First Loves Never Die

 Sala Bai in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Photo from my personal collection

I know, that seems grammatically wrong but I have two first loves: food and travel.

I'm still procrastinating while resting (why work when one should rest, right?) and my Facebook newsfeed led me back to food and travel. I checked my work e-mail with the utmost desire to do those presentations. That was a little over an hour ago.

A few weeks ago, I had the realization that I wish I traveled around East Asia more -- Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia (excluding China). I add that to my bucket of regret. Thank God, it's superficial regret.

Then this morning, I saw this CNN Go link about 10 great international cooking classes by Lina Goldberg. Anyone who knows me is fully aware I love to cook, and if we've talked at length, I really wanted to be a chef before I realized, I needed a day job. And pleasurable activities like cooking, eating, and traveling should remain enjoyable. Not a chore or task like those powerpoints.

Whenever I travel, I always intend to take cooking classes but never get to do it. Sightseeing and eating are priorities or work, then the next chunk of free time somehow doesn't allow me to take classes. The Intercon arranged it for me in Bangkok last year but none started early enough for me to reach my afternoon flight the same day. While in Malacca last year, my friend and I managed to eat way too much in one weekend but also didn't have time to take cooking classes. In Siem Reap, we prioritized the temples and the boutique hotels too much that by the time we had a free day to visit Sala Bai, it was closed for the day.

Just like the KOTO concept, Sala Bai is about using food to help the community through skills transfer. I've written about this dream before but I guess it will have to wait a few years again. Cooking school will have to wait for me and so will philanthropic work. I think I could be forgiven since my day job's mandate is to reduce poverty in Asia.

It's just a pity that most of the cooking schools in the CNN Go article are from the Asia Pacific. Then I saw another article on Asia's 10 great street food cities. Thank God I have an upcoming trip to Taipei, or else, I would be in deeper regret! Just so much to see in our region.

Then a few more clicks and I found myself reading the entire blog of Ms. Goldberg at MyBigFatFace. I'm just like that, I need to read the entire blog before saying I like it. Reading the blog is just so inspiring.

I wish I can do freelance development work and combine it with my love of food and travel in the future. That would be absolute work-life integration.

Beatocello in Siem Reap, Cambodia

While looking for things to do in Siem Reap online, I came across the "Beatocello" Concert. It was a free concert every Saturday evening. And just like that, it was in our aspiration list of things to do. 

On the way to Angkor Wat, we passed by several posh hotels like the Sofitel and other local brands. And right in the middle was the concert venue. It's minimalist structure with funky signage definitely leaves an impression -- that of interest and curiosity. 

Moon Boutique Hotel, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Yahoo weather says it's 34C outside in Manila today. It's just so hot! Makes me want to hie away somewhere cool and shaded like a pool with trees. Forgive me for dreaming of a holiday amidst this concrete jungle. I stayed  on during our four-day Easter break (mission to Beijing was postponed) and I haven't been away for leisure since December 2011.

So please allow me to dwell on a very good memory of my brief stay at Moon Boutique Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia. My friend S and I made a last minute decision to travel early December and we decided to visit Cambodia for the Angkor Wat. We were sure we did not want to stay in  a hostel and with the plurality of boutique hotels in Siem Reap, we were determined to choose one to our liking.

We initially wanted a centrally located one so we can just walk to the neighboring restaurants, cafes, galleries or get a tuk-tuk and explore. We happened to be there during Person with Disability (PWD) marathon so most of the hotels were booked. By chance or circumstance, we ended up with Moon Boutique Hotel.

And that's one occasion where not getting what you want and getting something else was a blessing in disguise. The hotel seemed far but the pictures from its website said it only had about 15 rooms, just opened 3 months prior, had a pool, had a tub, roundtrip airport transfers and provided free Tuktuk service and mobile phone to their guests. All that for about $30 per room!