Lakbay Lokal: Bataan and Corregidor

I had a meaningful Holy Week retreat and travel with my high school buddies Khaye, Lei, and Derick last March 23-27.

We stayed at Lei's house in Bgy. Ombon, Abucay, Bataan, the municipality before Balanga (the capital). Bataan is a historical province in Central Luzon, having been home to the Filipino and American-Japanese War during World War II. (You can review the rest of the province's history on this link)

Here is a sample D-I-Y itinerary for those who want to backpack and revisit historical sites around the province.


March 23 (Day 0)

Evening:

• Three to four-hour travel from Manila to Bataan via Bataan Transit. The Manila terminal is located at Doroteo Jose. You can easily reach it via LRT Line 1. Fare is PHP200 only.

March 24 (Day 1)

Morning:

• From Abucay, we took a tricycle (jeepneys are also widely accessible for PHP10 only) to Balanga then rode a bus going to Mariveles (fare is about PHP40 only). 
• Before reaching Mariveles, we got off at Bgy. Cabcaben then hired a tricycle (PHP10 each) to bring us to Cabcaben Port--the departure area for boats heading to Corregidor.
• Tip: The boat can accommodate up to 8 pax for PHP3,500. The rate doesn't change whether your group is below 8 pax. It would be nice to join another group to save money. The boat will be on standby until 4PM in the island.
• Nice-to-know: The locals and the Coast Guard have a good working relationship and they look after the safety of tourists. CG officers inspected our boat and life vests before they allowed us to sail.

All aboard!

High Noon to Early Afternoon: "Corregidor Tour"

• Entrance to Corregidor is PHP200 per pax while the tour fee is PHP800 for one open jeepney.

"Welcome to Corregidor Island"

Our tour jeepney

• Tip: If you're lucky, your driver will serve as your tour guide and you can just give him a tip (in our case, a humble PHP100). If you're looking for a professional tour guide though, better be prepared to pay more, of course.
• We visited the following sites for two hours: Middleside Barracks; Battery Way; Mile Long Barracks; Battery Hearn; Pacific War Memorial; Pacific War Museum; Spanish Light House; Japanese Memorial Garden; Filipino War Heroes Memorial ("Dedicated to the Filipino who knows how to die for love of freedom and liberty"); Cine Corregidor; Bachelor Officers' Quarters; Eternal Flame of Freedom; San Jose Church; and Malinta Tunnel (fortunately, we were allowed to enter the tunnel). 

Middleside Barracks

Cannons in Battery Way

Mile-long Barracks

The Memorial.
Fun Fact: On May 6 (Fall of Corregidor) each year, the sun aligns with the hole on the circular ceiling, casting direct light on the marble marker beneath it. (see photo below)

The marble marker

Rear view of the Memorial

Another marker to commemorate the heroism of Filipino and American soldiers during the war

Posing before a tile mosaic in the War Museum

A lot "Oh..." and "So..." moments during our museum tour 

The Spanish light house

On the staircase going to the light house balcony

At the Filipino Heroes Memorial Park

The gorgeous Cine Corregidor

Eternal Flame of Freedom steel sculpture overlooking the sea

The plain San Jose Church

The obligatory tourist shot in front of Malinta Tunnel (I bet almost everyone who's been there has a similar shot)

Malinta Tunnel is like an administrative building during the war. This passageway was once an infirmary

• Visiting the island for the first time in ten years (and with more mature bearing) was worth my while!
• Fact: Corregidor Island now belongs to Cavite, not Bataan. "Baka wala sila (Cavite) masyadong tourist attractions kaya kinuha. Sana sa 'min na lang uli," said a local when I asked for her reaction.
• Tip: We had lunch at a carinderia within the island (one of only four, I think). If you have plenty of budget, you can get a nice meal for PHP150 but we preferred to be thrifty so we just shared two big cans of Century Tuna, two scrambled eggs, and one cup of rice, and halu-halo each. Good company with simple food for PHP115 each only! Sulit! Sarap! Tipid!
• Tip: If you want to have some siesta in the island, you can rent a tent for PHP500 only (no time limit).

Afternoon

• We headed back to Cabcaben Port and proceeded to Sisiman, a town in Mariveles, via tricycle (PHP60 each). If you're picky, you can ride the public bus (PHP70) or private bus (about PHP100).
• We searched for the lightless light house which has a breathtaking reputation (based on some bloggers who were there years prior) but is now a disappointing victim of careless local tourism operations and industrialization activities on the side of the bay.

