Wordless Wednesday 007: A traditional Khmer wedding

Posted by Sreisaat on November 04, 2009 @ Inside Cambodia

This is the wedding ceremony of my landlord's daughter. A traditional Khmer wedding ceremony is usually done over a 3day period. Nowadays, however, the ceremony is cut down to two days. Despite the shortened ceremony, it still is rife with rituals, elaborate costume changes not only of the bride but also of the groom and their attendants, and relatives, as well as the festive atmosphere and sumptuous feasts.

Wordless Wednesday 0015: How much...

Posted by Sreisaat on November 3, 2009 @ My Dogspot

... is that doggy on the window? Arf! Arf!

Wordless Wednesday 015: Giant shrimp of Kep

Posted by Sreisaat on November 03, 2009 @ We Ate This!

You are always in my mind!

Wordless Wednesday 009: Lapland, Finland

Posted by Sreisaat on November 03, 2009 @ Postcards Crossing

Postcard from Lapland, Finland, showing the aurora borealis.

Here comes... Khmer Iggy and the bride

Posted by Sreisaat on November 04, 2009 @ Postcards from Miss Igorota!

Oh, and the sister of the bride, too!Traditionally, Khmer weddings last for three days and are done at the bride's home. Nowadays, the ceremony is shortened to only one day. Our landlord's daughter's wedding, however, was held for two days (may kaya sila). Despite the shortened ceremony, it is still rife with elaborate rituals, costume changes (not only of the bride but also of the groom, their attendants, and their parents), and not to forget the food and merry-making! More photos at here.

Media women to study women in media

Posted by Conference Coordinator on October 28, 2009 @ IAWRT-WMC Conference in PP

Professional women broadcasters and documentary makers will gather in Cambodia shortly to examine the portrayal of women and their practical involvement in media. The International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) will be holding its 33rd Biennial Conference in Phnom Penh from 17-21 November 2009. This year’s conference will be based on the two media strategic objectives of the Beijing Declaration and Plan for Action, which marks its 15th Anniversary in 2010.

Wordless Wednesday 078: Rural cambodia

Posted by Sreisaat On Tuesday, November 03, 2009 14 comments


flat Cambodian landscape

Joining the Wordless Wednesday meme again this week. Check out other Wordless entries here.

Shutterday 001: Going to the dogs

Posted by Sreisaat On Sunday, November 01, 2009 2 comments


Hi guys, it's my first time to join :)

shutterday 001 curious joe

That's our Joe, our 3month old puppy, checking out one of our friendly and shiny visitors.

Hujambo, Kenya!

Posted by Sreisaat On Sunday, November 01, 2009 2 comments

My sister is flying to Kenya on Thursday!

I am so envious. And who wouldn't be?
She will be the first in the family, from either side, who will step foot in the African continent. How can I beat that! :)

She will take her post as a VSO Volunteer in Lukore in the Mombasa district of Kenya. For two years, she will be working with a Kenyan cooperative run mostly by women. As a VSO Volunteer, she is expected to focus on institutional and individual capacity building which will include trainings of cooperative officials, developing cooperative development strategies as well as laying down institutional/organisational systems such as financial and accounting procedures, marketing plans, and even By-laws. The tasks ahead of her are daunting and the conditions are, well, not the same as what she's used to, and I wish her all the best. She has a strong character and an excellent people-to-people skills and so we know she can rise, and she will rise, to the challenges that may come her way.

Her post in her blog today, Hujambo, Kenya!, is very touching. She tells of her son who seems to be okay about her going away. I can't help but feel for her. Two years is a long time, but I agree with her, time will just fly quickly.

Good luck, MamaGirl.
Take care of yourself while there. We'll take care of Joshua for you.

Pinoy mugs

Posted by Sreisaat On Saturday, October 31, 2009 5 comments

I recently got in touch with a long-lost friend who just returned to PP and she gifted me with this:




What a perfect timing! Just last week, I dropped the last of our coffee mug and so we are back to using our old tiny cups as we didn't have time to get new ones. This mug is just the right size for R and I, not to small and not too big, perfect for our daily brew. The handle is large enough for easy grip as well. I also love the classic white body painted with the ubiquitous tricycle of our homeland. Oh how I miss our colorful tricycles! Thanks, F! Now whenever I get homesick, I'll just take this mug out of the cupboard and make myself a cuppa.

