May Holiday Part 1 – Angkor, Cambodia

Now that we are living in Asia, we’ve promised ourselves to intensify our knowledge of Asia, especially Indochina. Being an Indonesian (and I haven't travelled much in Indonesia either!!), I am quite ashamed of myself as I have been to a lot of places in Europe and US and only to some cities in Asia.

Before I live in Shanghai, I have only visited some major cities in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Guilin), Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, which everyone who have been to the last 2 cities can confirm that they are not really typical Asian city.

Therefore, we’ve made our first step to Asia by travelling to Hong Kong, Macau, Siem Reap, Hanoi and Ha Long bay last May holiday. It seems to be a lot of cities to be done in 10 days but we are not so much into shopping so we can skip the trip to the mall in HK.

My parents joined us this time as they were visiting me for the surgery. I will only post about Siem Reap this time and continue with others in the next posts.

First thing we’ve learnt is that travelling in Asia is more complicated with the inter-city connection. Not all places are wel connected by train service and cheap flights are not always available. However I found a very helpful and reliable internet site, Tourism Cambodia, which helps for tickets and hotel bookings and they give detail information about Cambodia. Their price is also cheaper compare to other sites too.

I believe almost all nationalities require visa to visit Cambodia. However they provided an e-visa service which makes it easier. If you prefer not to use their e-visa service, just make sure you have your passport photograph with you when you enter the country.

Also, you don’t have to bother exchanging your money to local currency in Cambodia. Most people trades in USD and they give change in USD as well. You can use it to pay for tuk tuk, bars, restaurants, hotels and water everywhere.

Siem Reap is the city you have to go if you want to visit Angkor. One hint to visit Angkor, it is a huge complex consisting of about 100 temples. It will take you between 3 days to a week to visit all the temples so depending on your crave for archeology, make sure you’ll plan your visit wisely as the price of the entrance ticket is cheaper if you buy for more days. The last time we only spend only a day in Angkor and paid for 25 USD each. The best way to explore the temples is by bicycles or by tuk tuk, a motorcycle powered cart. The area is very peace and serene but be prepared for the hot and humid weather also. Take your time to explore the temples and make sure you have your water and camera handy at all time!

In Angkor we only had the chance to visit the 3 main and must see temples. Those are Angkor Wat itself, Bayon temple and Ta Prohm. The last one is really popular as the temple has been almost outgrown by the trees. You’ll find everywhere trees growing on top of the temple building. Really amazing!

And after you’ve finished exploring the temples, don’t forget to stop at the night market in town or just spoiling yourself with the famous Cambodian massage!



Create Your Own

Friday, 18.04.2008

About three and a half months ago I received a good news from my orthopedic doctor. It looks like that my clavicle bone has grown back together and I should be able to remove the metal pin whenever I want to.

I should be happy, and I am really happy, except that I am no fans of any kind of surgeries. I have cold feet just imagining the sterile surgery room with doctors holding scalpel and trying to cut me open.

To add to my misery, Jorge mistakenly played one movie called “Awake” which tells about a man who suffers “anesthetic awareness” and finds himself awake and aware, but paralyzed, during heart surgery. Trust me, that brings me hundreds steps away from the surgery room!

Anyway, after putting the surgery into on hold for quite sometimes, I have finally given up and have managed to persuade myself into scheduling an appointment for this coming Friday. That was for sure not an easy job. In fact, I choose this Friday on purpose as I have an important deadline to meet at work on the Tuesday before and I intentionally plan for a holiday in the beginning of May (just two weeks after Friday). If you don’t believe me, you can try to meet your work deadline and arranging for your vacation (including places to see, hotels, tickets, visas, etc) and arranging for blood test, x-ray and doctor’s appointments at the same time. You surely don’t have too much time to think about the “what if” anymore.

And to really add to the burden, I have arranged for my parents to come and accompany me during the recovery week. They will arrive just one day before the “D-day” and we will go on holiday together.

It is funny how they both agreed to come but both have different agendas in their minds;

My mom wants to make sure that I really walk into that hospital and not trying to escape from the back door (trust me, it crosses my mind the last time!)

My dad on the other hand, well now I have to be careful writing this, his “official” task is to guard the back door (apparently I have the “surgery-blood-cold-feet” gen from him so he prefers to keep reasonable distance from the “room”). But most important, his main intention to visit me here is for the vacation (yup, I also inherit the “I-love-to-travel” gen from him). It is obvious that he is more interested to ask about where we are going and what we will see there rather than how the procedure for this Friday will be. (For the record, no complaint recorded here as it really helps me also!).

So I guess, to the rest of you, wish me luck please (and don't put a hidden camera on the back door!).

PS: If you wonder what Jorge’s task at the moment is, well, I have asked him to stay away from any movies but the "Cinderella-and-the-prince-live-happily-ever-after" Hollywood-kind of movies.

Muchas Gracias!!

Querida Tia Rossy y Familia Ramirez en Mazatlan, Mexico,
Reciban saludos desde Jakarta, Indonesia y muchas gracias por las bonitas camisetas que nos enviaron.
Esperamos nos visiten en Jakarta pronto.

