Temple run..

While stuck here in Siem Reap domestic airport due to flight delay. With thanks to my camera which conked out on me yest. I'm having this opportunity to blog on the go from my phone about Angkor Wat. =P

Angkor Wat: 'World's largest religious building' (Lonely Planet: Southeast Asia on a Shoestring Budget. Published Jul 2012.) 

'The hundreds of temples surviving today are but the sacred skeleton if the vast political, religious and social centre of the ancient Khmer empire. Angkor was a city that, at it's zenith, boasted a population of one million when London was a small town of 50,000. ... ... Right to dwell in structures of brick or stone was reserved for the gods.' (Lonely Planet: Southeast Asia on a Shoestring Budget. Published Jul 2012.) 

I went with 2 friends on this trip and after reading reviews of the amazing sunrise at Angkor Wat. We jumped onto the bandwagon and reached at 5.15am (Camobodia time) to watch the sun rise. 

After seeing the rise - which in my own honest opinion - is a different sense of amazing and breathtaking. It didn't 'wow!' me like I thought it would and I would swap it any day with a visit to Tibet. 

Anyways. We 'caught' out breakfast by the roadside before departing on the tuk tuk to Bayon. US$1 for a bowl of hot steaming pork porridge. 

At the gate before entering Angkor Thom. We saw 2 rows of statues depicting '54 demons and 54 gods engaged in an epic tug of war on the causeway.' (Lonely Planet: Southeast Asia on a Shoestring Budget. Published Jul 2012.) 

Angkor Thom was the last great capital of the Khmer empire and what we saw following did take our breaths away - literally. 

Wishing stones I believe. Stacked on top of another. Each with a prayer for a better future.

I took the chance to climb up the steps. And it was vertical enough to make you afraid to go down. 

A chance of life at Bayon. 'These huge visages glare down on every angle, exuding power and control with a hint if humanity - precisely the blend to required to hold sway over such a vast empire, ensuring disparate and far-flung populations yielded to the monarch's magnanimous will.' (Lonely Planet: Southeast Asia on a Shoestring Budget. Published Jul 2012.) 

And literally - breathtaking. The few hundreds of stairs we had to take in an almost vertical basis again.

And the Terrace of the Elephants. 

A short ice cream pit stop before heading over to Ta Phrom. 

One of the gates entering into the temple that was ruined by trees. 'Many temples were ruined by humans or animals. Ta Phrom is ruined by trees.' (Overhead from one of the tour guides bringing a group of tourists around.)

A friend taking picture of the other at the tree.

It was a great difference before and after conservation efforts. And it juz makes me think of the amount of work put into it. 

If I would come to Angkor again? I'll aim for the sunset at Angkor Wat this time. =)

Ice ice baby!

The 2 Degree Ice Art exhibition was something which caught my eye a couple of weeks back and finally I made my way there after an impromptu meet up session with a friend over coffee (that's for another sharing). =) 

From the outside. The place looks quite 'cheap' as it was all container boxes kind. So. 

"Organised by Century Ice Wonderland with the participation of the Harbin International Ice Lantern Art Association, the exhibition gives locals a feel of the International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival held annually in China’s north east region of Harbin.

The 30-odd pieces of ice art feature the likes of regional and international landmarks such as the Singapore Merlion, London’s Big Ben and France’s Eiffel Tower which I have to say, are pretty admirable. On top of that, a handful of ice sculptures are actually carved from dyed or coloured ice blocks and are embedded with LED lighting which makes it much more vibrant and colourful than your usual ice sculptures." (http://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/arts/2-degree-ice-art-chilly-experience)

Entrance fee is S$32 plus S$5 for a coat. (Passion card members gets discount). Temperature inside was maintained at a cool -15 degrees Celsius. In Singapore context it's a bit too much to take in. But probably due to the course of work. -15 is really not too bad. Only thing was my fingers which were cold  despite the gloves. Other than that. Those who are working in the same line as me. I'm pretty sure we can survive at least a good 15 mins without a coat inside. =P

There were many landmarks that were familiar inside and the carvings were really intricate. I can only imagine the grandeur if I was in Harbin.

No. My tongue did not freeze. But yes. I was giving it a try. Hahaha. 

There was also a playground where you could take a tube up and slide down regardless of age. =)

And then I headed over to the Ice Bar! 

The drinking area inside.

And it was Dexter in an ice mug! I didn't manage to finish the drink for once coz I had too many cups of coffee earlier. =P But it was cool drinking from it! And my lips kinda got 'sticky' after a while to the mug. Hahaha. 

