What was important to you in 2011? Mine is YOU!

OK, so it's the last day of 2011.  I have no idea where the frick 2011 went mind you, but its gone and it its place remain memories, friends, and passport stamps.

Since I began writing this I have starting reading some other blogs a bit more, to see what works, what I like, etc, and a lot seem to do stuff like, "my top 10 blogs", or "look what I got in 2011", which is a bit tiring.  But, it is nice to reflect on things that have past to get a sense of satisfaction to reassure ourselves that time past was not time lost.

So, this morning I was sitting in my villa in Koh Samui (my coffee was brought to me without asking exactly how I like it, thanks to my amazing house staff), I was trying to think of the places I had been this year.  It wasn't a bad list, but not overly impressive either!  I managed to get to Bali, Indonesia, for a family friends' wedding and stayed at the beautiful Karma Kandara (website here). Then later in the year I, obviously, came to Asia and have visited Cambodia and now Thailand.  So, three countries in one year, which has been pretty standard for me over the last few years. In fairness though, usually that has been for work.  As I ran study tours and worked for Curtin University I was often in Malaysia (often going through Brunei), China and Vietnam.

When I thought about it though, this years travels seems that much more awesome.  Probably because I wasn't working! But because of that, the ability to focus on the travel, I met some really awesome people. Seriously, this year I have meet some of the coolest cats I know or reconnected with people who I had lost contact with and, for me, that is one of the beauties of travelling.

Then I got thinking more, still on the same topic, and thought about all the travelling I had done within Australia, and I was blown away with what relationships I had managed to make and maintain.

To give you a run down of the year:

I brought in the 2011 year in Tasmania at the Falls Festival with one of my best mates Benjie, his partner Narisha, and his friends Jimmy, Peter and Fleur, and Kajsa  We spent four days listening to bands, and sneaking about with contraband alcohol, before touring Tassie for a day or two. (We had also gone to the Taste of Tasmana food show in Hobart just after Christmas where I had managed to catch up with fellow Perthian/JCLA'er/GV alum Tristan, and my JCLA buddy/down right LEGEND Aimee).

Jimmy,Kajsa and I.  Fall Festival, Tasmania, Australia 

Benji and Narisha

This lead to numerous trips to Melbourne as I started a new job in April for not for profit company called Teach for Australia (website) and required me flying to Melbourne every six weeks or so.  The TFA guys were, hands down, some of the coolest people I have ever worked for! Not only that, the vision of the company (an Australia where every child has access to quality eduction) is a very humble, noble, and achievable one.

The travel to Melbourne for work saw me being able to catch up with my cousin Tim (and finally see his house in the hills - amazing) and Uncle Dave. Go out with the TFA crew for the Melbourne comedy festival (I got belly ache from laughing so hard), catching up with Mattie and Liam (and getting our party on before dropping me - bastards!! ;) ), being in Melbourne for the AFL Grand Final (offing Collingwood!), Brendan and the new TJ, also dead set legends, catching up with good friend and fashion blogger Carly (Lady Smaggle, blog here) and some how, yet again, turning lunch into an 11 hour adventure of coffee, ales, tapa's and ciders.... Then going back to Naked for Satan an hour after we left because everything was just far too good), catching up with one of dad's best mates Steve... the list goes on...

The TFA crew, Melbourne, Australia

Half way through the year was Bali and Gili T, as I said, which saw me meeting Katie and so many friends of the Kotovski clan (if you know the Kotovski's, you are in the clan.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, you're not.  Just... no).  The wedding and the venue truly made the wedding trip a moment where friendship could be made over a few days and you could have some awesome times.  For example, I spent over a million on tequila on the wedding night... ONE MILLION... rupiah.. :)  It was just awesome meeting Asheesh, Ravi's mates, Claire et al.

This is the after Moet glow.... Katie and I, Bali, Indonesia

After my TFA contract expired, I took a few weeks off.  I hung around to see some champions of champions graduate from the John Curtin Leadership Academy before heading to Asia.

JCLA grads!!!!

Since hitting Asia, I have met some awesome people from Europe, Johanna and Rose specifically from Siem Reap, Manu and Rachel from Koh Rong who I will be seeing again shortly,  and in Thailand I am now in a villa with 8 other awesome peeps, all relationships I hope will endure.

Johanna and I in Siem Reap

Ludo and I rocking it out

My partner in crime, Tash and I, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Rachel and I, Sihanouk Ville, Cambodia.

