The Daily Grind

They call me the boss lady, but really I'm just a kid at heart.

Life lately has me doing/feeling things that my 24-year-old self would have cringed just thinking about. Cambodia has me drinking coffee and beer, eating vegetables (gasp!), and as you have most probably noticed, loving children!

Photo Diary: Holidate

Let me tell you this: I am exhausted, but the exhaustion is worth it. I am so happy at a base level that I don't understand that it's possible to have anything more than a base level of happiness.

I am home alone as I type away. The clicking of the keyboard turns into a rhythm as the words flow. Click, click, click away. S. and I went to the riverside today. It is Constitution Day in Cambodia, and I couldn't be any happier to spend the day snapping away and book hunting.

Abdicate, v.

Three years, the length of time I stopped cutting my hair. Although I would tell people I just wanted to wear it long, it wasn't the case.

Three years, the length of time I tried to preserve a memory. But now it was getting too heavy, weighing me down like an iron ball to my ankle, instead of being a crown of glory on my head. I did not stop to realize that it was a memory I did not need.

Three minutes, the length of time it took for me to cut my hair. I was free, and now it's time to make new memories to keep-- and this time, in timelessness.

I've been losing quite a lot of things lately, important things, things I know I might never get back. Photography has always been a great reprieve whenever I feel sullen. These photos were taken at Wat Botum Park; I was there for the Izzi sampling. It was a breath of fresh air seeing quite a number of families and parents bringing their children to play in the park. You don't get to see much of that in the Philippines. Kids these days are often cooped up in their rooms playing video games or hanging out in malls with their friends.

More photos after the jump...

On the Road: Sihanoukville

Cambodia isn't just about temples and tombs it has exquisitely pristine beaches as well. Sihanoukville or also known as Kampong Saom is a port city 4-hours away from Phnom Penh. We took advantage of the 3-day holiday in celebration of King Sihamoni's birthday (May 13-15), and headed southwest to Sihanoukville.

If you've ever been to Boracay (or click here to view my post on it), imagine 5 Boracay-like beach strips all in one city! If you're looking to party or just relax and chill, Sihanuokville has a range of beaches to choose from; from the popular, Occheuteal Beach, to the less commercial, Otres beach, you'll definitely find your own version of paradise whilst there.

The Best Iced Coffee In Phnom Penh: A Khmer Breakfast

Early morning runs at the Riverside have become a routine and I was ecstatic when Hannah invited us to have a hearty Khmer breakfast at Phsar Tuol Tom Pong (Russian Market) afterwards. I remember her and my Uncle raving about the iced coffee there. Quite a number of stalls offer iced coffee, but Mr. Bounnareth's is the best by far. He's been giving both the locals and foreigners the caffeine-jiggles for over 30 years now, and it is truly a must try when in Phnom Penh.

On The Road: Oudong Mountain

We had a plan, i.e., leave early for our 2-hour drive from Phnom Penh to Oudong. And we all know that sleep, candy crush, and other distractions trumps plans. Generally, getting on the road at 10AM was a bad idea. Judging from Google Maps we were to catch the sun at its highest point by the time we get to Oudong Mountain, but we were on a mission to get out, drive, and see some stupas.

Sunsets Like No Other: Boracay 04/13

After my first trip to Boracay last November 2012, I was definitely left hung up and hell bent on visiting the island again. So when I was asked to cover the 16th Nestea Beach Volley Championships that was held there last March I jumped at the chance.

Boracay is a truly magical place. I'm a city girl by heart, but I love the beach almost--almost just as much, and being able to spend days in tropical paradise and still be able to feel the city vibe through various restaurants, clubs, hotels, and amenities that are typically lacking in the more private and isolated beach destinations, I am very much willing to overlook the overcrowding-- it isn't as bad as some people make it out to be.

Greetings From Cambodia

Today marks my first month in Cambodia, and I still find myself falling in love with the country more and more each day. As cliché as it may sound, after an excruciating turn of events I decided to finally pack my bags and begin a journey of self discovery. Life will never be the same, but it only gets better, the gift of travel is definitely one of the many testaments to that.

2012 and the first half of 2013 has left me with far too many goodbyes, moving on is only fitting. There is so much I want to be, and in a desperate attempt to be everything all at the same time I am left lost. My former journal held no real meaning any longer. Who I am and what I do is no longer translated in those pages; they are mere reflections of how truly caged I feel.

Cheers to new beginnings and stories of wanderlust, adventure, and mundane updates!

For the meantime, here are snippets of my blog backlog, errr, first month in Cambodia via my Instagram account (@tonimariepd). Enjoy!

1. spent a quarter of our 19-hour transit at the Bangkok airport; 2. the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh; 3. Phnom Penh at night; 4. Partying Kampuchea style; 5.   Cambodia isn't just about historical relics and arhcitecture, they have great beaches, too; 6. Welcome to Sihanoukville; 7. the 700-year old Wat Phnom; 8. the stupa on top of Oudong mountain that is said to house some of Buddha's remains.