The Dinner

Dinner Banquet of choice is Mandarin Oriental. Why not Regent? I was asked plenty of times. Well... because Alex, (my ex-kitchen consultant who never failed to impress me with his recommendations of food) says to try MO. If Alex says MO then MO it shall be!! Anyway MO is one of my fav hotel chains as well...Introducing our receptionists - my lovely cousins Yvonne and Violet. And Ken's sister, Felicia. Strawberries abundant and I can see that Feli is openly munching on the job... tsk tsk New Boss, old boss. Mika Koponen and Andrew Moore.

Grandmother in law is really happy that her Ah Ken is finally married.

Frank has to make the grand entrance as usual.My extremely pretty friends - limin and peizhi, (unfortunatly both very married). ShuFei (married), Kaijun (getting hitched Dec 2010!) and the happy family! Major thank you goes to Shujun who produced the stunning corsages and hand bouquet and Whyee, my bridesmaid!Tsuto Sakamoto, my ex-prof on the left and on the right. the extremely talented Sheila & family. She is the designer of my bridal and evening gown. BTW, why are her sons so tall? Where did the genes come from? Looks like Feli is not the only one huge on strawberries...
Dear Kim, Charlie says you are a pro on slide presentation. we think so too...Unexpected last minute changes in table arrangements. Mimi announcing to Frank & wife that she is going to split their family into 3 seperate tables.... Aiyah, being the nicest uncle has its disadvantages...

"Good evening ladies and gentlemens.... please welcome Mr and Mrs Loh!!!!". Winny and Ivan doing a fantastic job being emcees for the evening!Ho Ho Ho.... lets pretend to cut a fake cake!! Ok I know this is our wedding but I always thought that this fake cake things is bizzare... Oh yah, and the dance parade of the first dish.... real passe, i did not know people are still doing it. Heard that the architects died of laughter watching. Food.. is good... I heard... u know I did not eat much that day!

2nd march in - ken is still trying to find out who smashed a ton of petals right into his face. people on the left, own up. people on the right, who stole their petals?

This is one of the best yam seng @ weddings.... fantastic family and friends, brothers and sisters, kiddos and all!!! Phototaking for all of Ken's family tables....

Now for the friends tables!
Table of helpers and friends... without you guys, the evening will not be the same.The very Cat High looking Catholic High buddies... a very fun group

The divers. see you underwater in April mate!

The prof, architects and ex-architects!

The Carlson Group and the Hirsch Bedner Gang

The St Nicholas old girls plus auntie Serene! Alicia, I must say, you look stunning in that dress.

Special mention of Song right here! She DID NOT SHAKE HANDS ON HER WAY OUT!!!

What a tiring day... but what fun! Finally a great thank you to all who helped and attended our wedding. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves because we certainly did! cheers...

Mandarin Oriental 2-7

Reached Mandarin Oriental by 2pm. Booked additional 2 deluxe room for the sisters and brothers and heard that both sides were concussed and in bed by 3pm. Kim arrived to do the morning express presentation. We tried to nap without much success. MO served us high tea around 4pm. I really needed the food. Ken really needs chicken rice. Sconces are not working out for him.Champagne and strawberries arrived shortly later. Just nice for the coordination meeting at 4.30pm. Ivan took over the role as the evening IC cum emcee. Winny still MIA. Chye and Fred checking out and finishing up the food as usual. YE and LX still enjoying their massage somewhere in Kenko. Hefang and Peizhi fetching my mum. Kim completing the slide show and Shujun lost her way in "Marina Mandarin"!!!
Sam (yet again) is trying to steal flowers from all corners of the room. And why must I sit before everyone poking fake eyelashes into my eyes? Ah! Sam remains steady as brothers evaluate my hair and make up. Ok Ok steady.... its 7pm... time to go down!!

The Wedding Morning

The big day has arrived. Woke up at 0430, bathed in 12 flowered water before Sam arrived at 0500 to do the make up. Sam asked me why the flowers are still in the tub instead of all over the shower cubicle. hmmmmm.... well...

