Mission in Singapore

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2007

I love my new position! Last three weeks I’ve been sent to Vietnam for a symposium, and now I just returned from a mission in Singapore. I went there for three days from the 26th to 28th of December. I went there for a mission, so that I was too busy during the day going to visit from one company to another. Since Singapore is a small country and those companies are located in different areas, I had been almost everywhere of the country.

Nevertheless, I had my own time at night. First night I was on my own to visit places, on the second night I hanged out with my old friend SoChenda. I wish I could stay there until the New Year eve, but I had to come back on the 28th evening.

However, it wasn’t bad because I went to the beaches with my family on the 30th and we stayed there for two days. When I came back from the beach I slept over at a friend’s house and we hanged out until 1:30AM for the New Year eve.

This weekend on the 5th I have to sleep over again because Daniel and I will be the best-men at Jerry’s wedding on next day the 6th. We have to get up at 5AM and be busy for the whole day until at the end of the wedding dinner.

Gosh! I have been packing and unpacking over the weeks.

I can’t remember what the name this mall is, probably is the HarburFront. It was the first mall that i went to at my first night. I can say that Singapore is a shopping country because you can see at least two shopping centers in one area.

Turkish Ice Cream, I didn’t try the ice cream but I enjoyed watching the man playing joke with the ice cream to the buyers. I think his ice cream wasn’t much attractive, the attraction was that he makes people enjoy watching and laugh.

Orchard Road is the most popular place. There are many shops and many people always hang out there.

SoChenda is my old good-friend. She got married on the 13th May 2005, and then they moved to Singapore. I was glad for the chance to meet her, for her Christmas present and the semi-hug that we gave each other before went back home.

X-Mas 2007

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2007

This year i had a x-mas party at Daniel's house. It was fun with many of his students and friends. Some of them i already know and some just got to know at the party.

I'm making my own pancake... supervised by Tara.

Looking like kids playing on the ground? Nah! We are trying to complet the Star puzzle.

Be blinded and put the star on the top of the christmas tree

The best group photo at the x-mas party.

The best friend photo of the year

Daniel was trying to.... what?

My dog Judy, i can never make her look or smile at the camera. She likes to play too much.

My house at x-mas night

Hak Nu Man

Monday, December 24, 2007

Hak Nu Man is a name of a monkey in Cambodian drama. These two kids are hired to dress up as Hak Nu Man and greeting all walk-in guests at Hotel Cambodiana (my gym). They get paid 20USD per day.

Art Café

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2007

This is a German restaurant names Art Café where I went with my friends Daniel, Ryan, Tara, and the new guys i just met there Dermsom and Dara.

I think it is an expensive place and there were not many people that time we went. The owner of the café has a good marketing behavior, he was nice and friendly to us.


(front to right) Daniel, Ryan, Dermsom, Dara, Tara and Spencer


They has a great voice and so loud. I wish i could have that voice ha ha

Cultural Night

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2007

Last night the 18th December 2007, I went to Cultural Night on the Occasion of the Launching of Indonesian Cultural Center (ICC) at Chaktomouk Theatre.

I didn't know that we were allowed to bring a camera in... just as soon as the show started and people started to taking photos, I immediately ran to my car and grabbed my camera hoping to take many photos and post on facebook he he.


Gamelan Composition "Ojo Dumeh" is a Javanese language means "Don't be arrogant" or "Don't take it for granted".


Javanese Dance "Kebyar" describes the spectacular of the stars at night.



Khmer Dance "Mani Mekhala" in a drama Mina Mekhala is the Goddess of Water on her golden abode, where her duty is to protect the ocean. On her journey to visit Vorachhun the King of the Divinities, she met an ogre and he's trying to get her golden abode.


Balinese Dance "Pendet" it is usually performed in various celebrations in Bali to bring joy and happiness to the people. While dancing they bless the audience by throwing flowers as well as Khmer Blessing Dance.


Singing Khmer song "Arapya" this song people sing it at the weekend as they are happy for the holiday. This is Cambodian dresses, look so gentle and beautiful.


