Mother Earth

 Our role in building a community with a shared future for mankind

          —To create a greener future

Have you ever seen the glittering lights of Guangzhou tower, or any other lights / light shows in other cities or countries? Since people’s living standards have improved over the decades, we have built many flamboyant attractions to entice more tourists. When I came to Guangzhou, I missed out on watching the light show as they just didn’t turn on the lights.

I was indignant then, but soon realised a simple truth, so I let it go.  They did not turn off the lights to save money rather they wanted to save electricity to protect the environment. 

Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and China is so full of this type of beautiful scenery, but will we still have these to  admire and enjoy in the future? Pollution damages the environment and changes the climate, it causes the Greenhouse effect resulting in temperature and weather changes, along with rising water levels. A prime example is the high temperatures and flooding in Henan province, a northern province with a high latitude, but we regularly see high temperatures and flooding. What if we continue to devastate nature without restraint? Would we lose our homes, our lives?

Our ancestors left us many precepts, warning us to coexist with the environment, it seems that many of us have forgotten these, and so we need to change! 

We humans have and will have many problems to solve in order to live a better future, and we must take action to change now for the better, or mother nature will not stay to witness it .

We must trust mother earth gently, to love, cherish and protect only then, we can forge ahead a bright and green future together.

So, turn off the light, switch the barbecue schedule around, separate  and recycle your trash and ride a bike with me, we can hang out and find many impressive scenes under the clear sky, without hurting Mother Earth in the slightest all the while setting a good example for others to follow. With steps like these and more, perhaps Mother Earth will stay to witness humanity’s growth. 

FASHION: styling, wardrobe tidying

 cleaning out the closet 

 tidying consultant are a form of personal stylish / shopper helping you reorganise and declutter your wardrobe  your clothes and help try to reinvigorate your style -  a minimalist wardrobe does not mean you can't have interesting clothes or accessorie, its more about trimming the excess and unnecessary. Tidying does not imply living in spartan conditions and wearing three sets of identical clothes all day everyday (unless this makes you happy)

 Putting together your daily outfit is a form of creative expression, professionalism and style, how you dress represents your mood, your career, your style, activity and interests, those interested in sports will own and wear certain things for certain activities, music enthusiasts may have band t-shirts, you might have formal dresses and shirts, business clothes or work uniforms etc.  

When the right colors and silhouettes click, it instantly lifts ones mood and gives the wearer confidence. styling in a way can be a form of art, one that you wear.

However, If you love clothes but your closet is overflowing and you still feel like you have nothing to wear, it's time to tidy up!

Which clothes make you feel the most YOU?

Do you follow every fashion trend, even if it makes you look ridiculous. Whenyour favourite start is seen strutting down the street in her signature style  or unique outfit  choice do you try to copy? Do you scan for luxury product deals, engorge fashion magazines? Buy something every weekend you go out, A new outfit for every occasion? new clothes new season, new weather? holiday planned? let's get some new clothes. How much of a fashion addict are you?

once worn and used we often put them at the back of the closet until I mustered the courage to face the truth: No matter how long I kept them in the hope that I might wear them again, the outfit never felt like me, it was an impulse buy, or tmaybe there's just never the right weather or occasion to wear it.

Have an honest conversation with yourself when you tidy your clothes. Which items in your wardrobe bring out the truest, most comfortable, and beautiful version of yourself? You already know. These are your most hardworking clothes, which you reach for again and again when they've been freshly laundered.Which ones will you really wear again, which would you really miss?

The clothes you keep are the ones who understand, respect and embrace your body. The moment you put it on, it charges you with positive energy, like good friends. You do not have to compromise or abandon yourself in order to fit into the clothes. It allows you to be YOU. These are your gold star keepers.

Keep experimenting different styles until it clicks

is your style a sort of  signature uniform, will you try to only buy certain brands, style, clothes types? is the same skirt in 3 colours or patterns really necessary? are you really going to keep that dress you can't fit properly into because its so expensive and glam? it's ok to let go, to change. Our style evolves as you go through life. Circumstances, budget, health, age, influencers, and so on can all inspire and sway our style.

We only have one life. We should be happy, comfortable and confident in it. But still be open to trying some new things. 

