Buying a dog?

My sister sends me an email about when one needs to buy a dog. How ever, I feel the statements are contradictory when we talk about our dear old rusty. I will do the comparison and you can judge for your self…

Statements 1:

If you want someone who will eat whatever you put in front of him and never say its not quite as good as his mother made it ……

Rusty only eats what’s yummy and what’s goes inside my mouth (veg) and pa (for non veg). It definitely have to be tasty, smell good and presentable and preferred expensive. He needs fresh RO water, preferred cold with ice cubes. Ice cream, chocolates and pear almost everyday! And if the food is yummy like pear and jelly, don’t even put your hand near his mouth…it wont be there any longer! The only yucky food that goes inside his mouth is his tasteless chicken which ma has to run around the house to feed him. I pretty much assume he will be wondering why shuba girls is not eating this anyway?

Statement 2

If you want someone always willing to go out, at any hour, for as long and wherever you want . . . .

It only happens if you have a car! Anytime..anyday..24/7. Rusty on wheels I say! Rusty only goes out wee hour in the morning and after 11 at night. That happens only after going one round in my Kelisa. If not his butt would not move from the junction of my house. And its either his way or the high way. Monday to Friday, near our housing area, sat Sunday, have to be me, in the morning and must be opposite housing area. Imagine pooping in other people taman and I am the culprit to bring him there! And if there is fireworks…….you can say goodbye to walks…

Statement 3

If you want someone who will never touch the remote, doesn't care about football, and can sit next to you as you watch romantic movies...

For this, Rusty is my man! Rusty care less what you are watching …but be he smart enough to put pitiful pathetic face…and sighing zillion times and give you the dirty look…..why are you sitting on the couch when you can bring me out or run and play ball? For more intense, he will actually start to bring ball not one, not two…he has almost 7 different type of ball…and he is good at it!

Statement 4.

If you want someone who is content to get up on your bed just to warm your feet and whom you can push off if he snores . .

Dream on buddy! I think not. Rusty invades the bed just like the camel story, first the head, then the legs and his whole body.

And more important, don’t mess with him in bed. Touch him once and goes as fierce as a wolf… …sometimes when my pa/ma goes to the loo in the middle of the night, they will come back to see rusty sleeping on the pillow…

And at the end, the final statements says…. BUT, on the other hand, if you want someone who will never come when you call, ignores you totally when you come home, leaves hair all over the place, walks all over you, runs around all night and only comes home to eat and sleep, and acts as if your entire existence is solely to ensure his happiness, buy a cat.

…..I on the other hand will say …rusty is all that and I will keep my charming RUSTY. Despite being the four legged little devil, he is the best.…

Journey of 4 Pilgrims to Siem Reap-Day Four and Five, 18-19 August 2007

Day 4, 18 August 2007, Saturday

Huh, Sunrise Again?

By day four, both Mok and Ramnah were annoyed of waking up early to see sunrise. Nevertheless, not wanting to leave behind the excitement, they followed us another around to see our very last sun rise at Angkor.

Today, the weather looked good, no rain and no dark gloomy clouds. Unfortunately, there was no sign of sun at all. Feeling disappointed again, we headed to the our final temple tour called The Roluos group which is located at the opposite of grand tour. The Rolous groups, oldest of all temples, consist of 3 temples (Bakong, Preah Ko and Lolei) all located about 1-½ hours from Angkor Wat. The journey to Rolous was simply superb and unforgettable. We first drove to the other part of the Angkor bypassing busy little city with bustling locals especially in the market area and then road goes deep into villages with beautiful paddy field and village house.

This is how we travel early morning to Angkor WAt by tuk-tuk-we always let the other wonder how we four girls of different shades look like?

The First to be Built, Last to View!

Our first stop was Loleii, the smallest temple of all three. Unlike other places, this was the only temple that we didn’t hear the holly 1-dollar mantra. Instead, we heard children asking donation to help the mine victim. Not only that the children was extremely polite and nice, unlike the exposed devils in Angkor Wat. I was impressed. How ever, the temple was all ruined. The only thing left was the structures that was scattered all around. Despite being the first temple to be built in Siem Reap, no restoration has been made so far.

