SEA

Dec 17th

0726hrs

smooth weather, one nice morning when I'm back in MY and home

little drizzling as I approaches my place but all in all, hey I feel quietly good, safe and sound

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Syp - a TCL journal begins from this date and so does the storyline goes below

--

Dec 4th

2120hrs

embarking for northern tip of Peninsula this evening, on a train which I prefer classical way exploring SEA ( south-east Asia ) closer and deeper, getting into cultural and people dailies point of perspective

alas imaging eases the view if weather permits so I presume and if all goes well, hopefully then I stick to an original program A or otherwise redirect to a program B

a sleeper taken for this night journey

gotten my spot in the coach, settles every stuffs while waiting for the whistle blows in any moment now

notice few travelers as if in right timing though, mm..

sleep in commotion makes the feels just nice and right

Dec 5th

0830hrs

Padang Besar, the click-clacking sound wakes me gently as it slows down to a final border checkpoint

making my docs in check, proceeding to the Immigration stamping process cooly in wet morning so I reckon it must've been rain earlier in the wee hour while I was asleep

lately the monsoon strikes much northern part in the neighboring country, Thai

worsening flood in certain areas making overland journey a little disrupted here and there

indeed I keep myself in check should there any emergency steps to be taken while crossing overland, backpacking mode this time because I could've taken into more tougher level to a nomad medium and the rest will be up to a certain condition when it allows me to

getting myself up the staircase for a quick filling in one only restaurant open now, ufs.. a teh-tarik and one nice 'nasi lemak' is a one nicest thing at times before I start missing those over weeks time I'm sure, yes I am pretty sure about this because there's no finishing date for this typo journey I head up when it involves Thai-Cambodia-Lao ( most likely Myanmmar, for the excursion farther up north to Inle Lake but will all depends )

1054hrs

after breakfast so I stepped back in my coach, Haadyai stops ahead

1145hrs

cloudy and it's raining here, mm.. heck on the mode

wait for a while, hang around for better insight from the counter to move deeper to the north, Bangkok

managing for late noon fare, available for a 1810hrs at Bht870 timing so I hang a little bit longer time here

meanwhile I scout around Haadyai, not too far though I need more strength from today onward and not leaving my pack very far from my eye view

killing time is like dragging my neck here, not much thing to do though but few captures nearby the railway station

then I'm back to my pack, lie down on the bench and minding my own business as loudspeaker keep on announcing for every train come and go

1422hrs

prepaid cellphone runs out, no more comm from this day and date ahead

it's all right for me, huh

1740hrs

late sun is almost down now since it shyly trying to shine after the late rises, much with rain early in the morning

blaring sunlight makes my skin stickily gripping on sweat-like feeling and now I start to ignore the uneasiness, the discomfort of not being clean or being so clean in many ways

well.. I'm okay to adapt to requiring conditions on me

later, much later time my destiny train starts to slowly into its stop and thanks to the friendly assistant station master guiding me on to right coach, seeing backpacker like me surely need little handful guide

as I do understand that not many country will so eagerly assist you but I just patiently wait for more to come, very soon

in near days to come, I just know

1815hrs

once my coach I settle things up the usual thing I uses to do when everything is in right place, try getting some food stock, like light, dry food even I have loads in my pack already

just in case I wanna grab some tidbits to bite along the journey, I can't be unloading every single thing to unwrap from my pack every time I crave for few bites

the move continue, Bangkok here I come

feeling like the longest time I recall going up there since my service time, like ages it feels and can't be sure how will that city shape these day

or it must have been hectic than before, I muse myself and thinking ahead for my next move from there also

Dec 6th

1210hrs

now I feel awkwardly cranky a little bit even the other passengers do too, weary and slumpy from too long on a train makes me a little disoriented

train slides into a full stop, real big city now Bangkok, hustling busy than before where I seeing at jostling people coming and going like nobody's business except few tout starting to give their all options getting into their tuk-tuk ( a three-wheel bike customized as motorbike taxi type ) which a little better upgrade than from many years ago and even comes in variable sizes too and I think it must have been the same situation when I come across Cambodia border soon but first I need to get the ticket now

so I walk over to the counter but then I check myself again, ufs I need little more currency exchange as backups from what I already have, just in case so finding ways for much smaller changes

getting a Bht48 equals RM4.80 to Aranyaprathet @1310hrs train timing, done

1247hrs

I started to scout around for little bites, a bun or loaf and a Nescafe perhaps

yes, located just at the front entrance I walk in and settle myself a while

1256hrs

notice the much seasoned, fragile-like train for Aranyaprathet on a first platform with already packed with human in it

confirming the ticket with assistant station master again I'm sure this would be the right one

here, I need to be extra cautious about which, what things to get every single things right in moment 

because I do not wanna miss and regret timing to curse just because I get lame or being too sure with everything since nothing here is as sure as it seems and looks like so better ask and ask over and over again

hey.. it's not a paranoia thingy mind you

safer and sound makes my mind greater and work clearly as I know where I'm going and heading

