Dear Toe,

I’ve been reading your blog in preparation for going to Cambodia. I am going there to teach in an International School run by a US-based missions organization, but I’m Pinay. Your blog has been very helpful and I’m grateful since I knew nothing about Cambodia until I started reading up when I got the job. I first applied last year but am only going to be able to leave in June (God-willing).

I promised my friends I’d keep a blog while I’m there, so I may be following in your footsteps… but that may be wishful thinking since this will be my first attempt at teaching.

I noticed a reference to Matabungkay Beach. I lived half my life right near that–on White Sands (now Terrazas de Punta Fuego). I wonder if my family knew yours?

But what I really wanted to ask you was that statement you made about Pinoys having “POEA”. I was just hired directly by the school and they’re handling my ticket and visa… so is there anything I should know and do aside from the papers they’re arranging for me? I understand if you can’t answer my question… but appreciate your taking time to read.

See you online, and keep up the blogging!

Ningning

Read my reply here.

My team mate, PIO wanted to visit the island of Bohol as he was never been there. Much of a thought that me and my girl pals have been to that picturesque local place, we offered a suggestion to tour him around. It was a plan out of the blue. And it’s been quite a while that we thought of re-visiting as we would like to feel the Loboc river cruise experience which we never had during our first time in it (it was raining that previous day!)

And what would be our itinerary then? Everywhere our driver-tour guide will lead us to! He was so kind and very loquacious in his native tongue which got us quite entertained in the Toyota Corolla car we rented. I would enumerate the place we’ve been too. So you might have an idea if you wish to visit Bohol. Read below:
More after the jump at http://www.obnoxiousqueer.com

Yoki’s Treasure is a private collection of old Asian artifacts, antiques and garden hidden somewhere in Indang, Cavite. Yoki, the owner of the warehouse that serves as a museum, even had a 30-feet statue of Buddha shipped into the place several years ago.

More about Yoki’s Treasure.

It’s been quite awhile when I’m offline. Thus, I was not able to post the photos I promised during our LUA AZUL company outing. And the…

Bodies drool the beach!

**click photos to enlarge it**

(Oh, Demi! You’re a god)

More after the jump at http://www.obnoxiousqueer.com

For a person like me who has been traveling frequently. I know how the regular security measures are being implemented. And I understand why they are doing this. I don’t mind getting frisked at the airports, or taking off my footwear before getting inside the pre-departure area. I know they are part of security measures.

But what happened to me at the Bacolod Airport is different. CONTINUE HERE

It has been exactly two years since I visited the Batanes Islands, the awe-inspiring and otherworldly northernmost province of the Philippines. Preparing for my two-week stay at a friend’s house in Basco, I had every reason to be thrilled for the surprises that the islands had in store for me. Read more. . .

One other thing I that got me excited to set foot in Bangkok again was to see for myself their much hyped and new international airport. If anything, I was floored and wowed. It’s architecture is amazingly modern and yet it has touches of the rich Thai culture in key places. Its construction had been beset with challenges here and there, I’ve learned, but the airport finally came through and I’d dare say the benefits must be worth the wait for the Thai nationals and its government.

There is more to having a world class international airport than the obvious comfort it gives to travelers to and from a country. Carefully planning its location, accessibility, construction, and architecture can boost a nation’s economy, rake in jobs, and gain trust of more foreign investors. I remember a senior HR person from another company asking their company’s regional head why they had to resource training services elsewhere when their Philippine counterpart is more than ready to take on the job owing to an already ready local talent base. The regional head’s answer was simple: “you guys do not even have a decent international airport that is convenient enough to fly in trainees regularly!” Sadly, as you must have already seen NAIA, such is our unfortunate plight.

The rest of this post and photos through here >>

I had only recently found out that in the 1980s, the Thailand government purportedly sent a few of their agricultural people to the Philippines to leverage on our advancement in rice production. The Thais then studied under the able tutelage of the International Rice Research Institute based in the country. Decades later, the “teacher” who in the past boasted of being a predominantly agricultural nation had lost its mojo in this very aspect while the “students” had taken what science they learned to advanced heights. To reinforce our country’s plummet to rice-farming Loserville, the Philippines is now one of the world’s top importer of rice. What happened to us and our rice themed glory days?