The small Loleii temple, despite being the first no restoration made! Typical Hindu temple.

Side view of the temple.

Up close and personal with the inscription on the temple wall. Looks like Sanskrit!

So we headed to the next temple, Bakong, the biggest and one of my personal favorites. It’s located in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by huge pond and an active monastery at the side of the temple. Similar to other temple, a long pathway linked to the main entrance that views the beautiful 3 set of gopura on high temple ground. The temple ground is very huge and has little gopuras all around the temple ground. The structure of the temple was a little like Banteay Srei. A little stairs lead to the second level where there were several small ruin gopura on both side. We walked around the temple and rested for a while enjoying the soft cooling morning breeze. Unlike Bayon or Phnom Bahkeng, there is nothing magical about the temple but it was indeed a nice place to rest and relax from the bustling crowd and the annoying kids.

The huge pond at the entrance of Bakong.

An active monastery at the corner of the temple.

Walkway through the beautiful Bakong temple.

Close up

Full view of Bakong with the similar sign board, "climb at your own risk"

The central gopuras

ME sitting behind the central gopura

The view from the central gopura. Below all ruin!

We then headed to the last temple, Preah Koh, which is all ruined and under restoration. But the beauty of the temple lies on the huge gopuras with beautiful carving and the Nandi’s sitting opposite each gopuras. By then, we were all done with temples and headed back to old market for our real shopping free.

The 3 gopuras of Preah Koh- currently under restoration!

Side View

Mega Sale!

We shopped and shopped and shopped till it was 1 o’clock and was time for lunch. We quickly headed back to our guesthouse, only to put or things and headed to our usual restaurant, the Angkor Famous. Feeling too stuffed but not satisfied with our shopping, we continued till it was 3.

The Perfect View, for Perfect End!

We rushed back to our guesthouse, quickly refreshed and headed to Blue Pumpkin, where our new young tuk-tuk driver (which we pre-booked yesterday) awaits us to take to Bakheng Hill to see our last sunset. Unlike Angkor Wat, Bakeng hill was crowded with twice the people. May be it best spot for sunset, may be its picturesque or may be its simply were not raining. Not wanting to miss the last opportunity to view the sunset, we rushed up to the hill as if we were in amazing race and spotted a nice perfect place. Instead, we ended up enjoying looking at people and the peculiar behavior as the sun never set.

By the time it was 6.30, the whole place was getting dark and the guard showed us out. Everyone was rushing down as they climbed up. Our tuk-tuk driver was already waiting for us. We then headed straight to the old market first to buy our usual stock of bread at Blue Pumpkin and then to our last shopping at night market, which was just around the corner. Since, it just around the corner, we paid him off and told him we would find our way back. The place was simply superb everything sold here was in high quality, had beautiful colors and design and was expensive. After shopping for sometime, we stopped at the restaurant to enjoy one last thing, the taste of local desert, which turn out to be quite nice. Satisfied with everything, we headed back home to do our packing.

The view of our last sunset at Bakheng:

How to enjoy watching sunset at Bahkeng Hill:

1. wear cool local scarf on the head

2. Pre book place in advance and dont even move inch ...its free..and first come first serve basis

3. You can sleep and view the sun set in wrong direction or simply use an umbrella to cover the sun

4. Or simply wear a colourful suits with matching head gear, face the sun and read a book

5. Or you do nothing above and take picture of your self!! He he he

Day 5, 19 August 2007, Sunday

The Return of Four Holly Saint!

It was our final day in Siem Reap and I could hardly sleep. We only woke up at 7 o’clock. No sunrise to Angkor Wat today as our pass was only valid for four days. We quickly repacked for the final time and headed to our usual Angkor Famous for breakfast. Instead, we ordered lunch. We had the taste of local bread, which turned to be better then our local French bread. Lingering to long at the restaurant we arrived late at the guesthouse and our taxi left. The owner was angry yet got for us another one. We said nothing. Quickly took the taxi to the airport to find out that our flight was delayed. However, miracle happened and it was rescheduled to the usual time. After 2 hours or sitting on the plane, it finally arrived at KLIA and our journey to Siem Reap ended.

