Working at Cambodia temporary stop

It has been already 2 months I didn't travel to Phnom Penh, Cambodia for my project assignment. My management has temporary discontinue our involvement with the project until further notice.

I kind of missed Phnom Penh after have been going there for 4 times already in the my 5 months involvement. At first I was quite hesitated to go. But after a while it was all right. Spending 3-4 days away from home at foreign land was not that bad at all. At least able to see and experience new culture at new place. Did managed to visit some interesting places. Anyhow lets wait and see any further development from my management.

Resuming Cambodia

Yup. Gotto to fly again this coming early March.

After a long absence to Cambodia, our project team is resuming back to Phnom Penh again for our regular project meeting. This has slow down quite a bit lately. But it will be picking up again depending on our Client decision on this coming meeting. Well, am keeping my fingers cross.

Properties development at Cambodia have since taking a bunch from the financial crisis that sweeping the world. Their tourism, garment industries and even car sales have also dropped.

Multipurpose vehicles

When you are in Cambodia, you got the chance to observe how creative the people are in pursuing the survivor for life from the simple two wheelers.

Under the sun snapshots

Some of the following photos taken at the project site in the early evening when the sun just about to set. Managed to get some interesting shots.

Children playing at the sand dunes

Phnom Penh night snapshots

CD & DVD shop

Tourist restaurant spots

Line of tot tot operators waiting for costumer

Fruits seller

Something for supper at night street stall

Local children selling novel books etc. to tourist

Meet the Team

(I am standing at far left)

Being the 3rd trip to Cambodia, this is the first time our Consultant team manage to take a group photo. Standing in the midst of the development project that we are involved in.

Here includes Architect, Civil Engineer, Mechanical & Electrical Engineer, Quantity Surveyor and Project Manager.

On schedule

This round of schedule planning was very much improved compared to the last two round that I have been through. At least no last minute ticket booking and postponing of dates. We booked the tickets almost a week earlier from the actual flight date.

I also have improved my medical supplies. Added with flu tablets, diarrhea tablets, dehydration solution, plasters for now. Just in case la..... after last 'lao sai' experience.

So, I will not be round town next week from 14th to 16th Jan. The next trip should be right after Chinese New Year Chap Goh Mei (15th day of CNY.....the last day of CNY).

By the way, Cambodian don't celebrate CNY. Thus there were no public holiday for it.

My 2nd trip to Cambodia

As I previously mentioned I was quite frustrated when the work trip to Cambodia was postponed to much later date......just few days too close to Christmas Day itself. We have to fly on Sunday (21st Dec) afternoon since earlier date was fully book and schedule to return on 23rd Dec. We took the one and only usual afternoon AirAsia flight (only one a day).

This time around, the flight was not really occupied (say about 60%) so plenty of vacant sit. Well, being trained by my other 'season traveler' colleague, four of us sit at the emergency door area. To be exact, roll 12 and 14 (they don't have no. 13 if you wonder typo error)........leg room bigger woh. And actually we need it. You see my Senior Group GM is a very tall person. By the way, also being trained by my season traveler colleague, we book with Express Boarding...meaning cut the queue and board first. Sound 'exclusive' hah, but with an additional price lah.

Our first day there was very much relax since it was a Sunday. By the time we reach our hotel it was already time for dinner. Unfortunately it was there my misfortune begins. The dinner that I ate that evening gives me few days of miserable stomach diarrhea....a.ka. Lao Sai (Part II). Somehow the squid that I ate cause indigestion cum diarrhea. It got worst on my 2nd night there. I hardly can managed to finish my dinner. Anyhow thank God, thing still manageable until I came back KL.

As usual, the time schedule we have at Cambodia was quite tight. Meeting and discusion all day. Gladly this round able to have a fast stop by at one interesting place, the local call it Russion Market...something like our Petaling Street/Chow Kit road (see photo below). They got plenty of goods sold there. Well, here are some of the photos I managed to capture for sharing...

Photo at the development site my company involved in.
River sand was being ship to the site area and later pump to fill the site.

Russian Market scenary. Cramp and plenty to see

Local morning market just below the hotel we stay

Workers busy sorting charcoal in the early morning for selling

Bird Flu at Cambodia

Today I just discovered news about the detection of avian influenza at Cambodia via The Sun newspaper. Immediately it caught my attention.

Yesterday the Ministry of Health of Cambodia has announced a new confirmed case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The unfortunate victim is a male from Kandal province, the same place where the development project I am involving right now. That is really close. So for precaution sake, better stay off from chicken meat in my meal.

Further reading click here

Frust

My next upcoming 2nd trip to Cambodia is set to be this coming Sunday (21st Dec). Yeap....that's what I said SUNDAY! We are to return on 23rd Dec (Wed). I was so frustrated when I heard the news.

We suppose to go there this Thursday (18th Dec) and back the next 2 days on Saturday. This arrangement is not too bad but unfortunately no return flight ticket available on Saturday. All this due to last minutes decision and arrangement (that would be a long story to be mentioned). I have been working non-stop to get documents ready for the supposed Thursday flight. What a let down. But then....thank God I will be around on Christmas Eve with my loved ones.

This year I might have to miss 'Ko Tong' festival and not able to cherish the once a year 'Tong Yuen' which falls on Sunday.

:(

On cloud nine

Evening view from AirAsia flight back to Kuala Lumpur. The clouds are just so beautiful.

Most of all going home is 'the most' wonderful feeling.......be on cloud nine.

From a distance

Before I go to Cambodia, I only know the country from a distance.......mainly from TV channel such as National Geographic and travel channels. Unbelievable now I was there. Indirectly participated in the country development at properties sector.

The country just open its door last 3 years after decades of civil wars. The country and its people suffered greatly due to the bloody war. But my presence there, I don't seem to notice it. Not at the people faces. There seems to be a lot of energy to move....forward indefinitely. Unfortunately not all past can be forgotten. Behind the hustle and bustle, the scars of war surfaced from the certain people take have to live with it.........the victim of land mines. But not all without hope. The country young generation like I mentioned with its energy earlier will leap forward.

I only managed to capture few photos here and there to share. I hope I can capture more next round.

From the hotel......

the Mekong river

From the city road...

My days in foreign land

This evening is my second day at Cambodia. Posting at the hotel internet corner. There got only 3 pc available for hotel guest to use - for free. Most of the time is fully occupied.

Pretty interesting as this is my first time posting at foreign land. Will be more in near future due to the project I'm involved in this foreign land.

Work

My work agenda here is quite successful. Having done a meeting with the Client, Consultants and Contractor proceed with site inspection at the project site. Tomorrow got another meeting with a Contractor and thereafter should be free and easy until departure to airport for our 4.30pm (Cambodia's time).

Free time

So far don't have opportunity to do sight seeing but only got the time for meal after the work initenary. Our hotel is located a tourist centre. So food is not an issue because just walking distance. The meal that we have cost us about USD 12 (RM43.44) for western food choices. Maybe tomorrow when the initenary is less heavy, I could do some exploring at the local area.

Home

After reading mummy post, I feel even homesick. Missing my loves one is not a quite comfortable feeling. After all it's not that bad as my trip only need 3-4 days the max per visit. I just hope Ivan is behaving good enough at home and Reanne......hmmm maybe too little to know the different. Finally not forgetting mummy dear who have to fill in the void I temporary left behind. It has been quite some time I'm away from home for few days. This time round is Reanne's first not seeing daddy for few days. Sop, sop.....Daddy miss you guys over here.

Anyway I'm glab tomorrow able to fly home.