The Other Side of Mae

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Angkor Wat: City of Temples

When I was younger, Disneyland was my place to be! But as I was maturing, I desired to visit exotic places in Asia so I started out with timeless charm Vietnam, amazing Thailand, and just recently, kingdom of wonder Cambodia. Well that's of course, after visiting the more modern and progressive Singapore and Hong Kong. And with all these places, with all due respect to my first love SG, I really, really, overly fell for Cambodia! I just can't get over with my "Angkor feels", just not yet. So after sharing to you how Angkor Wat bewitched me in my previous post, let me take you to a quick tour around this spellbound temple!

To start with, Angkor Wat covers a vast expanse of land. At first, I thought it was smaller than Disneyland Hong Kong but it's not. Disneyland just appears to be bigger since it's colorful, eventful, and not monotonous as the Angkor. I also thought that there is no greater park than Ocean Park Hong Kong only to find out that Angkor is much vaster than it. With a land area of 49.9 hectares for Disney and 91.5 hectares for Ocean Park, that's incomparable to Angkor's total area of 162.6 hectares! Yes, 162.6 hectares. That's equivalent to 402 acres which is equivalent to 1,626,000 square meters! Don't cha worry, guys. I'm not gonna let you do the maths here 'coz there's always Google to the rescue. Hehe...... (Source: wikipedia.com) So, can you now imagine how immense Angkor Wat is?! Then why did it appear small to me?

To answer that question, I guess I couldn't just get enough of the place. The one-day pass was just so bitin! We only spent two days in Cambodia which I truly regret. Because to tell you the truth, visiting its ancient temples deserves your one whole week, your one whole month even! If you're not into history and archaeology, you'll surely end up loving these social sciences after immersing yourself into these Cambodian temples. These are the country's gems, enthralling tourists from all over the world, boosting the country's economy. So how did we get around Angkor Wat?

Before entering the Angkor complex, we queued for tix as early as three quarters past 4 AM so we could experience the must-watch and must-experience Angkor Wat sunrise. (Please do click here to see how we enjoyed attaining our travel goal.) The ticket building (it's not just a booth to cater approximately 6,500 tourists per day) is a good 8-10 minutes tuktuk ride away from the complex. Yes, it's that far and I couldn't contain my excitement during the ride! With a pounding heart, all that I always thought was sunrise, sunrise, sunrise!

1-day pass is $20 USD, 3-day is $40 USD, and 7-day is $60 USD. Free for Cambodian citizens or if you are related to a Cambodian.

Then we passed by the main entrance gate, tickets checked, traveled another quiet distance, and I saw the moat! So I exclaimed, "Here we are, ladies!" And slowly, the towers became visible to my eyes one by one and I could jump right out from the tuktuk! When our driver, Mr. Khien decelerated and finally came to a stop, I hopped right away and almost ran to step into the Angkor grounds! There were already tourists camping before the moat with cameras ready and picnic breakfast. Upon another ticket check, one of the guards joked us, "Do you also want to see the moonset?", gesturing at the setting full moon up behind us. We had a good laugh with the same guard telling us, "Sunrise on your left." So we hurried past them.

While getting inside, we were flustered on what to take photos first. Left and right, up and down, everything demands your attention! Just as I've said the Angkor is only stone (which by science is classified as dead matter), it seemed like it was poking me and whispering to my ear, "Hey, look at me!", "Hey, how about this carving?", "Oh, com'on! This one's gonna get you a photography award". However, I ain't no photography buff. I appreciate photography, yes but I can't play with my camera as the others do. Though my photos here are no equal to the others, I'm still proud to show 'em to you. Hehe.....

I was beyond amazed by the artworks engraved on the walls, by the sculptures way up high in the ceilings, and by the other bas-reliefs intricately decorated all over the place. If you're gonna be dissecting Angkor Wat, you'll surely become a master of Hindu mythology with its symbolism, deities, heavenly nymphs, and seven-headed mythical serpents! As we passed by the outer wall through the avenue, two libraries in both sides materialized. We haven't checked it out for what we had in mind was the sunrise.

