The Peace Sign

EJ's class photo were distributed yesterday. Hubby and I laughed when we saw it. Why? Look at the photo.

EJ was sporting a peace sign. And he's the only one doing it. I don't know where learned it. Maybe somebody was coaching him. LOL!

According to EJ, his bestfriends are: Miro and Osuke.

Their class is the cutest, right? Hehehe.

Night Market in PP

We have been meaning to go to Phnom Penh's night market. But because we know it's not gonna go anywhere, LOL!, we always take it for granted.

But last Friday without meaning to go there, hubby and I found ourselves strolling around the night market while holding hands. Hahaha!

We were actually on our usual Friday night date but it was still early to have dinner so we crossed the street from the restaurant we were gonna have dinner and voila! The night market!

Mostly it was clothes for sale, from Bangkok, I guess. There were some souvenir items and jewelries too.

This is what caught my attention. There were food stalls at the back side. And it was cute because they had laid down these mats, sort of like banig for their customers to sit on while eating the food. If we weren't on our way to dinner I would have dragged hubby to buy me a street food and sit down on this place.

After the tour we went back to our restaurant and ordered beer for hubby and mojito for me.

The weather was nice that afternoon and we decided to dine outside al fresco. My order of Seafood Red Curry. Muy delicioso.

Hubby ordered a salmon steak. He said the sauce was particularly delightful.

Another great friday night date with the hubby. And oh we went to Fish restaurant in case you PP friends are wondering where we went. It's on the riverside. Hehehe.

Grateful Friday #2

I woke up to a rainy morning! I felt great. It's been so hot lately it feels like we are in an oven all day long. And this morning's rain is a welcome relief. I am not fan of rain, I always say that, but today I just love the rain.

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After my first successful homemade longganisa, I wanted to make another batch. I wanted to see if I can duplicate my first success. LOL!

This time I used cling wrap to wrap the longganisa. It looks better now. But does it taste the same as my first one? Hubby says it tastes even better. LOL! I guess the reason it tastes better than the first one is the amount of pork fat on it. Thank God I found a place where I can buy just the right amount of fat and lean meat ratio.

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Gotta love promotional products, right? While going around the grocery today, I found my favorite chips on the shelf. If it wasn't on promo, I wouldn't have noticed it. Yay!

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I am not sure and I am hesitant to credit the rain alone but this morning I felt happy and light. I try to be happy all the time but there are times when you just feel down. Today I didn't do anything but I just feel happy.

It might be because it's Friday. Friday always lights me up. Plus it rained. Plus I feel blessed than I already am.

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Happy Friday everyone!

Market hop

My friends and I went to O'Russey Market yesterday to look for jewelry display (for a necklace and a foot accessory) and cardboard display. We got lucky because we found both easily. Mind you, that market is not easy to navigate. Even my friends who have been there several times still get lost. We had a hard time finding the stall for my friend's knitting supplies. We almost gave up. LOL!

After the market trip we were so famished. We all went to a Chinese restaurant nearby. This lunch date with my friends has become a weekly thing. And I am loving it.

We ate so much but only paid $14! That's only about $3 for each of us. Too bad I wasn't able to take pictures of the food. I was really hungry that I dived in immediately. LOL!

After lunch we went to another market called Central Market to look for shades.

My friends, all happy after buying fake shades worth $1.50 each! I bought one too and was even tempted to buy more.

I am not missing the big and airconditioned malls anymore. I get to buy whatever I want here without breaking the wallet. I get to eat yummy and healthy food (tofu, spinach...) without paying big bucks. And what's more, it's a hundred percent more fun because I am with my friends.

After the market tours, we went to our favorite coffeshop and had refreshing frappes.

Ahh...life is good!

EJ and school

EJ did not go to school yesterday. He was already at the school gate when he decided he doesn't want to go in.

I was busy reading blogs and looking at an eye wrinkle cream review when the doorbell rang.

Hubby dropped EJ back at home before going to his office. He said he didn't force EJ to go to school because EJ looked serious when he said he didn't want to go in.

