Peg Kung Peg

Well, well, well... look who's the inspiration of the Bakla Mafia in Bangkok?

Uhm, that's all.

Siem Reap Diary (Day 1 & 2)

Hola amigas! Happy New Year and welcome to year 2554... in the Buddhist calendar that is. The New Year festival is called Songkran in Thailand. Pretty much last week was a holiday here, as well as the other Buddhist countries in the region, i.e. Myanmar, Lao PDR, and Cambodia.

Miss Bubbles and I hopped to our neighboring country of Khmerlandia. Taking the trip with us was Bongbong Marcos, an Iloilo-based travel photographer and blogger (see his blog here).

We crossed the border via Aranyaprathet on the Thai side. I'm very excited to report that the road between Poipet and Siem Reap is now FANTASTIC. It certainly was a bumpy and dusty ride when I first visited Siem Reap in 2007 using the same route, so I can't believe how easy it was to travel this time around.

Our hosts are the Grand Dame of Siem Reap (of course), Miss Fuchsiaboy ITSELF, and artist extraordinaire Loven and his wife Faith.

I was instantly mesmerized with their abode because it is filled with Loven's artworks, practically occupying every nook and cranny of the house. On the second floor is the workshop of Fuchsiaboy, the inner sanctum that many of his minions could only wish to see... but very few have actually been welcomed in there (looks straight at you Toxic Disco Boy... joklang). It truly is an inspiring house!

Later in the evening we dropped by ArtDeli, Loven's latest project that serves as an art gallery cum restaurant. It's a very warm venue for chitchatting with friends while being surrounded by some of Loven's wicked and genius masterpieces. Fuchsiaboy also has some of his artworks sold there, along with a few other artists.

I love the throw pillows!!! They even have one for Imelda, which, needless to say, is my favorite.

As Loven was still planning the menu, we took part in a food tasting session mostly made up of Italian fare. That night I finally met the divine Faith, whom I taught how to elongate. Yes, elongate...

Day 2 was tourist day for Miss Bubbles and moi. We took a long tuktuk drive to an ukayan (thrift shop) but lo and behold most of the shops were closed as it was the Khmer New Year too.

We went back to the Pub Street area and dropped by the Old Market for some souvenirs. The wet market is quite exciting too. You know me and markets... I always visit one wherever I go 'coz it's always vibrant and a good place to get some insight into the lives of the community.

We met Faith in the evening and she showed us around Amansara. ORGASM. Like Major Orgasm to Beat All Orgasms. Ahhhmansara, sweetie, do I need to say more? It was heaven! We certainly don't have an Amansara in Surigao!

Faith, thank you so much for giving us the chance to step into such hallowed ground... Elongate!

I'm beginning to wonder... who do I need to blow??? I sooooo could not wait to snag a Russian gazzzzillionaire who'd pay my stay at Amansara. Time to call Naomi Campbell for some tips!

From first world to fourth world. From Amansara to the streets of Siem Reap. We had some BBQ and the local food, amok, for dinner and Angkor beer of course.

Kodakan

As I mentioned in a previous post, my family mainly drew our strength in facing the death of my dad from our relatives and friends. They supported us in many ways during such a challenging time. It brought us comfort that we shared our grief with people very close to us. At no point during the funeral and the holidays did we feel alone, both emotionally and physically, which proved to be of value to my mom most of all.

So today I'm sharing the photos taken last December (it had taken me this long to get into the mood of sharing them), in which you'd see some of my cousins, aunts, and friends who were constantly around us.

First, look who I met at the airport on my way home? I was on a stopover in Cebu, and Sarah, my ex-colleague and fag hag extraordinaire, was on her way back to Davao from Cagayan de Oro. I couldn't be more thrilled! Unfortunately we only had like an hour for coffee.

Now in Surigao... I told you that my cousins now have spawns that wreck the house like crazy. Again, it creeps the hell out of me that they look exactly like my cousins when we were younger.

Now look at my baby doll, Isay! She's a darling and a model in the making. She loves it when I put make up on her. I told her mom that at two years old it's the right time for the kid to start dieting.

And then there's Mansing, who has been with the family for more than fifteen years.

And this is Auntie Vikki, my dad's sister who's based in London. We smoke a lot when we're together. Love, love, love her to bits. With her is my cousin Michael (mom's side).

New Year's eve there was a strong thunderstorm that flooded some parts of Surigao. We had no choice but to stay indoors and played mah jong. I learned to play it during the wake and mind you I won quite often. What did I tell you about my Chinese blood? Choz!

Whereas my brother is a big loser in mah jong. Ha!

Well, I also helped in the house a bit. A bit means once I cooked ESPEYSHAL turon for Christmas eve. I forced every visitor to eat the freaking turon and I did not bother to ask for some feedback. On the right side of the photo is Shiela, my cousin (mom's side), cooking some hot-dogs.

My sister celebrated her 22nd birthday (wink wink), which falls on the same day as my parents' wedding anniversary. Two photos down is my sister and her BF of nine years. Don came all the way from Davao (about ten hours from Surigao) to visit my sister on her birthday. Ang haba ng hair ni ate!

And when in Las Islas Filipinas you have to do the karaoke until the place closes and you had to be dragged outside by the security guard.

Of course I also spent some time with my super amigas from high school. Below are Gheleene, Lyn Mei, and Nikki.

And speaking of familiar faces, look which national icon Gheleene daringly molested?

Lastly, I had the opportunity to participate in the annual Crayons for Peace project of UP Maradjaw Karadjaw. UP MK is the student organization of Suriganons in UP. I was one of its founding members ten years ago.

We have also been doing the Crayons for Peace project for a decade now. We mainly distribute coloring books and crayons to kids in Surigao, hoping that their love for different colors would translate to their acceptance of diversity, hence, helping promote peace. The two (colors and peace) are not exactly directly connected, but the coloring books themselves have stories and photos that teach kids the concept of peace.


P.S. The good photos are courtesy of my sister, while the crappy ones are mine. :-)