So off we went to the lake with the other tourists, waiting for Mr. Sun to reveal himself. And when he surfaced, oh, what a sight! Do click here, click here for you to see the time of our single lives!

As the sun rises, more tourists arrived so we headed to the Central Complex. This is a three-story building with interlinked galleries, one of which is the Hall of a Thousand Gods. In this inner chamber, I suddenly experienced my God as I've shared to you in my previous post. This is where I felt the jolt of my so-called "Angkor feels"!

And speaking of gods, the five lotus-bud towers represent the five peaks of Mt. Meru, home of the gods in Hindu mythology. The tallest of these towers which is at the center is the Bakan Sanctuary. Dressing modestly is required here. You have to cover up so sleeveless and short pants/skirts are not allowed. This is the holy of holies where the statue of Vishnu is enshrined and many more Buddhas.

However, getting to the top was no easy task. The stairs were so steep (symbolizing that if you want to go to heaven, you have to work for it), making my feet quiver as I'm thinking about it at the moment of writing this. But we conquered it! Though I'm still acrophobic, I enjoyed looking down, relishing the moment of just being there, and taking in the sight of the sun setting. Yes, we absolutely chased sunrise and sunset in Cambodia! That's a bonus to our squad goal! Hehe.....

Oh, I could just do anything to zap me up right now there! Atsi Ann said that if you've been to a certain place, the best time to come back will be after five years. Will my "Angkor feels" stay the same by that time? Oh, I hope Angkor Wat will still stand the test of times. As I've observed, Buddhas were already broken without heads due to looting in the past years. Balustrades were already incomplete and stones from stupas already crumbled down due to earthquakes. However, the Cambodian government already took steps in preserving their national treasure, the world's largest religious monument which is a mix of Hinduism and Buddhism. Continue to be magical through the years, Angkor Wat!

Credits to all tourists whom we bumped into for taking our photos especially these two very tall Europeans and lonesome Japanese cutie! Sorry, I'm bad at remembering names but from the bottom of our hearts, thank you, thank you, thank you! The world is not that big enough for us not to bump into each other again in the future! :)

There are still two other temples that I'm going to share with you, guys so stay tuned only here on The Other Side of Mae! #tosomtravels

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household."

- Acts 16:31

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

-Ephesians 2:8

The Magic of Angkor Wat

Chasing Sunrise in Cambodia
Wat Intharawihan: The Temple of the Standing Buddha
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum
A Half-Day Tour at Lantau Island
Hanoi's Historical Sites Series: Văn Miếu

Wednesday, July 06, 2016

The Magic of Angkor Wat

"If you still believe in magic, you're subject to enchantment." - Toba Beta

Captivated, in awe, tranced. Still can't find the right word to explain what I felt when I was there. Just take a look at my face in the above photo and you'll definitely agree with me. Thanks to Tita Lilibeth for capturing this "starstruck" moment though kinda awkward for my nganga (jaw-dropping) expression! Angkor Wat, oh, Angkor Wat! Bato ka lang (you're only stone) but there's something in you! "Bato lang ka!" - exclaimed Atsi Ann in our vernacular as we talked about our Angkor Wat experience when we got back to our hotel. So, what's really in you, Angkor Wat?

Angkor Wat is of course, a temple! Wat means "temple" in Siam (old Thailand) and Angkor means "city" in Khmer (Cambodia) so that makes Angkor Wat as the "City of Temples". Temples with the "s" now 'coz it is not only Angkor Wat which is nestled in the complex but there are also other small temples, making Angkor as the world's largest religious monument. Yes it is religious, one which is a big contrast to my faith again. However, something in me was stirred and I just can't fathom the depth of my thoughts in this inner chamber.

Around 900 years old, Angkor Wat was built for the "god-kings". It is a representation of Mt. Meru, the counterpart of Greek mythology's Mt. Olympus in Hindu faith. Oh, so that explains it! If Mt. Olympus is home of the gods, then Angkor must be heaven on earth! I actually walked into the steps of a sacred place as I experienced divine intervention. It was sensing something extraordinary, conjuring any emotion of what might happened in the past right on that spot where I was sitting. Now I call that my "Angkor feels"! But apart from the feeling, apart from the emotion, I started to commune with God. With my God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. Just for a brief moment, His Spirit was on me, speaking to me that kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall. Man, in his quest to have a god to look up to, make images and establish religions. But all these have an end. No matter how grand a kingdom is, it always comes to an end. As it is written: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.", says Jesus in Matthew 24:35.