Allow your curiosity and open-mindedness to guide you as you explore, play and experiment with various styles. Before you fill your closet with fashion tchotchke, consider whether the styles you admire are appropriate for your current lifestyle.

A runway model might look stunning in a tight skirt and stilettos, but it's not practical if you're a stay-at-home mom with a newborn. When you put on clothes from 20 years ago, they may feel out of place. nostalgic, but on the verge of silly. 

You used to enjoy yoga, but now you prefer cycling. Wearing full makeup was once your jam but you now prefer to go barefaced.

As you experiment with different styles at different stages of your life, become your own lifelong editor by keeping what works and discarding what doesn't. Many people get stuck in the letting go stage, which explains their overflowing-closet-yet-nothing-to-wear predicament. If we don't let go, we won't be free of our past regrets, which are over no matter how hard we try. As we gradually detach, we will gain the confidence and courage to dress, unapologetically.

Wear what you love every day

Covid lockdowns really altered fashion globally, and in our own personal lives, with no-where to go, we selected comfort over style, practical over party. Make - up was worn less and hair was left casual, not done up, you couldn't pop out to the hairdressers or nail salon for months.  less laundry and less time was needed to get ready for the day. one could easily spend the day in ones pajamas if they so wished. There were pros and cons for all.

As you edit your wardrobe and distill it down to keep only your favorite pieces, wear them with pride every day. Show off your love for prints and colors if that's your style. Take that massive hat that's been sleeping in your wardrobe out for a spin. If you feel most comfortable in neutral shades, wear them proudly.

To boldly own our personal style is an artistic expression of ourselves. Finally, please don't save special things for special occasions. Wear them whenever and wherever you wish because every day that we are alive is special (maybe not a wedding dress, its a bit hard to get that to look everyday casual, but it's up to you!)

for more tips:

https://www.realhomes.com/advice/how-to-declutter-your-wardrobe-13-tips-for-tidying-clothes

LOCKDOWN POETRY / MUSINGS

 Tick tick goes the clock 

The hours, the seconds ticking away. Life and time is fleeting, it’s flying past, gone fast. How to use it? Not to waste? What’s right and what’s wrong. Stuck in my room wasting my days I feel my potential slipping away. Frustrated upset unable to change. An enforced lockdown on my life and soul. Precious time stolen from me never to get back? Do I sit in this room and gloom ? Let it devour me? How to shake myself and fight back? To Re-conquer and regain control yet all the while stuck inside 4 walls. Step by step, little by little use the time wise. Either cry at the tragedy or look for an alternative ending. Brush up on a skill or read a good book, try out a hobby try to reconnect. There’s not much to do so rather than get stuck like glue, try to make the most of what you can. Time is precious we should not waste, take what we get and use it. One small thing a day can be one small step in a better direction. If we don’t laugh we cry. Stand up don’t fall down. The bad things can be opportunities for good if only we are willing to try, To see. Sometimes it is hard, we want to give up, feeling listless, no motivation, aggravated. But we can’t let ‘them’ win, use our time for free, so fight back and slowly you will see, you haven’t wasted your time, maybe you learnt something new, or picked up a long lost hobby. When times are hard we can give a friend a call, a shoulder of support, a helpful hand or attentive ear. Take each day as it comes and try to use it well. Slowly it can amount to something. 

4 walls

Stuck inside 4 walls each day, a bird in a cage, an animal trapped. Frustrated angry, sad mood leaping up and then down. At the start the fight within is strong, hope still flickers but slowly it too is gone. The happiness , the brightness it trickles away. How to get out , return to before. We can’t, it is gone now,forever no more. 

The past is the past we should live in the now, but what happens when the present is so hard to forebear - a madness, a darkness, a sadness so deep. What is there to help you keep 

Getting up each each day dressing and shower, When you feel that it’s all so unworth it, it’s all a big task, a hard chore. How to get help and good feelings once more? You just want to sleep and to sleep some more, the things you like seem boring, not so much fun anymore.