I have to be honest, I am seriously downright shocked as to how many hits this page is getting.   Russian reverse span bots aside, I love that it helps me remain connected to everyone I have met while travelling, and also my friends am family back home.  I, of course, love you comments and messages on FB.

Koh Samui, Thailand

So, my 2011 was incredible because I managed to meet a bunch of wicked people and remain connected via the wonders of technology!!

But, what made 2011 big for you?  Let me know!!

Until next time, and 2012!!

Daniel

Follow me on Twitter @TheDanFactor

5 things Cambodia does better than Australia

I love how different places do things slightly differently.  It keeps you guessing, know what I mean? Do you remember that scene in Pulp Fiction where Jules (Samuel L Jackson) is explaining to Vincent (John Travolta) that in Amsterdam "they go the same shit over there that we got here, its just there... there it's a little different"

Having been in Cambodia a few weeks, I've noticed a few things Cambodia do a little bit better than us.

1. Mobile Phones (Cell Phones)   

Seriously, Australia is behind the times with mobile phone technology. Personally, I think its because our Telcom's enjoy a captive market that will force people to ring up to listen to advertising, or that annoying recorded bitch, "Lisa", from Vodafone.  Anyone know what I'm talking about?  "Hi, I'm Lisa. I'm here to help you today.  Why not tell me, in a few simple words, what I can help you with?"  So annoying!  Here, I buy a card, enter a number a bam! Recharged! Now, I know we have that in Australia as well, but check this out.  If I want to know my balance, I just type #124# into my key pad, and look what comes up.... Brilliant

        2.  Traffic Lights

AMAZING!!   I once heard a story about when elevators were first made where people would complain that they took too long.  To overcome this, elevator makers started putting in mirrors, and complains stopped. Well, a similar tactic has been applied here.  At traffic lights in Siem Reap (and this is quite common throughout Asia) the lights have a count down next them which tells you how much time you have of each red, yellow and green light! :)  Its fantastic.  No stressing as to how long you have, and if you are riding home after a few drinks its fun to race the green light! 

Also, the count down exists for the little man to tell you to cross the street.  Oh, and get this, the little man walks faster and faster as the timer counts down to stop crossing until here's doing a little run!  Check it out!!

       3.   Standard drinks

Um, what are they?  Forget putting a standard amount of alcohol into your drink.  If you tip more, or are friendly to the staff, you get more booze in your drink as it should be.  Besides, when it comes to cocktails, you use a recipe with fresh fruit and sugars etc which can taste different depending on season and freshness.  Sometime you need more booze to counteract that.  Other times... you just want some more booze.  

       4.   Happy Food

Oh, my God....  I don't know if this is necessarily something that Cambodia "does better" but they do it.  And it was an experience...  Those effects lasted all afternoon until I crashed at about 8:00 (I had a small pizza for lunch).  It was mellow, but definitely there!  And there are happy shakes too, for those who may not want to indulge in a whole pizza!!

       5.   Traffic

Traffic in Siem Reap doesn't flow much faster than a bicycle which is great because I am riding a really old squeaky bike!!  I manage to keep up with traffic and weave in and out of on coming cars and motorbike with ease and confidence.  That aside, there are a lot fewer cars on the road, more tuk-tuk's, bicycles and motorbikes which is actually quite calming.  There is something very "old age oriental" about cycling into a city on an old vintage bike with a basket and not having to worry about cars fly past at 60 km an hour.  Then there are tuk-tuks! Tuk-tuks are small carriages which get towed behind motorbikes or bicycles (less common in Siem Reap). Such a nice way to get home!  Saves having to ride and find a place to keep your bike. And there are no shortage of them either! Perth needs tuk-tuks!!!  Want to get home and there is only one of you?  Grab a massing motorcycle, flash a dollar, and your home! Easy done!!Oh, and you don't have to wear a helmet if you are a passenger, or on a bicycle, while you are riding ewhich is fine coz you, or anyone else for that matter, just aren't going fast enough to cause any damage.

What about you?  What are the "little differences" you've noticed while you were travelling?

Comment below or on Facebook!  Also, you can now just enter you email address to find out when I upload a post.  It might even go to your email, maybe your work email so you can read it instead of doing whatever else you are suppose to be doing!! 

Take care, all!

Until Monday,

Daniel

         

Siem Reap to Phnom Penh!! Floating villages and flooded forests!!