So there I was capturing every corner of the ancient city temple. Point and shoot, point and shoot, that's just how I do it (as always). But as I was checking my shots when I got home, I realized that I badly need a photography workshop. It's about time to be serious in this stuff! However, no matter how badass shutterbabe I'd become, I could never get into the lenses what a place had gone through, all through the years. The revelries, the battle cries, the solemnities! I can still actually smell history all over the place, of old, mossy, pungent, rich, kumakausap (speaking right to you). It's like poking you, telling you stories of the past, making you imagine of knights, princes, princesses, queens, and kings though Angkor Wat is not a palace. It is instead a holy ground where Buddhists come to worship (it transformed into Buddhism from Hinduism), a dedication to the Hindu gods (originally), and a grand display of Khmer architecture. If only I could capture the enchantment, I'd bring it to you but it is only God who can speak right to your heart. So let us take a quick look at the story of Daniel. Daniel answered before the king and said, "As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days." - Daniel 2:27-28.

Hay, Angkor Wat! You are only stone but it seems like you are alive! You're more than an architecture, more than a piece of art! At first I thought that you're comparable to Greece's ruins and Egypt's archaeology (only that you are affordable). That's why you have every right to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But you are more than just a site, more than just a tourist attraction! Though you are not nature, a direct work of God's hands but you are handmade, out from the talent, skills, and knowledge God endowed to His people. You're a living testimony that there is really God, a God all-knowing, all-powerful, and always present.

Thank you, Lord for Angkor Wat. Thank you for letting me enjoy it with the company of my friends. And thank you for revealing more of Yourself that it is not magic to encounter You but it is the truth! As Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6 With all these, Cambodia indeed is the Kingdom of Wonder!

Though I turned away and left, I still came back! Know more about Angkor Wat only here on The Other Side of Mae! #tosomtravels

Chasing Sunrise in Cambodia

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Chasing Sunrise in Cambodia

Oh, what a grueling sched I have nowadays that I wish it's gonna be 26 hours a day! (Before, I was only wishing for 25 but with the over overload, another hour extension is greatly desired.) I am just too busy with my senior high school and college loads that maintaining this blog ended up last on my priority list. Huhuhu..... Forgive me, my dear blog readers but I will really really try to do my very best in keeping up with this as this is my passion.

So without further ado, I'd like to share with you a snippet of me and my friends' tour in Cambodia last week! As with every travel, I have some "travel goals" and for Cambodia, I aimed to be chasing sunrise and sunset! Sunrise! Huh! For a sleepy head like me, it's a whole lot of sacrifice albeit the challenge! Hehehe..... With only 4 hours of sleep, I woke up first among the four of us to my alarm at 3:30 AM Siem Reap time. Hallelujah! Being always the last to wake up, it was indeed a victory for me! Praise be to God for the determination to get up and go out there to meet Angkor Wat's most celebrated sunrise!

Now here it is! My very first travel vlog! This is also the very first selfie video I've ever taken, raw, no edits, a very amateur one but filled with love and laughter! For the nth time that I've watched this, it still gives me the stomach-achingly laugh! Just bear with us, guys! Hahaha!!!!!

Hope you enjoyed that one! Hehe..... Watch out for my next post as I bring to you the enchantment of Angkor Wat! #tosomtravels

Friday, June 10, 2016

Feature Friday: Chef Lau's Pugon Roasters

Feature Friday highlights businesses, people, fashion, and basically anything under the sun!

Stumbled upon this over-the-counter-sort-of-carenderia resto in a certain mall in Manila during our last visit. I was enthralled by the long line of people so I guessed that there must be something good about the place. Then I told Papa to take a seat as I joined the others in the queue. Looking up at their menu, they mostly serve chicken in whatever way cooked but their specialty is the Pugon Roast Chicken, traditionally roasted in a pugon. If anything is being cooked in a native way, then it must be really, really good!

