31st day of the 12th month in the year 2010

Today is the last day of year 2010.

Wow! This year has gone by very fast. But then again, I can hardly remember what I did 12 months ago. Seems so long ago...January, February...
Or is my memory failing me? Old age? No way! I'm not an old man...yet! Just that my brain not enough memory space la... hahaha!

Well, I turned 35 this year, meaning my 3rd round in the zodiac calendar will arrive very very soon. 35...going 36...hmm, my car plate number is 336...3 rounds..36years old.

Yes, it's going to be a special year 2011!!

Bye bye 2010

Phnom Penh photos

A typical road in Phnom Penh. Lots of motorcyclists. Helmets are not compulsory. Only those on bigger roads going more than 30kmh wear them.


Phnom Penh Museum - filled with temple and civilization artifacts.



Wet market, very similar to ours...but...they sit on the concrete structures meant to display your produce.

Tuk tuk ride


Russian market scene


Fortunate enough to attend a Cambodian wedding dinner. Quite similar to our local Chinese wedding dinner. Differences are...
1. Dinner starts when your table is full. Other tables may have to wait till theirs is fully seated. So each table will start and end on their own timing. Bride & groom stand & greet invited guests at the reception the whole night!
2. Angpows...yes, they also have the angpow policy...but to be given after dinner. Amount depends on your opinion of the dinner. Good dinner, give more.

Local hawker delicacy. It's a pancake, filled with spring onions. You eat with their clear savoury sauce plus chilli sauce. Nice!

Silver Pagoda next to Royal Palace

2010...only 1 marathon?

2010 has come to an end...well, nearly, only 3days left including today.

So how has my running been?

42km - sad to say I only did 1, in Putrajaya Night Marathon. After that, another 42km was in Ironman Langkawi but that was categorised in a long distance triathlon.

That's it...no more marathons after Feb2010, meaning 10months without 42km.

PB was 3.52 in Penang and did the same in Singapore.

Ok, ok...2011 will be different.

My 2011 resolution...

1. To better 3.52
2. To run at least 2 marathons

Only 2 resolutions?

Ok, ok, I'll think of more before 2010 runs out and they won't be about running. :D

Rocks and Roots at War

Another look at Ta Prohm, made famous by Lara Croft, Tomb Raider.

This site gives good summary of the temple.

More Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat - this is what you see when you get into the monument. You are on a higher level but there is still 1 more level to go...and it's much higher! Somehow looking at pictures or watching it on TV is not the same. You need to be there to be overwhelmed. The size is just astonishing! The presence which is beyond comprehension! And that's not all. Carvings! Yes, everywhere, there's not a place without carvings. The whole temple was covered with detailed carvings.

If you go into architecture and engineering of this monument, you'll be scratching your head as to how this place was constructed. It's made of rocks. Rocks from far far away. All brought there, stacked up and carved into that magnificent Angkor Wat.

Simply amazing!


Carvings of Apsara, the heavenly dancers. there were so many of them all over the walls and the best things is each of them is unique, different from one another. Their headgear is also different if you noticed. The Apsaras were all semi nude and her very round bosoms were mostly well polished by tourists! Hahahaha!
Here, we are on another level, and you can see how huge the place is with our size in comparison.


Looking down from the highest level, well, the highest level where tourists are permitted to go. The last photo is looking out to the main gate where we came in. Far isn't it? Even if you shout, I doubt your friend at the gate can hear it.

Tuk Tuk ride in Phnom Penh

Tuk Tuk ride from a super mini Phnom Penh bus station to our Paragon Hotel. Actually there wasn't any bus station. Our journey from Siem Reap started 830am sharp and reached destination before 4pm. Bus entered city and stopped next to a coffee shop looking "bus station". The moment we came out of the bus, tuk tuk riders shoved their way among themselves hoping to make a deal with passengers. Police officers were on standby keeping these tuk tuk riders at bay. If not, those tuk tuk riders would have pulled us whether we like it or not, to their tuk tuk.

More of Cambodia...

Cambodia bus honk non-stop from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. That's more than 300km of "poonk poonk poonk!!!"

One good thing about the constant honking is that the bus tell those around to be careful, a big fast moving vehicle is coming your way, so please move to the side of the road, don't cross the road!

Unlike honking done back here in Malaysia, which most of the time is used to scold or curse people....sigh...

Happy Birthday!!

Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord, who came from Heaven to save us.

Happy Birthday Jesus !!!

Away in a manger

On this special day, let's celebrate and be thankful to God.

Wish everyone a Blessed Christmas !!

Teach the children

Teach the Children the True Meaning of Christmas

Teach the Children! Teach them the meaning of Christmas.

