24th Oct 2010 @ 11 am

Today is Sunday, no one is home except me. Prema started her traveling again and Elyssa is away in KL. The TV has been on since 7 am, sticky-date cake is in front of me, my finger is on the laptop. What a peaceful life.

I gather it is time for me to upload some pictures for my blog since Battambang is buzzing with activities.I have never seen so many people in Battambang. Even the monks came out in full force.


See how much fun they had. So carefree.

Candy vendor attracted lots of kids.

My failed attemp.

22nd Oct 2010

So much for a sustainable business!

Business, It runs in my blood. Whenever I come across something interesting, I would automatically think of what can I do to make it my business.

I have been thinking of introducing sand art to Cambodia since I came here over one year ago. So, my last trip back to KL, I bought 10 kg of coloured sand, pictured cards and invested a few hundred in it. I carried it all the way from KL to Siem Reap to Battambang, and even paid for extra luggage.

For almost two month since I came back, I have been thinking of starting my business but I was too busy with the school and my studies and of course, the many hours with the computer. You know, one can achieve so much if one stops playing games. Last week I took out the coloured sand and packed 3 gm packet of each colour, and what I have been procrastinating for two months I actually did it in a few days.

Battambang is buzzing with activities from today till Sunday. It seems like all the population of Cambodia are here for boat racing festival. I started out 7am in the morning, put up two tables, displayed all the 10 colours of sand and the cards at the park opposite UniED, sat there and waited and waited and waited, no one came. Finally 3 students from UniED came along at 9.30am tea break, bought one card. Then came 2 pm, few girls from UniEd (the same girls as the morning) bought another one. Waited and waited again, then came 4 pm, one guy who has been observing me took pity on me and bought another one. In the mean time, I was baking in the sun, hungry and wanted to go to toilet but could not leave the stall. Sigh.......
So much for starting a sustainable business in Battambang.

I pride myself for being strong and nothing can dampen my spirit but now I am doubting it.
I kept thinking to myself, "Should I come back again tomorrow?" I know I should not quit, I am not a quitter but is it worth it just to sit there for the whole day doing nothing?

Kim Poh, I will let you know my answer in my next post.

Good night.

The story of my life!

What a life!
As I was cleaning the dish tray this morning, I was thinking about my family and friends. My day started with monks praying, music blasting from two loud speakers facing my room at 5am for the last 3 mornings. Take a wild guess! Yes, someone in the neighborhood died.

In the kitchen, my routine every morning is to clear the dish tray and rewash whatever that is in there. You may ask why I have to do it? Take a wild guess again, rat droppings and rat urine! wipe the table in case the rats run over it in the night. Then only I start my day.

Most of the day I am frustrated with the maid, the teachers, the weather and occasionally, with the house-mate named Prema. The consolation is because of all that, the days pass by very fast. Before I have time to think, it is already time to play my computer games.

The prayer I ask for in the morning is not "I have wakened in Thy shelter, O my God, and it becometh him that seeketh that shelter to abide within the Sanctuary........." I should pray that no one die or get married in the neighbourhood and the maid understands my sign language.

Okay, it is time for lunch. bye.

18th Oct. 2010

Resolution not mean to be kept.

16th Oct 2010 @ 3.00am

I decided not to play Facebook games day before yesterday but I'm sad to say that I am so addicted to it that I ended up spending 3 precious hours on it last night.

Yesterday was a crazy day. I got up early and found out that the whole of Cambodia (a bit of exaggeration here) was flooded. Spent almost one hour cleaning the school with the help of the teachers. Walked to class, walked home, walked to market, walked home. Had meeting with the teachers, then went to the Nineteen Day Feast.

Physically I am exhausted but as usual, sleep does not come easy. I want to write about so many things but nothing comes to my mind right now.

Good night.

My latest resolution.

14th Oct 2010

For the last one year everyone has been busy with facebook. I think it was (and still is) the best way to keep in touch with your family, friends and sometimes long, long, lost friends. I had a few friends that I have not met for more than 30 years and now we are connected again.

Facebook is for people who want to be heard too. You are on holiday in ..... place, you ate durian last night... you were hungry middle of last night, you just hang out your cloths, or your grandson just turned 5. There are people who gets angry when they receive birthday wishes through Facebook and complained that the friends can't even call on the phone to wish her anymore. You send virtual flowers to friends? Beware, the friends may even get offended, too, for not receiving the real one.

I was hooked on Facebook for more than one year. I did nothing for many months except farming in Facebook. Then I found Bubbletown and am still hooked on it. I know many of my daughters and nieces are crazy over bejewelled and many precious hours are wasted!

I told Prema last night that it would be my last night with Facebook games. In fact, I told myself many, many times that I have to stop going into Facebook but again and again, night after night I failed in my resolution.

I spent hours of sleepless night writing blog after blog in my mind but never get down to doing it until now. I told myself I am going to leave some things for my grandchildren once I am gone and they can have my blog to know me.

So, here I am, hopefully I can put my thoughts into words and share them with the ones I love.

Hopefully, you will get to read more in the days to come.