Kampong Cham is a Muslim-Cambodian settlement along the way to Oudang.
Kampong Cham is a fishing village on Mekong River. So just imagine its serenity and untouched by civilisation.
I was guilty as charged for I did not gave Kampong Cham its rightful visit. I was just going past this gem with my eyes and mental set on seeing Oudang. I should have stopped. The road was mainly unpaved; red dust was flying in my face, into my eyes and inhaled into my lungs. I was thankful when my tuk tuk driver gave me a mask.
Struggling for my life in a hell ride, fighting the dusts from getting into my eyes and balancing the camera in my hands with vehicles zipping in and out of my views, I managed to get some views of Kampong Cham…..or whatever that was left of it.
I made a promise to myself if I were to visit Phnom Penh again, I will definitely give Kampong Cham a visit.
Even the pavilion is so magnificently constructed.
Today, I reminiscing Phnom Penh.
I am aching to visit again. But, not until I visit Siem Reap.
Our journey to Maeklong started in Silom where we had to take the BTS to Victory Monument where we could take the mini vans ploughing the route from Bangkok to Maeklong.
At the pre-journey research, this looks sensible and pretty straight forward, but in reality nothing is as easy as ABC.
The journey from Silom to Victory Monument was a breeze, uneventful.
However, the confusion started when we arrived at Victory Monument. We exited the station and used the skywalk as indicated and we were trying hard to look out for the signages that will give us any indication of the mini vans or bus stop that we were looking for. Coming from a fairly developed and efficient city, I had this imagination of a proper bus stop with booths in my mind. But, of course not dahling! That’s not the case.
We asked for directions to the bus stop and we were on a few occasions to walk straight. Straight we walked but we did not end up finding the bus stop that we were so yearning to see. Instead we were bumped into another crowd selling fruits and other items on the plastic tarp laid out neatly on the sidewalk.
We asked for direction again for the second time and again we were given the same instruction; to go straight. We were contemplating if these people really know what/where we were talking about. But, we chose to walk on….straight that is.
We came to the next crowd selling similar items. It feels like a deja vu. It feels like “I just walked through this” but these are different peddlers altogether. For the third time, we were given, yet again, the same instruction.
And, they said third time lucky. It must have been true because this time as we walked straight, we came to this makeshift bus stop under the expressway selling tickets to Maeklong. One could only imagine my elation.
Tickets were purchased at 90Baht each.
We were told to wait at the plastic chairs laid out under the shed for our mini van to arrive.
Soon, we were hustled up the van. It was not the most comfortable journey, but for 90baht, this is good bargain and I could hardly complain.
The journey took us about 90 mins.
Our driver must have harboured dreams to be a Formula 1 driver when he was young. He zipped in and out of the traffic, outmaneuvered cars, lorries and trucks like it’s the right to do. Like it’s a normal occurrence for him on daily basis.
Our van was over congested with tiny spaces to rest our legs and arms. We were basically packed up like sardine in the cans begging to be released.
90 mins later we were dropped off at the junction to Maeklong Market.
Maeklong is a small town at the outskirt of Bangkok.
There is no shopping malls, cool cafes or the like here.
This town is made famous thanks to the railway market.
If you have not heard of this market, you need to start watching the video above.
When I was there just a week ago, the market was close due to repair work on the track.
We could still walk on the track for 100 yard then we had to make a U-turn.
Some hawkers are still hawking their wares but we didn’t get to see the market full of buzz and activities.
There was no chatters, silence permeated the air.
We are not sure when the railway market will be up in full swing. Some said in March, some said maybe.
Whatever that is, it has been quite an experience though we didn’t manage to see what we wanted to.
In the nearby market was a big temple and outside the temple courtyard, makeshift markets were set up. This could be another alternative if you would like to get some cheap bargains and to nurse your disappointed heart.
As for me, I am more intrigued by the temple. The architecture of the temple deserves every marvel. It was so intricately designed and built.
In fact every corner of Thailand is peppered with beautifully built temples.
I will make it my next mission to photograph all these beautiful temples in my next leg to Thailand.
I have always wanted to visit Ayutthaya. If you have been keeping this space close, you will know that I am fascinated by all things ancient. One of my aims is to visit all the ancient cities in Asia more so the super old and ancient ancient. Ayutthaya is one of those.
For those of you who didn’t already know, Ayutthaya was a capital city of Thailand before it was moved to Bangkok.
Lying amidst all these ruins was once a capital so old and so sacred that to this day, this place lays untouched and its pristine is maintained as if these ruins were a thing of yesterday.
Walking around this ruins, I also realised that Buddhism played a vital part in the governance of this Kingdom. Thailand is the only country in South East Asia that was not colonised by foreign power, maintaining its sovereignty under the fruitful reigns of its many Kings.
It is no surprise here as I walked and saw that many portions of these ruins were dedicated to religious use.
Another life.
As I stood there gawking up at the ruins with my jaw dropped and risking looking like an idiot, I stand amazed at how intricately built these ruins were and how through the sands of time, it is still standing and nothing changes. I am not sure if it is a liberate act from the Tourism Board to leave things be as it is, but it definitely added edge to the structures.
I was reminded of the parable in the Bible about building things that will last, looking at these ruins, I wonder if it will last for another 600 years.
I stand amazed at how the architects of old built this without much of technology to rely on. All they did was using the primitive tools to crave and shape the different segments of the ruins.
I am glad that in my lifetime I get to see this marvel with own two eye balls.
Location and cleanliness are major features for me. It’s the most basic of ensuring that I have a good night rest. Hunting for hotels is the beginning of any travelling journey.