I'm sunburnt. I'm tired. I'm in Phnom Penh eating duck and drinking a mango shake… life is good!!  This morning I travelled by boat from Siem Reap which took us south through lake Tonle` Sap and down a river of the same name, towards Phnom Penh.  Lake Tonle` Sap is the lake which fed the expansion of the ancient Khmer empire, much like the Nile did for Egypt.  This lake is remarkable though.  It depletes and floods every year. The water for this flooding comes from the melting snow in the Himalayas. However, and this is the cool bit, as the massive increase of water comes down the Mekong river in the delta, the water bottle necks and flows back up stream, going up the Mekong, then the Tonle` Sap, and flooding up around Siem Reap.  In the process it covers massive forests which provide food for a massive fish population feeding the locals.  When on this lake, there are times you cannot see the shore in any direction.  It truly becomes an inland sea.

There are a few ways to travel between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Private taxi, coach, plane and boat.  Plane is about 80-90 USD and the flight is about 45 minutes. All other ways are about 5-6 hours and vary on price. Boat is 35 dollars, coach about 12, and private taxi is probably around 70 dollars as well.  A lot of travel guides really tore strips off the boat, claiming it was hideously expensive for how long it took claiming the views became monotonous, the boat noisy, and rather unpleasant.  Many suggesting the coach to save money.  I don't think that could be further from the truth.  I mean, the boat wasn't first class by any means, but it provided six hours of fantastic views not only of the Cambodian country side, but Cambodian life.  We saw floating villages, people checking fishing nets, floating schools and restaurants, children swimming. It was fantastic!  The only down side was I didn't put on enough sunscreen!!  

The cool thing about Cambodia is that OH&S hasn't yet discovered this place so you can do whatever you want.  The awesome thing about the boat trip is you don't have to go into the cabin... ever... (well, unless you want to pee).

 

The best seats are either at the bow or on the roof and you are free to move around so long as you don't disrupt the captains view for too long.  This is a brilliant way to travel!  The wind is in your hair, you get to chat to other travellers, and because you are exposed to the elements I really feel that you get a sense of being connected to the land and environment around you. I mean, would you rather be looking at the view below, or be in a bus?

Floating villages en route to Phnom Penh.

When I first caught this boat about 4 years ago we literally pulled up to Siem Reap and walked a plank to a muddy shore. Now there are proper jetties where street sellers hock their food and beverages before you hit your journey, all claiming there will be no opportunity to buy food or drink on the voyage.  However, you do get provided with a bread roll and can buy coffee, beer, and soft drinks for USD1 the entire trip.  However, if you want some bananas cheese etc, best pick it up before you leave. It all costs less than a dollar.  

Margaret and I

I love being on the water so thats a plus, and boats are just fun to take photo's on!!  So forget what the guidebooks say!  If you think you can get the views and experiences captured in these pictures on a plane, taxi or coach, then go for it!  But the boat will get my vote every time.  

Oh, and the final selling point.  Last time I was here I did catch the bus one way.  It was six hours long on a pot holed road.  The toilet on the bus was in a small cabin under the seats.  Just so I can paint the picture, think of this.  You need to go to the toilet terribly! There are four more hours to go, with no stops.  You go downstairs and climb through a small door to the toilet.  On the bus, travelling along a pot holed road, throwing you from side to side, is a squat toilet... Fuck... That!  You could have a beer and do this instead!!

We pulled into port (see how I talk like a seaman now!) around 1:30pm, after departing at 8:00am, and made our way to find some digs.  We are staying at Hotel Cambodiana which, is about 3.5 - 4 stars. It nice, just rough around the edges, though probably not good value.  The view is incredible though, especially before 7:00am as the sun is rising. Our room has a view over the pool and the Mekong river. Its a little bit magic.  After checking in we headed out for lunch, which is quite nice. I ordered a roast duck salad which tasted very American to be honest (too much mayo, too much sauce), but was still nice.  Along the walls are A4 pieces of paper from people visiting from all corners of the globe.  Quite a clever idea really. So, if you want to leave your mark in Phnom Penh, make you way to Khmer Saravan.  It's right on the river front.

The wall of Khmer Saravan - messages from all over the world!

I think thats enough writing for one day! 

Until tomorrow,

Daniel

Follow me on twitter @TheDanFactor

Monkey's, flowers, temples, and sunsets!! Angkor Temples, Day 3

Finally, day three of the temples!!  I hope you have enjoyed the slide shows. I know there are lots of photo's but the temples truly are amazing!!