Still recovering from my "mao dan" for the longest time. Last does of chinese medicine before all the sisters arrived. Cough Cough Cough...

So, introducing my sisters :

Whyee - Miss Resourceful, morning IC.

Peizhi - my ex-wife who is tallest of them all.

Hefang - winner of every battle, great at keeping the fort.

ShuFei- previously the 'brother' turned 'sister', its too complicated for this blog.

All very tall. Goodness. Rueben & Paul, pls take note when you take the photos.

Peizhi is obviously having great fun preparing for the gate crashing games.

HEE HEE HEE, I am ready! Come get me!!

HORN HORN HORN!!!!! Hey the entourage looks powerful huh. Volkswagen EOS, the Chye Sen Express!! 7872, everybody buy but like did not strike.

Zach, my nephew is the Ah Gu gai opening the bridal car door. Hurry up guys. Come challenge the sisters!!!

That was a very sneaky look Chye Chye. You are up to no good. Seriously, show some sincerity. An angbao of coins! You can do better than that, brothers!

Introducting the four brothers:

Chye Chye - the Chye Shen

Frederick - Legend Killer!!

Gunnar - The Ultimate Military Strategist Zhuge

Liangxing - The Photog I/C + Super Wasabi Eater

Angbao of stamps? Please!Angbao of Thai babt!!! Check out the disapproving look of my sister's face! WAT IS THIS??? This is getting too much!

Wah sweat. My little niece is no push over!

Ok my sisters look happy, I guess they must be quite satisfied with the final sum! So welcome in!

I can hear every single word in the room. Ken was asked to say out loud 10 things he will do as a good husband. Almost all is related to how he will "love" my cooking...... "i will never comment on your 'bad' cooking", "i will finish the food you cook" ... " i will..." Ok enough move to a topic that is non food related please.Wrong room baby. Did you not know that is my mimi's room! Tsk! Tsk!

Now we are talking!

This is my 'da yi's' speciality - to eat 5 dishes. Gosh I really cannot swallow the liver! Man I hate the texture of liver. It's a symbolic breakfast but Ken is seriously not putting his chopsticks down! Oh yah, introducing Paul, my very pro 2nd photog! Here he is shooting Rueben shooting us! Oi, why my 'ji kim' cry?

Bye everyone, we are moving to Ken's parent's place now!

One photo later, we are arrived at ken's parent's hseFirst to pay respect to the deities! Then all the hungry brothers and sisters feast on the kueys made by Ken's mum. Delicious. Oh yah Gunnar had several helpings I can tell.

After Ken's house, we head back to my mimi's house for the second round of tea ceremony and lunch.
Ok eat first then lets whack the tea ceremony. Finally! The End of the wedding morning! Hmmm rather, just the beginning of the Wedding Day! It has been great great fun and everything was smooth. Cheers! Now for the dinner banquet!

Photos Oh Photos

Hi everybody... The moment of truth... Photos are out.

I love the wedding gown designed by Shelia. It is honestly not easy to wear and I really have to suck my tummy in. But it is really beautiful. Lace and glitter is really not my type and yet I fell in love with this dress that is all lace and glitter. Great workmanship and despite the difficulty to zip myself in, it feels great to wear.

My... Kenneth does look good. What good taste I have!

This pose is really breaking my neck. I am practically straining.. Luckily Chris is quick to capture the pose he wanted. Once again, Shelia's evening gown is a winner. The way the midnight blue fabric falls and drapes... ah... nice

Red evening gown from Yvonne. I really resisted the red sash and "ribbons and wat not" on my hair and the feminine "look" for the hair then. I am glad I listened to the pros and went along because the photos really look not bad.

Yvonne's signature by-the-window look

The Classic bird shit shoot. Actually the bird is captured in the shot.

Cheers... Thank you Chris for making me look slim... HAHAHAHA. I must say Yvonne Creative is good...