Having been to Saigon a few times and knowing how congested and precious lands are here, some hotels popped up like mushrooms after the rain without much thoughts given to its potential patrons. Comfort is not an important feature to some hoteliers in Saigon. Some hotel rooms are just a makeshift box without windows. I can’t stand claustrophobic rooms. I need to wake up to gentle sunlight streaming in through the window.
With this in mind, I ploughed the internet and found this gem and decided to give it a go.
Liberty Central Riverside was my home for 5 days when I was in Saigon. There are two Liberty Central in Saigon, within walking distance from each other.
I decided to board up in the Riverside branch. I like space and I like space with gardens, rivers or the like around it. It adds calm to the chaotic city.
At Arrival…….
Check in process was painless. It was infact efficient, my booking was quickly verified and I was ushered into my room in no time.
And I was greeted by this view of the city and river at night. Magnificent.
The lobby was sparsely decorated which is fine by me. I like the zen minimalistic space.
The first thing that caught my eyes upon check in into my room was the transparent glass toilet. This is mind blowing. I could watch tele and shower at the same time. How awesome is that.
Basic essentials are provided. Room size is just nice for a single traveller like me. As you can tell, I was very much intrigued by the toilet.
Liberty Central Riverside is a stone throw away from all the major must-go sites making it a breeze to venture out. It was also a stone throw away from all the famous Dong Khoi St and all the yummy foods.
Liberty Central Riverside is not the cheapest hotel around. At $140 per night and the location to boot, I think it is worth paying and staying.
I don’t think I will return to Saigon anytime soon, however, if I did I have no qualms returning to this hotel.
Bromo is overly touristed, it’s one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia and it’s also one of the most visited.
Just google Bromo, you can find tonnes of bloggers, photographers and the like trod Bromo every other day. Bromo is bustling through out the year, tourists relentlessly arrived in bus loads and van loads. The town at the foot of Bromo is filled with guesthouses, hotels and hostels all offering very quick and basic services. The transient of this place is apparent. None stopped to have quality conversation with you, these locals are so used to foreigners zipping in and out in the yard in a manner of hours, they hardly bad an eyelid.
I spent the next 1 day doing the scaling and sunrise chasing.
#1: Sunrise watching
It’s madness to wake up at 3am in a freezing cold to drive and walk up the peak to watch sunrise. I arrived at the peak at 4am and waited in the freezing cold for a good spot to catch the first light and jostled with other who are already there earlier was a mind blowing experience.
I didn’t realise how big the crowd was until the light was out. It was an amazing experience, one that I will remember for the rest of my life. The view of the sun and the illuminated Bromo is really something out of poster and not something that one get to see on daily basis. It was an awe-inspiring moment for me.
#2: Scaling Bromo
Before embarking on this trip, like all cool hipsters millenias, I ploughed the internet for pictures and read up on the experiences of others who had walked the path before me. It looks pretty easy, hassle free without much energy and blood to spill, I am so game for this and I could barely contained my excitement on our 3hrs drive from the airport to the base camp.
My excitement quickly evaporated when I arrived at the foot of the mountain on the actual day, not only was it freezing, but from where I was standing, it looked like it’s going to be an endless hike.
The plus is I was driven in one of these bad boys.
Greeted by these horses.
And some random food and drink stalls sported the trails.
The final stretch.
Check my behind out.
The view from the top!
What else could I ask for !
I was left speechless by it all. This is one of the most spectacular view my eyes had ever laid on.
I first heard of this place in secondary school through a History lesson. Bukit Chandu or Opium Hill as it is known in English was an army base of the Royal Malay Regiment during the World War II. This is the place where the infamous Sgt Adnan Saidi was killed, he defended Pasir Panjang to his last breath. Bukit Chandu was a sleepy malay kampung back in the day, now it a sleepy little hill, connecting Kent Ridge Walk to Hort Park. I see condos at the foot of the hill, eateries, but it is extremely quiet. It is quite spooky to walk there at night.
Not many people know that there’s a museum atop the hill, converted from the previous colonial British officer’s house. The trail up the museum is unmarked, as I walked and walked, there were times that I wanted to give up and stop marching forward. The windy trail was hauntingly quiet, I don’t see any traffics, no human, nothing passes me by, 20 mins was all I took to get my arse up the hill. It’s tiring. Thank goodness it was a chilly windy day. Well…on the not so bright side, these forces of nature add further creepiness into this place.
On the way up, I chanced upon this Royal Malaysian Customs Housing, it doesn’t look like it’s still liveable, I tried google it but scanty information. I will try find out more and blog about it next time.
Once I got up the hill, I was greeted with this big bungalow house, my first thought was, “wow!”. This marvel did not last long, it was very soon replaced by disbelief.
Once I entered the museum, I was enamoured by the panels of information provided, detailing the history of the hill, the battle of Pasir Panjang, the artefacts featured. The sad thing about this museum is however, the artefacts were not maintained. Most of the artefacts I saw seem to be a copy from the other WWII museums. There were not many relics left about the malay regiments. This museum basically repeats the same historical facts that I was fed with in the other museum.
The entire tour took me less than 15 mins. If not for the show that lasted about 20 mins, I am outta here earlier. If I were a paying tourist, I would be utterly disappointed with the entire setting of artefacts, tours, shows and displays.
Time for the museum to think about creative ways to engage the young generations and to pique their interests in learning more about this historical site. If not, this will be just another white elephant atop the hill, not known and will be left forgotten for another generation to come.
As for me, I can finally say I have set foot on this historical site. And, won’t be returning for a long time. Perhaps never.
Add: 31K Pepys Road Singapore 118458
Operating Hours:
Tuesdays through Sundays: 930-1730
Entrance Fees:
The entrance fee is $3. If you are a Singaporean or PR, then you are entitled to free entry.
The Accidental Drama Qween 