MASSAGE MASSAGE WHEREVER YOU ARE

Massages are the best to soothe weary bodies, untie stress knots, calm nerves and relieve all sorts of aches and pains.  I know of many who have to have 1- 2 massages a week to get by.  A very good friend who was gone for 14 months arrived the other day and first on her agenda was a massage.  Massages are a way of life nowadays.

 When traveling, where walking and shopping are must do’s, a trip to a massage center, whether done by hand or fish, is an important part of the itinerary.  

Dominador having an outdoor fish massage in Siem Reap.

Go fish go! Many aquariums of this kind are found around Siem Reap. Often, people in groups sit around & have their feet in while drinking complimentary beer, having the paaarty vibe!

Relaxed and smoother feet =)

In Nanjing, we went to a foot massage center patronized by China's top government officials and celebrities.

A reception counter is found at the lobby where one "checks-in" for a massage.

You are then taken upstairs to your room. It is interesting to see on walls, strewn framed photographs of famous people who have had massages there.

Guess who ?

And...? We wanted our photos taken and displayed at the lobby entrance. The Chinese attendants laughed at us and thought we were joking. We were not =) hahaha

Inside the private room, comfortable massage chairs, tea and fresh fruits are found. A plasma TV is at the center for viewing Tv shows and movies. Like in a restaurant, a menu is presented to guests. This has a list and description of the different massage services available.

Once order has been given, a wooden barrel lined with plastic is brought in for feet to be soaked in warm water infused with salts and herbs. A back massage is initiated by well-trained therapists while soaking. First step of weary relief.

And massage it was for 90 minutes. Bliss!

After a relaxing respite, it's back on the road again........on the road again......on the road again......

GOING LOCAL IN SIEM REAP

When in a foreign country, it is advisable to go local.  Meaning, do what the locals do, go where the locals go, eat what the locals eat.  One learns more about the country’s culture and people this way.  Forget ambience and all the aesthetics. Just immerse yourself with the locals’ way of life.

This is what we did in the mornings for breakfast.  We did what the locals did.  Went where the locals went. And ate what the locals ate.

There is no signage (at least not that I’ve seen) on top of this quaint place.  In fact, this place is open until 1pm, obviously serving breakfast and early lunch only. In the afternoons and evenings, they are closed.  The outside portion is rented out to retail operators selling trinkets, clothes, fish massage and alike.  This is located in front of the noon market and on the street leading to the Angkor night market.

These are automatically served as you are seated. From left: meat dumpling swimming in a marvelously tasting broth. It's like having the best xiao long bao with the broth outside. TBW can have this anytime of the day and be fully contented. Next one is a long savory pastry similar to bicho bicho. This is their breakfast bread.

This is another automatic placement on the table. One of the breakfast breads. Sweeter in taste and with sesame seeds on top. This is a favorite and goes perfectly well with any breakfast order.

Locals having their breakfast. Tables are round and can seat 8-10 persons. Very ideal for families and large groups.

Soup kitchen

Mise en place

Breakfast menu on the wall.

Sweet & sour Vietnamese noodles with spring rolls. A favorite indeed!

Pork with rice. Their version of tocino and rice ? =) Vegetables are still a common sight.

Beef noodle soup

Dried vermicelli noodles with spring rolls

Bottomless hot tea!

Fantastic way to start the day. Hearty and flavorful breakfast, immersion on local culture, great conversation, and company of beautiful friends. Seated: Adora, Dominador, TBW. Standing: our local host, Meang

These are what make a fulfilling vacation.

APSARA DINNER DANCE

Apsara dance is a Khmer classical dance and is a big part of the culture of Cambodia.  The dance is particularly inspired by the thousand Apsara statues in Angkor Wat.  Apsara means celestial nymph or maiden and is considered very beautiful and filled with supernatural abilities.

Apsaras carved in stone at the entrance arch of Bayon Temple in Angkor.

The Apsara dance itself is performed by women with graceful and sinuous or intricate curves and turn gestures.  This dance is highly revered and was  performed in the past only for the king and his court.  Fast forward to today, Apsara dances are found in most theaters and restaurants in Cambodia for everyone to enjoy.