The Wedding Shoot

I resisted the concept of wedding album and posing in front of the camera since I am ususally the one behind the lens. But 10th Oct turned out to be quite a different day.

It started with Peyfen doing strange things to my hair and plastering my face and fixing my swollen eye. Whatever she did to the hair, face and eye, all look damn good. Not too sure of the feminine look with sash and flowers in my hair though. But no harm trying for fun. PeyFen and her fellow artist are so comprehensive in their service that they moulded ample breasts and created a deep valley between from flesh I never knew I possess.

They show their utmost adoration to Ken with numerous changes in vests, suits and accessories. To a point even the photog had to comment that Ken is much more vain than me. I agree.

Indoor photoshot by Chris is one of pumped up enthusiasm and many bursts of laughter. Utterly exhausting for newbies. Sucking in fat tummy (me), hiding double chins (him), a la minute natural blissful smiles were the rule of the day

Outdoor shoots were hilarous with me witnessing bird shit falling and splattering on the gown when we leaned against a lamp post @ spottiwood park for a pose. The dove above failed to comprehend Chris in his limited baba to fly away in this Peranakan district and we had to give up and move on. Chasing the fast disappearing daylight was delayed with Ken's relentless perspiration which needed a touch up every 2 clicks. I had to kiss his forehead in one shot and YES it was salty.

Overall, the day was suprising fun with much merry making and jokes. Shelia's wedding dress with its ever plunging neckline and midnight blue evening gown stole the limelight. Yvonne Creation's Jean, Chris, PeyFen and her fellow make up artists also pamper us to no end, making us feel like stars. Like old friends, the mood was stress free and the day truly memorable.

We left feeling we are truly a very fortunate couple to have recieved all these help from so many strangers turned friends.

Hotel De La Paix

Welcome to Hotel De La Paix -the real reason why I am back in Siem Reap. Nick, the GM gave me a really fantastic room rate plus an upgrade the spa suite. It was a fantastic stay.

There are very few hotels whose entry impresses me and HDLP has one of the most beautiful
entry. Talk about leaving a deep impression. The poetry of space is SO SO beautiful...... This is what inspires me to do architecture. It makes me tear..

The bathroom walls and floors look like soft sandstone but they come in such big pieces and almost no joints that I have to take a closer look. Terrazzo! That is why the bathtub is constructed so neatly.

HDLP has really nice amenities. These are the things that make or break a hotel experience and so many operators get them wrong.

Agnes, I like this detail for the bedside lamp! All the pendant lamps and bedhead/ bathrub "art" are casted iron pieces made in Thailand. Iconic and bold. This is one designer who knows what he wants and not merely fill up empty walls with framed art.

The suite has a nice space but the planning is a bit off. I think this has more to do with the designer's work process. The standard king room is always the mock up room and will always be the most well planned. Suites come much later in the design and documentation stage - hence the designer is bored already... and sadly it shows in the final space.

2nd floor of the suite is the spa room and the outdoor terrace. I do love this space and the tub is truely huge - enough for 4 adults. I know Peter is going to lament the excessive water required to fill the tub, then he is going to calculate for me how much this amount of water will cost the hotel...... then I am going to feel bad approving such large bath tubs... then... the days of simply designing is gone...

Ok, check out the steps around the courtyard outside the restaurant. Remember it

The public area architecure echos that of Angkor. This is truly a hotel that is designed with a distinct sense of place but with details abstracted to fit the comtemporary era. This is no "step back in time" look. This is a language of a confident designer.

Love the public area art. Agnes, I know you will appreciate this too.

Ha! The outdoor swings of the restaurant. Another similar photo taken by me years ago is still making its grand tour in numerous image boards. For those who uses the image, good for u if u know who took the photo. Better for you, who care enough to find out where the photo was taken. For those 'passionate designers' who are impressed enough with a design as to stick it on a board, why never curious enough to visit the place?