Read more here >>

Thai food will assault your senses with a well calibrated interplay of taste mixed with smell, texture, and visual appeal. Enough said. Below are photos of what we had for dinner just a few hours ago. I could have these all my life and never tire of them. Wait, lightbulb moment: I’ll go buy some spice here so I can try replicating these sumptuous dishes at home in Manila! iGenius!

Enough with the talk. The photos, let me show you them. (TIP: you may drag the photos to see parts of the width covered by the margin. Try it! It was WOW for me first time I did it. Kthnx)

Continue reading here >>

I blog mainly to express myself and to record the details of my life. But I am very happy that besides being an outlet for my thoughts, I also have the opportunity, through my blog, to help other people. These people are mainly future FSOs, and recently, future expats and tourists to Cambodia, who have been emailing me asking about life in this country I have called home for almost six years now. I have published the first of these letters in the post Do’s and Dont’s in Cambodia. Today, I am publishing an email letter I received last month from a concerned American mother who is about to move to Phnom Penh next year with her family which includes two teen-aged kids.

Dear Toe,

My name is I. and I commented on your Do’s and Don’ts in Cambodia a few days ago and really enjoyed it. My family and I are moving to Phnom Penh next summer and I hope to meet you then and we can exchange stories. Anyway, my husband and I are very excited about living in Cambodia, but we do have a few concerns about teenagers living in Phnom Penh.

Read more in Toe’s Kurokuroatbp.

In 1967, Jacqueline Kennedy went on a whirlwind tour of Cambodia, hosted by no less than King Norodom Sihanouk himself. She spent three days strolling through the ruins of ancient Angkorian temples and she also went to Sihanoukville to name a street after President John F. Kennedy. See this vintage Time article for more details about her trip.

In Sihanoukville, locals claim that she stayed in the chicest hotel in the country, the Independence Hotel. At that time, it was the tallest (seven storeys) and most modern structure in Cambodia built to accommodate the burgeoning tourist influx, especially in the country’s beach town. It was built by Leroy and Mondet, French architects who were in vogue in the sixties and who built several important buildings in Phnom Penh. The interiors were designed by King Sihanouk.

Read more in Toe’s Kurokuroatbp.

Hamam is a traditional Turkish bath.

We went to the famed Çemberlitas ( prounouced as chem-ber-litash ) Hamam. It was on the area of the Kapali Çarsi ( The Grand Bazaar). It was a double bath ( for men and women ) but the sections were separated. This hamam site was built in 1584 by one of Turkey’s famed architect , Sinan. He built this for Nurbanu Sultan, wife of Sultan Selin II.

We went there at nine in the evening. Just after dinner. We opted to get the full package which included the steam bath, 15-minute scrubbing, 30-minute massage, soap, kese ( scrubbing cloth), slippers, locker, and towels. We had to cough up 79 YTL ( around 68 USD) for it.

continue reading…

We’ve all been following the news about La Mancha’s World Pyro Olympics, and we’ve all witnessed the delays and changes in the line-up of participants for this year’s WPO. But guess what? Tuloy na tuloy na!! Yes, the 2008 World Pyro Olympics will start this Saturday, May 3rd and there’s no stopping this grand pyrotechnics event in the Philippines (NOT even strong winds and heavy rain - we were there during the 1st WPO, twice it rained hard, but the show went on!)

Go visit my blog now to see the final schedule, the final list of participants, and the posters and announcements plastered all-over SM Mall of Asia, the world’s 3rd Largest Mall.

Read here…

Hi, being in the later years of life, a “Senior Citizen” i think they call it, i decided to make one more journey before i retire to a more sedatory life. Or not quite so adventurous perhaps?

So I spent a couple of three weeks of touring Africa with 4 of my friends, mainly in Namibia where i have been so many times before, and then the last long journey from Cambodia to Singapore before i return to the Philippines. And all on a 950cc KTM Motorbike.

Yeah I know I must be nuts, but a happy nutter….

Having uploaded all my photos and the ones i stole from my friends to the “Multiply” site, as the up loader is so fast,  I would lke to share with you a few weeks of travels and fun had by myself and my friends

so please take a look at the photos when you have time

http://janneration.multiply.com/

The Calea Cakes. No other foodshops can beat its cakes. To say that its delicious is an understatement.

