Whenever I morose
I pray for them my dears
Wipe away my frowns
Erase my lonely tears
I picture them so well
Of happy cheer and glee
Whatever sadness faced
Replaced from only he
Remember them in prayers
With tears awash my face
Pray God to keeps them safe
Away from pain disgrace
My loneliness departs
If only for a while
Replaced with Yakin
And faintest trace of smile
I dream of them to hug
And yearn for them to hold
Feeling emptiness
Oh so grey and old
I know in truth the time
The time it waits for me
Reunited glad
Wide smile for all to see
And I also know
With patience I must bear
in truth never alone
Of nothing to be scared
A promise he most high
Perhaps some sins be gone
A pin prick or a frown
Patience lingers on
Still I feel some sad
Eyes awash with tears
Alas a hypocrite
Who won’t surrender fears
I prayed to him all times
This answer came to me
Prescription must accept
Even though can’t see
Do they feel the same?
Or happy if I’m gone
Pondering insane?
I will not quit till done
Do they wait for me?
Or enemy erased
Forget the angry one
Ignoble and disgraced
Do they miss a smile?
A touch a glance or hug
Would not have them feel pain
Feelings swept to rugs
Oh I wait for them
Do they wait for me?
Reunite perchance
Deeper knowledge see
The one with strong good voice
Another laws to see
The leader so young
And youngest toys for he
How I long to hug
Oh I yearn embrace
If I shed tears am I a man
Or merely fool disgraced
I wished so long ago
To grow in knowledge deep
Perhaps this wish come true
Reason clear lost sleep
Funny is a man
Who yearns but slow accept
I know this is for good
Although of smile bereft
One day answer clear
Of that I know I’m sure
Meet creator good
And then I’ll want no more
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Cambodia after 5 weeks
Today , I count the halfway point of my fifth week in Cambodia. I miss my family still ,but find that I have adjusted to the aloneness to a great extent. On numerous occasions, I was at home alone. Others had their own agendas with which I did not interfere.
That aloneness used to bother me greatly, but now much less so. I have a strong feeling that I am never alone, after all. Simon and Garfunkel once said :” I have my books and my poetry to protect me… shielded in my armour “ in the song entitled, I am a rock. Well, to a great extent it is true for me. I study the books we have and write some form of poetry. I add to the lyrics, I have my prayers,
Praise the almighty alone, I have been constant therein. I added to it a 3am night prayer. It doesn’t wake anyone but me. Here , the sun sets at 6 pm, and we usually call it a night by 10 pm. The night prayer comforts me greatly. I missed it last few nights, and felt the loss.
I started another useful habit as well. I now walk every evening for about 30-45 minutes. Many dogs in the neighborhood bark at me, to my great displeasure. I used to be scared of dogs when I was young. I still am to an extent. It is subject to how the dogs behave of course, Dogs also have a sense of how we feel about them,that exacerbates matters, no doubt I resolved to carry a stick with me today, so an overly zealous dog backed off. I knew he saw the stick. At night , the dogs bark a lot. I have seen dogs fighting in the streets at times
The exercise reminds me of jogging in years passed. I feel that I am becoming more conditioned now, and my energy level is rising.The lethargy that I suffer from at times has lessened.Funny is that I do this walking with a pair of flip flop slippers. I do not have any running or walking shoes yet.
There is a huge market for used clothing and apparel here. One can easily find used pants, dresses, shirts and shoes. The standard of living is very low here,and subsequently the prices follow. Many people wear pyjamas, or pyjama looking clothing, of the pants and shirt type. That includes adults as well as children.
One can also find branded items as well. I enquired about a Swatch watch yesterday. It was priced at US $100. It all depends on whether people take the effort to find originals.
I suspect intellectual property laws are not very enforceable here. Some of it is rather amusing. There is a convenience store near the house. It is called 6 -11. I laughed aloud when I passed it and wondered if the passersby thought me crazy. I guss they didn';t want to copy the correct name as per US standards.
The mode of transportation here chosen by most is the motorcycle.They are much more affordable than cars, and so the people of lower incomes definitely use them. Many motorcycles are local brands, and others the more familiar brands like Hondas. Many motorcycle drivers earn money as motor taxis. I do not know if that is there full time job, or they just do it as a supplement. Whenever I walk, many ask me if I want to hire them. Other neighbors are amused when I simply say “exercise.”
The people of higher income, like those in my neighborhood, who own big houses, have family cars.
The traffic here is very hard to understand. I have not seen any stop signs here since I arrived. There are few stoplights , except at the major intersections. Most roads have two way traffic, but some will drive the wrong way . I think the basic driving rule is to keep your eyes open and be defensive. Walking across the street is much the same matter. One has to watch and take their chances. The motorists are careful of pedestrians. The pedestrians must be brave at the same time. Many use bicycles as well.