On the final day we explored Angkor Wat. This is the single largest religious building in existence, and it was built over 800 years ago.  "Angkor" in Khmer means city, and "Wat" means Capital. So you figure out the meaning of the two combined! :)

This sucker is so impressive, not to mention effing huge! Unfortunately, I don't think the temples staff got the memo that I was coming, because there was plenty of reconstruction going on which made the photo thing a bit harder, but it's still incredible.  Unlike the pyramids, or other ancient temples, Angkor Wat is still active and used by thousands of Buddhists.  When you see the steps you will understand why the are so skinny!! Imagine climbing those suckers for prayers EVERYDAY!!  Actually, Angkor Wat is so important to the Cambodians it is on their national flag!

Cambodian National Flag

The temple is actually built like a pyramid, in 3 phases which come together at a peak which is as tall as the Notre Dame cathedral in France. Also, all the towers are designed to look like the closed bud of a lotus flower! 

Oh, and I saw a monkey, next to a statue... That's just rad!

After Angkor Wat we progressed to another temple for the prime purpose of watching the sun set, which was glorious. 

Anyway, find the final instalment of my Temples below! :)

Until next time,

Daniel

Follow me on twitter @TheDanFactor

The Ancient Temples of Angkor, Day 2

Hey temple fans!
I hope you enjoyed the last post, even if it was mainly just a compilation of my photo's.  However, I am sorry to say, I have done pretty much the same thing today! I even used the same song!! I'm lacking creativity in my rush to get up to date on my movements over the past few days though.  As I speak I am sitting in a hotel in Phnom Penh after an amazing 6 hour boat ride from Siem Reap.  So I am keen to share the photographs from that, while also sharing my experiences in Phnom Penh, because there is lots to chat about.  But the temples of Angkor are just ace so I am going to get through those as quick as I can but be warned, posts may be coming thick and fast over the next few days.

Day two of the temples saw us see Angkor Thom, where Tomb Raider was shot, and two other temples I can't remember the name of, though each of them offered something different.  Thom, while being restored is also being left in a way so that the temples maintain an auto of ... Indian Jones I guess.  The jungle has definitely reclaimed this ground and the tree's provide a feel that you are still one of the first people to see these temples and exploring things for the first time.  I mean honestly, check this out!!!

The second temple, while a bit plain, was made of some remarkable red sandstone that seemed to glow in the sun from the right angles.  A lot of the lion statues have been decapitated which is really unfortunate.  The final temple, while small, has managed to hold some incredible detail in its' engravings.  So there are a few things for you to see in this slideshow!!

Wanna know something else, these puppies, the temples, were built between the eighth and twelfth centuries.  Think about that, that is over 800 years ago, with no electricity, auto mechanics... nothing!! Each time there was a new king, the Khmer empire built a new temple.  How much would it suck being a peasant in ancient Cambodia when your king died.  I'm sure half the population sighed "$%^&!! Here we go again!"  You know the Cambodians were praying for the red sports car to be invented!!  I jest.  Ancient kings of the orient didn't have to compensate for anything! I'm sure, there are no truth to those rumours at all!!!

So, between you, me, and the rest of the Facebook and Youtube community, here is my slideshow of day two of the temples of Angkor!  Oh, the quality should be good enough for you to view in full screen!! :)

Daniel
Twitter: TheDanFactor

The Ancient Temples of Angkor, Day One

HELLO!!!!

I was terribly sick last week and whatever bug I had was unrelenting until about Saturday night, so I have been unable to really get into town to upload a post!  My apologies for that! But the good news is that Tash's mother Marg has arrived so we have begun our tours of the area which include, of course, the ancient temples of Angkor.

I just want to be careful not to understate these temples.  This is real Indian Jones territory. Definitely one of the greatest things I have ever seen so I am glad I can share some of this with you.  Over the next three days I will be posting up slideshows of the best pictures I take each day to give you a glimpse of how awe inspiring these buildings are.  On the final day, we will finish up at Angkor Wat, the largest temple of Angkor, and the largest religious building in the world, at sunset.  So I am definitely saving the best for last.

I have whacked a song in the background to try to keep it interesting (and for me to try to condense everything into a few minutes, which is hard.

So it is with great excitement I give you my first day of pics to the ancient temples of Angkor.  ENJOY!!!

