Cambodia Sets Oct. 15 as the Condolence Day for Late King-Father
The Royal Government of Cambodia decided to set Oct. 15 as the condolence day to mourn for the demise of the Late King-Father Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, according to a government’s directive issued this morning.
The directive advised all ministries, public and private institutions, overseas Cambodian embassies and consulates, as well as sub-national administrations at all levels and pagodas across the country to hold solemn traditional ceremonies on Oct. 15 with a tribute to the revered former King.
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Cambodia To Cancel This Year’s Water Festival
The Royal Government of Cambodia has announced to cancel this year’s celebration of the Water Festival scheduled to be held from Nov. 27-29 in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.
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Dish: Breakfasts first kingdom
Breakfast: the most important meal of the day. But in the Kingdom of Wonder breakfast can often leave you wondering; when born and bred Phnom Penhites eat their first meal of the day they appear, to expat eyes, to be erroneously chowing down on their evening meal. Rice, noodles, mystery meats – a morning mash-up confusing enough to send even the most adventurous scurrying for the comfortable familiarity of one of the city’s numerous Western coffee shops. A caramel latte, a pain au chocolat, a bit of toast and jam: now that’s breakfast. It will also cost you about $10, thank you very much.
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My brother's killer
‘On the afternoon of the 13th, we thought we could hear a boat engine at intervals throughout the afternoon but we couldn’t be sure. Suddenly, a boat came in closer. I was about to go up on deck when the boat opened fire and sent some shots over our mast.’ – Kerry Hamill’s journal, August 13 1978.
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The ESL Scene in Cambodia – Part 2: Soft Landings, Getting a Job (and Keepin’ Your Sanity)
Soft Landings
Like most westerners who end up staying in Cambodia, I showed up with little to no plan of action, or much cash at all to speak of. If I wanted to experience life in the tropics of Asia, I was going to need to eventually find some work. Eventually was the key word when I first arrived. I had just left Korea after six years on the lam from post-university life responsibilities in the Korean ESL Machine. I was a well-seasoned classroom rodeo clown by the time I rolled into Phnom Penh. “If you can hack it in Korea, you can hack it anywhere,”
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New generation of Cambodian teenagers discovers telephone sex
PHNOM PENH (Cambodia Herald) - Seth Bunsath describes some of the language used when having telephone sex with his girlfriend. "Lip to lip, tongue to tongue ... rolling my tongue from her neck to her ear.”
Is it a new style? It may be for some, but Seth Bunsath said he's been engaging in telephone sex with his girlfriend for about five years already.
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Foreigners 'step over the line' by taking part in protests
PHNOM PENH (Cambodia Herald) - Foreigners 'step over the line' by taking part in local political protests as some reportedly did this week, a self-described long-term Western observer of Cambodia says.
Referring to a photo reportedly showing a Western woman in a headband with Cambodian protestors including children on Wednesday, blogger Casey Nelson says
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Release of 13 Cambodian Women a 'Victory for their Community'
Human Rights Organization Renews its Call on Authorities to Overturn 'Baseless' Convictions
(Washington, D.C.) -- Amnesty International said today the decision by Cambodia's Appeal Court to release 13 women imprisoned for peacefully protesting is a victory for their community, but called for their convictions to now be overturned.
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The fireflies of Kampot
The waters of the Kampot River lapped at the sides of our long-tailed boat as we made our way north in search of one of nature's tiny nocturnal wonders.
The Kampot is full of fresh water in the river this time of year (in an interesting quirk of nature, the river running from Kep to Kampot and to the north is fresh water for six months, and salt water for the rest of the year), which means the phytoplankton aren't in the water to offer passersby a waterborne light show.
Not to worry. The fireflies are in charge of the night's entertainment.
Snow on the Tonle Sap
When Australian Aboriginal art meets Angkor, the result is stunning. From within a myriad of perfect dots, a jumble of Hanuman monkey warriors emerge in the shape of a sacred elephant storming to battle, its feet floating on a carpet of flowers and stars. Each flower alone is formed from at least four tiny dots of brightly coloured paint. Ian 'Snow' Woodford's work is even more remarkable because the working class Australian boy from Sydney is colour-blind.