Although the cage now lies open the darkness has crept in, the traces lie there deep and not thin.  Your spirit is broken, your passion is dead, the feelings you had before have flown from your head. With each day can some happiness return, or will we forever have this mark , this burn? What was treasured is lost , can it be returned to us again? Walls can protect you but also break you down. Even the strong weaken after some time. People need freedom support and love, with no hope in our lives spirits dwindle to dust. 

Keep these ashes don’t sweep them away, some day we can use them to rebuild in a new way. In them we have hope fight and passion - our best. These things are never lost, only pushed down, oppressed.

     

TRAVEL: CAMBODIA - covid, the beginning march 2020

CAMBODIA 

https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/cambodia

What is Cambodia best known for?

Best known as both the home of the colossal temples of Angkor Wat and for the brutal Khmer Rouge era of the 1970s and later civil war, Cambodian history encompasses both some of humanity's greatest artistic accomplishments and most horrific deeds

What is the biggest problem in Cambodia?

Cambodia's youth is particularly exposed to vulnerabilities, primarily in the context of poverty, physical and mental weaknesses, violence and abuse, and migration. In terms of poverty and social exclusion, 36 percent of young Cambodians live below the poverty line.

The Cambodian black market trade of illicit drugs includes cannabis, methamphetamine, ketamine, MDMA and heroin. Cambodia remains a major supplier of cannabis to countries in East and Southeast Asia and other parts of the world. Large amounts of heroin are also smuggled throughout the (Golden Triangle).

https://borgenproject.org/why-is-cambodia-poor/

Phnom Penh

start of the pandemic, end of Feb 2020/ early march, lots of cancelled flights. it was coming to an end in china  but just to erupt everywhere else. I arrived in Cambodia at the end of February and left in a crazy flight and experience on march 22nd

 

top up your motorbike oil with a "roadside" oil station 

mini arcs of bananas to buy everywhere, markets and street stalls!

cambodia is dirty, lots of trash, cockroaches in many places, unless you choose to stay in a fancy hotel or resort, although the local currency in low, Cambodian riel ៛ most places/people want dollars, it all adds up.

 

  

 someone stood to pee. they squatted on a seat of a western toilet, looks like they have signs and instructions pictures in some countries for a reason.....   to be fair, when I first came to china in 2014 it was similar. especially at night/early morning, however China employed street workers, in the form on the elderly/late middle age, plus many homeless/poor would go through rubbish to sell to recycling plants. this still happens, even with the new rules and recycling policies

https://www.gpsmycity.com/gps-tour-guides/phnom-penh-397.html

I landed in the capital city airport, years before I had went to Siem Reap and visited Angkor Wat and enjoyed the experience, not this time for many reasons.  

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/phsar-thmei-central-market

 

some hilarious translation fails, hoping it means nose/ear piercing?

asia also seems to love its bird's nest items, especially drinks and facials make , bird spit, yum yum. 

lotus seeds

market fruits? no idea what they are though 

Arrival to Cambodia.  flight requirements due to Covid were still quite lax in comparison to some places, when trying to go to Malaysia / Brunei we had some issues as we had been in China recently but it was over 14 days so eventually we go through. same in Palawan, we had to sign  a form stating recent travels. for here however I was Promptly temperature scanned, with something that resembled a gun to the forehand without warning....should have said something!

lots of flights had been cancelled due to Covid19 but apart from that it was pretty normal. it was hot when I landed, the tuktuk drivers itching to hustle you from the exit, I Just walk out and tried  find the bus stop, which didn't seem to come so I still had to barter for an expense lift, but the guy took me right to the centre to try and find a place to stay, I hadn't booked but had researched places from booking.com as I needed to check out the Internets I could teach ok they were all pretty terrible and in poor condition. eventually an Indian restaurant took me in, 2$ a night, but it was disgusting, dark dreary with creepy workers and other guys, the beds were steel cages stacked on top with a mattress light, plug and ladder, 3 levels. I choose the top. no curtains, a disgusting pillow and blanket. I used my own. no direct sunlight. horrid. like something from a future film. but cheap and good internet. I didn't know how long I'd be there. and it was central. the owner had married a local. quiet in the day busy at night, at the start they wee nice and would give me ice for free but it stopped after a while. the referred to me as "hey lady" it got annoying after a while. I kept to myself. the toilets were another thing. cockroach and all that....the shower on top.....cold. I would wash with the sink and a cloth usually. when I was there. no lockers or anything. I put my iPad to the bottom of my bag and my passport in a ripped folder in my backpack under another bag to keep it discreet. camera was broken so just had an iPhone 6s for pictures, not so new but not terrible. 