There were a couple of friends who were asking about the exhibition. Honestly from my personal point of view. It really wasn't quite up to my expectations. Too little landmarks (I completed the whole exhibition in 20 mins or so - and usually for an exhibition I take much longer) and it just was not worth the price. 

Your call. =)

Continuation of Singapore Biennale 2013..

I finally had another weekday off (I dislike squeezing with the crowd) and coz I had to bring my lappy for repair. I took the chance of my unused entrance ticket to continue my Singapore Biennale 2013 journey at National Museum of Singapore. =) 

The Biennale was at the basement and after getting off the escalator. I saw a welcoming sight from 'home'! A motorela! With a banca on top no less! 

An light installation of chandeliers refitted with uranium glass and UV lighting. Quite shocking when I stepped into the room. As I went 'Wahhhhh..' the guard at the entrance turned and laughed at my expression. =P 31 pieces of chandeliers were hung all in all. from the 31 nuclear nations of the world. With the size corresponding to the number of operation nuclear plants in that nation. I'm surprised that USA is the biggest and not Russia. Hmmmz.. 

A video projection on wooden cut-outs. A tad disturbing as the room was encased in darkness and these projections were munching on food. And there was that echo of chewing and swallowing in the room.  

=edited= 

This is a different exhibition altogether. Of 'A Changed World' depicting paintings using different mediums from past into development in Singapore's history - free admission.

A painting of the Padang area.. Very National Day feel. 

I couldn't put my finger on why but this piece of art attracted me to it. Maybe it's how the bigger shadow looks older and seems to be carrying a unsaid burden while holding on to the little one. 

A Chinese art piece. 

A piece on batik.. Or was it wood cut? Ahhh..

I enjoyed reading the synopsis of this painting. Of how the artist places the audience at the level of the listeners to allow us to feel how it was like at a gathering like such talking and spreading the seeds. 

A painting I couldn't understand even with the explanations. The only thing was that this painting was super smooth and flat. And I like the colour! =D

This was interesting. Of 3 figurines in front of what seems like a waterfall. This was part of the abstract art movement back in 1970s.

And I have no gift of drawing or painting. Photography is my medium of choice. So are words if there are people who are willing to read and listen.

NS-lookalike boys in a desert. A scene so familiar yet so distance. 

 As I headed home. I had a conversation with a friend and he was saying how art is a therapy for him. I couldn't agree more. I ain't able to appreciate all mediums of art. But slowly as I get older (and hopefully wiser!) I start to appreciate them more. Perhaps during the period of my teenage life. I had not much contact with it and taking art lessons was a pain in my ass (no offence!) Until my cousin introduced me to plays and we caught quite a few together. And then another friend who's an art instructor. That was when we went for theaters and orchestra and used drawings as a medium. =) And up till recently another friend who majored in arts in Uni. I must thank these 3 fellows for opening my eyes back to where I left it behind in my growing up years. 

3 years ago I started going for exhibitions. Plays. Musicals. And I guess the next one up (besides 2 Degree Ice Art exhibition - till May and iLight in March - another light installation exhibition) I would like to go for a recital/classical music concert/performing arts event.

My dormant art cells has awakened. =)

Swaying of the heart..

I never knew how hard I was bitten by the travel bug till 2009 - my first solo trip to Luang Prabang to meet a friend and I was baited for life.

I've never looked back since. And started to travel further and more often than not solo. Juggling a full time shift job while balancing my passion of travelling is never easy and I always have to tweak my leave days to fit into a slower period of days of work. I could never be able to be away for more than 8 days (Only once. In 2013 when I took a 16 days break.) and coming back from usually a land of no wifi. It meant major catching up in terms of emails and work related stuff. But I have never regretted travelling. Neither have I regretted working.

But perhaps as I got older (and hopefully wiser) with the expectations of the job getting more. It's pushing me towards a crossroad I never wanted to choose.

I've always looked forward to getting my sabbatical leave where I could take 2 months off work and travel the world (or rather either in South America or Africa in my case). And that's in another 2 years time or so. Yet recently I'm thinking harder.. Like 'What if I took a certificate in English and use that to travel the world?' 'What if I am able to get that 2 months break earlier?' 'What if back then I took a job that allowed me to travel more?' (And no. Being a cabin crew is out of the question for me.)

What if what if what if.

I guess it's time to make it all into a reality. Hmmmz.