Continue reading here

Hello KABAYANs im Jeriel from manila im here to share my story regarding , i can say My Success in finding a Legit way to make Cash Online without spending any single penny . Im sure that some of you have also tried looking for online jobs or a way to make money tru Internet . Some of you may end up failing and some succeed for my experience yes there are lots of way to make cash online some are PTC, PTR, GPT, if youre not familiar those are the one , you check email and you get paid , or clicking adds and doing surveys. I fed up using those programs because the money that they pay me i’snt good enough. Then one day i searched Google for more moneymaking sites and end up with the Free Online Cash System , i checked the site and it says Make 150S - 1500$ Immediately with No Out of Pocket Cost ! I said wtf this is impossible , but later that night it came to my mind what if its TRUE ? Then i checked google and research about this Program i was shock that i found lots of Proofs from you tube , forums etc that this program really works . Then after that i went back to the site and register , and then after that they scheduled me for a LIVE CONFERENCE CALL where in they thought me how the program works , it was really simple its a STEP BY STEP process which i believe that anyone Can do it , there are no necessary experience needed.

If you guys are interested in givn up 45mins of your day , heres the site which will lead you to your success..

www.makefreecashonline.info

One moment he’s in the Tuscan countryside taste-testing olive oils for airplane first class passengers. The next, he’s in Turkey buying exotic expensive carpets. Then, he’s at Beverly Hills buying designer suits and ties in Rodeo Drive. Then, he’s seen watching the first Rolling Stones concert in mainland China. Then, he’s in London chatting about the future of British royalty with Prince Andrew. He’s living the life I dream of - going to the chicest and most exotic places one only sees in James Bond movies and pampered in top of the line and almost decadent luxury.

He is Richard Quest - my favorite CNN presenter. Heck, he’s my favorite presenter… with his adorable British accent as pompous as Simon Cowell’s and Mr. Sheffield’s in The Nanny yet his quirky style as humorous and lovable as Mr. Bean’s. His CNN shows CNN Business Traveler and Quest are more than just boring travelogues featuring places and hotels. They feature a great lifestyle. THE lifestyle.

Read more in Toe’s Kurokuroatbp.

There are plenty of things to do in Sihanoukville in Cambodia. You can go to the zoo, you can go to the Ream National Park, you can do water sports like scuba diving and snorkeling, you can go island-hopping, you can party all night in one of the frequent beach parties, you can visit Buddhist temples, you can go shopping for fresh seafood, and so much more. But for me, Sihanoukville is simply a place where I can unwind… get myself on my lazy butt, lie down on a beach cot in my bathing suit with a good book and an ice cold fresh coconut juice, my Alphasmart Neo on hand, my Honey snoring peacefully beside me, the gentle sound of the waves lullabying me, and the cool breeze refreshing me, in a long deserted beach with white sands and the sun shimmering on the sleek calm bright blue sheet of water. Hmmm… with all my issues about wearing a bathing suit, I wonder why I love doing this.

(Note: You have to understand though that I am that kind of traveler - the lazy one. If I were to go to Paris, I wouldn’t climb up the Eiffel Tower. Instead, I would find a nice French al fresco cafe with a perfect view of the Eiffel Tower and nurse my coffee and my bitter sweet piece of dark chocolate for a whole afternoon while people watching, writing, and reading the papers. Hmmm… I wonder when I could do that.)

Read more in Toe’s Kurokuroatbp.

There are three seasons in Manila, hot, hotter and wet. This is the tropics!

Generally, when it’s not raining, it’s super hot. Unlike other countries like Thailand, Manila has a humid heat. It was a bad idea to wear black the day we went out to shoot these photos — we had to do some serious hydrating.

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I walked my way to the office yesterday to fulfill one of the suggestions I made on what-to-do to mark Earth Day.

It took me almost an hour to cover about five kilometers from my home at Matina to the City Council. I left shortly before 8 and was at the session hall in time for its opening.

It was a worthy walk for a worthy cause in calling attention to help Mother Earth fight abuse.

Please continue here