Hiking hack in the land leech area

Posted on February 25, 2026 by smonida

Hiking is amazing and funny. It is one of the popular outdoor activities which help us to release stress, to explore the nature and to do physical exercise. Some people hike regularly during spring and summer. One important thing is to choose where to go hiking? In the mountain or in the forest? Before packing your hiking stuffs, please check carefully the place that you are going to hike.

My experience about hiking place that I hate the most is the places that have land leech! I really don’t like that worm. In Asia, there is a kind of leeches that have been called bloodthirsty land leech. There are plenty of it during rainy season. It is not recommended to hike in that season; you will face a situation at we call crossing the ocean of land leech! If you cannot avoid of going through that forest full of land leech in Asian country, here below are some necessary tools to prevent from it:

Land leech spray you can find it in a pharmacy: use to spray on the leech when it bites you
Water-soaked Tobacco: use it to spray on your clothes, socks, shoes…but not on your skin to prevent the bite from land leech.
Bandage: use to cover on your wound when the leech bites you

In Cambodia, most of famous hiking mountain have plenty of land leeches! Phnom Tompor, Phnom Samkos, Phnom Knang Kropeu, Phnom Knang Veal…

I used to walk from Phnom Knang Kropeu to Phnom Knang Psa crossing the forest of land leech. I walked non-stop from 10am to 4pm 😁😁😁 and with those stuffs above I was successfully passed that forest with no single bite from the land leech.

What Is a Bare Minimum in a Relationship?

Posted on February 25, 2026 by smonida

This phrase “bare minimum” becomes viral in social media in Cambodia after the Valentine’s Day of 2026. There are many different perceptions of it. The fact is the bare minimum in a relationship is vary according to each partner or each couple. For one, it might be daily communication; for another, it’s financial support or shared responsibilities. We can set it upon what we need but remember it is a minimum action effort they can provide each other to maintain their relationship. Keep in mind that the minimum is the foundation, and anything beyond that is a bonus.

I would say here below are some of the common bare minimum standards in a relationship:

Being honest
Being faithful
Communicating
Supporting
Showing empathy

Example 1: When the wife text her husband, if her husband only does the bare minimum, it can feel like he replied but never start the conversation.

Example 2: During Valentine’s Day, women often expect flowers or gifts from their partners. However, Cambodian women, they sometimes forget that in Cambodian culture and history, Valentine’s Day has never traditionally been celebrated, and some Cambodians may have never even heard of it. As a result, many Cambodian men do not realize that they are expected to give flowers, gifts, or make romantic gestures to their spouses, which can lead to frustration and disappointment among women. Some women may think that they don’t even receive a bare minimum care from their men.

Experience of Traveling Alone by Plane

Posted on January 26, 2026 by smonida

Traveling alone by plane is an exciting experience especially when you’re getting old and moreover for a Cambodian. it can be s surprised for some Cambodian people as they normally have never travelled much. In fact it is a self-discovery. From navigating the airport on your own to choosing your seat and managing your time. It makes you feel confident. There are freedom in moving at your own path, getting lost in many attractive shop in the airport. After that you can simply enjoy the environment on the plane while you are surrounding by unknown people. You will become more aware of your surroundings and more confident in your decisions.

It can be a small challenges for your first trip alone such as finding the right gate, handling the delays or having a short conversation with a stranger, finding your seat, waiting for your suitcase and etc. When you arrive at your destination, you arrive with a strong sense of independence, knowing you handle the journey on your own.

I strongly recommend for those who have never tried it before, especially Cambodian ladies.

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Don’t Accept Free Drinks

Posted on May 5, 2025 by smonida

A week day morning when come back home from taking my daughter to school, I saw a book on my laptop. I know that is my husband who put that book and I thought he want me to read it.

Normally I am too lazy to read. I rarely open a book. But for this one I thought it is a gift from my husband after the “Petit Prince” that he gave to me 21 years ago. I start turning the page. I was interested in chapter 6 “Don’t Accept Free Drinks”. I read and discussed it with my husband. We understand that there is no thing in this world is free of charge. When people give us thing, and we accept to take it, meant we are accepting to be in unwillingly in dept. As an example in the book, “Several years ago, a couple invited my wife and me to dinner. We had known this couple casually for quite some time. They were nice but far from entertaining. We couldn’t think of a good excuse to refuse, so we accepted. Things played out exactly as we had imagined: The dinner party was beyond tedious. Nevertheless, we felt obliged to invite them to our home a few months later. The constraint of reciprocity had now presented us with two wearisome evenings. And, lo and behold, a few weeks later, a follow-up invitation from them arrived. I wonder how many dinner parties have been endured in the name of reciprocity, even if the participants would have preferred to drop out of the vicious
cycle years ago“. So if we don’t feel we want to get in that hole, we have to learn how to say “No”.

The wedding Anniversary

Posted on May 5, 2025 by smonida

In dictionary the Wedding Anniversary meant the anniversary of the day on which you were married (or the celebration of it). Does it mean only to remind the date? why should we celebrate it?

Many people may think that is just a waste of time and money in celebrating the wedding anniversary. But I strongly recommend you to put in an effort to make it happen even though your partner seems busy to remember it. The wedding anniversary provides an opportunity to the couple to reflect about their first date they started their journeys of relationship. It is the celebration of the love, the commitment and the shared experiences they do together. It is a perfect opportunity to pause everything and simply enjoy each other’s company. It will help to keep your relationship healthy and strong. Of course we don’t need a high class restaurant or the luxury gift to celebrate it. Only a simple dinner, cook your partner favorite food, eat it together just the two of you and say the sweet word, can make your day already special.

A nice dinner on our 19th wedding anniversary

Braderie in Phnom Penh

Posted on December 10, 2024 by smonida

On Saturday, January 20, 2024, my daughter participated in a heartwarming school event Phnom Penh that encouraged students and their families to declutter and contribute to a sustainable community. The event was a bustling market where children sold items they no longer needed, offering them at very affordable prices. It was more than just a sale; it was an opportunity for students to learn the value of reuse and recycling while fostering a sense of community spirit.