24 Tuesday Apr 2012
Posted in ABC Wednesday
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It was a quiet Khmer morning. Friends and I were traveling to Siem Reap. The van we were riding in slowed down by a procession. Curiosity managed to snap a shot of what looked like a miniature house carried by a truck. As it disappeared into gathering speed I saw a coffin inside it.
The deceased apparently had something thousands of his countrymen we visited at the Killing Fields the day before never had – an obsequies.
28 Wednesday Mar 2012
Posted in Sensational Haiku Wednesday
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Heights and horizons
Our stories appeal most when
Minds travel far and wide
16 Friday Mar 2012
Posted in ABC Wednesday
Dove wings, rustling greens
deeds penetrate the heavens
a whiff of cool blue
Now comes the quiet
clear blue remnants of Khmer
may souls rest in peace
Question: what’s the deal
between green and violet?
True color matters
07 Thursday Apr 2011
Posted in Uncategorized
When I asked CJ a few hours ago on the phone what was he doing, he said, “I want to eat lollipop.” The rest of his replies gave me ideas for our summer plans.
Helicopter tour
I was ready to take a helicopter tour over Cambodia’s Angkor Wat recently but glad I didn’t because I wasn’t exactly interested in flying without CJ so for this summer I plan to re-plan the whole thing instead.
Jollibee birthday party
After Disneyland for CJ’s birthday last year, and a submarine ride the birthday before that, I want something he has never experienced before and that is a Jollibee party. I am probably more excited than he is.
School and extra-curricular lessons
CJ’s psychologist recommended a school so I’m going to check it out. Art, music and swimming are up on the list too.
Candlelight dinner
I want to date CJ in either East Asia Royale Hotel or Paseo del Sol before I fly back to Bangkok. A lot of other interesting places came up on my search so these two are tentative, but I hope I can find one that will suit us best.
Read books
It is a family tradition but I want to read to CJ this time with more sense and sensibility (Jane Austen addict here :)). Strickland Gillilan’s poem will be my summer reading motivation:
I had a mother who read to me
Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea.
Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth;
“Blackbirds” stowed in the hold beneath.
I had a Mother who read me lays
Of ancient and gallant and golden days;
Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,
Which every boy has a right to know.
I had a Mother who read me tales
Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,
True to his trust till his tragic death,
Faithfulness lent with his final breath.
I had a Mother who read me the things
That wholesome life to the boy heart brings-
Stories that stir with an upward touch.
Oh, that each mother of boys were such!
You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be —
I had a Mother who read to me.
This post is linked with Mommy Moments
08 Saturday Jan 2011
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Then Sings My Soul Saturdays features inspirational music. Amy Wyatt hosts TSMSS at Signs, Miracles and Wonder
While visiting the infamous S21 in Cambodia, I remember a cousin telling me of a documentary film. John Lennon’s Imagine was playing in the background as “a field of cabbages” panned in. We were kids when she told me that tale. The cabbages were actually skulls of Khmer Rouge victims. In later readings I found out that the location of the ‘cabbages’ was called the Killing Fields.
Almost three decades later, last week, I found myself right where the atrocities took place. Bones in glass cases, pieces of victims’ clothing, holes where corpses were dumped juddered my entrails. I wanted to get out of Phnom Penh as quickly as possible. I was hoping my mind would not register the images. But it had. I would be asking myself what did I learn from the experience. Now I see a bit how Imagine relates with the ‘cabbages.’
07 Friday Jan 2011
Posted in Uncategorized
Host Susanne at Living to Tell the Story describes Friday’s Fave Five as “time to take a look over our week, recall blessings great and small and pick our five favorites to share.”
The company of a friend. Being alone makes me extra grateful for exactly that. It is not nice to meet the new year or any other important celebration all by oneself. I am glad I had someone who happens to be in the same circumstances as I do – single, no immediate family nearby. We splurged on fine dining, 5-star entertainment and a weekend getaway to a quiet beach resort over the new year.
“Take lots of liquid.” It is one statement that would have meant nothing if I saw or heard it from where ever while struggling with a cold. But it came from someone who has become special to me these past weeks. I would not exchange this little show of caring for all the luxury moments I had at Grand Hyatt, Intercontinental and Hilton last weekend.
Angkor Wat. The world’s largest religious site is virtually right down my backyard. For 13 years it seemed like I took the close proximity for granted because although I always wanted to visit, I never had the company, and I am not adventurous enough to go alone. Finally last week, friends organized a trip there with former professors. I had mixed feelings observing good, old teachers take the ‘back stage and this time, let former students dominate the talking‘ during the travel.
Forgetting an envelope with leftover cash from my Hong Kong trip. The time was perfect to have remembered it contained wads of US dollar bills to pay for the Cambodia trip.
Learning. We proceeded to Phnom Penh after the awe and grandeur of Angkor to see the Killing Fields. Khmer Rouge stunned me to the bones and gave me second thoughts on visiting Germany’s Dachau camp one of these days. But I am grateful to learn that there ought to be more compassion for the living and respect for the memory of those who wanted to live but did not have the chance.
Tourists waiting to meet sunrise at Angkor
Sensational Haiku Wednesday
Stasia Desiderata 