X-mas, Wedding, Hang out with many of my relatives

FRIDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 26 - 29, 2008

Well well well.... what to start first? Over the week, i had a few occasions in a row.
Firstly, it was on Friday 26th, I went to Victoria and Chris's house for a Christmas party.


After work i left my office at 5PM, stop by Lucky Shopper Market to buy some drinks and cookies for the party. Everyone knows that driving in Phnom Penh is annoying, irritating and frustrating. I was patient enough drove to a bank to withdraw some cash from ATM for next day trip to Siem Reap. There were many people waiting in a long line, I gave up and went to another bank. Unfortunately, my car battery died and i could not start my car. Luckily, Cambodians are nice and kind, they helped me connect my battery to another car's battery so that i could start my car. It was a funny evening, I could not find Cox's house and got lost. It was not a good evening, but also a lucky evening, anyway. I was saved again! I met Jim and he took me to Cox's house as he was going there too.



Alright! Now it's a good time! It was fun to meet many friends and new friends at the party. We had lots of food, played some games, told story about Jesus and so on.

Erin and I were in the same color. Looking twin :-)


Secondly, I went to Siem Reap on Saturday 27th to attend my nephew's wedding. It was a big wedding which took for the whole two days. However, elders were supposed to attend the whole wedding, but young people always have fun hanging out together. haha.
Once we arrived Siem Reap, the elders went to the wedding, but some and the youngs started to hang out. We went to the Musium, it is a nice and modern musium. I suggest everyone goes to Siem Reap should go to the musium.

Look at the wedding cake!!! It's the biggest wedding cake i ever seen.

Traditionally, the groom's parentes offer 32 kinds of fruit to the bridge's parents.


Guess what! I have so many relatives who live in Cambodia and abroad. I don't know all of them. It was a great chance attending the wedding, I met many of my relatives who i never known before.
In this picture are all my nieces and nephews. I am just a young uncle who is proud to have many nieces and nephews and they are beautiful and handsome! Among them, are from New Zeland, USA and France. However, they are good kids and proud to be Cambodians. They love their relatives, their country, their people....... They love their root!!!



Anyone knows which one is my hand? Well.... the one with two beauty spots :-)


This is Barkong temple where is 10km far from the town.
Standing at the back row are my cousins who are the parents of the front row who are my nieces and nephews.


I can play many kind of sports and activities, but i'm not good at them. Just can play haha.

Me and my nephew Kheing who studies in France.
I did enjoy hang out with my newphews. They are nice people and love their relatives, especially their nice uncle, Spencer. haha

We went to play pool, table tennis then we went to foreigner town where there are many restaurants and pubs. I don't drink beer or wind, but soft drink. They are understood people and don't force me to drink. We went to a pub, sitting in a outdoor table, drinking fruit shake and talking. I do like outdoor restaurants.

We hang out there until 1AM, we went to mart and bought some drinks and snack to our hotel and play card until 3AM.

Next day, we got back to Phnom Penh, and I invited all of my nieces, nephews and their parents to my house and had a big dinner in our garden.

Alright! that's all about the weekend. Hopefully, i will have a good time with friends and family on the New Year Eve. Then more photos and story to share on my blog. Keep updating ;-)


P.S: I already bought a new battery for my car (",)

Khmer Opera at New Life and Family BBQ

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2008

Eventually, i got to NLF again this Sunday with my friend Miss Sim. She agreed to come and skipped her class hehe. I picked her up from her school and head for the church. I did not meet many of our friends today, but Cox's family. It was a good weekend that we got to the church, had lunch with Cox family, coffee with Jerry and his wife, then i had family BBQ at home.

It was specially today at the church. We had many exciting and anergetic songs, and khmer opera "La Kaon Basak" about the birth of Jesus Christ.


























Family BBQ
In this video, kids getting gifts, family BBQ, my nieces dancing with me.... sorry about the bad quality of the video, but i did not have enough light and i upload in low quality for web play back.

Hang out at New Life Fellowship

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2008

It was a fun weekend, though i'm not feeling really happy that my best-friend Jerry is not happy. I always can make him happy when he's with me, but he never had freedom to hang out at anytime he wishes.

Anyway, I had fun with Danny and Eric his former student back in America. We went to have breakfast together, went to the church "New Life Fellowship", then we went to have lunch at T&Coffee Hawaii. After lunch we went to lucky super market and ate ice cream. Last, hanging out at his house until 4PM, i took off and went back home. Actually, Jerry and I planned to hang out at that time and he'll give me some artworks to do for his conference next week. But something went wrong, Jerry said he was bored, tired and unhappy....... for being sticky at home and driving. Therefore, i just had to go home and left him being unhappy at his house. I could not do anything though.