I went out to explore the area and get a bus ticket for KHAMPONG CHAM in the north, a bus for the next morning, there are lots of ticket stores near the main market (Phsar Thmei). After that I looked around the market and checked out the cool graffiti of the area. there's some interesting shops and temples. the main sites are all very expensive and any outside of the city are hard to get to, you need to rent a scooter. 

 

  

spicy fruit street foods

DURIAN!

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/phsar-thmei-central-market

  

Asian tuk tuKs are all so different yet similar!  however in Indonesia they don't use them, instead you can get a lift on an app, for a motorbike! 

KHAMPONG CHAM

 https://www.gpsmycity.com/gps-tour-guides/kampong-cham-6019.html

 HOTHOTHOT!!!!

departed super early. the bus had simple AC and I got a free mini water and a wet wipe. I dozed most of it a short journey of around 3 hours we got there around 11.

https://www.busonlineticket.co.th/booking/phnom-penh-to-kampong-cham-bus-tickets

 

I stayed in Sunrise villa, staying on the second floor with some other girls, it was simple. along with river side, I had a coffee to wake myself and rented a bike then set off exploring in the intense heat! 

https://en.tripadvisor.com.hk/Hotel_Review-g659642-d12152247-Reviews-SunRise_Villa-Kampong_Cham_Kampong_Cham_Province.html

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g2366656-Activities-Kampong_Cham_Province.html

bamboo bridge to the island, for this you need to push the bike across to get to the other side, not so easy as its so bumpy! some people were along the beach on the island but it was a bit dirty and not so nice. I explored a bike on my bike into the island seeing the local houses and chilled life, coming across a quiet temple with a beautiful cat inside. there were some children playing nearby, but apart from that the place was quite empty and peaceful.   the don't have floating villages per say, just some houses, not like in Laos or Brunei. 

ko pen bamboo bridge

 

stilt house similar to that of thailand but not as high, perhaps for flood prevention? or storage?

the cat was so cool, huge ears due to the hot climate, it looked like a wild cat of the dessert to me!

back on the mainland I came across another beautiful temple full of a variety of statues. 

it was nice cycling around and exploring, I stayed a night and left the next day checking out the night market later the night. there's also a riverside park and a lighthouse to check out. 

KHAMPONG THOM

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g1024989-Activities-a_allAttractions.true-Kampong_Thom_Kampong_Thom_Province.html

khampong Thom is north west of Cambodia and borders Siem Reap, it therefore also has a lots of ancient temples to see. though they aren't convenient to get to an are spaced apart. Although its close to Kampong Cham, it's difficult to get. to, there are. no direct buses and it is in fact easier to just return to Ph and get another bus. If you drive or rent a driver then you can get there in about 3 hours or so. I UNFORTUNATELY GOT ROBBED AFTER THIS IN Phnom Penh here the lack of photos (I later borrowed a phone fro a Chinese girl from couchersurfer) 

I had wanted to visit Preah Vihear (a mini Angkor wat) but with no bike and unable to drive I wasn't able to. though there is still plenty of other things to see such as:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/preah-vihear-temple

 

https://www.tourismcambodia.com/attractions/kampong-thom.htm

BATTAMBANG 

https://www.roughguides.com/article/battambang-cambodia/

everything is pretty easy to get to with a bus if you go from the capital, Siem Reap has many options too. 

