Capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh ( Day 4 14-Feb-2010)

Day 4.....Morning of valentine's day(14-2-2010)....definitely a great day as we are visiting a local orphanage with my Cambodian friend Ms.Daly and her family members. The orphanage is located outskirt of the city and we took about 30 minutes to reach this place. A brief history of this place.......well started by missionaries from Hungary & French some 30 years back. The place used to be very run down with very little attention & support from Cambodian government but ever since donations started to pour in....the situation gradually improve!

My friend's brother is so kind to send us personally to the orphanage he once used to stay at when he was young. Poverty is a serious problem in Cambodia.......strange enough..... rumors recently that Cambodia government want to built the tallest building in the world....Oh Gosh...must be the biggest joke in 2010!!

The orphans lining up at the waiting hall to welcome us.....some of them is very young ans cute. I felt it when I see them. Trying to hold my tears most of the time and at the same time trying to talk to them even I can't speak Khmer language at all.

One of the bedroom belongs to the orphan at this center. Years back the children here sleep on the floor only.

The children started to wear our specially design T-shirt and eating sweets that we have brought it here together. We also distribute some instant noodle and potato chips to them. They smile like no tomorrow when they receiving their goods. It's good to see them enjoying their sweets and chips.

One of the orphan in this place. She looks cute....isn't she???? I just hope that she is alright!

Some of them is very young here and I just pray & hope that one day these children will eventually found their own world....a world which they preferred! good luck and all the best!

Kelvin In orange colour shirt is distributing the sweets and chips to the children with their eyes focused right to the goodies!

Remarks:- It is a remarkable experience to visit this place and interact with the children. At the end of the day We realized that  nothing much we can do.....but at least we do something.........to cheer up and brighten up their day! We decided to pass some money to my friend and she will come here and buy some daily necessities to them. We leave with a very heavy heart knowing that we are indeed very lucky to live in a country where our luxury back home is only a dream to most of them in this part of the world called Cambodia!!


Special Note: I would like to take this opportunity to thanks all the donors who help us make this visit to orphanage happened and on behalf of the children, once again thank you so much for your kind contribution.

City & town visited in Thailand till date!

After more than 10 years traveling in the land of smile and counting, I've start to lost count of places that I've visited. Therefore, I think it is better for me to record it here so that I'll have my own reference in the future.Truly I've visited quite a number of Thai'c city & town......and here goes the list:-

1) Bangkok 2) Chiang Mai 3) Chiang Rai 4) Korat 5) Hatyai 6) Khon Kaen 7) Udon Thani

8) Trang  9) Koh Samui 10) Betong 11) Lamphun 12) Mae Sai 13) Ching Dao
                                     
14) Aranpayprathet 15) Nongkai 16) Phattalung 17) Pai 18) Krabi

 19) Songkla 20) Samoeng 21) Ayutthaya 22) Pattaya 23) Phuket 24) Golok

 25) Hua Hin 26) Cha-Am 27) SanKhampheng 28) Doi Saket 29) Saraphi

Remarks:- list will be updated regularly and I am looking to add a few new city and town when I am traveling to Loei ( Swiss of Thailand)  next month.

Son & Sun Chill Out Restaurant

Recently I've this opportunity to visit the sea side town of Trang in Southern Thailand with 2 of my good friends. Nothing much really about Trang, a sleepy, quiet and peaceful town which is about a leisure 2.30 hours drive from Hadyai. What is worth mention during this trip is a small little hidden restaurant located in between the highway between Hadyai & Trang. We bounced into this place accidentally as we are stopping at a petrol station for a short break! The food is cheap & delicious..... and I love it so much.... especially the Tom Yum clear soup which is excellent!! The Iced Tea is excellent too!!

Name & contact:

Son & Sun
Chill Out Rertaurant
Office: 08-5151-2152

Saigon, Vietnam - Phnom Penh, Cambodia ( Day 3 13-Feb-2010)

Once again we started our day early as we are travelling overland to Cambodia. Everyone wake up early and as usual we had our delicious buffet breakfast at our hotel. We wait at our hotel lobby for our driver to send us to the VIP bus that will bring us all the way to the capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. Our driver was late but once we see our bus....we are delighted as it was really a huge bus.....and...there was less than 10 person on board. Ticket price is USD 7.50 per person and for that price we have no complain at all! Not going much into the details of this journey.....but the 7 hours plus journey to Phnom Penh is a great but tiring one! Here are some of the photo's taken through the bus journey!

Remarks:- The journey from Saigon, Vietnam to Phnom Penh, Cambodia will bring you to some of the remote & poor town in both countries. The border crossing in Vietnam is called Moc Bai whereas the crossing in Cambodia is called Bavet. Immediately after you step into Cambodia you will witness dozens of Casino and hotels lining up at both left & right hand side of the road. Normally after crossing into Cambodia, you will stop for a lunch at a local restaurant but the foods here sucks & very expensive. Be ready to fork out USD 3.50 for a plain wantan mee or USD 4 for a plate of fried rice. Nevertheless it is an eye opener experience of a life time and this bus journey is the longest yet I"ve tried in my life! The longest bus ride ever in my life.........Cambodia overland to Laos!!

Democacy needs to prevail regardless!

I have not been blogging about Politics for quite some time. Recently I've just finished reading a book (PDF file) by Giles Ji Ungpakorn entitled " A coup for the rich" which is banned for sale in Thailand. Reason the author is wanted for a charge on Lese Majeste or being not respectful to the King of Thailand.

In this book the writer explained in detail the political situation in Thailand, the monarchy, turmoil in the south and so on. I have to agree with the author.....no matter what DEMOCRACY should prevail regardless! Democracy should be a guardian for everyone and not only the elite people as what the writer claimed! Its a fun book to read and if you read it though.......U will understand the situation in Thailand better.....it is far more complex than RED VS YELLOW, Democrats Vs Pheu Thai, King Vs Thaksin, Rich Vs Poor or so on.......read the book without prejudice.

The writer also confirmed my believe that the problems in the south is far more complicated than what most people believed. The writer make effort to explain the details about the problem. When you don't respect each other, discriminate others and bullying each other......then everything will turn sour.....anger, appointment, dissatisfaction soon prevail and problems begin......Read the book and should you need one just inform me and I am more than glad to email it to you.......FOC

Tiger Temple In Chiang Mai

Here is a temple for someone who are born in the year of tiger.........located somewhere passed the highway entrance to doi inthanon national park. It's an ancient Lanna style temple and best to drop by here if you are on your way to visit Doi Inthanon National Park.

Location:-Wat Prathat Sri Jom Thong at amphur jom thong. 

It's definitely one of the BEST Chicken Rice!!

For Chicken Rice Lover.......Die Die Also You MUST Try this!!

Location: On the junction where you turn into Mae wang in the SanPatong district. Trick look at my 3rd photo and notice the blue arrow.....this is where I've tried & taste the best overall ( price + taste + environment) Khao Mun Khai @ chicken rice in Northern Thailand. Price is a mere 25 bath a plate for mix steam & fried chicken. Free Of Charge unlimited charcoal boiled soup and sky juice!