Cambodia, Seam Reap: Dinner Part 2: Khmer Amok and my morning in an orphanage

Today has been a good day.  I got to spend the morning working in a Catholic orphanage run by some lovely nuns.  The children there are awesome, aged from new born to five.  Unfortunately I don't have any good photo's as they nuns don't allow them, unless you donate large wads of cash or its your last day working there after a reasonable period, but I managed to get the photo underneath taken and smuggled out thanks to my partner in crime Johanna from Holland (who coincidently is working there).  The baby never cried the whole time, until we took this photo!! I swear!!! Oh, and obviously when I left because I make THAT much of an impression on people when I meet them for the first time! ;)

The orphanage actually was quite well run, I thought.  The first time I walked in half the children wanted to be picked up and carried for a bit which was nice.  I was consistently walking around lost with a child in each arm while Johanna did the real work and changed some nappies (diapers). But I got used to it and was loving it by the end.  Well, basically all I needed to do was play with children, so I fit in well.  By the time I had finished, I had only been pee'd on twice! Winning!!

Last night for dinner we ate at the night markets and had BBQ again.  One of the children who came to our dinner for homeless children (read here) asked us to buy him some fried rice, which we wouldn't because firstly, we don't want to encourage begging, and secondly, we had plenty of food which we offered him instead (stir fry veggies with rice and calamari).  The little blighter refused it, walked to another table to collect some cans and bottles, scored a cup of soft drink, then promptly came back to enjoy his rice and calamari and soda.  It was quite funny.  The are all very street smart.  I tried to pic a sly on my phone, but it didn't turn out too well.  Here is is anyway!

Urchin with his meal and drink!! 

OK, speaking of dinner, I owe you the main dish - Khmer Amok.  I think most everyone will love this! I was hesitant, because I am not the biggest fan of fish, but this recipe is awesome and Khmer Amok is one of Cambodia's signature dishes!  If you really don't like the idea with fish your can replace with chicken or beef! 

Main Course: Khmer Amok

Spice paste

So, you need to create a base paste for this recipe.  To create the paste you soak 2 dried chilli's in water until soft. Finely slice 2 sticks of lemongrass, a shallot, 2 cloves of garlic, on Kaffir Lime leaf, a finger of turmeric, 1 slice of galingale and the chilli's.  By finely I mean finely. My cook kept telling me to go forever! Whack it into a mortar and go to town on that bad boy with your pestle. Mix in 1 tablespoon of crushed peanuts, 4 dessert spoons of Chilli oil (though this may not be necessary. I was told it wasn't spicy and was purely for the colour when cooking), a dessert spoon of oil, half a teaspoon of shrimp paste and a pinch of salt.  Pestle away!! Pestle until a fine paste.

Khmer Amok
Heat a tablespoon of oil in a pan. Add two dessert spoons of the spice paste and fry, adding one ladle (half a cup or so) of coconut cream. Add half a teaspoon of chicken salt/stock half a teaspoon of sugar, 3 squirts of fish sauce, half a teaspoon of palm sugar and mix.  Add the fish (or substitute). Add a ladle of water and simmer for 3 minutes adding coconut cream or water if need. Add half a sliced onion and a shallot.  Simmer for five minutes until soft.  Add two eggs and and hand flu off spinach or broccoli leaves and mix well.  Serve in Banana leave (if available) and garnish with coconut cream.

Serve with Rice

Khmer Amok

Please try it or leave me a comment to let me know what you thought!! :)

It's my birthday tomorrow, so we'll be having dessert!! :)

Daniel

Follow me on Twitter @TheDanFactor

Siem Reap, Cambodia: Dinner, Part One: Fresh Spring Rolls

Hello All!
The last two days have been great! I am really settling in to Jimmy's school and I start at another school tomorrow!  So I will be working at Jimmy's school in the evening from 5:00pm til 7:00/8:00pm and another school during the day!  So excited!  Last night half the class gave me hugs as they left! They are SO CUTE!!!  They finish each class with the song "If you're happy and you know it"and a song that goes like "I love you, you love me, were a happy family" I recognise it but I don't know the name!  Anyway, I think Jimmy's school is going to set up a website so I will link you to it when its established!!