Phnom Penh to Battambang by bus, taxi from USD 11 - 12Gohttps://12go.asia › Cambodia › Phnom Penh

it's quite a nice town with a nice vibe to it, not as crazy or wild as the capital with a huge central market swell and lots of nice little shops and street art too but not as messy or "wild" it's the central hub of north west Cambodia and 3rd biggest city establish in the 11t century,  well worth a visit in my opinion, one can stroll along the river (Stung Sangkae/ Sangkae River)  and also check out the colonial French architecture. The Old Town of Battambang in the list of UNESCO world heritage site along with The Old Town of Kampot and The Old Town of Kratie since 2017. .  I stayed in a nice hostel called The place hostel, with a great rooftop area, they directed me on where to go nearby to rent a bike for the day. 

in the middle of the town is the big market - Phsar Nath Market,  full of foods like fresh fruits etc. it's bustling with activity most of the day.  with plenty of unusual foods I'd never seen before

my hostel:  https://www.booking.com/hotel/kh/the-dorm.en-gb.html?aid=304142;label=gen173nr-1FCAEoggI46AdIM1gEaLQCiAEBmAEJuAEHyAEN2AEB6AEB-AEDiAIBqAIDuAK1_5qTBsACAdICJGRkZjE2YzBmLTk3YzQtNDc2OS05ZDE4LTQ4OWM1NjM3MGVmN9gCBeACAQ;sid=e4e46303b9ed4194dee0e4dc6662008f;dest_id=-1023114;dest_type=city;dist=0;group_adults=2;group_children=0;hapos=1;hpos=1;no_rooms=1;req_adults=2;req_children=0;room1=A%2CA;sb_price_type=total;sr_order=popularity;srepoch=1651343264;srpvid=e9cd81cf271f024c;type=total;ucfs=1&#hotelTmpl

Phsar Nath Market

other areas to check out include all of which are easy enough to get to with a scooter.

"Norry" bamboo trains nearby : https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bamboo-trains

bat cave: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/battambang-bat-cave

well of shadows: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/well-of-shadows

found a nice quiet local temple nearby and checked it out, it's all pretty chilled here in comparison to the craziness of PP. feel like there I more air to breath and its far more relaxing! PP feel crowded and dirty, here, less dirty, less rubbish strewn, and the colonial building add character and charm. plenty of cute boutiques to checkout like where ei rented the bike, nearby I got some earrings and a recycled local purse (I bought similar years before on my trip to ankle but it was dying a horrid death after years of use) 

Wat Piphetthearam

 

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ten-battambang-temples-given-model-status-age-and-beauty

I then heading in the direction of the main river, cycling along and stopping to check out the beautiful buildings and park.  I had a picture of the big "black man"  Ta Dumbong Kro Aung Statue the local ethnic symbol which stand =/squats on a roundabout, but when my phone got stole......

he's a bit like the Cambodian "christ the redeemer" statue or Rio in Brazil, believing he takes care of the whole city,   that he still alive and has power, 

"The legend of how Battambang came to be..

He was a cow herd who found a magic black stick and used it to usurp the king. After the king was deposed his sons ran off into the woods and became monks. When he became king, Ta Dumbong had a dream that a holy man on a white horse would one day defeat him."

its meant to be based on reclaiming the land from Siam/ Thailand.

https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/battambang-cambodia-travel-guide/

 https://www.gpsmycity.com/gps-tour-guides/battambang-5922.html

Sangke Pagoda

nearby the black man statue I found another big temple area, this one with khmer style carving reproductions, it was larger and more well kept than the others and full of beautiful flowers 

 

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g303666-Battambang_Battambang_Province-Vacations.html

there's also a load of ancient temple ruins such as; Wat Banan, WaT Ek Phnom 

  

stayed a day and a half, my hostel was pretty quiet and the rooftop was great to chiLL-in, you could even over food, not just drinks. sunset was beautiful from it. heading back to the capital for a couples days before going to Ban Lung in north east Cambodia, the capital of Ratanakiri Province. its a bit of a Dusty town and not as well developed or visited as others 

BANLUNG  

is a small town in North Eastern Cambodia near the borders of Vietnam and Laos. And is know for it's volcanic lake (Yaek Laom) also known as Crater lake, an elephant foundation and nearby waterfalls ( Kachang waterfall, Katieng waterfall and Cha Ong waterfall.) it's a dusty and  heavily forested town, with several ethnic minority groups living there or nearby.  it's far to get there, taking 11 hours on a bus from Phnom Pehn with only a sleeper bus option https://12go.asia/en/travel/phnom-penh/banlung

 https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/yeak-laom

I stayed in a really nice hostel near a river run by a French owner, one could order breakfast, lunch or dinner and order drinks. the rooms were at the back, one climbed up steps to wooden cabins on stilts, there were a lot of trees so there were many mosquitoes, and as per usual it was super hot. 