Many motorists , car and motorbikes included, dispense with insurance. I do not know if it is enforceable by law. Many simply don’t buy it. May also dispense with helmets. The main rider usually wears one, and the pillion riders, who might be two adults and a child on a 125 cc bike, don’t .
Many taxis are Tuk Tuks here. That is a carriage, like olden day horse drawn carriages, attached to the back of a motorcycle. They are cheaper than car taxis which are also available.
Cambodia is a country with a strong Buddhist and Hindu tradition. Buddhist monks often walk the streets here.. They wear their typical orange garb and often carry an umbrella. They have a bowl in their hand and pass from house to house waiting for donations.
If given donations they utter a prayer or a chant. If not, they move on without incident. The people greet them by putting two open palms together, like the Indian Namaste. Many people greet each others the same way, especially the younger to the elder.
The level of poverty is very clear here. There are many destitute who walk up and down the street collecting plastic and paper refuse. They have a carriage on wheels that they pull behind them.. Whatever they collect they sell for a very low price. Others are small children,likely younger than 10. They are of very small builds. That’s most likely because they suyffer from malnutrition. They don’t attend school , and likely eat a meal of white rice once a day. Their builds are small, and they appear much younger than their years.
They walk aroundthe city with dirty cloth bags collecting garbage. Sadly, they don’t have much hope for developing a better future without education. There are many families here who live on 1$ US a day. Those who eat 3 meals a day , and enjoy luxuries like McDonalds or meat, forget how fortunate they are. These children know hunger so well. They collect less than 10 cents per kg of hollow aluminum cans. They don’t eat for days, perhaps.
There are many street vendors here. Many are not stationary. They walk up and down streets peddling their wares. Two days ago, I purchased some roasted salted bananas. I got four small thumb size salted hot bananas for 500 riels. 4000 riels is 1US$ at a pegged rate.
I saw a strange sight when I was in Siem Reap. They were selling cockroaches or dung beetles. I don’t know how they prepare them. It was an interesting sight.
Some of the fruits here are similar or identical to those of Malaysia and Singapore. They have Rambutans and Durian. Rambut means hair in the Malaysian language. These fruits are the size of golf balls and are red in color. They have a thick outer skin which is hairy. The inside is a juicy white fruit with a large seed.
Durians are called the king of fruits in Malaysia. They are the size of small or large watermelons and are very thorny. One cannot carry them unless they wear gloves. The vendors do as they are used to it and have no doubt accumulated callouses. A sharp point on this fruit can easily draw blood.
The inside has creamy white pods with large seeds. It is high in sugar and cholesterol. The fruit has a strong smell that many foreigners find distasteful. It is an acquired taste to many. It can be very expensive. It is a delicacy I rarely savour.
Bananas are very common here. They are made into a sweet milky porridge at times. They can also be barbecued salty. There are many different types of bananas here that range in size from two fingers to a forearm. Many times they are fried in batter.
Corn is seen as a dessert. I even had corn flavored ice cream many years ago in Malaysia. It was surprisingly tasty. Different cultures views can deviate dramatically.
Our neighbor has two mango trees infront of his house. We’ve tasted some of the fruits that he kindly offered us. They were orange juicy and sweet. I am filled with wonder of creaton. A tree, a plant, with water and sunlight alone can produce the most wondrous delicatesweet fruits. Photosynthesis is truly a wonder of the creation of the world.
My stay in Cambodia has had me dining on all sorts of green vegetables. Fish is abundant. It’s become a daily affair. I am happy that it’s healthy food. I do miss home-cooking though.
That aloneness used to bother me greatly, but now much less so. I have a strong feeling that I am never alone, after all. Simon and Garfunkel once said :” I have my books and my poetry to protect me… shielded in my armour “ in the song entitled, I am a rock. Well, to a great extent it is true for me. I study the books we have and write some form of poetry. I add to the lyrics, I have my prayers,
Praise the almighty alone, I have been constant therein. I added to it a 3am night prayer. It doesn’t wake anyone but me. Here , the sun sets at 6 pm, and we usually call it a night by 10 pm. The night prayer comforts me greatly. I missed it last few nights, and felt the loss.
I started another useful habit as well. I now walk every evening for about 30-45 minutes. Many dogs in the neighborhood bark at me, to my great displeasure. I used to be scared of dogs when I was young. I still am to an extent. It is subject to how the dogs behave of course, Dogs also have a sense of how we feel about them,that exacerbates matters, no doubt I resolved to carry a stick with me today, so an overly zealous dog backed off. I knew he saw the stick. At night , the dogs bark a lot. I have seen dogs fighting in the streets at times
The exercise reminds me of jogging in years passed. I feel that I am becoming more conditioned now, and my energy level is rising.The lethargy that I suffer from at times has lessened.Funny is that I do this walking with a pair of flip flop slippers. I do not have any running or walking shoes yet.
There is a huge market for used clothing and apparel here. One can easily find used pants, dresses, shirts and shoes. The standard of living is very low here,and subsequently the prices follow. Many people wear pyjamas, or pyjama looking clothing, of the pants and shirt type. That includes adults as well as children.