Cheesy Chicken Croquetas, Chicken Livers, Spicy Wings, and Pugon Roast Chicken

When our orders came, that's the time I realized that this fast food restaurant is actually owned by Chef Lau. Remember him? He was one of the judges/coaches of Junior MasterChef Pinoy Edition way back 2011-2012. So I got thrilled to finally have a taste of his very own Filipino recipes with a twist!

The Pugon Roast Chicken is super gingerly as I remember, giving it a hint of Chinesy taste. It's crispy in the outside, juicy in the inside, and talagang nanunuot sa buto ang lasa. My fave Chicken Livers has a unique taste too. It is too flavorful with my also fave nacho/chili-con-carne taste. Until now, I couldn't decipher what herb/spice is that. Definitely it's not paprika, oregano, or curry. My apology. I really haven't discovered it yet. Anyway, Papa had the fried bangus sinigang which surprised us 'coz there's really no sabaw in it. Kaya nga, "fried". Hehe.... For take-out, we had Cheesy Chicken Croquetas and Spicy Wings that tasted the same as the Chicken Livers' "unknown" herb/spice. Mama and Auntie Lourding didn't like it as they also always do every time I cook Mexican-style spaghetti with the taco mix, nachos, and tacos. They just can't understand the smell of it. But for me, it's heaven to my sense of smell and taste buds! So I gobbled up everything instead! Haha!

I felt so lucky to have had discovered Chef Lau's Pugon Roasters! It was not part of our itinerary and we discovered it by chance. That's what you call "serendipity" in science. Chance discovery! So thanks to the long line which called my attention and indeed, the place is not only a fast food resto but also a fast good resto! I guarantee you, the food is really, really good and good to the pocket too! Visit Chef Lau's Pugon Roasters in their branches in Sun Mall, Ayala Triangle Gardens, Light Mall in Mandaluyong ('coz we stayed in Light Residences), SM City San Lazaro, and McKinley Hill in Taguig. This may be a little bit late but congratulations to you, Chef Lau for bringing Filipino food to a higher level so we can experience and enjoy Fiesta Araw-Araw! #tosomeats #tosomtravels

Mad Mark's Creamery and Good Eats

Albay's Best Eats

Tuesday, June 07, 2016

Filipino-Style Pad Thai

Serves: 5 Cooks in: 15 minutes

Preparation: 15 minutes Country of Origin: Thailand

Ingredients:

1/4 kilo mongo sprouts salt

1/2 kilo flat noodles pepper

4 eggs paprika

1/2 kilo shrimps peanuts

1/2 kilo squid lemon

3 cloves garlic dried chili

1 bulb onion

Method:

1. Saute garlic and onions.

2. Add shrimps and squid.

3. Add the eggs and mix together.

4. Add flat noodles.

5. Mix in mongo sprouts.

6. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika to taste.

7. Serve hot and garnish with peanuts, lemon, and dried chili.

Though Filipinized, also see to it that this dish still has its authentic Thai taste. So when in Thailand, don't forget to bring home some local spices to conjure up memories from a flavorful trip!

See my World Nomads recipe entry here for our story behind this very famous dish in Thailand, Pad Thai! For an authentic recipe, visit The Royal Budha's site here. Click also below for related posts on Amazing Thailand! #tosomtravels #tosomeats #tosomcooks

10 Things Thailand

Damnoen Saduak: Floating Market

Literally Street Fooding

#tosomeats in Thailand

Utan Bicol: Our Family's Very Own Recipe

Sunday, June 05, 2016

10 Things Thailand!

Amazing Thailand as their tagline

Off to the country considered divine

Come and see

Some things to be

A few quick facts

For guided acts

Now get into the maze

And set ablaze

For Amazing Thailand!

1. Elephant Trekking

The elephant is Thailand's national symbol and one of their most revered animals. One should not miss having elephant encounters once in the country and I recommend Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai for an animal-friendly experience.