Honestly, the food in HDLP is a pleasant surprise. It is the absolute BEST food I have ever eaten. The BEST food!!! How can breakfast taste so heavenly?! Now we are all having withdrawal sydrome. If I ever revisit HDLP again. It will be for the food, not architecure.

Every Sat, there will be dance performance at the courtyard. But it is not the performance that draws me in. It is this! The steps! By putting those thai cushions and triangular backrest on to the steps, you create seating groups with a loose tray as the cocktail table. What a brillant dual use of space!!! Outdoor seating in an instant!! Unique experience, easy to store, non bulky & costly FF&E!!! Anyway Agnes, I also like the wall sconces and proportion of the columns.

The hotel is full of chill out areas. This is the lobby lounge. For those who has been to HDLP, you will notice that the layout/ space planning of the hotel is not the usual grand, big open space for the lobby and lounge. I think feli feels so comfy in the lounge she almost fell asleep here. Babe, when you tell me you are worried abt your overscaled lounge chairs, THIS IS overscaled and perfect. So dont worry!

The swimming pool - again the repetative use of the HDLP iconic symbol - the fig tree. BTW, the handsome couple here is Ken & me.

Breathtaking Sorrow - Cambodia

So many places to visit in one's lifetime and I hardly thought I will have the time and chance to revisit any. But I did, to Siem Reap. With Kenneth and family.

I was very saddened by what I saw. Within these few short years, the decay of the ruins from natural and man-made forces is evident. Although still majestic and breathtaking, it is clear that a lot is lost and will never be the same as before.


I did not expect such nagging pain and sorrow in my heart having to witness the ancient site in this state. To those who "discovered" Angkor with me years ago, "Keep the wonderful memories intact and close to your heart, do not come back..."

I used to see this beautiful intricate door detail and pattern everywhere. No more. The door in the photo is the only one I managed to see on site. Most sites now only have the door frame & door opening but such beautiful details are no longer there.

Many of the decorative window columns are destoryed and can be seen lying in piles below where they have fallen. The guide told us that many started tumbling down after recent storms and rains.

Many places within the temples are out of bounds to tourists now. No longer can free spirited backpackers climb up to inter santuaries of Angkor Wat or get lost in the ruins of Ta Phohm. Timber platforms are constructed for tourist to walk on and a singular path/ route dicated. Where they percieve are good photograhic locations, a larger platform is built for the "I have been here" shot.

I hated it. The wandering is gone. The sense of excitment and discovery one feels when one bursted out of the jungle to find the lost civilisation one has been searching for has been robbed.

You can see from the photo above that restoration work is getting desperate. No longer discreet. In fact there are many scenes with yellow construction cranes in the foreground but I cannot bear to record the scene with the camera.

Again I felt conflicted. I remembered years ago, irresponsible tourists pouring unfinished coke over the stone steps, knowingly or unknowingly eroding the treasures of the Khmer. I remembered I demanded more to be done to conserve these structures - more security, add platforms and decks, add barriers to protect the fragile architecture from us...

The timber deck pathway and the fallen rubbles

So i suppose, they have done better, now. I should not be complaining about the efforts.

The French restoration team, I understood, use a modern method of construction to restore Angkor Wat. Joining the huge stones with montar to give it additional strength. However, the montar interfered with the path of rain water drainage and eventually stained and destoryed the bas reliefs on the walls.
Once a Buddha carving, now modified into a Hindu God. Different era and different kings, bring forth a different religion.

"Nature. If you water and feed it too well with that strong tropical sun and rain, it will lose control..." - Aldous Huxley


Lx, Ken wans to sell you this photo taken at Bayon for US$120. After studying works of John Mc Dermott, he proclaimed he can do it as well. Not bad huh. I mean, he is very good. Put my SLR to shame actually! I am so impressed!!! The next talented young photog - my husband!!!

My favorite Monster Gallery @ FCC is gone. The rage now is Dominic Rouse, a photog of the mind. Ecce Homo, a digitally composed decaying figure inspired by Cambodia and S-21 museums is a masterpiece.

" The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin with." - WM Lewis