One can also find branded items as well. I enquired about a Swatch watch yesterday. It was priced at US $100. It all depends on whether people take the effort to find originals.
I suspect intellectual property laws are not very enforceable here. Some of it is rather amusing. There is a convenience store near the house. It is called 6 -11. I laughed aloud when I passed it and wondered if the passersby thought me crazy. I guss they didn';t want to copy the correct name as per US standards.
The mode of transportation here chosen by most is the motorcycle.They are much more affordable than cars, and so the people of lower incomes definitely use them. Many motorcycles are local brands, and others the more familiar brands like Hondas. Many motorcycle drivers earn money as motor taxis. I do not know if that is there full time job, or they just do it as a supplement. Whenever I walk, many ask me if I want to hire them. Other neighbors are amused when I simply say “exercise.”
The people of higher income, like those in my neighborhood, who own big houses, have family cars.
The traffic here is very hard to understand. I have not seen any stop signs here since I arrived. There are few stoplights , except at the major intersections. Most roads have two way traffic, but some will drive the wrong way . I think the basic driving rule is to keep your eyes open and be defensive. Walking across the street is much the same matter. One has to watch and take their chances. The motorists are careful of pedestrians. The pedestrians must be brave at the same time. Many use bicycles as well.
Many motorists , car and motorbikes included, dispense with insurance. I do not know if it is enforceable by law. Many simply don’t buy it. May also dispense with helmets. The main rider usually wears one, and the pillion riders, who might be two adults and a child on a 125 cc bike, don’t .
Many taxis are Tuk Tuks here. That is a carriage, like olden day horse drawn carriages, attached to the back of a motorcycle. They are cheaper than car taxis which are also available.
Cambodia is a country with a strong Buddhist and Hindu tradition. Buddhist monks often walk the streets here.. They wear their typical orange garb and often carry an umbrella. They have a bowl in their hand and pass from house to house waiting for donations.
If given donations they utter a prayer or a chant. If not, they move on without incident. The people greet them by putting two open palms together, like the Indian Namaste. Many people greet each others the same way, especially the younger to the elder.
The level of poverty is very clear here. There are many destitute who walk up and down the street collecting plastic and paper refuse. They have a carriage on wheels that they pull behind them.. Whatever they collect they sell for a very low price. Others are small children,likely younger than 10. They are of very small builds. That’s most likely because they suyffer from malnutrition. They don’t attend school , and likely eat a meal of white rice once a day. Their builds are small, and they appear much younger than their years.
They walk aroundthe city with dirty cloth bags collecting garbage. Sadly, they don’t have much hope for developing a better future without education. There are many families here who live on 1$ US a day. Those who eat 3 meals a day , and enjoy luxuries like McDonalds or meat, forget how fortunate they are. These children know hunger so well. They collect less than 10 cents per kg of hollow aluminum cans. They don’t eat for days, perhaps.
There are many street vendors here. Many are not stationary. They walk up and down streets peddling their wares. Two days ago, I purchased some roasted salted bananas. I got four small thumb size salted hot bananas for 500 riels. 4000 riels is 1US$ at a pegged rate.
I saw a strange sight when I was in Siem Reap. They were selling cockroaches or dung beetles. I don’t know how they prepare them. It was an interesting sight.
Some of the fruits here are similar or identical to those of Malaysia and Singapore. They have Rambutans and Durian. Rambut means hair in the Malaysian language. These fruits are the size of golf balls and are red in color. They have a thick outer skin which is hairy. The inside is a juicy white fruit with a large seed.
Durians are called the king of fruits in Malaysia. They are the size of small or large watermelons and are very thorny. One cannot carry them unless they wear gloves. The vendors do as they are used to it and have no doubt accumulated callouses. A sharp point on this fruit can easily draw blood.
The inside has creamy white pods with large seeds. It is high in sugar and cholesterol. The fruit has a strong smell that many foreigners find distasteful. It is an acquired taste to many. It can be very expensive. It is a delicacy I rarely savour.
Bananas are very common here. They are made into a sweet milky porridge at times. They can also be barbecued salty. There are many different types of bananas here that range in size from two fingers to a forearm. Many times they are fried in batter.
Corn is seen as a dessert. I even had corn flavored ice cream many years ago in Malaysia. It was surprisingly tasty. Different cultures views can deviate dramatically.
Our neighbor has two mango trees infront of his house. We’ve tasted some of the fruits that he kindly offered us. They were orange juicy and sweet. I am filled with wonder of creaton. A tree, a plant, with water and sunlight alone can produce the most wondrous delicatesweet fruits. Photosynthesis is truly a wonder of the creation of the world.
My stay in Cambodia has had me dining on all sorts of green vegetables. Fish is abundant. It’s become a daily affair. I am happy that it’s healthy food. I do miss home-cooking though.
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