Phnom Pehn, Cambodia: Hu Jintao Visit

I had been waiting to go to the Palace all week with M.  M finally had a chance to go on Saturday.  As with all things in Asia, NOTHING is ever easy or goes the way you intend.  We got to the Palace only to find that it was closed for the day because Hu Jintao (president of China) was in Cambodia for a visit.  Cambodia is one of China's closest allies in Asia.  Martin compared it to President Obama visiting Guatemala.... Big deal (no really it was). 

President Hu was taken through the streets of Phnom Pehn on a very select route.  Everything was polished and shiny on his route.  One block away and he would have seen extreme poverty and ugliness.  The route right by the palace (where we were) was not accessible by the local citizens.  You had to have a special pass attached to your shirt.  Because of my big camera (and I am sure the color of my skin) I was allowed past the barricades and got some really good shots!

You can see the special pass on their shirts

 

 

 

"Official" photographer

Here HU comes!

 

There HU is (I know that is grammatically incorrect M)....

 

 

Part of the dragon troupe

What would Hu's visit be w/o the dragon troupe?

 

Traditional Cambodian drums were being played as he drove up to the Palace gates.  The men wore masks while they played....

 

 

 

 

Back gate to the palace... I just thought this was so pretty....

Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Central Market

The Central Market is one of ten largest domes in the world.  The art deco style is amazing.  The architecture is by far the biggest attraction of this market.   It also houses one of Phnom Penh's largest market.  You can buy anything you could possibly think of and more.  My favorite score was my crazy wigs for my race in KL this summer with Beth!!

In the early evening the light inside the building was amazing......

 

Water lilies with the pads holding them together... they were all over Cambodia.  So pretty....

Rows and Rows of useless plastic objects and such

 

 

 

You can buy fresh mango's in the market and they will slice it up for you and put it in a plastic bag.... So So yummy

Flat Stanley sure liked it...... This little guy is going back to Winchester VA well traveled.

Phnom Penh Cambodia: Seen from a Tuk Tuk

This past week I went to Phnom Penh.  I have had many friends tell me how much they LOVED Cambodia... I didn't understand until I went.

Cambodia is by far my favorite place in Asia so far.  The people have  a spirit about them that can not be described.  I have fallen in love and will be back for more!  One week was not enough.....

Phnom Penh has no form of mass transit.  It is a pretty small city but without great sidewalks or buses one is forced into tuk tuk's, moto's (motorcycles) & pedi peds (bicycle with a seat in the front).

I spent most of my time in a tuk tuk because I found a guy that I really loved.  Here are a few pictures that I took while in my tuk tuk.....

Monks were everywhere.  I never tired of seeing them.  I loved their beautiful orange clothing... The contrast against the grimy city was amazing.

 

They take safety very serious here.... You would not believe what I saw.... babies in arms on moto's...

 

Their ability to pull ANYTHING with a moto amazes me.

 

An ELEPHANT?!  I was surprised to see an elephant being used as a work animal.... I can't imagine it is economical to keep something like this....

Rice Paddies

Not the best picture but men and women walked up and down the streets squeaking a little toy (sounds a lot like the kids damn shoes that squeak).  They were picking up trash.  People would come out of store fronts with their trash.... I even saw a baby in a hammock laying between the front handle bars.....

Feather duster anyone?

 

The pollution was awful... this became my MO when in the tuk tuck.....

Not the best picture but this is my sweet tuk tuk man... Moury.  If you are ever Phnom Penh... contact him.  About the only honest one in the city.

Alice is Officially Perfect!

One of the trickiest things for us to navigate about the Singapore School System is the notion that there are kids who are better than the others.  They single out kids and praise them and hold them up as "the best".  Awards are a daily occurrence.  It is the complete antithesis of the American ideals that all of the kids are special and have potential.  Not really saying which is better but I do tend to lean towards bringing all to their highest potential by not singling out children regularly.

That being said, it has been a huge motivating factor for Alice.... Greta could care less.  Alice is a pleaser and really loves recognition, praise, and awards.  Luckily, she has gotten several (best test score in a huge English exam earned her a book and several other prizes).  I try to keep my praise at home to a minimum (praise for doing her best rather than being the best) and emphasize my values that kids should really not be singled out so much.

Imagine my horror when she came home and said she had been chosen to be a Perfect.  Ugh.  I asked her to tell me more and she said she was chosen because she was perfect and it was an honor.  That was it.  I couldn't take it anymore.  I approached the teacher to ask more about the Perfects.  Mr. Low was very kind to explain that it was NOT perfect but rather the "Prefects".  Oh whew. 

She is a "prefect".  She has pledged to "uphold the school name and rules.  She will be loyal, honest, obedient, and helpful at all times.  She will help maintain school discipline and set a good example.  She will be fair and conscientious in carrying out her duties."  I translated it to my vernacular... and it is like the crossing guards at school right?  I guess I can stand by these values?!

Just to make sure every one knows she is a prefect.... she got a fancy red tie to add to the uniform.   They won't let her wear any jewelry, paint her nails, wear any colorful hair accessories, or wear her hair down... but they will let her wear the tie. 

Just a sad little girl before she became........

A PREFECT!!! 

Birthday Fun!

The great benefit to having given birth to three little ladies is that my birthday gets done right!  They got M excited two weeks in advance..... started making banner's and homemade gifts two days before, woke me up with big hugs & cards, and really made it feel festive!

M really out did himself this year..... he stayed home from morning meetings to help me get to church with the girls, let me take a LOOONG nap Sunday nap, made dinner & cake (from scratch), added music to my phone (something I have dreamed about), and took me to a awesome piano concert.

Then.... if that wasn't all enough, my dear friend Mg threw me a wonderful brunch!  I have to say that this birthday couldn't have been more perfect.... 

This care package came ON my Birthday!!  How amazing is this???  Sweet SC. 

Love from the primary!!  (can was filled with US candy!!)

Chocolate from Switzerland (how spoiled am I?)

Shirt that was part of the "care package" & necklace from B!

$20 bacon... and it was SO good!  Only on special occasions because of the price and our helper (she has Sundays off)  doesn't do any kind of pork.

Savory filling for crepes

Sweet filling for crepes

How cute is this?  M's first cake from scratch!

Birthday Brunch!  Sweet Mg the hostest with the mostest!

Mmmmmm

Sweet JM made my cake!  It was the BEST lemon cake ever!!

I took the girls out of school for my party.... The school is VERY strict about absences.  When they asked me the purpose, I said," family appointment".  I felt pretty good about not totally lying.  I had to be very firm and repeat myself several times when pressed.  When Greta finally came into the office she declared that she, "was SO EXCITED for my party"... right in front of the office staff.  Sigh.

All my sweet ladies who make my Singapore life so nice!