Javanese Dance "Bondan Sayuk" this dance describes the love of a father, a mother and their child which is followed by gentleness, coolness, and harmony in a family.




Khmer Dance "Peacock" this dance is said to bring happiness and prosperity to villagers. For that reason, as we see in the region of Pailin, where it is known for precious stone mining, the dance is performed during the New Year or at special occasions as it is called for.

Additionally, this is me in the "Coconut Dance" in my second year at university. It was embarrassing to me due to the technical problem of the Music CD we played, it messed up our dance.

Symposium in Vietnam

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2007

My co-worker and I were sent to Vietnam 3 days and 2 nights to attend my company’s partner’s symposium.

The company there welcomed us warmly and treated us like ambassador s. They arranged a single room hotel for each of us, brought us to expensive restaurants, café…. Interestingly, they sent their staff to host us like sending us hang out around the town, visit their company getting to know the important staffs in different departments. The city is quite big and it costs much to go from one place to another by taxi, however, everything is officially paid by them.

The symposium was held at Hotel Equatorial in Ho Chi Minh City. All participants are offered one lunch and a couple of coffee breaks there… It’s a five stars hotel, so each meal was awesome!

Why a couple of coffee breaks? Because we had seminar and exhibition for sessions.The theme of the symposium is “Energy Efficiency”. I attended 3 trainings which were: Energy Monitoring and Management in Industry using SCADA, Total System Energy Saving Solutions and Reducing Your Energy Bill by Understanding Your Energy Consumption.

Being in Vietnam this time is much different, not only in term of business but also fun. Vietnamese girls are eye-candy he he. Vietnamese girls like Cambodian guys very much; this is according to my observation and being explained by the host.

These few days, not only my mouth got great food but my eyes also got delicious food too ha ha. My mouth got Vietnamese and Korean food; my eyes got seeing pretty girls.

Cut the bow and start up

Exhibition Room (Panorama picture mode taken by my phone)

Michael Preston presenting Energy Monitoring and Management in Industry using SCADA

Dr. Richie Lee presenting Total System Energy Saving Solutions

Lunch time. All the guests came to the symposium are Vietnamese from the local, except, us are Cambodian.

Important people and the pretty girls

Me, my co-worker and the guys from another company

My Business on Water Festival

THURSDAY-SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22-25, 2007

This is the second year that I helped Jerry promote and expose his products and brand.

During the Water Festival 23rd to 25th EuroTech Drinking Water company had four booths at different places. I chose the biggest booth which was three booths together. My partner is my nephew had his friends came to help us. There were 5 guys of his friends and 1 guy was Kompeak my new friend, and the other 3 girls.They are all nice friends, they helped us all their ability and not lazy.

We became friends and we had a lot fun, connected, activities, fun to eat and drink......... I like them, they were very good sellers and funny, especially the girls and her little sister and brother, they are just kids but they are brave, fun and are good sellers.

On the first and second day we slept at 12am. On the third day my team-mates slept at 2am, while i was busy until 4:30am. Now i'm so tired and my voice has changed because had been spoken too much to the customers.

There were so many things left in the coolers when we closed. Thus, i gave all of them to my team-mates, and also the guards and poor people ;-)

This is me with the bag for keeping the money and wearing the earphone because had no free hand :-D

Kompheak my new friend. We have hang out for some times and cooked at Daniel's house twice.

Mao my nephew. We are partners for this business since last year. He's a very good and active seller. He has a good communication skill with customers.Not to forget to tell that my voice has change because of this megaphone!

At night.

It was so crowded all day and all night.


Bayon TV concert behind my booth.

My House & Traffic Congestion

Recently, i have to get up early at 5:30am and leave my house at 6:30am to avoid the traffic congestion every morning around the Chbar Ampov market to across the Monivong bridge. Because of the bad traffic, my niece Marie has been late for school for half to an hour twice. I haven't had my breakfast at home for a week too. Mom is a manager in charge for our meals at home, she has two staffs hehe.