1310hrs

train slowly moves out from the station with a bus-like type of engine, feels like the coaches can't be trailing along by its head any longer due to its buzzing engine sound, heavy pull it seems

but it moves of course until it reaches to a much faster momentum a train supposely be then I feel okay

here in this train I stand in the coach without any available seating since it is not meant for comfort mode, it's solely in trasporting people with headings to and from and bakc and forth with certain degree or none at all about leisure thingy exist, entering new world that isn't new that is Cambodia

with its tragic history of the past to this present day, soon I'm about to witness again merely my wishful thinking seeing about changes could offer me this time as doubt tells me ' you're not going to see any better than before but really minus the people has any ideas to give out over to you ' 

ufs.. I shrug off those thoughts

1900hrs

amidst all the dusty weather at its worsening condition it stays dry land over here with no fllood affect monsoon

this tells me to mask my face or get sick from the flying dust in the polluted air even in the dusk

border crossing close quiet early, 2000hrs or get stuck in between the Thai-Cambodia border

disembarking from the train I notice mid age man, I knew this must be one of those buzzing touts trying to slaughter the minute you step out from any public transportation checkpoint 

so I want to be careful here too

something the guy says Bht18 to my understanding proves gonna help me since I arrive just about soon-to-close border I guess this is nice indeed as I give out the write-sign for 18 as in Bht18 tuk-tuk fare

one can't avoid the misunderstanding though, he nod clearly afterward and I presume he surely understand the intention

so I take my chances or I have to stay overnite somewhere near the border checkpoint and gets in the morning but wait.. no waiting time I wanna wastes now

driver takes me to near border stops but swerve to another corner of his stops and over there about four to five manning people awaits you as if trying to assist you in papers, visa, forms or transportation arrangement to fix up but actually these are the monsters you must avoid

1947hrs

unfortunately, I get the bug here too

about the fare instead and not with any of those further arrangement I wanna opt-in for and get slaughtered, no way

driver demands for Bht180 instead, cit !

I do not want any argument deeper as he shows the sign over again, now clearly there is a misunderstanding and without wasting anymore time and staying overnight so settle the fare and quickly move ahead, walking towards the border guard standing by, watching me and I ask whether the border is close

he looks on his wristwatch and say ,' hurry up, you have few more minutes before its close' and thanking him appreciatively, grateful enough I walk to the lane and stamping out the passport for the other checkpoint

1955hrs

Thai-Cambodia border cross

stamping out, there's another 'ulat' to avoid too

without giving much time I get to 'friendly' typo but not too close to become a next target from this touts also so I need more careful choose to go nomad or simply hitch a hike ahead

2010

Kingdom of Cambodia

few night captures taken here while I hang around for short

I can see large building, two in twin type concept casino on both side of my left and right lane as soon as I walk around glimmering light from the porch area

2046hrs

now I'm at another funky kinda stop, getting a ticket ride for Siem Reap where a journey takes me deep in the middle of the night as I can only predict depending on weather on the other side

alas I can say here.., I'd be reaching the town way off midnight for sure and then I'd be trying to look for small inn I've had it in my mental note weeks before making up my prep for this journal

2120

Reaching Poi-Pet-Siem Reap journey ahead, soon

opt for the helpful-kinda tuk-tuk here, fortunately it does make sense on this one though and as long as it is considerable enough fare to what distances covers would suffice for any of my calculation and judgement

so I am okay for now

meanwhile, I try finding some bites before taking the trip, a small grocery or mini market like

cross the road, re-cross again and find none but hardware and workshop or folks having their good time after a days work I suppose, drinking

2310hrs

nearly midnight when I reached up Siem Reap then, small town looks quiet at this time

sure

again I find myself looking for the Inn I've had this in my head when most tuk-tuk drivers counter offered me in one of their spots well of course with their special commission involve or is it another cheap trick

I'm about to get baited for, not again ?

Dec 7th

046hrs

walk around till pass midnight now

simply I just walk by the spotted relaxing guy on his tuk-tuk bike and ask

fortunately his only correspond, ' you're looking for the small budget spot brother, are you a Muslim because I am and my name is Nakri '

we exchange conversation when afterward he willingly agree taking me anywhere suitable the budget range I can find, midnight or not

at least I still able to experience an honest guy like Nakri, who is more than willing

0110hrs

manage to get into the closest unnamed Inn with much to my expectation indeed

USD16 x2 nights I can consider cheap enough, yay for me !

