Video: Heavy Phnom Penh Rain

Videos: Tioman Island

Tioman Island’s Ocean Water

Tioman Island’s Dragon Teeth Drum ‘n’ Bass

Tioman Island’s Night Sharks

Tioman Island’s Invisible Monkeys

Tioman Island’s Cat Versus Lizard

Tioman Island’s Monitor Lizard

Tioman Island’s Monkey Bandits

Tioman Island’s Sand Vispo

Sweet Sugar Sunset – Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The following were taken on 9/26/13 at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, during TechCamp.

Photo Gallery: The Tuk Tuk and His Family

Near the north of Phnom Penh, close to the airport, is an area called Boeung Kok Lake. The lake is no longer an actual lake, as it was filled in by the government. There are numerous issues with the government’s control of the lake (which had been occupied a la floating homes) and many people have been evicted from the general area. When I visited there with Nov Sopheao (Sok) and his wife and daughter, it was peaceful and calm. There was a sense of balance and order, but these feelings were overshadowed by the major developments that were going on in the area. It almost felt like an American suburb. Still, the marshy area that is now the lake is still an amazing spot to watch the sun go down and hangout.

You’re probably wondering how or why I met Sok. It’s an interesting story, but one that is not too complicated. Sok and I exchanged numbers the night Jason and I were in town and “out and about.” We had just finished up our time at Heart of Darkness, a dance club that’s notorious for being wild, crazy, and devious. We had gotten out just in time to avoid all of the above, and the ride with Sok was great. Unlike most drivers, he knows very good English.

Without going into too much detail, Sok has been the one to help me out since I came here, helped me out in numerous ways, including getting me an extended visa. At one point he asked me to come on over to his place to meet his family. It took a little while due to my schedule, but we made it happen. Below are pictures of this experience. The story begins like any good story: with a cute coaster:

As with anywhere in Cambodia, traveling means taking pictures. Some streets scenes of Phnom Penh on the way to pick up Sok’s family:

Six people on one moto!

This man had crafted a paper airplane out of a flier someone had given him:

Sok’s daughter, Somanila:

Sok’s wife (he never introduced me, actually), and his daughter:

The man, the mystery:

AC/DC shirt, Spiderman bike:

The girl took all the pictures that have me in them (which may explain the blurriness), but I give her credit as she’s only 4 years old:

The neighborhood kids (including me):

Four Videos from Endau Rompin, Johor, Malaysia

Photo Gallery: Cambodia and the Pchum Ben Festival

Thanks to some extraordinary friends, I got the chance to take a drive to Udong Pagoda just north of Phnom Penh by about 40km. The festival, which you can read about here, brings a Buddhist remembrance of the dead together with a time of merriment and happy hangouts. The drive was long, but well worth it: everything from the donation of food and prayer to the pagoda visit to the food-eating and card-game-playing was incredibly enjoyable. Judging from the lack of any other white people in the crowds of Cambodians, I feel like I gained insight into a cultural corner that many do not get to see. The journey begins with images the traveling out of Phnom Penh and through Kandal Province, all the way up to Kampong Speu and Udong.

Bong Phally drove:

A Cham mosque:

Soknea and her friend led the way:

Udong in the distance

 

Playing cards . . . seemed similar to Bridge . . . 

 

 

Swah (monkey):

 

A pretty good panorama, actually:

 

Eyeing some food for lunch:

The Pchum Ben rituals:

Photo Gallery: Phnom Penh Street Scenes in September

Immediately prior to going to Udong Pagoda for Pchum Ben Festival, I zipped around the streets of Phnom Penh (mostly the southern/south-western side of town). On the back of the moto, shots are easy to take and plentiful.

“Selling all kinds of drinking water.”

Anchor Home:

The standoff:

Video: Singapore Fireworks Preparation: the View from Marina Bay Sands

Video: Marina Bay Sands Infinite Pool

Photo Gallery: Phnom Penh, the First Two Weeks

Here are some images from my first couple of weeks being in Phnom Penh. Actually, have I even been here for two weeks? I guess I have. Some of the stuff below is from my time walking around, not really knowing what I would discover and not really knowing where I was going. Since moving here, however, I have purchased a bicycle, and a really bad camera, which I feel more prone to use. What does that mean? It means I’m not carrying my nice camera around, and not taking the time to take as many images of the daily life in Cambodia. I think part of this lack of picture taking is due to my being a lot less shocked or astounded by the scenery and culture. Maybe that will change, though, after I have gotten some of my other ducks in a row. First: the supermarket, Lucky.

Boost. Steve Roggenbuck shoutout-:

Exercise near Wat Bottom Park:

This only cost $1.75 at the new Green Milk Tea near my apartment:

Still haven’t visited this local watering hole:

My future bike:

Standoff:

Scenes from Monivong:

I still don’t know the name of this Wat.

“$/h”

Labtop . . . 

Well, that is close. Below: Greek god or shoe brand?

“Integrating Human to Quality.” Below: night dancing.

Barricades from the recent demonstrations:

How you get your bike fixed in Phnom Penh:

A nice pun: