busy and lazy. I want to be massaged and not a massager *rolling eye*.

… continue from Day 2 – Ta Prohm & Silk Farm

We decided to have breakfast in the hotel’s cafe as their price is quite affordable and the main reason, IT IS CLEANER than outside.

We had cheese & ham omelette for US$1.50 and free flow of tea/coffee. Tell me, is that A.F.F.O.R.D.A.B.L.E or what? We learn to eat the french loaf the European way by mimicking some tourist sitting at the next table.

Firstly,

Using a fork, dig out the inner soft bread by forming a drain on the centre of your french loaf. The other half should be left in it’s original form.

Secondly,

Filled the drain with cheese & ham omelette. Covered them with another half of your french loaf. Tada! This way, no more omelette dropping out of your sandwich. Ah… looks like you learn a new lesson from jessielingdotcom today 😉

After breakfast, we intend to explore the shops alongside the road and also get a foot massage. In a nick of time, we ended in a place that look like old market. After asking around, it is indeed the new market. We continue our shopping there. New market is cleaner than old market because they don’t have a wet market in there. Of course the air smells better too.

I was spoilt for choices with their large variety of silk table runner.

Table runner are sold at US$2 each. In Giant, they are sold at RM59! And that brown curled up thing is a hammock sold at US$2. We (the kids and me) love it so much. However, they are of poor safety quality. I can fix that tho. No worries.

A better quality fridge magnet are sold at US$1 for 2 pieces. However, you can get a lower quality (without varnish) ones at US$1 for 4 pieces.

Siem Reap is my latest addition to my fridge magnet collection *wink*

We had what we wanted and decided to leave New Market. We have to move on as we need to hijack other loots. Before that, care for a dip in the pool?

Pool? What pool?

It’s FLOODING!

While we was doing our shopping in New market, we know outside is raining but didn’t know that the street has flooded. Now we are stranded in the New market. There is no way we can cross the street without getting wet from knee down.

The only idea I have is hop on a tuk-tuk. Now, this is another chapter of my life get conned. Read on….

This tuk-tuk offered us US$2 for a ride. I asked if he can bring us anywhere for shopping. Just anywhere be it a shopping mall or anything except for old market. He said ok and we hop on.

After about 5 minutes of ride, he stopped outside a post office and told us it is a post office. Duhh! And he go like this in broken english…

“You know, post office, you write letter and send to your family?”

“We are going home tomorrow. No need post letter anymore.”

“You want to go floating village?”

“No. We just want shopping. You know shopping? Big big wan?”

“I don’t know. But my friend know. Wait, I ask him. How about Angkor Wat, bla bla…..”

“All also we go already. Aiyah, faster la. Move on. We want shopping.”

“Ok.ok”

We ended up in Old Market again. Duhh! Since the street in old market is free from flood, we just get down from there. US$1 for the tuk-tuk for 5 minutes of ride. I just need to say, “Kanasai! Kena con again! Don’t know say don’t know la.”

We have so much time to kill so we conquered Old Market again. More of snapping pictures instead of getting more loots. We finally get a foot reflexology at US$5 for 1 hour. That is a bargain compare to RM38 in KL.

Did I tell you I love my curl? *cough*

Lot’s of antique bells. Some come in odd shapes.

See no evil, hear no evil, talk no evil.

I find Cambodia benefit Buddhist tourist. You can find lots of Buddha statue everywhere.

Cambodian wax sausages

I would not go to this part of the market if not for the sake of blogging taking photographs. Shall let your imagination run wild a bit 😉

Salted fish drying under the sun.

While I was admiring the lady arranging the fish on the bamboo tray, I spotted 3 policeman waiting for a bunch of noisy China tourists buying lots of pickle and fermented produce. I can only thought that they are escorts for the tourists till I almost had my jaw drop till the ground when I saw the 3 policeman was actually paid to carry good for the tourists. Oh Man!

For dinner, we went to this place called The Temple. They are right opposit Red Piano for free Apsaras show provided you had a meal or drinks there. Pricing wise… affordable. lol.

Prices compared to else where are double but the dances…. I would say, highly recommended!

Show started at 7.30 to 9.30pm. The first dance is called “The Blessing”. Can you see some flying blurry flower petals? Ah, we has been blessed. Or either they are blessing their show and business. *shrug*

The face expression on them is so real and I love their choreography.

After the show, we walk along the night street. Nothing much. Small town, boring stuff.