ME and akka looking damn fresh..no sunrise today!

ME at Shadow of Angkor balcony.

Our last meal at Angkor Famous

My coffee which cost about US1.50. Sigh!

The taste of the local bread..yummy!

My vegetarian noodle...it taste as good as it looks..no MSG at all.

Journey of 4 pilgrims to Siem Reap-Day Three, 17 August 2007, Friday

Oh Sunny Boy Where Are You!

Today was going to be a busy day, as we will be doing the grand tour, consisting of 8 temples along with our usual routine of sunrise at Angkor Wat. Hence, we were up early again. Since Angkor Wat does not require tough climbing, we only left the guesthouse at about 5 something. Hence, prayed really hard for the sun to show up.

Surprisingly even at five thirty in the drizzly rain, tourists have already crowded the temple. As the time pass on more and more tourists arrived. Along with them, we eagerly waited for the sun to rise. We waited and waited and waited till it was 6.30 am. The whole place was brightening up but there was no sign on sunny boy. Sigh! Another day, another disappointment! With very sore feeling, we headed to our grand tour beginning with the very first temple located 20 km away from Angkor Wat, Banteay Srei.

The Beautiful Pink Temple!

From all 8 temples only Banteay Srei and Banteay Samrei are located 20km away from Angkor Thom, bypassing the beautiful paddy village. The people lived in poverty yet there were smile on their face. The children were running happily on the courtyard, cows, pigs and hen lays on the side of the house, adults were on the paddy field and group of monks walking house to house getting their food supply. Unlike the spoilt greedy people of Angkor Wat, this was the real Cambodian.

Situated in the middle of the villages near the hill of Phnom Dei was Banteay Srei, built in 967 A.D. by Yajnyavahara, who served as a counsellor to king Rajendrawarman. The temple looked rather small from the outside and all ruin. Nevertheless, the entrance door of the temple was engraved with beautiful carving and it leads to 67 m long walkway to another magic door, where we encountered the most beautiful gopuras with breath taking carving of Hindu god and goddess on the red sandstone. The carving, though being almost 1000 years old, looked as if it was carved yesterday. Hence, to preserve it, visitors are restricted to enter the temple ground. The beautiful glows of red sand stone structure in contrast with the rustic orange sand and the tall pinkish wall making it looking more like glowing fort.

The paddy village near the hill of Phnom Dei, 20 km away from Angkor Wat

A typical Kampung house in the paddy field.

Lady selling local dishes at road side

It taste a little like lepat pisang ..yummy

The Main Entrance of Banteay Srei

ME, another window frame picture-ruin library of Banteay Srei

The rustic orange walkway leading to the second entrance of the gopuras

Figurine of broken Linga in the middle of the second entrance

Statue of Nandi split into two

The beautiful pink gopuras' of Banteay Srei

The front view..

The side view

Beautiful carving on the pink shaded gopuras

..i think its vishnu avtar!

ME sitting on the window frame

A beautiful little girl sitting in similar position drawing pictures ..she gave me one!

The Maze Temple.

From Banteay Srei, we headed on the opposite direction to Banteay Samre. Unlike Banteay Srei, Banteay Samrei was built on higher ground that was linked by the 200 m long walkway. We climbed up to the tinny entrance that was linked with 6m tall lacterite walls that served as the pathway. The 3 gopuras stood in the middle surrounded by dry man-made-pond that was connected to the four corner of wall by tinny narrow stairs. The structure of the temple, the color and the maze like walkway, made the temple very gloomy and dark. The walkways looked alike and were indeed confusing. Hence, we walked all around, coming in and out from different gopuras entrances till we failed to see the beautiful carving of Ramayana.

The entrance of the Banteay Samrei on higer ground

Opps...where is the rest of my body? The only part of the god statute left behind!

The surrounding wall cum walkway

US standing at the walkway

Name is bond...shuba bond...ME ..another window picture...

The second entrance to the gopuras of Banteay Samrei

Inside walkway - door connectinng one gopuras to another

The side view of the gopuras of Banteay Samrei

Temples and Temples and More Temples.