Damnoen Saduak: Elephant Village

2. Temple Hopping

Thailand is devoted to Buddhism and there are 40,000+ Buddhist temples in the country! Each temple has its own style, reverence, and story. You can definitely visit one since these temples are scattered around the country! But the must-visits are Wat Arun, Wat Pho, and Grand Palace. Just take note of the time or you'll get barred like us. There'll be no entry from 3 PM onwards. Curfew is really early for these temples.

Wat Intharawihan, Grand Palace, and Wat Benchamabophit

3. Altar Offering

Unlike the Roman Catholics, Thai Buddhists are very showy of their faith by putting up altars everywhere in the streets, outside their houses, establishments, etc. Their stone gods are the different personas of Buddhism, elephants, and snakes. They offer food and drinks to them as well as incense. I may not understand each representation of symbolism especially with the Banyan tree but I just considered the work of art instead.

4. Monk Alming

Monks play a great role in religious Thailand. They are considered as holy people who make merit for their respective families. We see them in the streets early in the morning for their daily alming for food, drinks, and toiletries. They don't have any source of income so they greatly rely on alms. This also coincides with the country's tradition to give alms not only to the monks but also to the poor. Thai believe that it is good karma to give for them to receive.

Another Group Asking for Monetary Support from People

5. Tuktuk Riding

We, Filipinos won't be surprised in this 'coz we do have motorcycle rides like this. We have 'em as traysekel in Tagalog, rela in Cagayan de Oro, payong-payong in Lanao, motor in Ozamiz, or habal-habal up in the highlands. So this isn't new to us. Ours is even more thrilling and exciting! By the way, tuktuk rides are really expensive for tourism purposes. The drivers charge really high and even the locals discouraged us to ride one. Better hail a cab than go around on tuktuks 'coz we have motorcycles here anyway around our city!

6. Thai Massaging

Nuat Thai and Thai Boran. These are the only two massage parlors in our little city. Common denominator is, they both have the word "Thai" in their names. That's because, Thailand claims to be the country of origin of massage. So massage chairs are everywhere in the country! You can have a relaxing foot massage anywhere even right on the streets!

7. Bangkok Shopping

The country's capital city is the shoppers' haven! There are lots of malls and they have 'em specialized like one whole mall for gadgets only, another whole mall for ladies' wear only, and another for appliances only. Like, can you imagine it? You go from mall to mall 'coz you can't find a one-stop shop. Plus, they have plenty of bazaars and night markets. The biggest is Chatuchak which is a bit outskirt of town but they do have the total package!

Damnoen Saduak, Gems Gallery, The Platinum Shopping Mall, and Royal Thai Handicraft

8. Food Tripping

Foooood trip, my favorite part every time I go visit a place! There's nothing much to say here 'coz you have to taste it for yourself. Eat all you can while in Thailand 'coz you'll surely miss the distinct flavors of authentic Thai food!

Fried Insect, Pad Thai, Steam Boat, Thai Fruits

9. Sightseeing

Aside from the usual sightseeing, marvel at the capital city on top in a 360-degree revolution!

Check out Baiyoke Sky Tower for this!

10. Backpacking

Backpacker hotels are never as good as Diamond City Hotel, our home away from home in Thailand! Our rooms are very spacious with king-sized beds and cinema-sized tv's. Apart from the daily breakfast buffet, coffee, juice, and biscuits are unlimited 24-7 in the dining room. Just serve yourself as you please! Additionally, the staff is very accommodating. And oops, include the Auntie owner who is already very old but still entertains her guests very well by talking to them even in not-so-fluent English and dancing with them if they might do the honor! I just loved our stay here so thanks to Rulyn's Travel Hub for picking this hotel for us. For travel bookings, like their FB fanpage here!

So these are 10 things about Thailand I learned, experienced, and couldn't ever forget from our country visit two months ago! Watch out for more travel posts only here on The Other Side of Mae! #tosomtravels

Damnoen Saduak: Elephant Village

Damnoen Saduak: Floating Market

Damnoen Saduak: Royal Thai Handicraft Center Company Limited
Wat Benchamabophit: Marble Temple

Wat Intharawihan: The Temple of the Standing Buddha

Baiyoke Sky Hotel

Bangkok Shopping

Literally Street Fooding

#tosomeats in Thailand

Barred