Singapore!

Hello all! Lots to update! I just got back from four days in Singapore. I gave myself a holiday and took two days off of work. I visited my friend Chris, who is Singaporean and last year studied abroad at UCSB. He is also a theater major and we met in a playwriting seminar last year. It was so amazing to experience life through someone who lives there. It is always a better experience to visit a new city or country with someone who is resides there. Anyway, so I don't carry on, waxing poetic about a city-state that has quickly risen to my list of favorite places I've ever been, I'll outline what I did during my jam-packed trip:

Thursday:
I arrived in Singapore late Thursday night after work. I checked into my nice hostel and caught up with Chris.

Friday:
Chris was a bit busy during the day, so, with his crucially clear instructions, I explored a bit of the city on my own. First stop, of course, McDonalds, Starbucks, and Forever 21. The comforts of home!!!!! After some shopping, I headed to the gorgeous Botanic Gardens. Singapore is pristine, and the gardens were a perfect example of the order and beauty of this place. I was able to ride the MRT trains around easily. Singapore might be one of the easiest places to navigate that I've ever been to. Signs and clear instructions are everywhere! There is such a sense of order to this city. I responded openly to this, given the complete lack of order in my current residence, Phnom Penh!

After the gardens, Chris and I met up and I went with him to a cold reading of a new play by a Singaporean playwriting student. Theater people! So nice to be around my people ;) After the reading and discussions, we went out for drinks and clubbing! A real night life with current music! Oh, Phnom Penh, you try so hard, but I'd forgotten how a "real" bar or nightclub can be. I also forgot how expensive everything is, especially drinks! No 50cent beers to be had here. Hmm... maybe Phnom Penh has something going for it in that sense!

Saturday:
Despite a late night Friday, Saturday we were up and moving right away. I made my way on the train out to Chris' neighborhood and was able to see his family's home and eat at a local breakfast place. Then, we headed back into the proper city and I saw the National Library. We then saw a movie with one of Chris' friends. A real cinema that was playing current movies that weren't all just blockbusters! Quite exciting for me! I watched "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," which was spectacular.

Next, I was lucky enough to join Chris at a rehearsal for an upcoming performance he is involved with. Everyone I met was so welcoming and excited. Despite the fast-paced, rushed, even, pace of the city, I did not find the people rude, dismissive, or rushed in their interactions with me. A rare aspect to an international city!

The day seemed to go and go and go! We rushed off to a play at the Singapore Fringe Festival. It was a German play performed by a Russian company. The play was called, "At the Ark at Eight." We were beyond tired after our busy day and headed home.

Sunday: On Sunday we headed to the Skypark. The Skypark is a... structure that looks like a ship or spaceship sitting on top of three tours. For a fee, you can go up and walk around an observation deck. What's really crazy about this view is the deck is open-air, so you sort of feel like you're just... in the sky. It was surreal to say the least. After some window shopping, we headed to the HIGHLIGHT of my trip, seeing the musical "Wicked." It was the Australian production of the Broadway musical. It was divine. I said I wouldn't wax poetic, right? I'll leave it at divine. Thrilling. Wonderful.

Then, we headed to a delicious Thai food dinner with some of Chris' friends. After some relaxing and chatting, it was time to head home to my hostel. I wasn't ready for my last day to end!

Monday:
Today, Monday, Chris escorted me to the airport for my quick flight home to Phnom Penh. I usually feel bittersweet at the end of a trip; not wanting to leave, but at the same time, ready to go home. This time, this was simply not the case. I didn't want to leave at all! I already have a list going of all the sights to see on my next trip over there. I sort of fell in love with the place! The food, the people, life, civilization, culture, need I say more? It made me miss the "life" I suppose you could say I "left behind" when I came to Cambodia. I am going to appreciate the time I have here in the "less-developed" city of Phnom Penh, but it sure was nice to join the "developed" world, if only for a few nights.

