48 hrs in Bangkok

A few weekends ago, I headed to Bangkok. I spent 48hrs in the capital of Thailand, one of the largest and most vibrant cities in Southeast Asia. With a population close to 10 million it is no surprise you can't get away from the crowds and the traffic congestion. My friends and I decided to see a part of Bangkok with Follow Me Bike Tours. We biked the narrow back alleys of the city, seeing local communities and street side vendors in Chinatown. We also visited Pak Khlong Talat, the biggest fresh flower and vegetable market in Bangkok as well as Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn. We crossed the Chao Phraya River by long tail boat ferry and cycled along the river path which offered picturesque cityscapes. Another part of our Saturday was spent at the Chatuchak market. The sheer size of this place is impressive. It is home to more than 8,000 market stalls and welcomes more than 200,000 visitors in a given weekend. You can find pretty much anything you might be looking for from vintage levi's to pythons. The following day, we visited one of Bangkok's floating markets. Most floating markets are outside the city and take about an hour to get to. Once there, we hopped into a wooden long boat, which took us through narrow canals of vendors who would hook our boat to bring it in for us to see what they had for sale. The most interesting and impressive were the old ladies preparing Pad Thai in their long boats and selling for just under $2. Thai spring rolls are by far the best i've ever tasted and my new favourite palate pleaser is mango sticky rice. After a Sunday morning at the market, it was time to go back "home" to Singapore. Notice how I left out the nightlife?! What happens in Bangkok, stays in Bangkok : )

Cambodia

Over the October break, I spent two weeks in Cambodia. I fell in love with the country, my experiences, and in particular the kids and the people who have devoted their lives to bettering the lives of others. Upon arriving in Phnom Penh, the capital, we were welcomed by Tuk Tuk drivers who had become close friends with some colleagues of ours. They remained our go to tuk tuks for our entire stay in Phnom Penh. It was hot, humid, dirty and full of mosquitos and ants...but somehow I always had a good feeling. Everyone would smile at you and were always happy to see you. On or first day in Cambodia we met with Janne, the founder of the Tabitha Cambodia. It was a great way to start as she quickly taught us about the Cambodian culture, history and the do's and dont's in and outside of the city. She is the perfect example of someone who has devoted her life to making permanent change in the lives of others. After our house building orientation, it was clear to me why I was there. Cambodians are perfectly capable of building their own houses and help from me was not going to accelerate the process by any means. We were there to show them that we care, people all over the world care and want to help. With that in mind we visited the "Killing Fields" and "S-21" both places gave me the chills and revealed the hardships Cambodians have suffered in their recent past and clarified what Janne meant about creating relationships with the Cambodian people. Early the next morning we headed to a village about 40 minutes outside of Phnom Penh for the house building project. We were greeted with smiles by the villagers young and old. It was not long after house building began, villagers, mothers, teenagers, Cambodian builders, all chipped in. It was amazing to see everyone come together to build a house for a family in their community. My role was to nail the bamboo floor boards in while others put up the walls. In my first house, a young teenage boy helped separate and keep the slats of wood aligned while I nailed them in. He didn't speak, only smiled when I missed a nail and hammered in a few for me, when he sensed my frustration. By building houses with them, we collaborated, problem solved, shared laughter and a sense of accomplishment when all was done. We built four houses that day and presented each family with a blanket as a house warming gift provided by Tabitha. Because of the support of family and friends, we were able to witness firsthand the great work that Tabitha does in Cambodia. We met and worked alongside the villagers that are benefitting from your donations. The following day we visited NHCC (New Hope for Cambodian Children). Kathy and John Tucker, two of the most selfless people I have ever met are providing a home, education and medication to approximately 150 children living with HIV and AIDS in Cambodia. We spent the day with them and the children, doing arts and crafts, dancing and singing. With free smiles and hugs on hand, It was hard to say goodbye at the end of the day. Our group also visited The People's Improvement Organisation school (PIO). This school is built near a garbage dump and services the children from the slums and houses the orphaned students. We were able to take part in song and dance and exchange some resources with their teachers. CIS (Canadian International School of Singapore) provides them with second hand uniforms and so it was somewhat funny to see their students running around in CIS clothing! Once again, the kids were generous with high-fives, hugs and smiles and made us feel welcome although it was their first day of class! I feel privileged to have met such compassionate, caring, people who have truly made and continue to make a positive change in the world. Cambodia has lived through genocide, torture and suffering. You can appreciate how the pain of a troubled passed is reflected in many people's eyes wishing that it will never happen again. After an emotional week that taught me a great deal about myself and what small gestures to "us" can have a life changing impact on someone else I headed to Siem Reap. Siem Reap is towards the north of Cambodia which is the home of over 300 temples. The main temple, Angkor, was hidden in the jungle for centuries only to be discovered in 1861. It is believed to be the world's largest religious building. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site which attracts thousands of tourists every year. Most statues are headless due to pillaging and looting however many wall motifs, pillars and towers are still intact. What they were able to build with the limited technology available at the time, is incredible and unforgettable. I visited quite a few temples and Bayon was by far my favorite. From a far it looks just like another massive pile of ruins but as you get closer faces start appearing all around you. I was surrounded by something breathtaking. With 37 four face towers, there are more than 100 carved faces to look for.

Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Last Monday was a national holiday and therefor we had a long weekend. What better time to head out of Singapore. My friend and colleague Kate recommended we take a short trip to Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City,formally known as Saigon is where we spent the weekend. Kate, Erin, Sandee, Shawn and I took a two hour flight on Friday night and spent the following three days discovering the makeup of the vietnamese people and uncovering the layers of its past. We ventured the busy streets on foot and by cyclo. Although the cyclo ride was a great way to see the sights, sounds and smells of the city, the change in the agreed price of the ride by our drivers and the hassle that followed caused us to tour the remainder of the city on foot. An experience not to be missed is a visit to the local markets which sell everything from knock off Michael Kors to pickled ducks. Another must do is the he war remnants museum, where we spent an afternoon. This museum displays graphic photographs and artifacts that show horrors of the Vietnam war. The atmosphere is somber and hushed as you make your way from one exhibit to the other. Without a doubt it was a sobering experience but one needed to truly understand their past and the scars so many will carry with them for the rest of their lives. After taking in the exhilarating AO Show Saigon at the Opera House and eating the best Pho, we decided to spend our last day traveling down the Mekong river. Along the way we stopped and visited Pagodas which are temples or sacred buildings, village markets, homes of local families and had lunch at an orphanage. Not only do the people of Vietnam share a past filled with suffering and tragedy, they also share a smile of hope and gratitude.