Posts

All we need is a triggering question

Image
When COVID-19 struck Cambodia, restrictions confined us to our homes. Like many, I worked online, staying connected through digital platforms. One hot April evening in 2021, in my small apartment in Phnom Penh, I joined a Zoom call with friends. As the call ended, one friend casually asked: “Would you join me in fundraising—to help families in desperate need during the lockdown?” That simple question carried me back to my childhood. In the early 1980s, growing up in a rural Cambodian village torn apart by civil war, hunger was a daily reality. A warm meal shared with my family was a rare joy. So when my friend asked, the answer was obvious. COVID had left me feeling powerless, but here was a chance to make a difference—to bring hope to those most affected. Together with 15 friends, we turned to Facebook for fundraising. Over six months, we raised $10,000 and delivered food packages to more than 2,000 people—women, sex workers, factory workers, garbage truck crews, and families strugg...
Post a Comment
Read more

More than Personal Sabbatical break

Image
Last week, I volunteered with #Oxfam while being on my #SabaticalBreak To me, the personal sabbatical break should be something larger than just myself. Volunteering with Oxfam in this context isn’t just charity—it’s solidarity. I was on a financial assistance distribution to #780 Families affected by the #BorderConflict who continue to live in #makeshiftcamp in #SreySnom district, Siem Reap province. Their homes were in restricted area, currently under the #ThaiMilitary control which prevent all kind of access for these families to return homes. Each trip of #HumanitarianResponse to the people affected by the border conflict is a stark reminder that geopolitical decisions by the few powerful at the top of the government or corporation continue to affect lives of hundreds of thousand living on daily livelihoods. These peoples are paying a dear price to the cost of conflict, border tension they did not start, they did not provoke, they did not fuel. After nearly 100 days since ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Echoes of War -recounted by the one born after the Genocide

Image
December 29, 2025 Oxfam’s Humanitarian Response teams departed in two directions on December 26, 2025. One team headed toward the internally displaced persons (IDPs) safe camp in Preah Vihear province to prepare for the next day’s relief, while another returned from Anlung Veng district in Oddar Meanchey province to Siem Reap after completing distributions. At exactly 15:02, the team en route to Preah Vihear received a chilling message:   “The bombs just dropped at O’Kon Teng again. We passed this area only this morning.”   Thankfully, they were safe because they had taken a different route out. Reading that message, I felt my body turn cold, haunted by memories from the mid-1980s in Kampong Cham province. I was five years old, walking home from a neighbor’s house with a rack of grilled fish in my hands. It was around 5:30 p.m. when the ground shook violently beneath me. A deafening explosion froze me in place. The fish fell into the dirt.  An explosion took place as Khme...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discovering -

Image
How do you wish to create an environment where you are the one that need to maintain that environment as well as benefit from and enjoy it? Do you create it you goes or do you set your plan and theme? or you let the time decide how it will evolve?  Since July 2024, I added different pieces to the so-called garden in the house, first started with 2 Jasmine flowers, follow by 1 yellow bell flower and two other yellow flower (not survived). As personal gifts for my house-warming, a friend sent me two Frangipani that were breed into yellow flower (below picture). These are in addition to three existing Frangipanis I already grow on the property - 1 white & yellowish, and two trees with the red flower; I have always been waiting in anticipation for the Red Flower to bloom but the white and Yellow and this one below bloom much faster.  Today 22nd Sept 2024, I added one lemon tree and two flowers to the collection. The flower has purple leaves on one side and green on the other s...
Post a Comment
Read more
Image
I have found myself developed new level of relationship with dog especially when I have them since they were puppy. In the last three years, I have had three puppies; only one that is now staying closest to me. Her name is NiSai - means Destiny - and she was given to me by a colleague at work.  Baby NiSai received gift from Grandma Rosanna  to beautify herself in last April.  From a small puppy, SaiSai requires close intimate relationship. I raised her myself for around a week and she kind of turn my apartment upside down. She is eating where she pleased and pee and pooh wherever. She is not listening much especially because my apartment is not big enough for her but also because as a baby she needs more hand on training.  NiSai at 7th month old, beautiful and strongly attached! After one week, I almost put her to the dog-training center because I could not afford to keep her with me especially when I need to go to work. After checking with my brother 's family again...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pteah NiSai

Image
In the end of 2022, I took a major decision to right the wrong-doing and to give myself peace and self-conviction.  One year later, as a process of healing from a broken self and broken heart, I went into yet another major decision to design a home in the middle of the year (2023) and commenced the construction process six weeks before the year end. The contractor drew a contract that suggested that it would take up to seven months from the day the contract commenced to complete it. I kept telling myself that I would see through to the end of the process. There are moment in between these period where I felt lost, alone, being questioned and questioning my own decisions and why instead of living happily in the heart of the city with a yard stick of travel, I went out of town, out of the reachability of things and poured all my saving to build this place I called Home of NiSai aka "Pteah NiSai" I think that one cannot underestimate what a place is doing to your soul and your w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Traveling with My First Lady

Image
Last year, I got the golden opportunity to travel with my parents (and Uncle) to Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam. it was the first trip I went with three of them. It also occurred at the time of the final World Cup Match; hence I got the golden opportunity of watching the final match at My First Lady Company. Such a lovely time even I lost the bet to my friend in Australia, but appreciating the time mum stayed on to accompany with the match. She is the best.  
Post a Comment
Read more