In this video below, we thought of making a stupid video but...... we were not stupid enough, but it was really stupid.


Alright let me talk a little bit about the church we went to. It's hard for me to believe in God, because i only believe in what i can see and feel. However, being at the church is not bad. People there love each other, helpful, welcome and stuffs. All religions are good and guide people to be good.

I used to visit a few church, but the one i went to this morning was great and i like it. It is a good church in term of scheduling, programs and classes. For those who want to know or learn about Christianity and Jesus, New Life Fellowship is the good place to start, i would say. They have classes that you can learn from a beginner to a leader.

These sheets i was given as i was the new comer. I might go there again to learn more, or even take the classes, but i when i do it, i want to do it by myself at my free time. Not that they try to contact me and invite me many time to go and that what i am worried about as they got my number. hehe.










Seeing the video below.... does it encourage or inspire you? :-) maybe...

What my life would be?

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2008

It has been for days that I have been searching for school and information for further my education level.

I desire to pursue MBA's degree from an advance university. So that I can develop my capability, knowledge and skills that enable me to help my company growth and able to compete with those foreign companies in my home country. By doing so, I am involved as party of my country development indirectly.


I am accepted by a university in Switzerland. However, it's a big amount of investment to complete my study. I have applied for two scholarships, one will result in May. Another scholarship deadline for application is in June, but i already submitted my documents and don't know when the result will be published.


I do hope that I would be awarded for one of the scholarships so my dream for my education will become true. I then will go to study at an advanced education system in the advanced country. Experience the new life that i wish for, the life of being independent, better life style, showing my culture while learning from those international students.

From then i will try to study hard, and do all my best to complete my study with a high grade. Showing that Cambodian students are hard working, ambitious, good character and the admirable nation.



Now please enjoy this inspire video. Actually it's a TV commercial which targets Cambodian New Generation!

DNA of HONDA Production

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2008
Today I attended a seminar on Honda Way on New Car Development: DNA to Innovation which was a business seminar series conducted at Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Center (CJCC). The presentation conducted by Mr. Toshio BAN, President, Sociobiz Research. He is a former Managing Director of Honda Foundation, and used to be the Principal of Honda International Technical School. It was such a useful lesson to learn and experience. Plus, they provided good facilities, materials, food and coffee. I had a good time with my sticky friend Jerry. We had breakfast together then attend the seminar, coffee break and lunch. What was annoying and embarrassed me was the ringing phone of the participants during the training. Why could not they switch to silent or vibrate? Did they feel embarrass when their phone rings during the lecture while everyone was quiet and concentrating? When they can understand?
It's coffee break time!!! I like the coffee and the snack. Look at the cute and small chinese cookie!

One email makes it up for all

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 05, 2008

This week has not been a good time.... I have been in a few tough situations, plus, so are my friends. That put me 6 feet underground. So down!

However, this morning when I got right in my office and checked my email, I received a great email which made it up for all the unhappy situation I have been in to. I am applying for a scholarship that provides fund to cover my MBA academic program. The scholarship requires to apply with a Letter of Acceptance from a university of choice. Then I applied to University of Business and Finance Switzerland.

What I receive is more than I expected. I hoped to be accepted by the school so that i can apply for the scholarship. Moreover, not only i am accepted by the university, but i also got a scholarship offered by the university of 8,000CHF (8425USD). It is the biggest or first prize of the scholarship that the university offers. That is not too big though!

First step was successfully passed. Since I can not afford to cover the rest amount of the fee and expenses. Now the next step is to submit the Letter of Acceptance and apply for a scholarship that provides fund to cover all the cost for the whole program.

I am not rich and I can't afford for my study, but I desire to further my education!!! I only can pray and hope to be awarded for the scholarship.

Thanksgiving - List of what/who I am thankful for

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2008

This weekend my schedule was so busy. I had many appointments with friends and business people. What crazy was this Sunday, just right after having Suki soup for lunch at home with family at 1PM, I went to Daniel's house for Thanksgiving meal, just right after that i had to meet Jerry at a café, and again just right after that i had dinner with some customers. Ah huh! a lot of eating schedule in a row!

Thanksgiving is celebrated in the US on the fourth Thursday of November. In Canada it is on the second Monday of October.The celebration is for the time when the people who first came to North America from England were saved from dying by Native Americans who gave them food and showed them how to grow crops. Literally, on Thanksgiving Christians celebrate to thank the God.




I appreciate for being invited to the occasion. Plus, Thanksgiving is a special day which people express what they are thankful for.





