Airlines in Cambodia

April is the first long holiday here in Cambodia so we're taking the opportunity to travel and where else but where it's more fun (haha...just using the country's tourism tagline)...in the Philippines. Come to think of it, we can explore other places, visit other countires and yet we still choose to go home. That's simply because our parents are already old. As much as possible we want to spend every minute of our time with them. So it's a balancing act for us.

I started scouting for airfares. Unfortunately there are still no directflights from Phnom Penh to Manila. There are 4 major airlines and very recent 1 budget airline that allows you to book RT tickets  from PP-MNL-PP. Thai Airways via Bangkok, Tiger Airways and Singapore Airlines via SG, Cathay Pacific via HK and Malaysia Airlines via ....yes you're right. Now you're getting it. There are other airlines via the routes I mentioned and sometimes it can be cheaper taking different airlines. Like example PP-Ho Chi Minh via Angkor Air then PAL or CebuPac from HCM-MNL. There's Air Asia from PP-KL and Bangkok and also Bangkok Airways going to BK. And from Bangkok there's PAL and CebuPac.  If you want a budget airline via SG, there's JetStar and also Silk Air (which ain't a budget airline). Another route can be via Siem Reap as there is CebuPac that flies directly to MNL from SR. So many options to choose from and I have 3 major considerations: 1- convenient/relaxing experience 2-reasonable price 3-will match our preferred travel dates.

I am quite surprised that Thai Airways is cheaper than Malaysia Airlines. Like a difference of $100 and that will be huge savings for us because that means $200. I have shortened my list of options to two. So let's see where I end up later. For now, off to hear mass....

Pay It Forward

When I go on vacation outside the PHL I ask friends or relatives if I can stay in their place. This is huge savings in accommodation cost. So now that I am in a position where I can do the same, I never hesitate to say yes or even offer my place esp. to folks who welcomed me wholeheartedly in their homes.  Last year, here are friends and relatives who visited me in the Kingdom of Wonder  ....

Pregnancy Update

The last weeks of 2012 was full of mixed emotions. It was that time of the year when people are celebrating, having reunions with family, get togethers left and right. In my case, I decided to hibernate. Yes, I spent my vacation with families in Manila and Davao and did not do my usual meet-up with friends. I just didn't feel comfortable given my situation. 

My preganancy didn't progress. As soon as I arrived in Manila last Dec 22, I had an ultrasound. The result wasn't promising. My OB gave it the benefit of the doubt for a week. So from that time on, I already knew that it would end in misacarriage. So come Dec 29 when we headed to the hospital, I was ready to be admitted. True enough, the u/s didn't show any. I had an anembryonic pregnancy. My husband and I were talking about it ever since Dec 22 so we were physically, mentally and emotionally prepared this time. however the moment I entered the delivery room and changed my clothes, tears still rolled down my cheeks. A part of me is saying that finally my sufferings  will end (I was in bed rest for 2 months, I travelled in wheelchair...in short, physically I felt so useless, so helpless the past 2 months). At the same time it hurts to know that after all these sacrifices it would end up like this.  But in general, we are Ok. It helped a lot that I was surrounded by family -- the kind of emotional and moral support that I needed. If this happened in Cambodia, I don't know how I would be feeling.

The positive thing that came out of this is I am on maternity leave. Perfect timing to spend the remaining days of my vacation shopping, going to the derma, having my hair colored and most importantly playing with my nieces and nephew.  

I'm  back in Cambodia since last week and is busy fixing the house (literally and figuratively).

2 more nights

....and we're off to Manila!!!! Yipeee!!!!

Despite early bookings we made last Sept., there was an 80% chance of not going home.  Mid last week the plan was to rebook our tickets and it was only last Tuesday of this week that we finally made a decision to go with the original plan.

My pregnancy is the sole reason why our schedules almost got mixed up. I am experiencing a high risk pregnancy. I was diagnosed for the past 4 weeks experiencing threatened miscarriage as I've been continuously spotting. Plus my ultrasound results doesn't coincide with my LMP. The last 11 days showed a big big improvement as it suddenly stopped. It was one hell of a crazy month and I know I'm not yet in the safe zone.

One thing I learned from this experience is to live one day at a time. Worrying, speculating, thinking of what it could be are all useless mind activities. It's just stressful!!!!!!

So, as of this time I am just excited that we are going home soon. We are actually flying out Friday night but our connecting flight to Manila is still the following day. That gives me time to rest which is good given my condition. I hope nothing goes wrong and that it will be a an extra merry christmas for us :-)

New Finds

IBC Bookstore has a new branch along Sihanouk Blvd. Yehey! I don't need to go to Monivong anymore to shop for office supplies. Sometimes I just go there to window shop -- checking out what they have so that in case I need one, I already know where to buy it. 

Look what I found....

 

I wasn't planning to buy anything but I just luuuuuv the designs plus it's not something bulky so in case we move places I can bring it with me :-) 

Sweet Tooth

Even if there is a lot (like 5-6 of them in one street) of coffee shops here in Phnom Penh, I haven't found one that serves the kind of cake I like -- rich chocholate, moist cake. Until Secret Recipe opened I think some time in Sept-Oct. 

My friend from SG who went to visit me early this year observed that it's because local coffee shops use cake flour. Well, I am not into baking so I'll stop here... haha....

So even if Secret Recipe is quite far from my place, I really frequent the resto just because of their cakes. I already ate almost each kind except for the usual flavors -- black forest, tiramisu. Talk of calories and fat gained! 

Here's one of my favorites -- chocolate moist cake!

TOUS les JOURS

I don't know how to pronounce the name of this newly opened bakery here in Phnom Penh. I just call it "toos-les-dyoo-rs" hahahaha...

 

(they officially had their grand opening today)

They have good bread selections -- a lot of variety and one can buy in bulk.

 

So we ordered the following: fruit bread, ham croissant, 2 capuccino coffee and chocolate cupcake. Bread is really good. You know that it's freshly baked.