Koh Song Saa (Song Saa Island)

Koh Song Saa is an enchanted island. My significant other and I (after much thought) settled for Cambodia as our special first night destination. Audits of this island were awesome and it was impressively less expensive than other comparative comprehensive alternatives.

Every night we were turned down and furnished with an exceptional treat from the cook (more often than not something sweet and chocolaty!). The nourishment was heavenly. Every night we were welcome to feast on different parts of the island. The nourishment had a Cambodian turn and we ate various delectable tasting menus, including a five-course BBQ menu conveyed to us whilst we sat on the shoreline listening to the waves.

The comprehensive component of this occasion implied completely comprehensive. Global calls, clothing and the majority of the exercises and water sports on the island were incorporated. We kayaked around the island, snorkeled and went on an outing to a neighboring island to kayak through a few mangroves with an aide. We just needed to pay for the fuel for the pontoon that took us over to the island. Despite the fact that the island is little, it offers an extensive number of exercises. You just can't get exhausted! I likewise went by the spa (would have been inconsiderate not to) and had one of the best back rubs I have ever had.

There are a couple audits on here that say and/or grumble about the clamor of the neighborhood angling water crafts. It would be ideal if you believe me when I say this is by no means an issue. Angling is a need for the neighboring islands and is utilized for the most part for sustenance. The island additionally does a great deal of protection work on the encompassing islands and is focused on aiding and instructing local people.

On the off chance that you are attempting to picked a vacation destination or are searching for that additional extraordinary occasion, I can't prescribe Song Saa enough. I was truly tragic to leave and was at that point attempting to figure how we could bear to return within the near future. There are not a great deal of spots I might want to go to more than once, yet without a sad remnant of an uncertainty, I would come back to Song Saa.

For the collection of the picture of this island please check : https://youtu.be/bY3AzcycnX8

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat is a definitive articulation of Khmer virtuoso – a striking sanctuary that is dazzling for both its fantastic scale and its mind boggling point of interest. A visit to Cambodia's World Heritage Temples of Angkor complex, voted by Lonely Planet as the world's number 1 sight, is justifiably high on the rundown for some voyagers. Become more acquainted with somewhat about the history, which means and components of its most eminent and famous sanctuary, Angkor Wat, then begin arranging that rare outing.

 For the collection of Angkor Wat photos please check https://youtu.be/UJjGnxEyDOo

Kean Svay Resort is under construction

Kean Svay Resort is about 13 km east of Phnom Penh on National Road 1. It is one of the most populated resort on weekends and public holidays.
It suits for family and friend reunion or such other small parties like birthday parties, but birthday cakes are not served there :D. There are many kinds of food available like fish, snails, chickens, and many other dried foods. You can also order soup from the hut owners, but that would be more expensive as they are instantly cooked. You can also find various fruit which are recently picked from the farms.
Kean Svay has many relaxing huts for renting for the whole day. The price is according to the size of the mat that you rent and also the day that you go there. The size of a mat - one space (around 2.5m x 2.5m) is probably $1.3 on weekdays or normal days. It may go up to $2.5 for the crowded days like weekends and public holidays.

You can also enjoy a boat trip around the river which may cost you $3 or $5 for one hour.

Right now, this place is under construction and will be finished sometime before Chinese New Year in 2013. The construction is mainly based on the path to the relaxing huts and the food stands. New food stands will provide the tourists more trusts on hygience and ease to get the food. There will also be sheds protecting you from the rain and sun while you are buying food. New car parks will be built and more security guards and police will be available for the whole days.

However, even though it is under construction, you still can enjoy your weekends and holidays as usual, only the food stands which are moved to a further space.

Below are the pictures which I took during my day there on September 24, 2012.

She's selling fruit.

Temperary food stands. It looks very like the old place.

New concrete path. The new food stands will be built along this path.

At the back are the relaxing huts

My sister and nieces back from the boat trip

At the hut where I rent.

Food stands

This area will be used for the car park

My wife and niece are buying food

Grilled chickens

Can I call these "snails"?

Fresh-water lobsters and shrimps

My Khmer New Year-2011

This year, my new year vacation is quite good.

On the first day, in the morning I went to Wat Vihea Sour locating in Kondal Provice (as I know). It is about 40km (Makara told me) from Phnom Penh. It is a very big Wat I had ever been to and also the first time that I went to and lit lots of insanes in many small huts (hermitages)where we took some pictures. It was ashamed that we (my wife and I) did not cook anything to offer to the monks there as we got up late by ringing sound when Lena called me. So we decided to buy a case of instant noodle, some sugar and some tea only. By the time we reached there, Lena and his nephew, and Makara and his family had already been there and offered their food to the monks; therefore we (my wife and I) offered ours just before we left there. We had to hurry home because Korney Devy was coming at 1.13 pm. Because of the time limit, I could not bring the fruit to my mom, but I hired a motor taxi driver to do it. In the afternoon, I went to Makara's and played cards until night.