Expectations:

Photos grabbed from The Filipina Explorer blog

Reality:

Apparently, the saying "looks can be deceiving" also applies to blog photos now

•  The treck approaching the light house is now filled with make shift huts rented by families who go there for swimming. A lot of trash are scattered in the area, too!

Evening

• Simple dinner back at Abucay courtesy of Lei's cousin, Ate Che, who cooked all our delicious seafood meals for the entire trip!

March 25 (Day 2)

Morning to High Noon

• We watched "Senakulo," (Passion Play) which depicts the passion of Christ. The Senakulo went around the various "kubol" (roughly translated as temporary shelter. In this case, shelter for the station of the cross and venue for Pabasa during Holy Week) around Bgy. Omboy.
• The heat was exhausting so we weren't able to finish the Senakulo. Unlike us, the devotees had such admirable faith for bearing the heat, and their thirst and hunger.

One of the many devotees who play Jesus Christ during Senakulo

The role playing continues but the actors playing Jesus Christ alternate. Notice the change in fabric, style of crown, and the appearance of the slippers?

Afternoon: "Mt. Samat trip" 

• 4 PM. We rushed to Mt. Samat in Pilar, Bataan, via tricycle (PHP75 each) because it closes by 5 PM. We arrived 30 minutes earlier than the crunch time.
• Nice-to-know: Some visitors walk from the foot of the mountain to the Shrine of Valor ("Dambana ng Kagitingan") but it eats up a lot of time and energy. The best way is to hire a tricycle to bring you to and from the base of the Shrine for PHP200 each per pax.   
• Entrance to the shrine is PHP20 only.

Just another obligatory tourist shot

• Tip: You have to climb about 500 steps to reach the foot of the Shrine (that popular 60-feet White Cross). I'm proud to say that we made it for 8 minutes only! Indeed, stretching is the best preparation for any hike.

Private road for vehicles going to the foot of the mountain where Shrine of Valor stands

• Nice-to-know: The base of the Shrine is adorned with stone sculptures of national heroes and different times in Philippine history. It is semi-challenging to identify who is who and what is what so better review your history lessons first!

Do you see Jose Rizal, Antonion Luna, and Andres Bonifacio?

Behind us is the Memorial Plaza where most political and historical functions are held annually

• Tip: The elevator going up the horizontal part of the cross overlooking Manila Bay and South China Sea is under construction this year so we didn't get the chance to revisit it (and for Derick, walk through it the first time). It's better to visit instead in 2017 when SMDC has already installed a new and improved lift service.

Evening

• Dinner at Ima's Pamangan Restaurant. I had Tilapia with Rice for PHP95 only. It's best to have it with Ima's bagoong! Their rice, however, was not good because it's not that hot and soft. Also, their customer service is underwhelming.

Late Evening

• We engaged in lengthy conversations about our love for travel and how it widens one's perspective about culture and life.

March 25 (Day 3)

Morning

• We spent the day playing with Lei's nephews Andrew (5 y.o.), Olsen (3 y.o.), and Matthew (3 y.o.). We also sang along to OPM hits with Lei's cousin Pungay.

Afternoon

• We went back to Balanga Terminal to send Derick off (back to Manila!) because he had church duties.
• We visited Balanga plaza and the Balanga Church adjacent to it.

Balanga Church on a Saturday afternoon

A Death March marker in Balanga town plaza

• We headed to Balanga Elementary School which houses the Balanga World War II Museum. Retired school teachers now serve as museum guides. Entrance fee is PHP50 only per head.

Museum facade

The official surrender site of the Americans to the Japanese

Long shot of the museum and the surrender site

• Disclaimer: It's not the typical war museum filled with artifacts and photos and accounts of war casualties. It's mostly filled with tarpaulins and dioramas chronicling the war. Clearly they need more funding and support.
• Nevertheless, it's a good supplement to the tours that we previously had in Corregidor and Mt. Samat (and the museum below it). Now I'm more aware of the roles Bataan, Corregidor, Pampanga, and Tarlac played during the war (the last two being significant during Death March). I guess it's time to see the War Museum in Tarlac where thousands of prisoners of war were tortured and executed. 