Until next time :)

Angkor Wat International Film Festival

Hey, all! For a quick update, last weekend I was lucky enough to be able to go up to Siem Reap for Cambodia's first international film festival, the Angkor Wat International Film Festival! It was small and the first of its kind, but I was impressed by the films I saw. A few were made in Cambodia, most international, almost all Asian, Southeast Asia, or political in theme. The festival was small and well-staffed enough that they did not really need volunteers, but of course, I was somehow able to still be a volunteer and announce a few of the film titles before they were screened. It was held at the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort Siem Reap which was mind-blowingly pristine, elegant, and gorgeous.

The films I was lucky enough to see were:

AMONGST WHITE CLOUDS, directed by: Edward A. Burger
BORN SWEET, directed by: Cynthia Wade
CLIMATE REFUGEES, directed by: Michael P. Nash
DREAMLAND, directed by: ÞORFINNUR GUÐNASON & ANDRI SNÆR MAGNASON
FJORD, directed by: Skule Eriksen
READY MADE, directed by: Bingjian Zhang
SILENCE, directed by: Ava Lanche
TAYLOR CAMP, directed by: Robert C. Stone
THE TRIALS of HENRY KISSINGER, directed by: Eugene Jarecki

Not bad for only a three day festival that, due to my, ya know, day job, I was only able to attend about 50% of! Every single film I saw was wonderful in its own right, and I can honestly say I have never attended a festival where I felt that way. Cambodia is full of surprises, isn't it?

In other news, off to Singapore for a quick mini-vacation. I've taken 2 days off work because I NEED it! I will be seeing a good friend who lives in Singapore and seeing the Australian production of the musical "Wicked," so I couldn't be happier! Just to be in a real CITY, a place where things are moving, fast, and exciting... my Thursday flight couldn't come fast enough!

Until then... I'm sure I'll have a lot to report on my adventures in Singapore ;)

February in Phnom Penh

Hello everyone! It's been about a month since I've updated... I really don't know where time goes. It sounds so silly and cliche, but I really lose track of time out here like I never have before. Maybe the routine of a full-time, 7:45-4:30 job makes the time go faster, too.

Anyway, as I sit here thinking about what has happened since my last post, where I went to a Khmer wedding, I realize a lot has happened that I suppose is "blog-worthy."

Trips-wise, I have only done one quick weekend trip to Sihanoukville, the beach-resort-party town a few hours out of Phnom Penh. It is always a blast there. I miss the ocean so much here in the city. The riverfront is just not the same!

The big news is future-related. For the last few months, I've been trying to decide where to go next. My contract with my teaching job ends in September of this year. I wasn't sure where I wanted to go, or if I wanted to stay in Phnom Penh. I knew for sure that I didn't want to teach at my current school, but that was about the only thing I was sure of. Until, all of the sudden, it hit me what I should do. My friend Shae who I live with here in Cambodia is Australian, and she will be returning to Australia in September to study at university, and, now, I will be joining her and moving to Australia! She lives an hour out of Melborne, and has invited me to stay with her. I can easily get a work visa and work a job in the beach town she lives in. I'll probably work at a cafe or restaurant and begin my slow and painful return to the Western world. The minimum wage in Australia is quite good, so the plan is to lie on the beach and save money for a few months. After Christmas 2012, I shall finally finally make my way back to LA. I can officially announce this as more than just scheming because Shae and I booked a one-way ticket for September so I am sure leaving! We'll hit Bangkok and also Bali on our journey to Melborne. I am so beyond excited at the new adventures ahead. And now, with a solid plan and a flight booked, I can bask in the beauty around me here in Cambodia. I've got a lot to do before that September flight.

This weekend has been a blast because I got to visit with an old friend. At my high school we had Japanese exchange students, and, after they studied with us at RHP and then went home, I was able to meet up with 2 of them back in 2007 when I went to Tokyo. This past weekend, one of the girls was backpacking through Southeast Asia. Luckily I saw a post of hers on facebook and we were able to meet up while she was in Phnom Penh! She stayed with me and I got to show her our "expat way of life." I was so happy to share this city with her. For most tourists, Phnom Penh is either really great, or a place they can't wait to leave. I'm always glad to convince another visitor that this is a great, relaxing, crazy, and just altogether amazing city.

I think that's all for now, although that was quite a bit, wasn't it?