I checked EJ. He seemed fine. I asked him why he didn't want to go to school. He just shrugged.

This is not the first time it happened.

The first time I was waking him up when he said he was still sleepy and doesn't want to go to school. That was okay. I let him.

But yesterday he was already dressed up and was in front of the school when he said he doesn't want to go in. I wonder what's the reason?

His teacher has been telling us lately that EJ sometimes doesn't pay attention in class. He likes to play around more.

Is EJ becoming bored at school?

I don't want to sound mayabang but EJ already knows the things they do at school. He's mastered the alphabet and numbers 1 - 10 when he was 25 months old. Now, he can do addition and subtraction using his hands (of course only up to number 10). He can read some two and three letter words. His memory is sharp. He has memorized a lot of his books.

Or is he just not interested in school sometimes?

Today he went to school without any fuss. He even stayed a little longer than necessary in school.

I am not really worried but a part of me says I still should need to do something.

Maybe I should sit in his class again one of these days...

Homemade Longganisa

Hubby has been craving for longganisa since last week. I told him I'd check Filmart, the one stop Filipino store here.

I know what kind of longganisa hubby likes. The sweet kind. Unfortunately Filmart had only Vigan longganisa, the salty kind. But I still bought it.

It was good but we were not satisfied. So I thought I would just make our own longganisa.

Yesterday I bought a ground pork at the supermarket. My ingredients for longganisa:

Ground pork
Pepper
Garlic chopped
Salt
Sugar
Ketchup
Ground all spice
Lime juice
A dash of magic sarap

I would never make a good chef because I don't measure my ingredients, LOL! This is my first time to make longganisa and I should have measured the ingredients but ever since I started cooking I never measure anything. I think it works because while cooking I can taste it and then add more ingredients according to my taste. But I don't think this would work in baking, right?

Since I don't have a proper wrapper, I just used whatever I have at home - a foil. Before I wrapped it with foil, I cooked a small amount first to check if I have my desired taste.

And luckily, I got it the first time. Hubby said it's yummy. LOL!

We had this and a sunny side up egg for breakfast. Opppss...there goes my promise to start a colon cleanse today. I will just start again tomorrow.

Anyway, I can honestly say my longganisa is not bad. But I think what it needs is a little more fat to make it a little softer. The ground pork I bought was mostly lean meat. So next time I know what to put in more.

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I miss my mother. She used to make longganisa too.

Great tennis game

After not playing for about three weeks, hubby and I went to the tennis court yesterday. I wasn't keen on playing. I was feeling tired. I felt like I just came back from an arthritis pain treatment. LOL!

I am glad I went. Hubby and played a fiery game. As fiery as it can get to two not-so-bad players. LOL!

Actually I was surprised with the way we played. We haven't been on the court for three weeks and it would have taken us two days to get back to our game. But yesterday, it only took us a few minutes to warm up and then we were already playing our best.

Lest you get the wrong impression, we are actually newbies. Hubby just started playing late last year. I started playing tennis during college then life took over and I haven't played since. I only played again last year together with hubby. So that makes me a newbie too.

Anyway, yesterday's game was really hot. Literally and figuratively. The sun was already scorchingly hot at 8AM when we started. And as the temperature got hotter our game got hotter too. LOL!

It was a service game at the start. Nobody broke a point. It was 3-3. At that point I was really surprised. Usually I would have been ahead. LOL! But hubby was playing better than his usual game, never giving up a point.

Well, not until the next game. I pushed hard and got a break point 3-4. Then I scored again on my service, making it 5-3.

I thought I could win it even on his service but hubby held on making the score 4-5.

By then I was already too tired. We never had a water break. Plus I was running all over the tennis court, chasing every point. I was near dehydration. LOL!

The last score was hard to make. Hubby didn't want to let go. I had to play my bestest.

I won of course, 6-4! We only played 1 set because our time was up.

Hubby said I won because I used an intimidation technique. I don't think so. Honey, it's called confidence. LOL!!!

Grateful Friday #1

There's a new addition to our family, not mine, but my brother's. We are all happy, excited and grateful. It is a gift of life. It is precious. And it truly is a blessing. Thank you.