Evening

• We pampered in a Swedish massage and pedicure (yes, travel kasi e!) at a local spa back in Bgy. Omboy.
• We had dinner at Juan Kainan, an eatery near the municipal plaza. We had filling omelettes for PHP50 only and the three of us shared in one huge bowl of Lomi for PHP120 only!

The filling Lomi soup 

• After dinner, we headed to Parokya ng Santo Domingo de Guzman (Abucay Church) and waited for the Black Saturday procession to start.

Glowing exterior of Abucay Church

Church interior

Santa Maria Jacobe

San Jose de Arimatea

Midnight: Salubong sa Pasko ng Pagkabuhay (Easter Sunday)

• Still at Parokya ng Santo Domingo de Guzman. The Abucay way of celebrating Easter Sunday is different from what I know from Tondo Church. 
• About 50 cute female angels composed the choir and sang Filipino worship songs prior and during the reunion of the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ.
• A female kerubin (angel) was lowered from the steel set-up to sing the main worship song and get Mary's black veil--signaling the rebirth of Jesus Christ. 

The structure where the angel was lowered from to get Mary's veil

Jesus is back on the altar after the Salubong

• What impressed me was that the celebration was well-organized. No one was irrationally cutting lines or squeezing themselves into other people's spaces. 

March 26 (Day 4)

Afternoon

• Before heading back home, we went to Bataan Tourism Center, the sole authorized seller of souvenirs and delicacies from the province.

• We had several tourist maps (which, honestly, should be made available in every tourist attraction!) and we also visited their small contemporary gallery with more Death March dioramas and paintings from young Bataan artists.

Death March dioramas at Bataan Tourism Center gallery. On the right side is a diorama depicting POWs carried by a box car (originally used for transporting sugar) to Tarlac. Hundreds of them were squeezed in like sardines, all standing. Unfortunately, some of them didn't make it and they died during the transport.

Still at Bataan Tourism Center gallery

Holy Week sightings

• "Nagpapadugo" - literally translated as "forces blood out." These are men who whip their back until it bleeds while walking through long distances with their face usually covered.

Just few of the many "nagpapadugo" men in Abucay

• "Kubol" in every corner, of different styles and themes, featuring different state of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary.
• "Ang Pagdakip kay Hesus" (The Capture of Jesus Christ) - a role play depicting the arrest of Jesus Christ when Judas betrayed him. It is a dramatic play where actors dressed as Judas and the Jews ask locals where Jesus is. Some would shout and look beyond the gates as a sign of suspicion that the townfolks are hiding Him.

Bataan is a good place to travel to weekend getaways. It's accessible, cheap, and has a lot of offerings--places, food, traditions, and history.

Aside from knowing it's rich war history, it was also nice to witness the way locals commemorate Holy Week so they can pass on their faith and traditions to the next generation. 

I've been to Bataan and Corregidor twice now and I'm sure I'll be back again!

Note: All photos grabbed from Khaye and Derick's albums. My phone was stolen when we were on the way to Bataan from Manila :(

Why Theater?

The recent writing challenge I accepted:

My take:

I can give you a hundred and one reasons why, but I will settle for only one—because theater is live. Take one; no buts or maybes; and all edits and ‘final cuts’ happen before the real or figurative curtain opens.

In our local entertainment scene where fans are widely engrossed in the hottest love teams, newest imported foreign dramas, and most anticipated Hollywood blockbusters—there is an art form that, unlike them, is raw in presentation but finely tuned in preparation.

If one sees a play on stage, he can form an opinion about the story, its characters, and other production elements as he sees them and before he leaves the theater. One doesn’t have the luxury of saying, “I don’t know how to feel about what I saw, I’ll probably just watch it again” or “I think tomorrow’s story would be better because the characters are likely to meet.”

Theater does not bargain for well-thought-out opinions. Like how it presents itself, it asks audiences to be true to their emotions as they feel it, wherever they are seated—to sing along to the chorus of “Basang-Basa sa Ulan,” from “Rak of Aegis” (PETA); to let tears flow for the suspended romance of the lead characters in “The Bridges of Madison County” (Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group/ATEG); to choose between the former lover and the new girlfriend fighting for one man in “Cock” (Red Turnip Theater); to be inspired by the nationalism of one of our (finest) political leaders in “Mabining Mandirigma” (Tanghalang Pilipino); and even to laugh and lust over the scantily clad performers in “50 Shades! The Musical Parody: Manila” (Vivre Fort Entertainment and 9 Works Theatrical). Theater asks audiences to indulge in their feelings with the house lights dimmed, popcorns totally unnecessary.