… to be continue Day 4 – Farewell Siem Reap

In Yoga, this is called the ‘Wheel Pose’ also known as ‘Upward Bow’.Follow the step-by-step S.L.OW.L.Y and remember to breath.

1. Lie flat on your back on the yoga mat.
2. While exhaling, bend the knees and bring the feet as close to the buttocks as possible with the soles of the feet on the floor.
3. Bend the arms at the elbows and place the palms of the hands flat on the floor directly under each shoulder with the fingers pointing toward the back.
4. While inhaling slowly, raise your head and rest your crown on the floor. I find that this is very helpful before pushing my hands, back and lastly, the buttocks off the floor while arching the spine.

Ah…. there you go. A very curvy body posture there. Lovely!

… continue from Day 2 (Part 4/5) – I heart Preah Khan

We told Mr Tuk-Tuk that we are really tired and can no longer walk. So we shall skip small temples. Anyway, all the temples has the same…. ole… thing…..sss……..

We have too many photographs and can’t recalled some of the temple’s name or where it was shots.

For example this…

But I can remember very well that he is the first person that asked me for Candy. I was very surprised that he says that in English.

And again, the doorway.lol.

This one again don’t know which temple.

It could be taken from Angkor Wat and maybe not. At the time of the incident, we was quite bored with all the stone, slabs, bas-relief, apsaras dancer and etc, we went and morrest (spelling mistake on purpose!) the apsaras dancer. Sheesh…. don’t tell anyone, ok? And look where is my hand rested? *slap self* Duhh!

Ok, ok! Back to my trip. So we was tired and Mr Tuk-Tuk can sensed it too. He thinks we should just head straight to Ta Prohm if that is the case. I’m all excited for Ta Prohm cos that is where the filming of Tom Raider took placed.

This pic could be taken from Ta Prohm or Preah Khan. My memory starts to failed on me.

Woohoo! Finally, this is the last temple. But wait. Where is the little door with lots of roots crawling on it?

“Oh, that one is in Ta Som.”

OMG! I need to slap myself. How can I overlook it. It’s my own fault. There is no way we could turn back to Ta Som if you were to look at the map. If you want to know what is so nice about Ta Som, Google it. iBet, you will drool over the roots.

We started out at 5am and took 7 hours to visit all these temples. Can you imagine how tired we are by now? No more temple hopping for us. That is for sure! But the days is still early (12pm). Since we already book the tuk-tuk (US$15) for the whole day, might as well we took our own sweet time now.

Off we went for lunch. Mr Tuk-Tuk recommended restaurant outside Angkor Wat as he claimed that the food is nice. Our priority now is cleanliness and secondary is the price.

That is some Khmer Traditional cooking of fish & wild pepper leaves (daun kaduk) in coconut milk. On the bottom right is Vietnamese spring roll. Good news is, I’ve bought some of the spring roll skin. Will definitely make them one day. Is a matter of time now. Our lunch cost us US$10 (inclusive of steam rice & drinks). Ok lar. A bit pricey in Siem Reap but I can afford to pay them. *ngek ngek ngek

So, what are we going to now? It is only 1pm. Think! Think!

Negotiation came. We will visit the Silk Farm by paying Mr Tuk-Tuk extra US$2. What a catch! We don’t even need to bargain with him.

Exiting Angkor Wat, we adjourned to Silk Farm. It’s a long way to go. Really, really very far from the town.

This is the only flower that catches my eye.

That’s all for Day 2. Mr Tuk-Tuk dropped us at our hotel again.

US$17 for him. At least he did not con us, ok! Remember his number ya, 4167! Or if you stay in Temple Golden Villa, you can always get his phone number from the hotel reception.

… to be continue: Day 3: Loots from Siem Reap & Apsaras Dance Show

… continue from Day 2 (Part 3) – Baphuon & Elephant Terrace

Exiting the North Gate of Angkor Thom to Preah Khan, lining up is another row of soldiers pulling the naga. But the soldier is all headless. All thanks to thieves!

From far, I saw a child who is barely 2 years old sitting on the ground. He was looking blankly, day dreaming. I took a picture of him.

Picking up pace, I stop and look back at him one more time. He’s not moving. Not even a bit. Still sitting there like a statue. My heart just fell. He look so pityfull. I went to him again and whisper in his ear, “Boy, go home.”

He melt my heart just like how Baby Princess melted my heart.

… with his One Million Dollar smile! He gave me another “peace” sign. I couldn’t capture them in time. He is so adorable. Can you imagine their parents just let their kids wonder out without supervision? And, and that hygiene? OMG! (I was kidding on the conversation part with the boy. Hahaha!)

