Election day

Election Day - Arcadia

I try to resist writing about politics in this blog mainly because I feel I don’t have enough ‘bullets in my arsenal’ to discuss issues at length. I marvel at those who are able to discuss and dissect issues up to its most complex level. At least, before I am driven into catatonia or a coma (hehe). This doesn’t mean, though, that I lack opinions. When I do discuss politically-related issues, I rather focus on individual experiences (such as my own or people I know) that are related to or that results from these issues. 

American politics–specifically this year’s presidential elections is, of course, another matter. Unless one lives in an underground cave, it is difficult to stay out of it because the news media broadcasts to the world everything that is happening there on an almost hourly basis. Thank CNN, cable television, and the internet for this. I do not object to this because like it or not, when you think on it, American politics (and its policies) affects the rest of the world.

Yesterday I spent a good amount of time viewing updates on the elections results. This particular page in history (the election of the first black US president) unfolded in front of the eyes of the world. It’s kind of like watching Morgan Freeman in ‘Deep Impact’, minus the doomsday asteroid, of course. So how do I feel about Barrack Obama’s election victory? Is it like how I felt when Halle Berry won her Best Actress Oscar (for a not-so-spectacular performance in ‘Monster’s Ball’, but her victory was rich in historical value nonetheless)?

I’m not sure. Since the start of the campaign, I had been rooting for Hilary Clinton and I was concequently upset that she didn’t clinch the party nomination. Until now, this is my opinion, not that it matters: I will choose Obama over McCain, but I will choose Clinton over Obama anytime. Obama is obviously the better candidate than McCain, but I’m still imagining Hilary Clinton as the first woman president.

At least, with someone like Obama, maybe things will be better with PEPFAR (the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), which had been notorious for pushing abstinence as primary HIV prevention method and for frowning upon sex work. Expatriate Americans here in Cambodia were ecstatic about Obama’s big win. Of course, most of them are development workers and are obviously not Republicans.

Meanwhile, as America celebrated Obama’s victory, LGBT activists in California are reeling from the stunning passing of Proposition 8 to ban gay marriage. The amendment, which passed with 52% of the vote, overrides the court ruling by defining marriage as the union of 1 man and 1 woman. 30 states have adopted such measure, but the California vote marks the first time a state took away gay marriage after it was legalized. Massachusetts and Connecticut are now the only states to allow same-sex marriage.

The American LGBT community sees an Obama win as an assurance that equality-mindedness will be an important consideration in selecting justices in the Supreme Court, which in the end has final say on, let’s say, the rights of gays and lesbians to marry. An article on The Advocate concludes that, “…while our losses in this election are very emotional defeats, the election of Obama ensures that the big prize is still within sight. For that, we can find solace in our losses and allow ourselves to enjoy the history we have just lived.”

Something to look forward to, indeed, in these desperate times.

On another note, as I watched Obama’s eloquent speech at Chicago’s Grant Park (very good, almost drove me to tears), I couldn’t help but notice Michelle Obama’s outfit. The colors were bold (black and red for the whole family) but the design is, hmn, not-so-flattering. I’m no fashionista, but I really thought she could’ve picked something that fit her figure better. I’ve seen her before and she dresses very well without looking so aloof, unlike Cindy McCain (who always manages to look like an ice queen in her designer duds). Apparently, many other people were also watching her dress. Some were not pleased, as chronicled here and here. Other pundits were kinder in their comments here and here; highlighting the context of Michelle’s sartorial choice more than the appearance.

All I wanna do

All I Wanna Do - Sheryl Crow

Last Saturday I was finally able to go to Siem Reap again. It has been almost a year since I last went to this town. My first plan to go a couple of weeks ago got shelved because of changes in my work schedule. Fortunately, this trip pushed through, even with minimal planning.

I arrived in Siem Reap about half-past 1 in the afternoon. The bus trip was as comfortable as I remembered. The new terminal of Mekong Express was less frantic before because they have organized the tuktuk drivers by issuing tickets to passengers instead of subjecting them to the barrage of tuktuk drivers offering their services to the hapless passengers. Also, this was an effective way to standardize the rates.

After checking in at the Angkoriana Hotel (wherein I got a corporate rate booking, thanks to my friend M), I immediately called the person I was supposed to meet (for a work-related thing). We had coffee at the hotel restaurant and by 4PM we were done. With the ‘business’ side of my trip finished, I was now free for the ‘pleasure’ part of my trip.

V called at 4.15PM and asked if he can see me. I said yes and within 15 minutes we were talking (and so on…) in my room. He left at around 6PM. Then Eng and I made arrangements for an intimate dinner and night-out in honor of his boyfriend’s birthday. We met in one of the bars along pub street for some beer. There I met their other friends Luc and Sophea. From Pub Street we went to Viroth’s for dinner. We had Sour Fish Soup, Chicken with Basil, Grilled Minced Pork wrapped in some fragrant leaf whose name I don’t remember now, and because it was a birthday dinner, a noodle dish. Food is good at Viroth’s, as before. The waiters are hot, too.