basic accommodation like fan but it's with air conditioning plus a bathroom and with nice bed would do me more than relaxing, straightening body need than I care

after many, many hours in mobile mode a human need a little straight lying posture after carrying loads of over 33 kilos on my back

a tripod, two SLRs, a film, foodstuffs, clothing, devices, adapters, med-kit and filters

all of those requiring needs, a must carry-about in me

0218hrs

prep for a late supper and done

washes those mess tins, recycle plastic cup, cleaning up, refreshing shower and short watch on Nat Geo documentary and jump to bed, 

remembering my discussions with Nakri, he agrees on most Angkor temples for me

he wants me to remember the tuk-tuk symbol as Spiderman for his skills, knowledge and the most commendation were fascinating 

describing those many temples can takes me with paracetamol, too many to name for besides the famously known Angkor, Jungle, Turveda and many others as mainly I'm on to witnessing the civilized Asian empire ever built during the Sri Vijaya rule

as agreed for a USD30 sounds reasonable indeed therefore I preset the meet up again in the morning at 0500hrs

all I know I am can't get to sleep but find myself to the free internet access just by the Inn entrance, make a cup of strong Nescafe till it's very late really

0458hrs

notice Nakri ride in by the porch and speaks in Khmer with me, not recognizing me either since I change my dress and everything looks like local me indeed

one thing I know when in different country is I fast adapt to the local folks and become the community instantly except the dialect and language of course

0508hrs

about minutes passes by and he starts to apologize for not being able to recognize me in the first place but then I reply in a manner of no worries sake, it's normal situation so I said

telling him I'd be getting myself ready in twenty minutes, pack some stuffs for the early morning excursion for heritage temples known in the Unesco World Heritage sites for it's historic civilization recorded lasts to this very present day

0514hrs

all set and I go out in chill morning and wrap around in thick jacket, mask on as I know during the day it's gonna be very dry, dusty noon by the time I'm on my way back to retrieve my stuffs before embarking on my next move

smooth ride even though there's been little bumps, jumps along the route

all else are good it seems

0522hrs

reaching for the ticket entry pass, this one-time entry enable any visitor accessing all temples section in one ticket buy from here, clearly the sales office with its signs indicates

when it's done I proceed for the site now

the long squarish-like route brings everyone the majestic feel about the empire felt here amidst morning sun rays swath some areas

0602hrs

Nakri stops by the Angkor and inform me he'd be waiting till I come out whenever I'm done with photography session I'd explore here, yea I thought and say to myself this is gonna be real longer day and would be from one temple to the other for at least couple of hours or more each site I roam, thank goodness for this guy patience indeed

so my exploring the temple of magnificent historic built of Angkor begins, thought myself have I been late, or am I being late reaching up here when I notice throngs of people from every corners of this world are here, ufs wOw it is like stepping into an opera theater as soon as walk slowly to a long bridge made of huge slab of rocks


from the look, it is clearly man-made, neatly arrange slabs piled across the width of somewhat surrounding lake
and the windful morning briskly sweeps my face, invitingly
 as if telling me, 'come on.., walk further inside and witness the empire for seeing it to believe' and yes I did

0740hrs
time flies unnoticeably here, cool I tell myself and I start from the left flank, the left wing from the widest section of the front entrance of an Angkor seems representing the whole world to admitting anyone, whomever back in those centuries like king's visitors or any administrations to absorb the vast ruler's kingdom is here to stay for last


Angkor is in Unesco Heritage site, requiring years of resurrecting project where limited fund seems endlessly shorts every time new program starts as I notice the entrance of the mid section is under progress


on thousands f hectares to cover, this huge empire building structure consist of main front entry with two farthest left and right wing, like a spread eagle-look, walk further inside, one surely sense the hallway used to be for monks studies, meditation, researches, philosophers, teachers and teachings to an absolute isolation, undisturb serenity


0812hrs
I feel this is not gonna be a day studies, even for me but years to absorb deeper comprehension
anyhow, I allow myself adapting the sheer purposely built governance of the past inside me, solely
from wall to wall of carved devatas decorations depict various historic telling stories like letting one to know that this empire was built surely not for something out of nothing

sensing Nakri must've been patiently waiting outside but he understands for sure..
in mid-section covers more delicate, complex after many other complexes of structures carefully designed from the past
a squarish type central hall probably for any residing administrative meetups, King Suryavarman and the head of the monks for somewhat like advisory seek


0846hrs
I can see couple of monks quietly sit by themselves minding their dailies through some section,



0853hrs
strolling around the complex makes envious me in awe, from sections to sections where every walls angle are carved and decorated with various depiction during glory days of the kingdom in an unimaginable storyline one writer could've imagine how was the life would've been then


walk closer to a monk, silently in prayer, I suppose
and he usher me for little respect and attention alas at the same wanting me few donation
of which I'm not into any part of that sorta giving but willfully eager to so, I politely decline as if telling I didn't carry any notes with me


he understands..
or did he ?

* will continue, exhausted a little now !