Muchos abrazos y besos,

Los felices Sapos:
Adelia - Amanda - Amadeo

Happy Chinese New Year 2008

We are off to Indonesia to celebrate the arrival of the year of rat with my family. To those who celebrate the chinese new year, we wish you all the best for the new year and enjoy the holiday with your family!

新年快乐!
万事如意..
鼠年大吉,身体健康,万事如意,心想事成 !

I found a very nice song about the chinese new year. They've been playing for the whole month in every department stores. Enjoy!!!

One more week to go!!! Yay!!!

At about this time next Sunday, we will be on the plane flying somewhere on top of the Pacific ocean en route to Los Angeles to catch a plane to Mazatlan, Mexico.

I have checked with Jorge’s nephew, he’ll be in Mazatlan by 20th December and will stay there until the new year.

We will be staying in Mazatlan until 2nd January and after that we will catch a plane to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Our German friend who used to stay in Buenos Aires for quite a long time has given us an address for a delicious steak house right in the downtown. Asado, they are the best in the world!

After Buenos Aires, we will catch a plane again to Iguazu Falls, right in the border of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay to see for the first time the famous Garganta del Diablo (the Devil’s throat). From Iguazu, we will cross the border to Brazil and make our way to Rio de Janeiro where we have a hotel reservation waiting in the beach of Ipanema. Yay!!!!! Can’t get more excited than I am right now! Beach, sand and caipirinha..I can smell them already!!! I feel like packing for the trip now!! We actually have bought new pairs of trekking shoes for the trip to Iguazu.

We’ll be back in Shanghai on 13th January 2008 and believe me, you don’t want to see my calendar in January! It discourages me to come back!

Anyway, before we can finally have our Christmas holiday, I will first have to fly to Changchun (8.20 flight tomorrow morning) and hopefully I can come back on time on Wednesday night. I’ve checked the weather forecast in Changchun, it will be -10 degree on day time and -18 degree at night. They’ve expected scattered snow shower on Tuesday and Wednesday which, in Changchun, can translate into flight delay, if not cancellation. Wish me luck, guys!!!

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

It's the most wonderful time of the year

with the kids jingle belling

and everyone telling you "Be a good cheer"

It's the most wonderful time of the year

It's the hap-happiest season of all

with those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings

when friends come to call

It's the hap-happiest season of all

I tend to be overly sensitive during the christmas time. Happens to me every year and it will pass when the season is over.

This year, I miss a lot the christmas season in Germany. This is the time of the year when we normally go to the christmas market to buy our advent wreath and drinking gluehwein in cold and sometimes snowy December weather.

My favourite place was to hang out nearby the ice skating ring so I can enjoy a glass or two of gluehwein while listening to the christmas carols and the people chattering happily. I would also enjoy the smell of fresh pines and fresh baked cinnamon cookies in the air, llistening to the joyous laughter of children, the jingling bell and watching the people busy fullfiling their christmas shopping list.

In China, things are completely different. I bet not a lot of people know about Christmas. In fact almost all companies will work on Christmas day, including mine. Some malls will try to put up Christmas tree (of course made of plastic-look-alike-pines) and play Christmas songs, but still you are missing the true atmosphere.

So we decided to decorate our apartment with four green and red candles as replacement for advent wreath as I won't accept plastic made wreath and I am not allowed to mail order the original from Germany either. Jorge has put out the christmas lighting in our balcony last week and he bought also some poinsetias home.

We have also some christmas shopping list for his family in Mexico. We played Christmas songs whenever we are at home. We tried to do as much as possible to feel like christmas.

And last night, St. Nikolaus came to my desk and left a chocolate in there. Just what I need!

Bedrest

A week has gone from my surgery and I am still resting at home. My left hand and shoulder are still numb and I still can't wake up from the bed by myself. I am still wearing arm-swing to keep my left hand in steady position. This really irritates me as I am a quite active person and that I can only work/type with one hand right now.

My mom flew here to keep me company and, I believe, to ensure that I won't do anything stupid that will hurt me even more. I am famous of always disobeying my doctor's orders, ie. like not going to the office anytime soon. I am actually thinking to go back to work, at least part time this week. Staying home for another week will indeed make my condition worse.

My colleagues from work visited me at home and brought flowers and fruit baskets so now my apartment is full of them. At first I am a bit surprise to the burst of attentions, especially I am still very new in Shanghai but apparently it is a custom in China to bring flowers and fruits to a sick relative. One problem is that I received so many flowers on different days but I don't have vase to water them, so I have to send my mom to go vase hunting almost everyday. Later I will end up with empty vases and no flowers. Na ja...

Birth Announcement

Proud to announce the birth of my third niece, Amanda Utomo, daughter of Linda and Theodoor Utomo, sister of Adelia and Amadeo Utomo. Born in Jakarta, Indonesia, 24th March 2007 at 9:41 am (GMT +7hours), length 51 cm, weight 3,5 kg.

Welcome to this world, Amanda, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!