The Day I Met Snow White & The Seven Giants

A random pictorial of the Carnival Expo Malaysia that begins today at MAEPS…

Snow White

Snow White & The Seven Giants

I know this is a Malaysian expo but the kids love Dopey and the adults, they love apples.

The Malaysian Bee

The Malaysian Bee?

I am not so in-tuned with mascots and round-tummy characters. Can someone tell me who or what is this Malaysian Bee thing?

Wrong Target

Over Her Shoulders

I was trying to focus on the midget mime behind her. Really.

Motionless Mime

Motionless Mime

Do you still call them mimes when the only thing they do is stay motionless? There are three or four of them of various colours.

Sushi

Sushi-Go-Round

OK. Let’s go into the halls. What’s a carnival without a sushi-go-round? Sushi King’s conveyor belt exhibition is a big hit.

Pineapple Sorbet

Pineapple Sorbet

My favourite find is Pacific West’s new creamy sorbet in a natural fruit shell. But how do I take a decent photo of it before it melts? I found a spot on the floor where a ray of daylight was leaking from the ceiling above.

Big Draw

Hold Your Fire

I guess you can figure out what’s the big draw at this booth.

Made-In-Malaysia

Made-In-Malaysia

Yay! Good old Malaysian products, finally. Oily, greasy, fried food.

The Hangar-Sized Food Court

The Hangar-Sized Food Court

Everything is monster-sized at MAEPS. Giant dwarves, giant halls, giant car parks, giant food court…

Wanna see how big the whole place is?
See a satellite map and pic of MAEPS at MyCen Directions.

Wanna know where on earth is MAEPS?
See the location map and surroundings at MyCen Maps.

Slow Boat To Tonlé Sap

In my recent post on Angkor Wat, I mentioned about exploring the rest of Cambodia. One of the best ways to see the heart of this beautiful country is to take a boat from the capital Phnom Penh to the northern city of Siem Reap.

The fascinating journey took me through the mighty Tonle Sap, South-East Asia’s biggest freshwater lake.  Uniquely, this lake will swell and shrink according to the seasons. During the dry period between November and May, it drains back into the Mekong River.

During the monsoon, the river reverses its flow and swells the lake by five-fold to around 16,000 sq km. The surrounding plains are flooded but the riverside communities have adapted to it, as they have for thousands of years. So to embark on this vovage one needs to go with the flow, literally. Now is the time!

Riverside Mosque

Riverside Mosque

My voyage begins at Phnom Penh. A majestic white mosque comes into view as the boat chugs its way.

River Life

River Life

Villages lined the long river and many are accessible only by boat.

Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve

Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve

The annual flooding changes the landscape and supports a diverse but delicate eco-system. Endangered wildlife such as birds, otters, crocodiles, turtles and other animals can be seen on the mangroves.

Father & Son Team

Father & Son Team

With a little help, it’s time to fish. Fishing for sustenance and livelihood is a primary activity during this period.

In The Middle Of Tonle Sap

In The Middle Of Tonle Sap

Dead center in the lake, the atmosphere is almost eerie. It is like being in the middle of the ocean with no coastline visible except the water is almost still here.

Reaching Siem Reap

Reaching Siem Reap

Near Siem Reap (and Angkor Wat), there is a lot of traffic again. Boats zig-zag in our path and locals jump between boats casually.

Satellite View Of Tonle Sap:
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All pictures photographed with the Olympus E-3 by & © TV Smith

Coming soon: Bus Ride From Phnom Penh To Saigon!