Not to undermine the contributions of cinema, television, and visual arts to the awakening of Filipino audiences, but theater has a strong, and most of the time liberated, interpretation of “what’s hot” (pop culture) and “what we forget,” “what we refuse to believe,” and “what we deny as a generation.” Think about the no-nonsense millennials who bannered the aptly titled “No Filter” (Sandbox Collective). It was well-received by members of the Gen X and Gen Y alike that it had to have a second run—as if we didn’t learn enough about this new breed’s personality from social media.

To say that going to the theater is a form of escape is not entirely wrong. We must, however, consider that it’s a more costly purchase than a cinema or gallery ticket or a free TV drama. When one goes to the theater and willingly pay for a price of PHP400 (at the cheapest), he’s looking for something he doesn’t usually see or hear in any other art form or mass media. He waives his entitlement to know any better, evidenced by his willingness to seat for an average of two hours and absorb all the talking, dancing, singing, crying, and moving in and around the stage.

And theater does not disappoint.

In theater, the ‘activist’ that you find annoying can talk to you closely and share why he grew up to be such a fearless, uncompromising man like Bart Guingona’s ‘Ned Weeks’ in “The Normal Heart” (Actor's Actors Inc./The Necessary Theater). The ‘lavish matriarch’ who denies her wealth’s depletion can take you back to her days in the province so you would reconsider your opinion about her, like what Cherrie Gil’s ‘Enriquetta Jardeleza-Sofronio’ accomplished in “Arbol de Fuego” (PETA).

When theater presents itself as a comedy, more often than not it is inspired by a dramatic reality. When the playbill tells you it’s a drama, you’ll find yourself laughing because of its fine resemblance to the world that we know actually exists. When it is a fantasy, don’t fool yourself—it’s grounded on real emotions just the same. And when they say that what you are watching is fiction—it’s only because you don’t know the real people that inspired the characters in it. Essentially, theater is not limited by labels. It may be considered as one genre only but you can see a hint of other genres if you look closely enough.

One may argue that the characters in theater move in one stage only—often rectangular—limiting the effects of the story to its audiences. Well, our world is finite and we move around it as far as we can, doing and discovering things as often as we can, as well. The real stage that we live in has its limits and as the actors of our own characters, there will be an inevitable moment when we take a bow and step back to let the curtains—real or imaginary—close.

That is life. Theater is life.

Fanboying

My love for reading has given me a number of rewards now.

I was able to meet some of my favorite writers and I had some of their books signed.

Social media has also enabled me to follow some of them online so I could be updated in their newest projects. It also enabled me to post the latest books that I read and tag their writers who have online presence. 

Fortunately, two of them have noticed my gratitude and they expressed their appreciation in return :)

Here is Dean Francis Alfar's book, "The Kite of Stars and Other Stories," as seen in my Instagram account:

Meanwhile, here is Arnel Patawaran's book, "Write Here, Write Now," also seen in my Instagram account.

Not only did he acknowledged my post--he reposted it on his @aapatawaran page! :)

Another "Almost"

I just got back from MOWELFUND (Movie Workers Welfare Foundation) where I applied to be one of the fellows of CINE PANULAT 2016, the second edition of the free screenwriting laboratory founded and ran by acclaimed director and screenwriter Jun Lana.

I came in 15 minutes earlier than the call time. By 10 A.M., we were given a creative writing exercise which required us to write our biography in a maximum of five sentences and develop a scene with three people on the side of a bridge. 

Jun Lana made his message clear the moment he greeted us--only those who submitted an "okay" (meaning, good) write-up will be considered for the initial interview and those who did "good" will be endorsed to him for the final interview and selection.

About 80 applicants were shortlisted from a pool of--wait for it--410 submissions! 

Just before lunchtime, I took a risk and submitted my entry first. Direk Jun read it inside the small theater along with the other entries. I was filled with anxiety for more than two hours of waiting--Did I write good enough? Did he like it?

