Erika Kinetz writes an article about Christmas in Cambodia. Western influence and economic growth have led Khmer teenager to say that “We love Christmas. It’s cool”.
As Cambodia’s economy has grown, so too has the nation’s fascination with this most Western of holidays. Employees at Phnom Penh’s favorite mall, the Sorya shopping center, donned fuzzy red and white Santa hats this week.
Blogger Andy Brouwer introduces two new books on Cambodia: ‘Images of Cambodia’ and ‘Bun’s Story - Tomorrow I’m Dead’.
Dutch photographer and artist Eric de Vries loves Asia and you can see that love in his photographic books, one of which, Images of Cambodia was published by Cleartrails last year. The 200-page book has de Vries’ black & white and colour photos taken between 2000-2005 and includes the complete series from his 2005 exhibitions in Phnom Penh and the Netherlands.
Bun’s Story - Tomorrow I’m Dead
…is first book, Bun’s Story - Tomorrow I’m Dead, tells the story of the Khmer Rouge takeover and how it affected the fifteen year old Bun from Pailin, who later became a freedom fighter before his flight to the States via the Philippines.
Travel writer Andy Broewer posted a press release on a to-be-published Cambodia guidebook, ‘To Cambodia with Love‘. As an editor himself, he’s been working with many people living and traveling throughout Cambodia. Some interesting travel notes from these people will be compiled for the new guidebook, one that differs from many others that include recommended hotels, restaurants, and places to visits.
The editor of To Cambodia With Love will be…me! For the last few months, I’ve been badgering a lot of people, all of whom live in or have travelled extensively throughout – and are all united in their love of – Cambodia. My desire is to produce a guidebook that reflects that love and affection in every one of its pages. Watch this space for more news of this exciting and unique guidebook.
Chel & Sois posted an entry titled Special “Tuk-Tuk” Greetings !!!. In the post, the blogger featured a video clip of a trip on Tonle Sap, South-East Asia’s largest freshwater lake.
To be a little more specific, Tonle Sap is actually a combination of a lake and a river system. This is system is very important to Cambodia because the lake massively floods each year (it swells from a mere 2700 square km to approximately 16000 square km) during the Monsoon (rain season). The flood creates an enormous habitat for countless species of fish to spawn thus providing the Cambodians with a doorstep seafood buffet.
sailorjes at ‘the offseason’ writes about a trip of “off the beaten path” to the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Sanctuary.
The sandy road leading up to the wildlife sanctuary was lined with beggars and weird men in 8-foot tall Carnivale-esque costumes. We arrived to a place that was dusty and brown, with little separating it from the surrounding flatlands. Entrance cost $5, exorbitant in Cambodia, especially when the locals only had to pay $1. At the entrance to the zoo, children selling bamboo hats and fruit swarmed around us and, for the rest of our time there, we were followed by the same children trying to sell us either coconuts or their guide services.
Asked by his foreign classmate about Khmer wedding, Cambodian blogger Mongkol has an answer in his version as follow:
One of the most important rituals in a Cambodian’s life is their wedding. A proper Khmer wedding is very colorful and filled with ceremonies and celebrations. It can last from as short as one morning to as long as three days and nights, depending on the financial situation and social status of the bride and groom’s families.
A Khmer American at oudam.com writes about his upcoming trip to Cambodia from the United States of America. After his family left Cambodia as refugees to settle in the U.S. in 1981, this will be his seventh trip back to his family’s home country. Yet, he sees Cambodia a second-home.
On my first trip back to Cambodia I really did not know what to expect. Since I left at the age of just nine years old, my memory of Srok Khmer was at best limited to bits and pieces of events that took place in the Killing Fields. I could recall being hungry and having to work all the time, but I could remember very few details about our whereabouts or what was happening around us.
Photoblogger at mythicaldude has a series of interesting pictures of his trip to Udong, Cambodia’s capital city between 1618 and 1866. With this link, you will be able to meet some people of Cambodian Muslim community.
While I certianly enjoyed the magnificent vista from the beautiful new pagoda at the top of 509 steps, my main mission for the day was to visit Cham (Cambodian Muslim) communities in the Udong vicinity. There were a group of white-clad Buddhist pilgrims praying at the temple when I arrived.
Other photo of Phnom Udong can also be found here, by Stefan at Cambodia Log.
There are two separate buildings on this hill top. The one to the right looks like a temple, but it is a mosque. I remember reading an excellent text by William Collins about the Chams in Cambodia. Chams are a Muslim minority, successors of the Kingdom of Champa which used to exist on the territory of today’s Vietnam. Among other things, Williams reports that Udong is a spiritual and religious centre where the language and culture of the Chams is maintained and preserved today.
Taking two years and half to travel the world, ednaims have just made their way to Cambodia from Thailand.
After a wonderful week or so in Northern Thailand it was time to head south and on to Cambodia. With time running out, and our weary bodies craving some relaxing beach time we decided in a very quick “in-and-out” visit of Cambodia. Well, quick might not be the best way to describe the epic series of buses, tuk-tuks, more buses, pick-up trucks and then yet more buses we took to finally get to Angkor Wat. All in all it was a 36hr journey, and the last 6-7 hours were spent riding the most bone-rattling road I can remember!! Needles to say Aimee developed the mandatory cases of the sh!ts about 30mins before the trip, just to make it that little bit more uncomfortable.
Say that Cambodians are more Cambodian, and more about nationalism. 24 year-old Makara Kao brought an issue of Angkor Wat, once listed in the 7 wonders in the world, to the online world. The young folk asked:
After reading the FAQs at new 7 wonders website. A question just came up in my head. “Will Angkor Wat (Cambodia) be one of the new 7 wonders” in the world?