Apsara Dance at Koulen II Restaurant in Siem Reap

Most upscale restaurants offer a buffet dinner to go with the performance. Fantastic tandem…dinner and entertainment!  Food ranges from Khmer to Vietnamese to Thai to Chinese to Japanese and a few European and American.  I fervently wish that one day, a true Filipino dish or two will make it to the spread.

Here are a few that stood out for moi…..

Duo of fresh and deep fried spring rolls

Dublin fish and mushroom

A lovely Tom Yum Po Taek (mixed seafood and mushrooms) bursting with hot and sour flavors, generously laden with fragrant herbs was had twice by TBW!   Lemon grass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, lime juice and cilantro were very much represented in taste.  One of the best ever.  Was so engrossed with the taste that I forgot to take a photo.  O well….most of us know how a regular tom yum looks.  Just imagine one with shrimps, fish, squid and several types of mushrooms, with all the herbs floating on top.

Savory beef salad, Khmer style. Spicy and a good mix of sliced beef and crunchy vegetables like turnips, carrots, etc.

A very good chicken amok. This one was prepared with a consistency similar to a cross between a savory souffle & a cake.

Grill station. There were several other stations for fried noodles, noodles with soup, fried vegetables, etc.

Sliced squash with custard filling

A very interesting and tasty jack seed cake. Jack fruit seeds made into a cake paste consistency.

Basil seeds with sugar and milk. A super find and is actually good....textures and tastes commingling for that ummph =) When soaked in water, the seeds of basil become gelatinous, and are used in Asian drinks and desserts. They look like tiny gelatin lumps with black centers.

Another feast for the senses!

ANGKOR AND FOOD! WAT?

After being templed-out in Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Prohm, Ba Phoun, Phimeanakas and more in Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia, resting our weary feet and feeding our appetites with Khmer cuisine was the next best thing to do!

Entrance to Angkor.

Closer look at one of the guard statues lining Angkor's entrance.

One of the many faces of Bayon Temple.

Way up high in Bayon.

A blurred nose to nose shot

Inside Bayon.

Bayon pictorial...he he!

Ta Prohm, the temple taken over by 500-900 year old trees. Popularly known as the location of Angelina Jolie's movie Tomb Raider. This tree is the most popular among tourists.

This is one of the funny spots in Ta Prohm. A gigantic tree root shaped like a derriere. Here's an American tourist clowning around with the root =)

Time for refreshments, Coconut juice au naturel

Khmer cuisine at Khmer Village Restaurant inside Angkor

A typical Khmer dish...Amok fish. Also available in chicken variant. It is similar to curry minus the spice. Loaded with coconut milk and filled with julienned green vegetable whose leaves we saw at the restaurant's garden entrance. Name escapes our guide's memory at the time of photo. This is a favorite of TBW. Brought home some Amok spice hoping to replicate dish. Goes very well with steamed rice.

Sweet and sour snake cat fish. Our guide's fave...not mine =)

Fried snake cat fish with mint and mango salad

Chicken curry with sweet potatoes. The curry sauce is on the sweetish side because of these. Quite good.

Khmer cuisine's version of fried beef and french fries. Oooh la la... the Cambodians have amusing stories about the French...fries =)

Another TBW favorite: Nangka or Langka fruit shake. Really yummy. Creamy, fruity and refreshing. Cambodians are big on fruit shakes. There even is a cashew shake. Wanted to order that but they ran out. It's that popular with the locals.

After refueling, it's back to the temples. On the way, we see the ruins of the Terrace of Elephants. This was where elephant wrestling took place centuries ago solely for the entertainment of the King and his subjects.

Some of the inlaid figurines "supporting" the Elephant's Terrace

Inside Angkor Wat, fronting an entire stone wall carved by hand, depicting life in the kingdom's imperial court during ancient times and of mythology. We are in awe.

One of the many magnificent hand carved stone figures. Unbelievably beautiful!

Temple City or City of Monastery. The beauty and splendor of Angkor Wat.

Man-made lake surrounding Angkor for protection purpose.

A calming and spiritual feeling enveloped us during our visit to Angkor.  And that was enough.  But this city offered more.  It was an absolute feast for all the senses.

More on food haunts in Siem Reap soon…..