Fortunately I was called on for the initial interview with Direk Perci Intalan (Direk Jun's husband). I exerted every effort to be as honest as possible while talking to him (bordering on being an eager beaver, tbh) because I believe that as a writer, that should be a non-negotiable trait. 

But it wasn't enough. 

Not long after my interview, one of the volunteers thanked me and advised that they will just "contact me for any updates" which literally translates to "better luck next time."

Everything was alright, though. I knew the moment I sent my application that it was not going to be an easy ride. Direk was looking for amateur writers with writing background in movie, TV or theater, and I only had a single one-act play to show him. At least I tried and because of that, I can now sleep well.

The lesson I learned today: interviews and screening processes are all about perception. How? I can look at my situation in two ways: first, that I didn't make it to the Final 20; and second, that from 410 applicants, I made it to the shortlist then to the first round of interviews with about 50 remaining aspirants. I chose to be grateful and focus on the latter instead :)

Additionally because of the writing exercise, I will have a new blog entry :)

All is well. Opportunities are infinite but unfortunately this blog isn't, so...bye!

Southeast Asia: Cambodia

Part 1 of my seven-day Southeast Asia backpacking tour featuring Siem Reap, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia

I spent several days travelling alone last year. Finally I was able to backpack in other countries--something that I've always wanted to do. 

I started with two cities in Cambodia and one in Vietnam from June 2-9 (a total of 7 days). 

Why these countries, you may ask. First, because they don't require Visa for Filipinos since we are neighbors (Southeast Asia represent!). Second, most of my friends have been there and they promised that the cost of living is cheap. Lastly, Buddhism is largely practiced in these parts of the world.

Here is my itinerary for those of you who also plan to go :)


SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA
(June 2-4; 8-9)

Mode of transportation: Two-hour plane ride from NAIA to Siem Reap International Airport.

Currency: US Dollar (USD) is widely accepted. You can also use Cambodian Riel (KHR) but it's more complicated to compute. I just used it to secure souvenir bills.

Other travelling tips to Cambodia can be found HERE and HERE.


June 2

Midnight: 

• Airport arrival
• Bought a local SIM with 1-mo. unlimited surfing data for only USD5.
• Picked up at the airport by the Tuk Tuk driver of my customer intuitive hostel, the Siem Reap Hostel (highly recommended for backpackers, btw).

• For late dinner, I had a traditional Khmer Fish Amok (presented inside a coconut shell) for USD6 at Triangle Restaurant Lounge Bar, where, coincidentally, the singers are Pinoys too. It's one of the countless restaurants and bars found along Pub Street, arguably Siem Reap's liveliest area for partying, dining, shopping, and night life.

June 3

Early morning until early afternoon

• Woke up early for the Small Circuit Temple Tour for a standard rate of USD 15 (you may ask your hostel staff to book you one). We started off with Angkor Wat, the lovely religious temple built during the 12th century.
• Unable to hide my excitement, I literally shouted when I approached it. For me, going to places is always better than reading about them in history books.
• Note: Entrance fee to Angkor Wat is USD20. It's best to visit before sunrise so you can witness the magical color transformation of the sky from red-orange, orange, yellow, to shades of blue. It's a visual treat!

• Next stop: Bayon Temple, located north of Angkor Wat, is best known for having multiple massive stone faces of bodhisattva Avalokitshvara. You can find locals dressed in traditional costumes who accommodate paid photo opportunities.

 

• Third temple: Ta Phrom Temple, made more famous by the tress that grew out of the ruins and the jungle-like surroundings. Sadly, most of the mini temples were being renovated when we visited so we didn't see much.

• Last stop: Bapun Temple, a quadrangular temple with steep staircases leading to the highest point where a seemingly open door stands.

• For lunch, I had a Chicken Lok Lak for about USD8. It is a popular local dish which I favored over Amok since it's more visually appealing and flavorful (with meat, eggs, veggies, tasty sauce, and fried rice).
• Fortunately, I met some of the most adventurous one-woman backpackers Eloise (from UK) and Nurul (from Malaysia) in Angkor Wat and we all happened to stay in the same hostel. We spent the entire trip together while sharing thoughts about our countries, travels, religions, and some personal matters. Truly an experience worth more than any passport stamp!