After my last blog I got to my class on time, JUST! After teaching children the "ch" sound the night before last I headed to a farewell dinner at a local italian restaurant.  We then went out for a drink and found the local hooker bar which was DISGUSTING!!  It was full of male tourists, mainly old and/or fat guys with local young attractive girls.  It was just gross because you look at the 'couples' and got visuals and I was all like  "EEwwwwwwwwwww".  I tell you what though, if you need a bit of an self esteem boost its a good spot to stop by.  I felt much better about myself and my appearance!  Moreso than when I went to Telethon live!!  Our group were there for 15 seconds, more than enough time, then left and went to X Bar which was much better.  X Bar is opposite the night food stalls and is a roof top venue which offers a nice view over the central pub district of Siem Reap.  Of course, I don't think there are any buildings in down town Siem Reap that are taller than 3 or four stories so you wouldn't call it a sweeping view, but it is nice none the less! :) Drinks are cheap, gin and tonics are $1.50, beers 50c.

The last two mornings I have been woken by one of my neighbours blasting Cambodian music from around 6:00am which has been driving me insane.  Don't get me wrong, I'm all for cultural respect and cultural differences, but I'm also all for not waking up before dark unless I have to!!  Seriously, its starts pre dawn and goes until after dinner and the speaker is right outside my window... We found out it was for a wedding which kinda makes me go "Awwwwww", but then I hear the music which sounds like chain-smoking parrots trying to play the bagpipes and I get over that pretty 'awwww' feeling pretty quickly! Today is the last day though, so no more pre dawn wake up music, I hope!

Anyway, onto positive things!! I had my cooking class yesterday and I learned how to make 3 local dishes:

1. Starter: Fresh Spring Rolls
2. Main: Khmer Amok
3. Dessert: Banana dessert

So today, I'm going to talk through the fresh spring roll recipe, tomorrow the Khmer amok, and on Saturday the banana dessert!

Personally, I love fresh spring rolls! I can be in the mood for deep fried spring rolls occasionally but nine times out of ten I will always go the fresh ones.  The good news for vegetarians is that they do taste great with no meat, so you could probably serve them to us meat eaters without any grumbling!! I'm not sure of the whole gluten free thing, but I think they are that too - for all the hippies!  ;)  I'm kidding!! The only reason I put this in is because I know my mother, who loves and adores me, will now make them for my gluten-free Grandmother while telling her all about how amazing and clever I am!!

STARTER: FRESH SPRING ROLLS

Dipping Sauce
Making the dipping sauce its actually really easy. Put three ladles (about 2-3 cups) of water into a small sauce pan and boil.  Add two dessert spoons of fish sauce, 3 teaspoons of palm sugar, 1 teaspoon of white sugar, half a teaspoon of salt, a half teaspoon of chicken salt. Simmer for two minutes then remove from the heat and allow to cool.  Finely chop 1 clove of garlic, 1 chilli, and 1 shallot with the juice of two limes and add to the sauce. Put in a dipping bowl and cover in crushed peanuts.


Fresh Spring Rolls
Finely slice half an onion, 100g of baby prawns/shrimp, 200 g of minced of finely chopped pork.  Heat 3 dessert spoons of oil and add one glove of crushed garlic.  Brown the garlic and add the pork.  Add a pinch of black pepper, a pinch of chicken salt, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 2 splashes (squirts from the bottle) of fish sauce and cook for two minutes. And the shrimp and onion and cook for roughly three minutes, add a squirt of oyster sauce at the end. Allow to cool for a bit (not too long though, I don't think its too important so just leave off the heat until you start making the rolls).

Now you just roll them up in rice paper. You just need to buy rice paper in those packets and whack the rice paper in water for 15 secs or so so it isn't hard anymore. Put the wet rice paper on a wet surface (e.g. a wooden chopping board) and try your luck.  We added the ingredients in this order. Shredded carrot, then bean sprouts, basil, lettuce, cucumber, then the pork and prawn mix.  Now practice your rolling skills. I found this a little tricky at first. Its just important to remember to roll firmly and fold the sides in at the last roll.

Here are mine.  The first one was my first attempt and is looking a bit sad because it split a bit, but the others are perfect! :)

So, you should try your hand at them and let me know what you think!! :)   Tomorrow I will run through Khmer Amok.  It's a fish dish and let me just say, as a person who usually doesn't order fish, it's bloody good!!

Until tomorrow!

Daniel

Follow me on twitter @TheDanFactor

Siem Reap, Cambodia: A little tour

I'm really starting to get around Siem Reap now, so I thought I might give you a little tour of this part of the world and where I am living.