Teach the Children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind. All the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man’s thoughts turning toward heaven.

Teach the Children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of that promise.

Teach the Children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness.

Teach the Children that the wreath symbolizes the eternal nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection.

Teach the Children that Santa Claus symbolizes the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December.

Teach the Children the holy plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent blood shed by Him.

Teach the Children that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift. Teach the Children that the wise men bowed before the holy babe and presented Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We should give gifts in the same spirit as the wise men.

Teach the Children that the candy cane represents the shepherd’s crook. The crook on the shepherd’s staff helps bring back strayed sheep from the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother’s keeper.

Teach the Children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior’s birth. The angels sang ‘Glory to God in the highest, on earth, peace and good will.'

Teach the Children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of a bell, it should bring people to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.

Remember, teach the Children the true meaning of Christmas, and not to put Santa Claus in the center, for he is but a humble servant of the One who is our Lord, our God.

Author Unknown

2hr 18min of Angkor experience

More photos from Angkor Wat Half Marathon...

The structures at the background is Angkor Wat. The run was flagged off in right front of the bridge into Angkor Wat. This year, the number of registered runners was at their maximum capacity of 5000!

We were blessed with a very cool morning and cloud cover so we don't get roasted during our run. Too bad for those who were there to see the magnificent sunrise over Angkor Wat.
This run was organised annually to help the orphanages, victims of land mines and youth HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment program. Seeing the kids lining up to meet. hi-five and smile with us is priceless.

Throughout the run we were busy snapping photos everywhere we could on anything that attract our attention. Thus, it was a run stop snap run stop snap half marathon for the 3 of us, Debbie, Michelle and myself.

Halfway, we were honoured to meet Yuko Arimori, Representative Director, Hearts of Gold. She is marathon medalist, an Olympian in Barcelona and Atlanta. Her PB is 2.26.39!!!!
http://www.hofg.org/en/about/arimori_p.shtml

Heart of Gold, a non profit organisation that wish to share hope and courage through sports. They are very active in organising sports events to help the less fortunate people.

Drum performance by Heart of Gold to live up the run and was fantastic!
Our favorite temple has to be Bayon, the temple of many faces.


Coming out of the South Gate of Angkor Thom. That was about 2km to the finish line.
3 of us finish the run together, hand in hand, with a relaxing time of 2hr 18min. Time was not our concern then. We wished it was longer with more temples to cover. The 21km around the temples deserved longer distances. Hahaha! Very well organised! Yes, if only it was a marathon, 42km of beautiful scenery, history, culture, fun and above all, a run for a cause.For those who want to help and run through the Angkor civilization, it's next year 4th December.

http://www.angkormarathon.org/

Cambodia pictures

Angkor Wat at sunrise. We woke up at 5am and rushed to get a good spot for the sunrise experience. Hundreds were already there when we arrived. All lined up with cameras, resembling a photography competition. Well, it was worth the wait. Beautiful, simple beautiful!
Angkor Wat back entrance below. Just as nice.


Bayon, temple with more than 200 faces, rock faces.
Add these 2 faces below in the photo. Hahahaha!

Temple Banteay Srei, the most articulately carved temple. Stunning!

Temple Ta Prohm, where The movie Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie was filmed.

Most visitors visit to see the tree roots rather than the temple. Over hundreds of years, the trees grew out from the temple, making the scene like a wrestling match between them.

Roasted chicken

A holiday in Cambodia

Last week, Cambodia was the destination for a long awaited holiday. A place far away...well, not very very far cos the flight to reach there was 2hrs and flight to hometown Kuching is 1hr45min!! But, I like to think of it as a land far far away...something like a fairy tale la...hahaha.
More specifically, it was an interesting 8day trip to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. Went with my dear Michelle, Kenny the MTB king, Debbie & her mom. We were led by Han, an almost retired runner who is now an almost pro tour guide to Indochina. As I type this blog, he is now in Vietnam. How I wish I'm there... :(

Anyway, a mention of Cambodia and straight away people think of Angkor Wat.Yup, that's what everyone is looking for in Siem Reap. Angkor Wat, the largest temple or religious monument ever constructed. Built in the early 12th century, it's more than 800years old.

This trip however, we went there to kill 2 birds with one stone. Run the Angkor Wat Half Marathon and have a holiday at the same time! We get to visit the temples and run around them!! Enjoy the scenery, experience the Angkor civilisation. Great isn't it? :)The half marathon is for charity, to help the victims of land mines and youth HIV/AIDS program. The run is USD50, a bit pricey but hey, it's for charity so it's for a good cause. This is their 15th run, all well organised and sponsored by the Japanese.

...to be continued...

Will be back soon... :P