Here is my short list in no particular order and I am thankful for particular people in logical reasons:

1- My parents for always understand and being supportive.
2- My sister for being a great sister who has always been good friend, kind and helpful.
3- My brother in law who can see my capability and always gives me chances to show off.
4- Jerry who I confidently can announce that he is my closest and best friend. Thank you for always be there for me and never forgot me or left me behind.
5- Mark, for being such a great friend, helpful and being a valuable staff of my company.
6- Daniel, for being such a great friend. Though we don't hang out often like before, you are always nice to me and staying close.
7- Gina has been a great friend who I can talk with for any reason and issue, and was a great lecturer of mine.
8- Susan, thank you for calling me your Cambodian son, and let me call you my American mom.
9- Polo for being a good trainer professionally.
10- Sim who is my good female friend and has been our important colleague for over five years. Hopefully, we will stay working together to archive our individual goals and the company's.
11- Last but not least, I am thankful for every aspect that leads me to have a good life, a good family, helpful relatives, a good job, good gadgets, and good friends including who I haven’t mentioned above, and so on.

THANKS YOU!!!

Weekend with my bestfriend's family in law and gadgets

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2008

Literally Jerry and I hang out a lot and we meet almost every day, though he's already got married. Anyway, he's the only closest friend I have and can hang out with. He's always available when i call. On the plus side, i've been friend to his family in law. They are such friendly and nice people. I hang out with them sometimes too.

This Sunday I had breakfast with Jerry and his wife, then we went to Kean Svay with his whole family. I was supposed to go to gym after that, but Jerry insist to continue hanging out at a café and using internet connecting to his 3G network sharing device.

It was kinda cool! At the café there were many people, each other them came with a laptop. I'm glad to see Cambodia is getting better with high technology and those people.

In this picture we were using our gadgets at Kean Svay where people like to go there for relaxing. Over there, there are so small stores selling many kinds of food and fruit. You have too many choice for eating haha.


There were so many monkeys on the ground and trees. They are funny!

Let me explain!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2008

I usually love Saturday evening, because I can watch movies, internet, doing my assignment... until AM and get up very late on the next day like 9am or 10am :-)

But tonight I can't enjoy doing person stuffs. My brother in law need a new laptop and I got it for him today, but I have to do a lot of things on his both old and new computers. I have to install a lot of applications that he uses, connecting and configuring to our network and internet system both at home and at the office, setting all his preferences and moving the data from the old laptop to the new one. I do this a lot and all the time when he or his wife change their computers and mobile phones too. Anyway, I'm not complaining..... this is part of my job though.

In this picture, I'm working on 3 computers at the same time, kinda fun however. It looks crazy but it would have been crazier if i could get my new laptop today. Then I would be working on 4 laptops at the same time. hehe.
I'm changing my laptop too. I will get a new one which is smaller, lighter, but pretty higher performance....... that sweet :-D

Vietnam November 2008

WEDNESDAY, 19TH NOVEMBER, 2008

I have been to Vietnam for a few times, but did not enjoy it as much as this time.
I went there with my parents on the 09th to 12th. We went my bus which departure was at 4:30AM, Ouch! Imagine how early we had to get up? Anyway because it was on the holiday and we had to pass a ferry, therefore we had to leave early to avoid the crowded and get stuck on the way.

I felt quite enjoy spending in Vietnam since most of the things there is cheaper than in Cambodia. I have happy that i could make my parents happy, enjoy and experience new things such going to a nice restaurant, seeing a latest funny movie in a modern cinema, seeing 3D and 4D movies, riding roller coaster and so on.

Using languages in Vietnam is crazy. There are not many people can speak English as well as in Cambodia. They only know their own language, few people can speak English and few can speak Chinese. Talking to the people there, i had to mix up two languages of English and Chinese together. It's kinda funny and crazy, but i like it and i find it fun. hehe

55th Independence Day & Water Festival 2008

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2008

55th Independence Day

During the 55th Independence Day on the 09th of November, I was in Vietnam. Therefore, these pictures were taken by Mark, my colleague. He gave me the permission to share this great photos of the event. The event that makes me proud of being a Cambodian!
















































For more photos of our "55th Independence Day" please click here!


Water Festival 2008

On the 11th to 13th it was our Water Festival which is the most busiest event of the year. There are so many people come from the provinces. Most people still like to come for the event but some people like me tried to escape from this crowded holiday. hehe



For more photos of "Water Festival 2008" please click here!

Sorry for having not much information to share, but once you see the photo albums from the given links.... you will have some ideas about the holiday :-)