Afternoon

• We took a break from the overwhelming temple tour and went back to our hostel to swim at the pool then take a nap :)
• I met my new roommate, Orlaith (pronounced Orla) from Ireland, and I invited her to join us for our planned trip that evening.

Evening

• To my overwhelming delight, we watched Phare, the Cambodian Circus for USD18 inside, no less than, a circus tent! The best thing about Phare is that it's circus with theater (acrobatics complete with acting, miming, and audience interaction). More than being a performing arts group, Phare is also a social enterprise that uplifts the lives of underprivileged youth by exposing them into artistic endeavors (which made me even happier!)
• After the show, we had dinner at Pub Street. Eloise invited her classmate back in UK, James and his girlfriend Ester, to join us.

• I had a Shrimp Pad Thai (yap, in Cambodia) for about USD6. It tasted authentic, to say the least.

Me, James, Nurul, Orlaith, Ester, and Eloise

Orlaith, Ester, and Eloise

• After dinner, we had some drinks at a rooftop in one of Pub Street bars. We played an entertaining Yes-No asking game (3 rounds) where we identified the secret names on our foreheads featuring Personalities, Musicians, and Cartoon Characters as categories. Picture this, six strangers on one table with some cigarettes (for them) and lots of beers and alcohols (also for them; I just had one) having fun without prejudice! Now that's why I went solo backpacking in the first place: to be an anonymous personality amid a crowd whom I can learn from and be inspired of.
• We head on our separate ways the following day. I woke up early to go to Phnom Penh; Nurul headed to another province in Cambodia; Eloise went to Lao PDR; while Orlaith, James, and Ester, continued their Siem Reap adventure.

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA

(June 4-6)

Mode of transportation: Bus. Sleeper buses are more expensive than public buses but preferable when you're seeking comfort and the assurance that more tourists are also on board. Six-hour ride along agricultural fields and underdeveloped highways (Siem Reap is a province after all, remember?)

Best time to travel: Early morning so you can arrive at Phnom Penh by early afternoon and still have a lot of time to stroll.

June 4

Morning until early afternoon

• My breakfast consisted of bread-and-butter-and-jam; milk, and fruit slices available at our hostel for only USD2.

• I took on a six-hour bus ride to Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh. I only took a public bus which meant that there were more locals than tourists. Luckily, I sat beside Kamsan, a local who knows how to speak English and is a fan of Manny Pacquiao so I didn't have a hard time during the trip! He was also generous in accompanying me throughout all our bus stops. He even gave me a rice cake; their local version of our "suman."
• I also met a Cambodian Theravada Buddhism student who was travelling with his 'best friend,' a Chinese Mahayana Buddhism student. I thought then that they were having an affair!
• When I arrived in Phnom Penh, I hired a motorcycle driver to take me to Sundance Riverside Guest House. Unfortunately, he doesn't speak good English so we got lost for about 15 minutes locating my place. To keep it brief, I would say that my choice of Sundance was wrong because it is frequented by old Caucasian expats, hence, I didn't earn a new traveler friend :(
• Because I got tired of that morning's travel, I just spent the afternoon lazying off in my bed and watching "That Awkward Moment" and the French Open on TV. 

Evening

• I had dinner at Phnom Penh Night Market, their version of our Divisoria. Like the locals, I ate a Miche (fried noodles with leafy veggie in beef sauce) while sitting on a mat. I engaged with two school teachers who were genuinely nice! They even gave me a star keychain as a souvenir :)

June 5

Morning until afternoon

• I visited the infamous Cheoung Ek Genocidal Center (Killing Fields) and learned a lot about Cambodia's genocide history from '75-'79. It was a sad and depressing experience (imagine, Cambodians killing Cambodians). The multilingual audio tour was a great idea though (if the intention was to scare tourists more than educate them of what really happened in various areas of the Fields). I also saw the Killing Tree where executioners beat children to death :(

• Next stop: Toul Seng Genocide Museum (S21). The torture rooms and equipment, prison cells, and victims' photos did little to ease my sadness. Besides being more haunting than the Killing Fields, it is an indispensable part of any Phnom Penh tour.
• I canvassed for souvenirs at Phnom Penh Central Market but only managed to buy ref magnets because 1) I was concerned with my budget since I was just in the middle of the trip and 2) some vendors were impatient.