This morning we were stuck in front of the market until 8am, though i left home at 6:30am. Then i called Toch a staff of ours come by his motor so that i drove the motor send Marie to school, and Toch drove my car to the office instead. However, Marie was still one hour late.

If it would not be better, i would have to get up more early and perhaps would drive a motor!

My Real Best Friend

I won the bet

I'm addicted to coffee. The difference is that coffee helps people to stay awake, but it makes me sleepy.I made a bet with Jerry that i would still sleep well though i drink Espresso which is the strongest coffee (it kept Jerry awake for two nights).

We were negotiating to exchange my 1-year-old IBM laptop with his 3-month-old ACER laptop by adding him $200. The bet was worth $50.I won the bet! I did sleep well that night! Perhaps, I'm Jerry's best friend or I've been always honest, so he trust me when i told i won :-)

However the negotiation was changed a bit. He asked for $250 and i got the new laptop together with his new camera 7 Meg he he. That meant, exchange my laptop with his, i added $150, and i added another $100 for the camera.

This one cup of Espresso worth $50 in the bet.

Cooking

Saturday evening after going to see the World Grad School Tour, we did two shopping at City Top and Lucky for our cooking. This time we made Grilled Eggplant with Chicken Breast. It was so easy, cheap and delicious.

I am chopping the breast

He is frying the breast

He is grilling the eggplant on a charcoal

Grilled Eggplant with Chicken Breast

Weekend & Wedding Soon

It has been a month already that we are having guests from France who are our relative (my brother in-law's aunt and uncle). Honestly, none of our relatives including me, like them but they are coming every year. Sometimes twice a year. I wish they spent the money on their trip for charity works instead. However, i never hope they would do that because they are mean and stingy. Last Sunday and the Sunday yesterday, we had big dinners at my house, but i didn't stay. I don't like them and i don't like French food very much. On the other hand, they had lamb for the dinner. (I don't eat most of animals, except for fish, beef, pork, chicken and some sea food).

I escaped from home since the morning and I went to see Jerry. Jerry doesn't have many friends, he always hang out with me and his relatives. Oops! I should have included his girlfriend :-)We went to ANANA food court for lunch with his relatives. I like the place because there are many kinds of food we can order, and the price is not expensive.

After lunch we hanged in his house until 2:30pm then he abandoned me for his girlfriend :-(

Not a problem, i had my place where i can kill the time. I went to my gym, worked out for two hours then swam. Too bad, it was pretty cold and windy. I didn't swim much. Well... there is a young annoying boy at the gym. He always keep everyone talking and useless. Yesterday he was weird, nasty and annoying. He had been annoying everyone, especially Daniel and I a whole time we were there. I think he's funny but crazy though.

After the gym, Danny and I were in the car leaving the place, then Jerry called and requested me to get in back to the gym (Cambodiana Hotel) because he wanted to see the place for his wedding.

Oh yeah! I should have mentioned earlier that Jerry is getting married soon. I'm so excited and happy for them. I was giving too much information and suggestions about the wedding party, until Daniel reminded me it is not my wedding ha ha

Well... I have friends but I don't have many good friends. Jerry is only a best friend i have, now i'm going to lose him, I'll be lonely :-( Fortunately, i have Daniel is a good friend but he travels so........ anyway i'll travel soon too he he

Ok now it's time to talk about funny and crazy. After giving Jerry and Vy a tour around the wedding place, I told them Daniel and I were going to have dinner at No Problem restaurant. They hesitated to decide whether to come or not. Then i told them they can go wherever they want, don't have to come with us. I wanted to leave them alone too. So I went to dinner with Daniel alone.I told him the restaurant's service was not as good as it's name. There are problems. Yeah it happened. We asked for Diet Coke, they said they didn't have, we asked for Tea they said they ran out. We asked for Sprite they brought us Spy (wine), we asked for EuroTech water they also said no have. They brought us No Problem drinking water and it was R2000 per bottle that is more expensive then EuroTech which is a better product.