I did not do anything much on the second day. My mom called me and said that she was not fine, so we had to go and took care of her nearly all day. We went home late afternoon and as usual played cards at Makara's again. It was my bad day. I lost some money which I won on my first day.

On the last day, my wife and I went to Wat LangKa. We offered food to the monks there and took some pictures. Oh, I haven't gone to pick those pictures yet. We felt good then. We washed a stutue of Buddha and built a mountain of sand and wished for good luck for the coming year. And you know what we do when we came back? Hasha, we played cards again. That day, we won a lot of money.

Now I know an abstract reason why I won on the first and the third day. I went to pagodas and lit insanes (and also at home). I have started to believe in it much more than before.

How many times have i been absent?

When i checked my mail just now i saw an email from my friends. It contained a handful of mails and pictures. Those really grabbed me. But i couldn't see myself in those pictures. Why? Oh, because i hadn't been with them. As far as i remember i have been absent a few times. Well, i didn't go to the pagoda with them, i didn't go to Piseth's house and i also didn't go to Hour's house with them. All in all, I've been absent for 3 times. But that's ok. I think they are making plans for the Water Festival and my fiancee and I will join them.

Holiday to Udong Mountain

On September 23th, I went to Udong with some friends of mine. They are Hour, Lysang, Saran, Rady and Piseth.
It was a really nice holiday eventhough I had only 500 reils with me. How comes? I felt very sad when Piseth called me at 7 at asked me to go with him as I was broke. I didn't know where we were going. But he promised to pay for me. As we were on our way there, I thought that it wouldn't be a nice one since there were only six of us. Who knows? When we reached there, there was really continuous laughter. We played cards and talked about this and that. They had lots of things to share. As we climbed the mountain we also took some photos. We saw some fish and three thousand scultures of Buddha. But I felt sorry that I didn't bring my camara with me so I didn't take any photos. But I hope to see those photos soon when Hour have developed them.
I would like to take this opportunity to say sorry to all of them that I had to leave first as I had to join a soccer game with my colleagues at Sisovath High School. But they forgave me as they replied an sms and said it was ok. They understood. Thanks Friends.

Holiday Coming Soon

Bonn Pchum Ben is coming soon and I also have many plans to do. It's difficult for me to choose. But let the time do it, I just wait and see. What about you all? What are you going to do?

Well, I'm going to a Wat on October 7th with my colleagues. The Wat is probably in Kompong Speu province.

On September 30th, I'll probably go to Kirirom with my school friends. But I haven't decided yet.

On Pchum Ben days, I'll have around 5 days off. So maybe I'll spend most of the time with my family.

But one thing I really want to do is to go to a Wat with my family and then with my high-school friends. I hope I will be able to go to throw bai ben (steamed sticky rice mixed with sesame seeds and then formed into balls) with them.

Photos On Holidays

I've just posted the photos I took on vacation with my friends. Wanna see them? Click on Sokchea's Photos and see.

Going to Vimean's House

It was my second time there. As I can remember the first time was around two years ago. And this second was on the 4th of August. It was a very nice visit. There were Chhunhor, Saran (a bit late), Piseth, Lysang, Vimean, Rady, my fiancee and me. Well, there were 8 of us. In fact, more friends had promised to go, too, like Tharom and Makara. But they were all busy. However, it didn't affect much on our pleasure. We were still happy and full of joy.
When we got there, we helped each other with the food and then Hor and I went to buy some fruit (mangosteens and Ple Mean-I don't know in English) with twelve cans of Ashahi. As we came back the food was nearly ready. So not to waste the time we also played cards. Wow! I won about 5000 R. Hor and Piseth lost the game. Saran and I won. Then the big lunch was ready and it took neary an hour to finish it. Piseth drank a lot. This reminded us when we went to Hor's uncle's house. Piseth couldn't pass out his urine as he drank too much. Haaa... it was the best joke of all. He was nearly drunk. But he was Ok. Oh we took a lot of photos. I hope to see them soon. We also went Thun Mun Pagoda. I could remember that I went there around 6 or 7 years ago with them. But then we went with a lot of friends. We took some photos there and chatted around an hour until 4 then we came back.
At that day, as I came home from school, Lena was waiting for me. He wanted to go either but he couldn't contact any one for any information. We also mentioned him as we were at Piseth's house. I thought he didn't go as he was busy with his work. I could see that he was a bit disappointed. I felt sorry either but I couldn't do anything then but to talk about this and that.
And that was the end of my happy days with my dear friends.