Life

Toys for tots

11 December 2011 by Nathalie Abejero Leave a Comment

We always have a ready list of items to look for on our travels, that we can’t find or don’t have a wide selection of in Cambodia. Toys were on that list this year. While home we looked for toys that’ll engage the little boy’s imagination longer than the immediate learning phase. And I’m not a fan of the plastic battery-operated trinkets with obnoxious bright lights and noise. I remember the toys from when I was a kid which had a lot to do with being creative – like blocks, tinker toys or legos. So one of our great finds is this Zany Zoo wooden activity cube. It’s sturdy and bottom-heavy (at 9kg/19lb this little boy can pull himself up on it without tipping it over), thoughtfully designed (rounded corners, bright colors, dense with a variety of activities), and very attractive. And I love the rest of the B. line of toys – great philosophy, great designs, lovely products.

We cabin-checked this toy through all flights from New Orleans to NYC to Phnom Penh. Thankfully all the flight attendants and crew were very accommodating.

That said, there are actually some options in Phnom Penh for quality toys. [Read more…] about Toys for tots

5 Things You Think Work, But Actually Don’t

8 December 2011 by Nathalie Abejero Leave a Comment

I always wondered about that elevator close button and the walk signal button at the crosswalk…

“The close buttons don’t close the elevator doors in most elevators built in the United States since the Americans with Disabilities Act,” explains McRaney. “The button is there for workers and emergency personnel to use, and it only works with a key.”Sure, they could put a sign on the panel explaining the situation to elevator riders, but as McRaney points out, it’s hard to justify the time and money it would take. And besides, we’d probably keep pressing it anyway, convinced that this time it will work.

via 5 Things You Think Work, But Actually Don’t | Mainstreet

Bill Moyers Essay: Plutocracy and Democracy Don’t Mix

7 December 2011 by Nathalie Abejero Leave a Comment

I used to download his podcasts for the intelligent discussions on current events. While his commentary doesn’t introduce a new idea, it certainly hasn’t hit mainstream thinking, and sadly doesn’t factor into electoral issues.

Bill Moyers Essay: Plutocracy and Democracy Don’t Mix from BillMoyers.com on Vimeo.

My favorite iced coffee in Phnom Penh

5 December 2011 by Nathalie Abejero 2 Comments

I’ve tweeted this iced coffee before, and I still love it today. It’s dark, strong and rich, perfect for a Monday morning start to the week after a tiring weekend with a sick little 11 month old :-(

She’s one of the vendors outside on the street, just outside a small food shop, on St 67 south of Russian Blvd / St 110 / Preah Angduong. This area, especially on St 114 / Kramuonsar between St 67 and St 51, is densely packed with food shops serving a gamut of Khmer and Vietnamese foods. Psar Thmei (New Market) is a block away, where buses leave for destinations all over the Kingdom, so it caters to the masses of travelers passing through. See a map of Phnom Penh here.

dx-pp 004 sm — 2000 Riel for a bag of iced coffee

The coffee grounds are steeped in boiling water using a muslin bag shaped like a filter. Because the coffee is strong, the grounds in the bag can be re-used. Photos above are courtesy of Doualy Xaykaothao.

… and ok, it’s one of my two favorite iced coffee vendors in Phnom Penh. Below is my other favorite place to get an iced coffee, Rising Sun Pub, on St 178 between Sisowath Quay and Sothearos. They use the Vietnamese cold-brew method using a mini drip brewer, pouring the water through the grounds about three times to get that nice strong flavor. mmmm…!

12012010080 Ice Coffee — 6000 Riel for a glass of iced coffee

Foreign aid contribution as a percentage of your taxes

28 November 2011 by Nathalie Abejero 3 Comments

After all the rumblings over the years, it’s surprising how it’s still so little-known that foreign aid makes up less than 1% of the budget. To see how it impacts the average person, here’s a breakdown of where Jane Q. Taxpayer’s taxes go, from the IRS website:

Christmas in the Penh

21 November 2011 by Nathalie Abejero Leave a Comment

I love Christmas! But Cambodia is not a Christian country, so it’s up to the expat community to organize our own holiday affairs. Some events, like the ones below, have grown over the years and are a fun family outing. The best part of this year is that we have a baby boy to celebrate the holidays with :-)

: This Apsara pic makes the annual email rounds.

WIG Christmas Fair 2011
Location: Hotel Intercontinental
Time: Sunday, 27 Nov 2011 10:00am – 5:00pm
Cost: Admission is $3, children under 12 free. Proceeds go to projects that support vulnerable women and children in Cambodia.

Christmas Village 2011
Location: Le Duo Restaurant #17 St 228, between St 51 and 57
Time: Friday – Sunday Dec 2-4 10am-10pm

Christmas Craft Celebration 2011
Location: Nam Trea wedding hall, #167, St 163 in Toul Tum Pung
Time: Sat Dec 3 10am-4pm

Christmas Carols by Bella Voce 2011
Location: The Intercontinental Hotel Ballroom
(296 Mao Tse Toung Blvd +855-23-424888)
Time: Saturday, December 3, 6pm
Cost: Individual $5, Family $15. Tickets will be sold at Jars of Clay coffee shop, #39 St 155 (near Russian market) Toul Tom Poung and at Jacob’s Well Restaurant, Crn of St 111 and 242 ( near Monivong and Sihanouk Boulevard)

Christmas Street Fair 2011
Location: St 240 between Norodom Blvd and St 19
Time: Fri-Sat Dec 9-10 5-10pm

Christmas Caroling 2011
Location: Gasolina 56- 58, St 57 in BKK 1
Time: Fri Dec 16 6:30pm

And then there are the cafes that offer your traditional desserts for order – from gingerbread cookies to fruit cakes; pannetone; pumpkin, apple and pecan pies. Check at The Shop, Java Cafe, Jars of Clay, and Le Duo.

Happy holidays!