Nevertheless, the food tasted awesome, healthy and cheap. I have brought Daniel to a several places that are good and cheap. He said he would bring me to expensive places. I have no idea whether or not i would thank for that haha By then, i should have withdrawed all my money from ATM before going to his place wa ha ha

First Big Presentation

I have done many presentations at school but this morning I had a big presentation for my company. It was my first big time and also important.

A big manufacturer of automatic electrical products in France, came to Cambodia to look for their distributor. We had to introduce them to our company, abilities, capabilities and marketing strategies toward their products. I was in charge for the presentation.

I’m so happy that I did a nice presentation and they like it. Everyone of them praise me, they said I was young but intelligent. One of them asked which school I went to ha ha. They like my presentation, but i hope better they also like our company and strategies so that we can be their distributor.

Unfortunately, the photo was taken by a phone-camera so that the quality of the photo is not satisfied.

From left to right: Muyly financial manager, Vithy managing director, Me was the presenter that morning, Alex senior vice president of South East Asia, Olivier country manager of Schneider Electric Vietnam & Cambodia, Lam sale manager of Vietnam & Cambodia, Sothy accounting manager of Cambodia, he took this photo so he can't be seen in this photo ha ha

My First Time Cooking

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2007

I had a funny and enjoyable weekend, but let’s not talk about Saturday because it was crazy.

On Sunday morning, I was unhappy because I had to get up early and open the doors of our warehouse for staffs that had to work over time. At 8:00 after my breakfast I went to Jerry’s house and we hanged out with his girlfriend Vy. It was funny! We first had our brunch at Fizz, they ate but I just had a cup of fruit juice. Then we went to Café Centerment, but only me who ate and they didn’t. After that we continued to PreabSovath’s restaurant, this time, they ate and I didn’t. I was having fun with the internet (connecting 3G with Jerry's cell phone to my laptop. Oh have i ever mentioned that my laptop is my girlfriend? she's always with me to everywhere and everytime. She's useful and helps me all the time though).

After dropping them home it was 2:30pm. I went to my gym and swim until 3:30pm. I planned with Daniel to cook at his house at 4pm, but it wasn’t yet time so I sent him a text asked if his student Kompeak was still at his home but he didn’t reply :-( Thus, I just stayed at the gym, reading and talking with people until 3:50pm then I left the gym. I arrived at his house at 4pm shape, but it wan't on his watch haha. His watch was 5 minutes later than mine.

Kompeak was still there so we were 3 together went to Lucky super market to buy ingredients for our dishes. We cooked Spring Rolls and Lok Lak for our dinner. It was our first time to cook but it wasn’t bad. It was fun and the food was pretty good. I made an invention to the Lok Lak by adding potatoes fried. It may wasn’t a fresh new idea for some who used to cook for times, but it was new for us and it wasn’t in Danny’s recipes booklet though. Oh Danny invented something too! He put the Dipping Sauce that was for Spring Rolls into the Lok Lak beef when he stirred and cooked it wa ha ha. However, our Lok Lak came out more delicious than it should be as right to the recipe he he.

Hey dude, do you know we forgot something? We forgot the onion and the egg. Oh man.

We said to cook again for other two different dishes on next 3 Sundays, because this coming 2 Sundays we will be working for Jerry’s film ads at his factory. Hey Jerry said he will have me again, for the new photos ads. This time I’ll be with the most beautiful and famous singer star. I’m not telling who she is now yet but I can tell that I’m her fan he he

Preparing the ingredients

Cooking

This is what we did. It's Khmer food, the Spring Rolls and Lok Lak.

Friend Gathering

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2007

I was invited to Chris and Victoria's house for a friends gathering dinner. We had lots of food and games to play. I really enjoy the time.

The game I played was the Settlers. I really enjoy it. Tara won the game. She got 7 points, Chris and I got 6, Daniel got 5 or 6 i can not remember. It was my first time to play that game but i wasn't bad though hehe