24th of April

After praying for a safe trip, and for blessings for my relatives whose hospitality I very much appreciate, I've said my goodbyes to my Aunt and cousin. My Uncle left for Switzerland two days ago for a conference so I wasn't able to formally say my goodbyes to him. I slipped a thank you card inside my Aunt's bag before she left for work, thanking the family for having me and assuring them that I enjoyed my stay there with them. When my ride came to fetch me and drop me off the airport, I exchanged farewells with the helper and the guards, even with the dog who growled at me a bit upon seeing me. On the plane, I took one last look of Cambodia and wondered if I'll ever be able to return.

I arrived in Bangkok, changed planes, and boarded the PAL airplane. We arrived in Manila at about 6 p.m. I went through immigrations, got my luggage, and walked a wee bit towards the other wing of NAIA, for the Domestic Flights. Since no planes are flying anymore for the provinces, or other regions of the country, I spent the night at the airport deeming it impractical to stay at my relatives' house in Laguna since my flight the next day was at 5 a.m. I was very happy to learn that there's a 24-hour store there and that I wasn't the only one spending the night at the airport. Some of those I was able to talk to just arrived from Brunei, Singapore, Australia, etc. who, like me, also had an early flight the next day. Since the airport opens again at 2 a.m., I made up my mind not to sleep. So I continued reading C.S. Lewis' "The Pilgrim's Regress" which overwhelmed me with lots of Philiosphical ideas which I wasn't able to fully internalize. The idea somewhat assimilates John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress", but the story delves more on Lewis' own experience from being an atheist to a Christian, and how Philosophy, Logic and Reason led him to it. That is to say, that's as far as what I've understood from my sleepless night there at the airport. It's a very intellectual read and I must say, I understood Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress better than Lewis' novel eventhough the former is written in Old English.

I couldn't help it any longer, I had to sleep.

When the airport opened and I had my luggage checked-in, specifically requesting the boarding pass personnel to give me an aisle seat for a change, I resumed my reading at the waiting area because of nothing else to do (the benches were too cold to sleep on and I didn't want to be rude by having the bench all to myself). The airport food was terribly expensive so I decided not to buy, but I did get myself a Chuckie Chocolate drink to keep me, hopefully, awake (I refuse to drink strong coffee now, remember? And a can of Coke on an empty stomach would be very unwise indeed). Before long, it was boarding time already.

What joy it was to finally catch sight of Davao City from the plane's window! My parents were very happy for me that I finally got myself exposed to another country's culture. I had so much to tell them, and they were also excited to hear it. I spent the morning yakking about my experiences and everything else I've told you here. 

 

It's really really great to finally be home!

 

Posted by: asenath at 12:25 | link | comments (2)

23rd of April

This being my last day in Cambodia, we went to the Central Market to shop for some more souvernirs! My tita bought my mom real Topaz earrings (original gems are another of Cambodia's local products) and then bought me a nice black gown which costs about $4 only. I know! You'd love to shop there too if you could. She bought more gowns for my other Titas too who will be attending a reunion party in their hometown in a few months.

I bought groceries at Bayon for my home-bound trip, and then sometime after lunch, my Aunt took me to Sorya (Phnom Penh's "mall") not only to just to tour me around, but to also view the whole of Phnom Penh from its topmost floor. To my great disappointment, I forgot to bring my camera! But really, the view was great! I was told that they made a law in Cambodia prohibiting the establishment of high-rising buildings (like those in Manila) so that they'd be different from all other countries. That is why the buildings in Cambodia are no higher than 4~5 storeys.

I was already packed the previous day so I was pretty ready to leave. The truth is, I miss my family so much that I didn't want to spend another day at Phnom Penh. Not that I don't like it there, because I do! But there's no place like home, and in my heart home is where the people I love and care about are, and how I yearned for their company once more. 

 
We watched "Cassanova" before going to bed.

 

Posted by: asenath at 19:19 | link | comments

22nd of April

 

Apsara shadow puppet

Once more, I was able to go back to the Russian Market to shop for souvenirs but this time, I was accompanied by my Tita who was free for the day. I bought two small Hindu-inspired masks of what looks like a monster from the Ramayana story... and that's where I learned that the shadow puppets cost $10~$15. These shadow puppets are made out of real leather and are intricately designed. How I wished I bought another one (a-man-riding-an-elephant shadow puppet) at Siem Reap instead.

  

Papier-Mache Masks

I asked my Tita for us to drop by Hotel Cambodiana again because I have decided to finally buy a book there: a Hardbound Adult copy of Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix (Bloomsburry). It was only worth $10 (compared to another bookstore's price of $31.50). I know, $10 is a lot of money too but if you'll consider this one closely, a paperback Harry Potter book of the same title here in 'Pinas costs about just the same. So it was just wise that I bought the hardbound copy instead. My sister was very delighted!!

 

 
After lunch, we watched "Tristan and Isolde" which is based from an Arthurian legend which I had been acquainted to not very long ago (in fact, weeks before I left for Cambodia, I found an old copy of Stories of King Arthur and his Knights at a UsedBooks store which includes the love story of Tristan and Isolde). The film is actually quite nice and but I find the story very tragic. Ooops, a spoiler now! But it is a very nice film: good cinematography, good actors, good story, good good good.

In the evening, I had the privilege of meeting my cousin's bestfriend

Posted by: asenath at 19:17 | link | comments

21st of April

To the Russian Market I went!!

Yup, I alone; unaccompanied; by myself. But I had a driver with me, yet he stayed in the parking lot.

 

Of course, I had a teeny weeny bit of apprehensions about my being a foreigner and all in a market and all alone and all... but as long as I keep my lips pursed, I thought, I'll pass as a Khmer doing some 'experienced' shopping.

 

But I got lost!! I found myself being in the wet market, the hardware section, the fruit stand section, and then back at the souvenir sections only to be lost again... goodness! I think people somehow knew it in their hearts that there was something weirdly wrong with me - for a young Khmer lady - as I walk to and fro past by the same stalls. I did hope that it would somehow occur to them that I may be a foreigner, although I don't think it ever did. Anyway, I finally got myself oriented with the market's system and at once, I bought a white silk scarf for my mom (silk is one of Cambodia's popular products), tshirts for my family with noticeable Cambodian elements on it, and small elephant stuffed toys for my friends in Davao City. It's actually a lot of work looking for souvenirs... especially when you've got a small budget to consider. Although I wanted to shop around more, I only had one hour to shop because the driver had to return to his home-base (where he works) before 11 a.m.

Stuffed-toy elephant

 

Khmer words:
Sok sabbay = How do you do?
Numbers: 1 = muy, 2 = be, 3 = pey, 4 = boun, 5 = priam. (Very helpful words when bargaining)

Posted by: asenath at 19:15 | link | comments

20th of April

Watched "Just Visiting" and "Much Ado About Nothing", and realized how very little I spent of my pocket money ever since I arrived in Cambodia.

...which is good. wehe.

This day, I finished reading that book my Aunt gave me as a remembrance of my trip here to Cambodia: Loung Ung's "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" which is such a page-turner for me, and a really absorbing and interesting read for foreigners, such as myself, who had zero knowledge about Cambodia's history. The book has really helped me understand the Khmer people better; to love and respect them in spite of all their well, 'flaws' because of all they've already been through during the Khmer Rouge's reign.

 

 

Immediately after that, I've also resumed and finished reading C.S. Lewis' "The Great Divorce", which is another interestingly philosophical/allegorical? and didactic story with regards to Heaven and Hell. Oh yeah, my Lewis collection is getting bigger!

Posted by: asenath at 19:14 | link | comments