I'm staying in a small home stay, a few kilometres outside of Siem Reap, which costs me 180 bucks a month! Pretty amazing, huh!!  And I get a free bicycle as well!! My room is quite spacious really, if Spartan. I have a large double bed, a few benches to keep my things, an ensuite and the complex has an outdoor communal kitchen area which is really nice as I have been able to meet some other volunteers from other parts of the world (mainly European so far).

Here is the street my home stay is situated, and my trusty bicycle!! 

Around the corner on Shoe St, I have all the necessities I could possibly need.  Shoe St is lined with, well, shoe stalls, but it also has many local eat shacks, two petrol stations, and a hairdresser.

A hair salon around the corner from where I am living...

My local petrol station!!

One of the cool things I kinda like here, is that streets are named, either officially or unofficially, by what is on them.  For example, Airport Rd goes to the airport, Pub St has lots of pubs, my street comes off a street with lots of shoe salesmen... Shoe St!!  It makes remembering street names easier!!

Shoe St, with all their shoe stalls

One of the entrances to Pub St which has a lot of the...wait for it... pubs!!

Siem Reap, while poor, does have a lot of charm.  One of the things I like about it is there are lots of little streets and side alleys which you can continue exploring and find exciting new places to dine and drink at, or even get a massage!  I find this really nice! I like a place that can slowly reveal itself to you rather than be right and in your face from day one.

There is no shortage of different cuisines.  This morning I had an Indian curry for breakfast, I just had fresh spring rolls and a chicken and mango salad at a local Khmer food restaurant, and tonight I am going to a volunteers farewell at an Italian restaurant where the tiramisu is suppose to be to DIE for!  I love me some tiramisu!

I started teaching at a school last night (a difficult thing after the lunch I had yesterday :-S)! The children are amazing, quite bright!  I would love to tell you more about it, and I will, except I am due there in 10 mins so must dash!

I have just booked into a cooking class, which I will have tomorrow!  So hopefully I will have some recipes of some traditional Khmer food which I have actually tried and made myself!! :)

Until then!

Daniel

Twitter: @ThedanFactor

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Siem Reap, Cambodia: Happy Pizza!!

If you have never been to Cambodia, you may be forgiven for not knowing what "Happy Pizza" is. Happy pizza seems to have been the must-try experience for curious travellers to Cambodia for years. Happy Pizza is merely pizza laced with the token drug of the 70's - marijuana, something which is a legal here.  Just to put the record straight from the beginning, I do not condone the use of drugs, nor to a recommend making such a pizza if good ol' mary jane is illegal in your state/country.  I am merely a traveller wishing to try a new experience which I am sharing. And since a few people have asked about it, here goes.

I initially did a bit of online research and found a place recommended called "Happy Special Pizza".  It's a bit down the road from the old markets in the French Quarter on Siem Reap.  There is a string of three Happy Pizza restaurants, Happy Herb Pizza, Happy Special Pizza, and Ecstatic Pizza.   Happy Herb Pizza and Ecstatic Pizza were both not recommended through online posts though Happy Herb was recommended in Lonely Planet.  All the happy pizza establishment are quite small and individually would be easy to miss so its a good thing they are clumped together!  My choice, Happy Special Pizza, is the restaurant closest to the old markets, has a square white sign out the front with, what looks to be, a dazed blue sun. It is located around the corner from pub street (the main pub/club street in SR).  For a bit more info on them check out their website here.

While doing some online research I also came across chatter about 2-3 years old about a Cambodian government crack down on the practice, but there are three restaurants down this strip alone so I guess that may have just been all huff and no puff, if you know what I mean!

On the menu there are a range of pizza's which while not being of gourmet quality are quite reasonable, though maybe a little more expensive than other meals (in my opinion) here in Siem Reap.  While it is not specifically on the menu, when ordering a pizza you order with "no happy", "a little happy", "happy", "extra happy".  I ordered just a regular happy pizza in the flavour of foccacia (tomato paste, italian sausage, green bell peppers/capsicum mozzarella, blue cheese and black olives. Oh, and happy).   

When the pizza came out I was unsure as to how generous they were with the happy herb, but it seemed to be quite a healthy dose.  The pizza as meal itself was fine. You can't really knock a four buck pizza!! The toppings were generous and the ingredients were quite good.  

The method of creating the happy pizza seems to be pretty simple. A layer of dried finely ground marijuana is placed on the pizza, under the cheese before cooking.  If you are interested in creating such a pizza, below is a recipe I found online here.