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EJ is a happy kid today. He didn't cry when hubby and I went out to have our usual Friday date night. Thank you.

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We had a buffet dinner again tonight. I ate salmon sashimi and grilled seafood. It was very delicious and filling. Thank you.

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It's been a little hot outside lately but we have AC's in our home to cool our body and mind. Thank you.

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I am amazed at the blogging opportunities coming my way. They're unexpected but truly, undeniably welcome. Thank you.

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Have a beautiful Friday everyone. And enjoy your weekend!

Eating Khmer food

I was out with my friends today for business and fun. We're attending a fair next month and we were brainstorming the whole morning at a coffeshop.

In the afternoon however it was all fun. We went to a bead shop and made necklaces. Read the story in my other blog.

After the trip to a bead shop we went to Russian Market, another tiangge, to meet with another friend who was busy shopping inside. LOL!

Before heading home, we sat down and ordered some noodles at one of the food stalls nearby. My first time!

This manang sells the good stuff!

My friends and I. We were so excited and curious to eat local food. I know I need some muscle supplement and of course rigid diet and exercise routine. So please excuse my big fat face. LOL!

Bansung Yung. It's a white noodles with crispy spring rolls and pork sprinkled with ground nuts. It was so delicious and so filling.

We paired the noodles with teuk ampao or fresh sugarcane juice. I love this!!!

As much as I love the food, I don't think I'd be eating in these stalls often. There's hepatitis and cholera to think about.

I think I just scared myself. LOL!

Commitment

Wow, it just hit me. It's middle of March already. We're nearing the end of first quarter. Where did all the time go?

I was reading my friend's blog last night and she has this long list of things she wants to do but keep on postponing. Most of the things on her list are on my list too. And just like her, I keep on procrastinating.

Take for example our planned trip to Angkor Wat. We've been here in Cambodia for almost nine months and a trip to Angkor Wat is only 6 hours by car or 50 minutes by plane, yet we still haven't been there. We keep on postponing a trip to Angkor Wat because we think it's near, we could go there any weekend we want.

It's like this in KL as well. We wanted to go up the Petronas Tower but never gotten round to it. We always thought, we could go there anytime, it's just walking distance from our apartment. And yet we left KL without having gone up the tower.

Ayayay. LOL!

I have a lot of things I want to accomplish this year and if I don't write it down, I might never be able to do it.

So today before I get sidetracked looking for the best fat burner, I am going to write those things I want to finish by year end and commit to doing all of it.

Seriously!

Cravings

I was sick for about 5 days. And during those days I had no appetite. I only ate so I would get better fast.

But last Sunday, I suddenly crave for everything sinful (calorie wise of course). For our merienda that day, I ordered a large pizza, a garlic bread and a lasagna. And for dinner that night, I wanted to eat a crispy pata. Too bad Bistro Lorenzo, the filipino restaurant here was closed for a Bingo event at the Embassy.

Monday night, I still got my crispy pata after I ordered hubby to buy it for me. LOL!

Yum! Yum! Yum!

I am supposed to have lost weight because I haven't been eating well. But guess what. The weighing scale has a different story.

I blame this crispy pata. LOL!

First award of the year

I thought blogging award had died because I haven't come across any award for quite some time now and I haven't received any as well. LOL!!! Apparently it hasn't because I have just received a very flattering award from Ms. Z of The Sreisaat Adventures. Thanks Z!


1. Thank & link the person that gave you the award.
2. Pass this award onto 15 bloggers you’ve recently discovered and think are fantastic.
3. Contact said Blogs and let them know they’ve won.
4. State 7 things about yourself.

With the award comes an obligation (LOL) to reveal 7 things about myself. Let me see...

1) I was born in Surigao City.
2) My name is a combination of my parent's name.
3) When I was in highschool and college I was a PBA (Philippine Basketball Asso.) fanatic. I loved the SMB team.
4) I make the best adobo ever (at least according to hubby, LOL!).
5) I love the city and the beach.
6) I go to a spa at least once a week.
7) I dream of owning a resort someday (dream big daw eh).