We continued our journey to 4 other temple East Mebon, Ta Som, Neak Pean and Preah Khan all situated in the surrounding of Angkor Thom. The first was the East Mebon, built in 953 A.D. by King Rajendravarman appears to be one of my favorites. It’s a very huge temple in the shades gray looking similar to Phnom Bahkeng. It is a 3-tier building with 2 lion kept at the entrance and huge 2-meter elephant at all corner of second and third tire. Above, there is a central tower on a square platform, surrounded by four smaller towers at the platform’s corners all in the shade of silver gray.

The beautiful huge East Mebon temple entrance

The huge lion at the entrance of the temple

Akka and me leaning on the jolly looking elephant

ME and ele

From there we headed to another beautiful temple deep in the jungle of Siem Reap. Ta Som is a small temple in the similar shades of gray and had a huge 4 smiley faced gopuras arch, just like Angkor Thom. Unlike other temples, Ta Som was all ruined and was unable to get into the temple ground. It’s a pity as the outer wall of the temple itself was engraved with beautiful carving, wonder what lies beneath. Nevertheless the attraction of the temple lies on the straggler fig that has dominated the whole arch exit, looking more like secret passage to a magical cave.

The similar four smiley face arch entrance at Ta Som

CLose shot of the face.

The entrance to the inner Ta Som temple

The carvings of Devatas on the outter wall structure

Another straggler fig at the exit ....was filmed in Thom Raider as well.

We then proceeded to Neak Pean. It takes approximately 100m long pathways that adjoin the main temple in dark gray with no wall, no door and no window. Here, the main gopura is positioned in the middle of the main pond, which was then connected to all four gigantic pond represent Water, Earth, Fire and Wind. The ancients believed that going into these pools would balance the elements in the bather, thus curing disease. In the middle of the four healing ponds is the central water source, where there is the main gopura facing peculier statue of Bahala (Bodisavatta Guan Yin transformed into a horse). However the beauty of the dried pond could not highlight the beauty of the temple or the figurine, as the temple has been reconstruct un orderly.

The main temple at the central pond

The main gopura

The funny looking statue...Bodisavatia...goddess guan yin transformed into horse

The face fountain ...

From there we headed to our very last stop, Preah Khan. The temple is so huge; we entered from one entrance and come out from another. Built in 12 century, it was the centre of a substantial organisation, with almost 100,000 officials and servants Similar to Angkor Thom, this temple had the similar four-face smiley face gopura arch and similar statue of gods and demons on the both side of the entrance pulling the serpents. However, the statues here were all ruined and missing head. The outer laterite wall of Preah Khan carved with 72 garudas holding nagas, at 50 m intervals.

Unlike other temple, despites having beautiful, carving on the wall, most of the structures were all ruined. Due to that the temple looked very dark, gloomy and scary. By time we walked though the centered part of the temple, almost everyone got tired so we ended our journey there and we headed back our tuk-tuk.

One of 72 garudas on the outter wall

The still standing Linga

An old lady at the temple..cleaning wax from the buddha's statue

The beautiful carvings at the inner wall of the temple

Four Pilgrims Journey to Shopping Free.

However, our holly temple visit didn’t end here. As the journey back home would bypass the Angkor Thom, we all opt to stop by Angkor Thom once again to do our shopping. Or initial plan was to go Angkor Wat to see the sun set, but since all of us were almost tired, we opt to head back home straight. We rested for a while, bathed and went back to ANgkor Wat for another session of sunset which we fail to see. Hence, we went for out very early for dinner. But first, we stacked our daily food supply form Blue Pumpkin. Some how, we ended at the same restaurant, Angkor Famous where today we got our royal treatment. Feeling so stuffed akka and me decided to go for a walk while Mok and Ramnah headed back room. The market was about to close but we still managed to shop. I finally found something for J, beautiful pendent and couple of elephants for akka. Feeling satisfied we headed back to our guesthouse to end another tiring day.

Akka and me at Angkor Wat waiting for sunset

If you really look close at those clouds...you can see a man's face ...ironic huh! may be god amused with us looking at sun set he decided to follows us!


The only view of sunset