Happy (Weed) Pizza

(This recipe was originally adapted  from StonerChef.com)

Ingredients

1 ounce cannabis
1 pizza, oven-ready
1 cup mozzarella

Procedure

Using a coffee grinder, food processor or similar device, grind cannabis into a fine powder. Spread cannabis evenly over pizza by sprinkling gently; then follow with the mozzarella. Instead of adhering strictly to the recommended pizza-baking directions, carefully cook the pizza for two or three minutes longer than stated at 25 degrees below the recommended temperature.

Update: In the comments, ChiefHDB mentions cooking the weed in some sort of oil or fat to release the THC. This thread on marijuana.com touches on the concept, and posits that the oil from the melted cheese is being used as the vehicle to absorb the chemical.

My Happy Pizza!

There you have it.

The initial effects of the pizza were nothing to write home about, even if I did only have the small pizza.  It was nice to try though and it isn't exactly unpleasant. :)  The pizza taste is definitely not enhanced may the addition topping, though I don't think thats the point, really.  Having said that, I bet dessert will taste AMAZING!!! The effects are suppose to take a while to kick in so I might need to write an update about the effects tomorrow... they are definitely starting to hit.

In all seriousness, I wrote this while eating it and afterwards so it couldn't have been that severe...could it?

Extra happy next time, perhaps?

Daniel

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Twitter: TheDanFactor

Siem Reap - Dinner for homeless children.

Kids are effing awesome!!  The night before last was two met travel buddies, Sharon and Nick's, final night in Siem Reap. So, with two friends from Holland they decided that they would host a dinner at a local outdoor market restaurant for some local homeless children.

Normally the homeless children here would be sorting through garbage to collect anything of value (cans bottles etc) or selling flowers, blacelets or books to tourists before going home are midnight.

So, come 6:00 Sharon, Nick, and another 3 of their friends, Julian, Jon and his wife, whose name escapes me at the moment, gathered up around 30 homeless children in central Siem Reap with the intention go give them a massive feast of chicken rice, drinks and two barbequed chicken pieces (a leg and wing).

Our dining table!! 30 children plus adults!!

Never have you seen a happier bunch of children at a dinner table! It was so incredible to see how thankful some of the children were! Not only that but what surprised me more was how smart these kids are.  These children weren't some of those brain drained 12 year olds we all know who spend 4 hours a day watching television, some, including our little friend Proen (pronounced like "prawn"), could have basic conversation in about 5 languages. These children may have been on the street, but they were definitely getting an education. Very street smart.

Proen is in the blue Batman t-shit.  Speaker of five languages, though he assured us that he 

certainly wasn't Batman.  Batman was his father. He is merely Batboy. You have been warned!!

Anyway, I don't want to go on about how special this was.  I just want to leave you with some pictures and, hopefully soon, a video of the evening I put together.  Its so awesome to see people do things like this, when they could easily push aside these children and pretend they are not there.

 Boys being boys!!  

This kid is the BIGGEST poser!! But also a kick arse street fighter! Afterwards we were messing around on the street outside and I damn near got an elbow to one side of my face, followed by a spinning backfist to the other side...  Below is his actual size compared to me... Just keep quiet, yeah??

This lovely lady was one of my favourites! She kept making me sit next to her and kept hugging my arm.  

Here we are looking at ourselves in the digital display on my camera.

Our end of the table at the night markets

These two (above and below) are brother and sister.  They are SO CUTE!! The girl sells bracelets and flowers around the main pub / club area each night.  I actually saw her as I was putting this post together and I touched up the photo a bit at her request! Such a girl - Cambodia's next top model? She was the most thankful for the dinner.  The night of the dinner she gave Nick and I a bracelet when we saw her later.  Last night when she saw Tash and I have dinner she gave Tash a free flower and both of us a big hug!

 This girl is feeding her sister. less than 2 years old.  Notice the seats.  There were no highchairs so we had to put three plastic seats on top of each other so it was high enough! :)

Two of the four dead set legends that made this happen, Sharon and Julian.

'Nuff said

Just so you know, this dinner cost about USD $200 for 30 children (though it could have been done for about USD $3.50 a child if they only gave chicken rice and one drink).  Earlier in the day a saw two American tourists scwabbling whether a bill, for the two of them, was $5, or $5.25....  And the end of this dinner, the children were so thankful, and went on their way sorting through trash and selling their wares.

If you are ever in a place around this world which provides you with an opportunity like this make sure you do it.  It was one of the best meals I have ever been too!!

Daniel
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