Now I am passing on this award to these beautiful blogs:

WitsandNuts
Whatever Comes to Mind
Kayni's Corner Cafe
Confessions and Thoughts

When I grow up

EJ doesn't want to be a chess grandmaster after all.

When asked what he wants to be when he grows up. This is his answer: I want to be a teacher and a race car driver.

Why do you want to be a teacher? Because I want to teach small kids.

Why do you want to be a race car driver? Because I want to drive fast.

Becoming a race car driver wasn't a surprise for us. EJ loves cars and of course fascinated with speed. But a teacher? He totally surprised us. We don't know where he got it.

Hooked on chess

EJ's been pretty enthusiastic about learning how to play chess. Since I find chess boring (defense mechanism, LOL!) hubby is the designated tutor.

...at home

...at a restaurant

I think playing chess beats playing any computer game anytime.

Sick

I am soo glad to be back in Phnom Penh. The recent Bangkok trip was a mixture of good and bad.

Good because we were able to do some things we haven't done before like watching a movie together, dining under the stars, and of course we were able to do some little shopping. I bought a couple of clothing and accessories and hubby bought a cell phone booster. LOL!

Bad because EJ got sick on and off. One day he's sick and the following day he's not. Then the next day he's sick again. The night before we flew back here, he had a dry cough. It was so bad he couldn't sleep through the night. And who else was up the whole night? It was me.

Now, I am sick too. Sore throat and a runny nose.

I thought I would never say this, but travelling can be really stressful. Having said that, we're going to cancel our trip to Singapore next month.

Dinner on the 55th floor

Last night, we had dinner at Red Sky, one of the restaurants of Centara Grand. It is perched on the 55th floor (basically the rooftop) of the building with a great view of Bangkok. We were dining al fresco.

I love the changing colors on this.




This is our view.

And we ordered these:

Cold tomato soup. It wasn't so great for me. I think I still like my soup to be hot.

Grilled seafood platter. Hubby and I shared this but we still weren't able to finish it off. Sobrang dami!

And of course, the obligatory photo before going back to our room. LOL! We did have a great time. There's something about eating under the stars.

Great Service

I don't think I have mentioned this in my previous post, we are staying at Centara Grand again. Hubby's conference venue is at Bangkok Convention Center which is conveniently connected to the hotel.

Anyway, I was busy looking at wedding programs online yesterday when the phone rang. It was from the Guest Relations.

GRO: Madam, I heard your son is sick....
Me: Oh, he's feeling better now. Thank you.
GRO: That's great. We have something for him, if that's okay with you.
Me: Okayyyyy.....?
GRO: I will be in your room in about 10 minutes.

This is what we got from them. A get well soon card and a rubiks cube. Never mind that EJ still doesn't know how to play it. It's the thought that counts.

Everyday they also put some little knick knacks in our room. They put a plateful of banana on the first day. On the second day they put some dried tamarind candies. I wonder what they will put on our table today? =)

Love ko na talaga ang Centara Grand. LOL!

EJ's first cinema experience

Yesterday morning, we had another bit of a scare again. Just when EJ's fever was down, he had a nosebleed! Both hubby and I were very alarmed. Good thing the hotel has in-house doctor.

The doctor said the nosebleeding might have been caused by a forceful nose picking or the high fever that EJ had the previous day. She gave us antibiotic and a decongestant. And the bill! Omg! We paid $175 for the visit and two bottles of syrup. I've never paid this much before. LOL! But for EJ's safety and our peace of mind, it was worth it.

Anyway after looking at some stone sinks we went to the cinema and treated EJ to his first cinema experience in the evening. He was feeling good and he wanted to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 again eventhough he's watched it several times at home.

Look at the smile. He said "Mommy, this is fun!"

I was quite apprehensive about bringing EJ to the cinema. I felt he was not yet ready. I was scared he'd make a spectacle inside the cinema like cry or something. But surprise! He sat there perfectly and he thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Yippee!!! We're gonna be watching movies again at the cinema. If only, there are cinemas in PP. LOL!