Would you like one as well? My friend has three more mugs left and she wants to sell them to anyone interested. Leave me a message.

Blog revamp

Posted by Sreisaat On Thursday, October 29, 2009 2 comments
I am currently re-constructing my blog template so please excuse the clutter. Just a few more tweaks in the codes here and there, photo adjustments up there... and it'll be up and running in no time. I hope old friends will visit and see me blogging again, and if not, hopefully new ones will come find me here.
|

Litratong Pinoy #36: (taga-) LINIS (Cleaner)

Posted by Sreisaat On Thursday, October 01, 2009 13 comments




Humanga ako sa kalinisan ng kapaligiran, lalo na sa rural areas, sa Japan noong minsa'y nakabisita ako doon. Talagang seryoso nilang sinusunod ang pagiging clean and green. Sa syudad naman, napagawi ako sa Asakusa district ng Tokyo, kilala bilang entertainment district ng mga Hapon. Dito makikita ang maraming entertainment venues tulad ng mga parks, shopping arcades, pachinko parlors, traditional Japanese music and kabuki halls at meron ding Western opera, at iba't-ibang klaseng strip shows/seedy clubs. Sa gabi ay nagkikislapan ang iba't-ibang makukulay na ilaw at nakakabinging tugtog na nagmumula sa mga tugtog at barkers na nagsasapawan (halos mapigtas ang kanilang ugat sa leeg) upang manghikayat o mang-akit ng maraming customers.

Pagbalik namin sa umaga, ay ibang eksena ang bumulaga sa amin. Sarado ang halos lahat ng clubs at pachinko parlors, tahimik at may iilang turistang ang naglalakad at nagmamasid-masid.



taga-linis

Sa isang dako ay napansin ko ang mamang ito. Di ko akalain na ang siya pala ay taga-linis sa lugar na iyon. Parang Metro Aide sa atin. Ang kaibahan lang niya sa Metro Aide ay may pasan siya sa balikat ng dalawang drawer (gamit ang mahabang kahoy) kung saan nakalagay ang kanyang mga gamit-panglinis. Di rin halata ang kanyang dala-dalang walis at dustpan. Kung inyong mapapansin (please click to enlarge the pic) ay meron siyang parang prosthetic sa ulo para mag-mukhang nauupaw siya. Bahagi pa pala ito ng gimik sa Asakusa.



taga-linis close up

Litratong Pinoy #35: Karatula (Signs)

Posted by Sreisaat On Thursday, September 17, 2009 10 comments




Mga karatulang di-sinasadyang magpatawa subalit nakakatawa, sa kabila ng babala o mahalagang mensaheng ipinahihiwatig nito sa madla.

Seen while on my way to Kep:
local print ad




And this one was spotted somewhere in Shenzhen, China years ago:
chinese sign

Litratong Pinoy #34: Almusal (breakfast)

Posted by Sreisaat On Thursday, August 06, 2009 14 comments




Hindi ako mahilig mag-almusal. Ewan ko ba kung bakit. Isa marahil ay ang pagiging malayo ko sa mga mapang-suring mata ng aking Ina nang ako ay nag-aaral pa sa unibersidad. Sa boarding-house kasi ako naka-tira, at, dahil wala ngang parental control, ay nakasanayan ko nang pumasok ng walang almusal-almusal.

Nakasanayan na rin naming mag-asawa ang di mag-almusal sa umaga. Kape lang ay okey na sa amin. Pero noong mga nakaraang taon na ako naka-base pa sa Kep, ay na-engganyo kaming tularan ang mga locals. Sabi nga, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Kaya naman ay tuwing umaga bago pumasok ay dumadaan kami sa mga kainan para mag-almusal ng kuy teav. Ito ay gawa sa rice noodles at sangkap tulad ng baboy o baka at piling herbs. Masarap ang sabaw na galing sa pinakuluan mga buto-buto.

Heto naman ang isang version ng noodle soup na paborito naming mag-asawa kapag kami ay nasa Kep:



chicken noodle soup

Simpleng chicken noodle soup gamit ang instant noodles, laman ng manok at sari-saring gulay.

Noong pumunta naman ako sa Japan ay sinubukan ko rin ang traditional breakfast nila:

japanese breakfast



Tamago gake gohan ang tawag dito.