Nature House Eco-Lodge & jungle trek: https://www.booking.com/hotel/kh/nature-house-banlung.en-gb.html

I rented a bike from them and explored, I was chill but had a sense of despair, perhaps due to the dustiness and lack of businesses. 

KAMPOT  

it takes about 3 hours by bus from the capital, from $7

https://12go.asia/en

its a town that sits on the coast near Kep in south Cambodia famous for its peppers. I stayed in a hostel on the hill in the town that looked into the mountains , it has a great open air fresh market, and a charming old town to check out.  

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g608455-Kampot_Kampot_Province-Vacations.html

https://wander-lush.org/things-to-do-in-kampot-cambodia/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bokor-hill-station

there's plenty of things to do if you can't explore on bike/scooter, if you can its recommended it check out one of the local pepper farms or salt fields. you can also do a day trip to kep and try to visit rabbit island, hot the beach and relax. 

I went for a walk and found interesting homemade fruit alcohol distilling, cute shops and cafes along with cool hammock shacks along the sea/beach to chill in free of charge!   

 

SIHANOUKVILLE

I went at a terrible time as the were basically refurbishing the whole city. It's a gateway to the islands, popular with Chinese due to its casinos so there is of course, lots of chinese food shops and restaurants. 

the roadworks were everywhere, it was ongoing constantly. loud! roads all dug up. not a fun place to visit, 

however I found a really good hostel that was quiet, full of friendly foreigners and Netflix in the communal area, even sort of indoor/outdoor pool. I met a lot of feigners, so from China and others just travellers or also trying to avoid the madness of Covid which was starting to slowly spread everywhere, 

first in Asian after the first reported breakout in Wuhan China, to everywhere else in the world, It was the start of March,  our days were numbered. 

I met up with a local Cambodian, who also got the bus from the capital, we arranged to explore together, and rather than following the usual tourist plan of going to the expensive islands (popular for drugs and expensive drink with lots of parties) that had little to no internet reception, we checked out the town and stayed only the 2 days. 

https://www.gpsmycity.com/gps-tour-guides/sihanoukville-5749.html

we walked along the beach, (better than the upturned roads full of builders) and found a really nice temple, with barely a soul in sight!

Phnom Penh

 https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cambodia-vietnam-friendship-monument

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/foreign-correspondents-club

The Cambodia–Vietnam Friendship Monument in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, is a large concrete monument commemorating the former alliance between Vietnam and Cambodia. It was built in the late 1970s by the communist regime that took power after the Cambodian-Vietnamese War, which overthrew the Khmer Rouge regime

 

There are plenty of random nice temples throughout the city, some, like the palace and main temple complexes requirement payment to enter, others are simple temples and of course are free.

I enjoy going to temples however, this hobby was soiled as I was robbed! in the day, while wandering around a temple in the centre not far from the promenade! I local was behind me while I explored and took pictures on my phone, the a**hole grabbed it out of my hand and ran! (I guess I was lucky he didn't try to do anything else, such as steal my bag or hurt me) he instantly ran, bounding over walls, I was no match,. it was an old phone, I didn't back up my pictures (I got some back via messages from friends and family) but the main heartbreaking thing was that it contained the last messages my grandfather ever sent me, things like this cannot be replaced and I was quite devastated. Luckily I had made a friend via couch surfer who was from China who was so kind to lend me a spare one, I later sent it to her when she also returned to China (me to Shanghai and her to Guangzhou)

 

I made some friends on couch surfer and we explored on scooter the local areas, some huge parks and a combination of colonial architecture and asian 

the promenade 

I nearly got robbed/ pickpocketed here too, BE CAREFUL!

did exploring with another traveller and ended up at a random island, Koh Dach were they make silk, they invite you in and show you the basics and try to sell you pieces, interesting. we explored the fields and backroads which was great, we even got trapped in one as it was starting to gate late and they closed one haha.  

https://thebalephnompenh.com/exploring-cambodias-silk-island/