East Gopura

Two picturesque kapoc trees have become partially integrated into the structure. There’s more in the temple.

Preah Khan is a very old temple. Most of it’s structure has collapsed long time ago.

Restoration to save the tree or structure? One will have to choose.

On the way out, we spotted some kids playing.

What is she holding? Probably her pet. Looks like one of the wild jungle cat. You know, these kids are probably no longer stranger to tourist. I just get my camera out and they automatically start posing for me. She starked me with this, “Do you have candy?”

I almost pop my eyes out. SHE CAN SPEAK ENGLISH!

“I’m sorry Baby. I don’t have candy.” 🙁

Somehow, I had an instinct. I told my sis, “At the exit, we run as fast as we can. OK?”

My instinct is so accurate. The Khmer kids is up to their antic again. My sis and me decided to break up so that we won’t get caught at the same time.

*&^%$ punya budak. By the time I look up, she is standing next to the tuk-tuk drive, laughing at me.

By the time I managed to freed from the kids, I started to smell like them. Seriously! Now I can understand why Angelina Jolie choose to adopt a child from Cambodia. That little brat is sure a lucky lot.

Note in the above photo, there are a row of upright boundary stones line the entrance causeway. Their pillars carry carvings of a chimera with the head of a lion, the body of a man, and the legs and feet of a garuda. The niches originally held images of the Buddha (the religion of Jayavarman VII), but most of these were chiseled out in a fit of Hindu icon.

… to be continue- Day 2 (Part 5/5) – Ta Prohm & Silk Farm

… continue from Day 2 (Part 2/5) – Bayon

Have you got tired following my post on Siem Reap? There’s about 3 to 4 more posts to go. Don’t forget that we are still in Day 2. I’ve used up 512mb of storage since 5am and my camera’s battery is not cooperating too. Good thing I have my sister’s camera as backup for pointless camwhoring.

Well, not only you are tired of reading my post. Our feet was soon giving up on us from all the walking. They seem so dead. “WAKE UP FEETTTTTTTT!!!” *sigh…

10am – We make a quick touring around Baphuon. All along, our tour guide aka Mr Tuk-Tuk was patiently waiting for us under some shady trees outside the temple.

Elephant’s Terrace is just next to Baphuon (still it is quite far for us). So Mr Tuk-Tuk ask us to walk there. Gosh, my poor aching feet!

The huge platform known today as the Elephant Terrace runs from north to south, across the east front of the Royal Palace, for a distance of 300m. All around the periphery of the terrace, lies realistic carvings of elephants. Beside elephants, you will see the grinning Chimeras (part lion, part human) supporting the terrace.

There are five staircases, three in the center and one at each end, lead up to the 10′ high platform. They are flanked with three-headed elephant heads as seen here.

I know Terrace of the Leper King is situated somewhere nearby but our feet, or at least MY FEET is really aching and tired from all the walking. I couldn’t be bothered with anymore terrace. I need to sit. And I mean NOW!

… to be continue: Day 2 (Part 3/5) – I Heart Preah Khan

… continue from Day 2 (Part 1/5) – Sunrise in Angkor Wat

We left Angkor Wat and headed to the South gate of Angkor Thom to Bayon.

You will see soldiers pulling a five headed serpent aka Naga to the locals. Note far back in the background is the entrance to Bayon forest which lead us to the temple. On closer look, Bayon is characterized by its many towers with four faces in the four cardinal points.

I love the tranquility in the forest leading to Bayon.

The rides from South gate of Angkor Thom to Bayon is about 10 minutes.

Bayon By The Calm Lake

Basically, there is 52 towers with the huge serene faces of the King Jayavarman VII and 173 faces have endured damge or collapse.

For my personal opinion, I have icky feeling in Bayon. Not because of the 4D faces but the temple is entirely covered with moss.

The Bayon is also remarkable for its bas-reliefs, in particular those of the outer galleries. Certain reliefs depict historical events such as naval combat against the Cham on the Great Lake.

Oh, just showing off one of the bracelets that I bought at 6 for One US Dollar. So beau.ti.ful and ch.eap! Now I can mix and match with my clothings.

Probably this are the only area that is not covered with black moss.

At least I don’t feel geli. OK! Sometimes I need to air my armpit too. *cough*

Last photograph would be what I love. THE CORRIDORS!

Next, we just walk over to the Elephant Terrace.

… to be continue:  Day 2 (Part 3/5) – Baphuon & Elephant’s Terrace