After dinner we went to Miss Wong for a few cocktails. I was disappointed with their Planter’s Punch, though. I can still recall the great Planter’s Punch I had at Sokha Hotel in Sihanoukville. The interiors of Miss Wong, meanwhile, is great; especially the portrait of ‘Miss Wong’ herself. I ordered a second cocktail to wash off the bad taste of the previous cocktail. Fortunately, the Tequila Sunrise was decent enough. From Miss Wong we proceeded finally to Linga Bar for the night’s main festivities. I ordered a cocktail called Naughty Schoolgirl. Nothing spectacular, but it sure packed enough punch to render me pleasantly tipsy.

When the clock struck midnight, Eng and Sophea brought out a blueberry cheesecake. It had candles and Rathanak’s name was written on a thin sheet of white chocolate. Eng had told me that Rathanak did not like big suprise parties, hence the small size of our group. Nevertheless, he looked happy with what Eng did for him and soon after we found ourselves consuming 2 kinds of vice: alcohol and sugar. I went back to the hotel at about 1AM.

After breakfast, I walked to the Angkor National Museum. This museum has been open for just a year and boasts a lavish exhibition of Khmer culture. In sipte of what the guidebook said, cameras were not allowed in the museum so I was only able to take photos of the facade. There were also audio guides available, like the ones in Forbidden City in Beijing. I decided not to use this because I am not a ‘newbie’ to Khmer culture. There are 8 galleries inside, all equipped with audiovisual presentations that provides context and background on each exhibition. The galleries include 1,000 Buddha images, Pre-Angkor civilization, Khmer religions, great Khmer Kings, Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, stone inscriptions, and ancient Khmer fashion.

As can be expected, the Angkor Wat gallery is the most magnificent of the galleries. The audiovisual presentation was projected into a series of screens around a model of the famous temple. Unfortunately, the spotlight that’s supposed to focus on Angkor Wat wasn’t working properly, hence, diminishing my experience. I bought a coffee mug from the souvenir shop. Overall, the museum was a nice place to visit. It was clean, cool, and high-tech. Staff were friendly, too. In terms of cultural (archeological? not sure on this) value, I kind of feel more for the museum here in Phnom Penh. Some people may find the entrance fee ($12 for foreigners, $3 for Khmer) prohibitive, too.

After this I met Eng and we went to the market to buy the things he needed for lunch. Eng cooked pork menudo while Rathanak made salad with a nice, peppery dressing. Sophea joined us; he was returning to Phnom Penh at 2PM. When he left, Eng, Rathanak and I walked to AHA to meet Loven, a fellow blogger. Eng and Rathanak have known him but it was my first time to meet him. The coffee and Loven’s company were great. Joleif, the Norwegian guy I met from CouchSurfers was finally able to join us. Since arriving in Siem Reap the day before, we had been exchanging sms as to when and where we can meet. After a lot of false starts, we finally met. I introduced him to the rest of the group.

When we left AHA, Rathanak and Joleif proceeded to Artisans D’Angkor while Eng and I went to my favorite shop that sold Khmer sausages. We then met them at Artisans. We browsed, marvelling at the nice products and the exorbitant prices. Since Joleif and I hadn’t gone to the Night Market, Eng and Rathanak promised to take us after dinner. In the meantime, we stopped at Pub Street to cool off with beer. I had a couple of mugs of Angkor beer and found myself suddenly and happily tipsy. We then had dinner at one of the food stalls in the old market. I had yellow noodles with Khmer sausage. Then we were off to the night market. Lots of things to buy, although I think most of them can be found in the markets here in Phnom Penh too.

For a night cap, we went to have dessert at Hotel de la Paix. I saw the current exhibit that Don wrote about in his blog. We lounged at the monstrous and super-comfortable couches and I met some of Rathanak’s friends who were there too. Joleif, Eng, and I talked to each other because the rest of them were francophones. The hot chocolate and almond croissant were great. Unfortunately, the croissant was too big and I couldn’t finish it. We took some photos in the hotel. I loved the interiors because I like the symmetry and simplicity of Art Deco.

The four of us took a tuktuk and after dropping off Eng and Rathanak, Joleif and I shared a quiet moment as I took him to his guesthouse. He was flying to Laos the next morning and we probably won’t be seeing each other again so our good-byes were kind of poignant. When I got back to the hotel I realized I was very tired. I was happy to find out they can arrange for a male masseur. I then got a 90-minute massage that relaxed me immensely.

The next morning, Eng and I met at the Blue Pumpkin, bought some provisions (quiche, brioche, and focaccia) and took a 7AM trip to Phnom Penh. By 1PM I was already back in the flat, catching up with Vic for lunch. By nightfall, I am reminiscing memories of this recent trip, the first in which I didn’t lay eyes on any temple.