miss samar at angkor wat temple complex

it took a while before i was able to post these photos but am sure glad i finally did. these photos were taken six months ago on her second visit to cambodia. what a sport (thanks ga), i am so glad that she conceded with my request of her playing along with my camera. as we were going through temples after temples, it sure is good to have a little fun time. here are the shots.

she was crowned miss samar 1988.

night out in phnom penh...

after seeing these 'shrines' countless of times for the past four years, it has long since been a plan... to go around phnom penh at night time and take shots of the different sites. together with a friend, hired a tuktuk and finally did it. here they are...

royal city of oudong, cambodia

... notice the biker in red shirt reflected on the mirror...
he is one of the kids who suddenly appeared upon arriving at the place.
all were on bicycles offering their services of a tour.
most held on to the tuktuk and kept on asking to be taken...
with more kids around -
it sounded like buzzing bees suddenly descended from out of nowhere...
i focused on my photo taking...


... the start of the five hundred steps to the hilltop...
it would be a physical challenge although there are stops where you could rest those heavy legs...


in one of the stops, there is a pool occupied by monkeys... he is the 'leader' of the group...


a close-up of the bannister of the stairs going up... or down.. whichever...


a few meters before reaching the end of the stairs,
one can be awed by the enormous imposing structure of the stupa...








the vista on one side of the stupa - overlooking entrance to the site and the temples in the area...






taken from another side of the stupa - notice the newly built temple complex below...

i have heard of this place since i got here five years ago. in some occasion, colleagues would point it out to me while on a work trip. This time, with two friends, i finally am able to visit the place. it is located west of phnom penh off route 5 and is called Oudong - the royal capital city of cambodia from the early 17th century until 1866 when the capital was moved to the current capital city, phnom penh.

as can be read from guide books, this place is the final resting place of several of the kingdom's kings. The oldest structure in this place is from the 13th century and it is one of the sites of Khmer rouge last stand against the invading vietnamese in 1979.

i have always wondered what the old capital would look like. i was anticipating old structures and relics but from the horizon while on the way there, i could already discern a glistening white structure - newly built stupa - atop the hill. Upon reaching the place, i noticed that there are intermingling old and new structures or should i say - lined structures differing in elevation. i could only guess that the old stupas contain the remains of previous kings.

another thing that is striking with this place is the location of the stupas with the newly built stupa dominating the rest. it is overlooking the plains and what a site to behold. it is strategically located that while viewing the surrounding vista, one could almost feel that he / she at the center of the world .

i should say, this is a 'must' place to visit when in cambodia.

info: we took a tuktuk ride (25 usd). i won't advice to take this kind of transport - it takes at least more than an hour each way. it would be a lot faster renting a taxi although riding a tuktuk gives one a glimpse of the rural scenery along the way and gives one ample time to take photos without stopping the ride. 090415

salug mangrove: gnarled remains of a childhood playground...

it's sad...

please see related entry...

p.s. this entry is a protest of the wanton disregard on nature preservation...

buri baras beach... at dusk...

...a sudden squall brought back fishermen to hide in the beach cove
and let the stormy wind die down before returning out to sea.
most of the residents in the area are fishermen.

"par, nag-iinano ka?" (what are you doing?), asked a friend by text message to which i replied, "waray" (nothing). "kalakat kita" (let's go somewhere) came the subsequent text message and i hurriedly replied, "kana" (in agreement). It was four in the afternoon. Quickly, i got into my car and met up with them. Stocked two cases of beer and ice and loads of snack food taken from another friend's mini-grocery. spontaneity is always the name of the game among this set of friends.

i originally suggested to go check my tree house near the beach and while away time there but the caretaker was nowhere to be found so we opted to go to another beach. by then, the sun was still comfortably above the horizon.

went to the unused airport and diverted into a dirt road (good thing, it was dry so we didnt have any problems proceeding up to a few meters from the beach). we parked the car at tessie's retreat place (if am not mistaken of the name) providing much needed security.

there were five of us... each had his hands full carrying things we needed... mostly food and drinks, guitar and of course, my camera gear.

we followed the trail and on the way met a bunch of beach goers going back after a day's stay. finally reaching buri baras beach, it was such a sight... the beach was totally desserted... and the sun was slowly setting in the horizon. took this chance and here are the photos.

we truly had a great time with the talents of my friends in guitar playing and singing (one of whom is on a holiday from his stint abroad). it was like reminiscing good old times.

info: buri baras beach is located north of catbalogan, approximately nine kilometers from the city proper. upon reaching the village of sulangan, turn left to take the small road going to the wharf (this will take you to the improved unused airport). upon reaching the airport, notice a small dirt road to the left of the runway (right at the beginning of the runway) and this will take you a few meters from the beach proper. almost at the end of this dirt road, there is a resort (also a good place to unwind) called tessie's retreat resort. the rest of the way to the beach needs to be trekked following a trail which would take at least five minutes.

cottages are available in the area (100 php) and there are small variety stores for some minor replenishment of supplies. there are also two karaoke places though i prefer to shy away from cottages near these areas as the music comes up blaring. there is no entrance fee.

host class 1983's invitation to the ball...

i cant give credit as to who designed this 'great looking' invitation... the color was just perfect... but to the person who conceptualized this... you did a really good job... thanks.

on the way to my post... micah

as part of the arrangement, if michelle is not in country, i tag along micah to travels that i have to do... in one of those trips... i burst into laughter seeing what she was doing at the back of the car as we cruise along the highway going to koh kong... and this is usually what she does on travels... entertain herself.

2009 ssu alumni homecoming: the parade: part 3

need i say more? let the photos speak for itself... cheers...