• Before heading back to Sundance, I strolled around Royal Palace, the official residence of the Royal Family. It was closed during that time so I wasn't able to see the Silver Pagoda. I had to be contented with the facade. Interesting enough, the park in front of the Palace is open to the public. It's like bringing Luneta Park in front of Malacanang Palace! You can sum up an ordinary Phnom Penh weekend by spending some time in the park: families having picnik, children running, monks walking, tourists taking pictures, and vendors occupying sidewalks. All of these happen with the river at the background, amid an endless cycle of sunrise and sunset, and regular passing of cruise boats.
• My Tuk Tuk driver (who was not that good in English) and I had a misunderstanding regarding the tour fee. He thought that his lunch (which I paid for) was excluded from the fee, although I made the opposite clear before we ate. We just met halfway. If I remember correctly, I paid him about USD18.

Evening

• I found a local bookstore near the Royale Palace that sells cheap locally printed books (i.e. Haruki Murakami novels for about PHP200 only). It broke my heart to leave the store without any purchase because my bag is already filled with a couple of books :(
• I was craving for company on my last evening in Phnom Penh so I contacted the two Buddhism students who I met on the bus earlier. We met at a park between their amusement center and resort-casino area. I walked for about twenty minutes, thinking that the area was just near my place!
• Fact: Maps, while generally helpful to get you from point A to point B, are not always transparent with the actual distance of getting there.

• For dinner, I had ordinary noodles for USD1.5 while literally sitting on the sidewalk! When the two Buddhism students found out about my dinner, they ordered for them too. The Theravata student had a vow of fasting after 11 A.M. so he insisted that his friend eat his part. It was crazy seeing him fighting his desire to eat and it was confusing to see them argue (L.Q.?). I was like an uninvited guest, tbh.
• The same student gave me a plastic bag filled with huge plates of dried mangoes. It didn't taste as good as our Cebu dried mangoes but I thought that was generous of him. I gave the bag to a (seemingly) homeless man.

June 6

Morning

• While having breakfast downstairs, I saw a group of monks who were doing their daily routine of collecting alms (or donations) from locals. I hurried to my room, grabbed my camera, and got near them to get a good shot. I've been waiting to personally witness such sense of altruism that is only found in Buddhism.
• Before I left for Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, I accidentally destroyed the door knob of my restroom. I didn't notify the owner because I was afraid he would charge me for it. Haha!

(AFTER HO CHI MINH, VIETNAM) BACK TO SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

June 8

Evening

• I was picked up at the bus station by the Tuk Tuk driver of Siem Reap Hostel (an awesome customer service offered by not all hostels, btw).
• I survived an exhausting 13-hour public bus ride from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh, and then back to Siem Reap. Had I taken a private bus, that trip would have been shorter.

June 9

Morning

• Last day of my tour. I woke up early to buy souvenirs for my family among the few opened stores at Siem Reap Old Market. I spent more than USD50! 
• Tip: You have to bargain when buying souvenirs. To win one, pretend that you're uninterested with the product because the price is high and you can only pay for a certain amount.Take a few steps out of the store, and 90% of the time, they will call you back and settle for your price :)

Afternoon

• I fixed my stuff and prepared for departure. Good thing that The Siem Reap Hostel let me stay within the building despite checking out early. While waiting for the proper time to travel to the airport, I watched "Fight Club" and a local documentary in the movie room for free. 

The free pick-up service and movie room are just two of the great customer services that one can get from Siem Reap Hostel. They also offer a food crawl, reception area with local tour and inter-city/cross-country packages, bar, buffet breakfast, swimming pool, billiard table, book swap shelf, and yoga and spa sessions at reasonable prices.

It's true what people say about Cambodia - that it is affordable and has an interesting history. Cambodians are generally warm to tourists although vendors have the tendency to be irrationally aggressive.

For me, Siem Reap is a better destination because it gives you the beauty of Cambodia's ancient temples that have stood the test of time (even archaeologists wonder how they were built that strong). Also, more people there can speak and understand English. 

Phnom Pehn, despite being the capital, lacks modernity. Some say that the only thing that matters there is the country's genocide history, and I totally agree. I would say though that it should be a non-negotiable place to visit so tourists can truly understand how Cambodia came to be the county that we now know--beyond the corners of Angkor Wat alone.

That's it! Thanks for reading and let me know what you think of my Cambodian adventure.