Better now

We're in Bangkok again. And no, we're not here for shopping. Hubby has a conference and we're tagging along. We'll be here for 5 days.

We almost did not join hubby though. EJ had a high fever early Saturday morning but seemed okay the night before our flight. Today at the airport, he was cranky and feverish again.

We were worried. There's an outbreak of cholera in PP. And I heard some kids in some school have mumps and chicken pox. But we still decided to come here. If anything else, Bangkok has better medical facilities than PP.

Thank God, EJ's okay now. His fever is gone. He's active again and looks happy to be surounded with toys.

Now it's time I get some sleep. I haven't been sleeping well the past two nights monitoring EJ's temperature.

I plan to wake up late tomorrow. After all it's international women's day =)

Shopping in BKK

No, not shopping in Bangkok. Only here in PP.

Yesterday, my friends and I went to BoeungKengKang or BKK market for short. It's like a mall with everything on it. Only it is cramped and hot. LOL!

Seriously, I like going to tiangges here. I always score a deal. Like yesterday I got a Hendrix jeans for $1.75 all thanks to Ate Elm'z negotiating skills. I was so ecstatic!

After an hour inside BKK market, I looked like this:

I was sweating profusely and I felt like I was going to pass out any minute. It was soooo hot but I love every minute of it. LOL!!!

Something fun

Something got me excited today. There is an upcoming fair here in PP and I am going to join. Well, at least that is my plan. I have invited my friends and they are joining too.

I don't know yet what to sell. I have to work it out with my friends so we don't clash or something. But I am really excited. Maybe accessories? Maybe food?

I have been itching to do something other than research eczema causes. There's nothing wrong with it but being in a fair with my friends is something else.

Now I gotta research some stuff. LOL!

Hubby and I compete

According to a survey, those people who own more than 1 fitness equipment (bought as refurbished fitness equipment or new, doesn't matter) are likely to be fit and healthy.

I have two yoga mats, a pair of weights, 2 skipping/jumping rope, and a pedometer. I am planning to buy an exercise ball. So what does that say about me? A fitness equipment freak. LOL!!!

Seriously, hubby and I are really trying hard to be fit . We even have a competition, who could lose more weight. We started it last week and so far, he's lost more weight than I had. Ugh!

I love food. And I realize that I couldn't skimp on food. I could eat more of the healthy kind though but I couldn't afford not to eat. It's totally unhealthy too.

And my only solution to the problem is I could exercise more. Yesterday I did 1 hour exercise in the morning. Then in the afternoon, I did 15 minutes of jumping rope. And before I went to bed, I did another 15 minutes of jumping rope. I was not tired. Best of all, I did not feel hungry because I had snacks in between meals.

I hope this really works. I don't want to lose to hubby. LOL!!!

Books to the rescue

Since we moved here to Phnom Penh, EJ hasn't watched a lot of TV. It's not that we forbid him. But it's because his favorite channel back in Malaysia, Playhouse Disney, is not available here in PP.

Some parents don't let their kids watch TV. They have their own reasons. But in our house, we do let EJ watch TV, supervised of course. But since there's nothing much that interests him on TV here (he watches Tom and Jerry once in a while), he usually watches his DVD collection of Barney, Mickey Mouse and Thomas & his friends. And when he gets tired watching Mickey, he switches to his books.

EJ loves to read or more like being read by me or his daddy. He has more books than me! Every week I'd buy him about 4-5 books and he's always happy and excited to read a new book.

If it weren't for the second hand bookstore, we'd be very poor by now. LOL! There's a second hand bookstore that we go to for EJ's books. The books cost about $1-1.50 each. The newer one costs about $2. We totally save a lot because a new book costs about $8-12 here.

We went to the second hand bookstore yesterday. And the expression on his face when we went inside was priceless. We were still by the epson receipt printer of the store, and EJ wanted to leap out of his stroller and start leafing through the many books before him.

Oh how happy am I to see my son getting lost in the world of stories, imagination and dreams.