I'm moving office. Meanwhile, here's some discussion on Nhek Dim, Uth Roeun and Vann Molyvann

Literary Life Nou Hach Literary Awards happened today, one of our shortest and most productive meetings yet. There are some cities that are renowned for literature, why not Phnom Penh? Today there weren't enough seats for the crowd. I can see there are a lot of contending ideas about just what literature is, and how it should be presented. Sounds like some interesting things will appear in the next printed journal. Our guest was Malaysian author K.S. Maniam (who writes in English) and I'm off to read his book. Apparently in Malaysia, most literary competitions are in Malay, and authors writing in English, Chinese or Tamil are more marginalized. But (and I'm envious here) it's a much more literate country. Want to try something new? Here's a free sample. http://www.kakiseni.com/articles/features/MDcwMw.html If any copies are available in Phnom Penh, I'll post an update. Tags: Cambodia,Malaysia

Oh No, Fido! Following Phil's post on yummy Chinese noodles, my stomach growled. I headed over to my favorite noodle/dumpling spot for lunch. There is a whole street of noodle places near the Psaa Thmei (New/Central Market) so you're presented with a number of choices. And once you're inside, you've got a diverse menu to navigate. I went for the pork fried noodles. Arteriosclerosis, here I come. About a decade ago, my Stateside workmates and I were leaving the office to go get some Asian food. One of the group commented, "I just worry they're going to cut up a dog or a cat. You don't know what they're doing in the back of the restaurant." Thoughtless. What are you saying, the menu is a lie and we'll be served whatever strays near the kitchen, be it Spot or Fido? I bit my tongue. Food and restaurants are pretty strictly regulated in the USA, to the point where inspection notices must be prominently displayed. Dog is not on the menu, and against the law. Fast forward to 2005. I'm visiting friends in Battambang, at an impromptu farewell dinner outside of town. An animal's being roasted on a spit, and someone hands me a meaty bone. "What is it? I ask. "Dog. " I think for about two seconds and commence eating. It's not bad, reminiscent of goat in this instance. The dog was from the neighborhood, and had died of old age so it was a little thin and stringy. My friend grinned, knowing this was new for me. "Cat is good too. There's also rat." He's a former refugee who lived for years at Site Two camp on the Thai border. Eating dog has a lot more to do with poverty and necessity than cuisine. Generally speaking, in Asia? I wouldn't make a habit of it, but some have acquired a taste. South Korea banned dog meat, a popular soup ingredient, but the law isn't strongly enforced. We'll see about cat and rat, I'm not in a hurry. Crickets with garlic are a treat. It's all about context. You'll rarely find a Hindu running a hamburger stand. Tags: Cambodia,cuisine

Tags: Cambodia

In the Press There are a lot of new magazines I'm noticing on the stands. Mostly about lifestyle, and there's a surprising number about mobile phones. And that's not all. In the aftermath of the pageant, it seems Soben Huon's star has yet to fade in Cambodia... "Over it!" says her weblog, as she carries on her post-pageant duties as Miss Utah. Tags: Cambodia

Classical Music Cambodia The previous weekend, rock and roll. And for a complete change of pace, The Foundation for the Advancement of Western Classical Perfoming Arts presents: Johann Baptiste Wendling - Ignaz Joseph Pleyel - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Saturday, 17 June, 7pm Raffles Hotel Le Royal Empress Room http://www.sangsalapak.org.kh/whatson/2006/06/mozart-his-contemporaries.html Eight bucks a ticket. It's not cheap but I'd do it again. There is a small contingent of students at RUFA trained in classical western music, often via professors who trained in eastern bloc countries in the 1980s. I'll have to find out more about this group. In other news we seem to have cracked the WFMU Khmer music challenge: Thanks to Samphos and Vuth in our office we have some names: 1. Chang sdap bot pleng noe neaq - (I) want to listen to pop music - DJ Lux + Kim Leakena 2. Chakralek DJ - Poke the DJ - DJ Lux + Kim Leakena 3. Proh anjaret - Boy (of poor character) - Kim Leakena 4. Chuep neak mien vibak snae - Meet person with love problem (in context of radio call-in show) - Kim Leakena 5. (Final Countdown background music ) Unknown, love song lyrics - Pich Sophea Tags: Cambodia

Let's Get Installed

On 17th June 2006, KhmerOS will make a small event called Installation Party at its office from 8:00AM to 17:00PM. Everyone are welcome to this party together with their computer to get Khmer software installed. Not only about installing software, we would also like to invite you to visit our place. It has been a very long time that we contact each other only via the internet. We have no chance to see each other.

You’ll enjoy some light food and drink (not beer, of cause) together with some souvenir.

======= KhmerOS office (Open Forum of Cambodia); House 245, Street 51 (Pasteur) , Phnom Penh

http://www.khmeros.info/drupal/?q=en/node/745

Tags: Cambodia

In Search of Khmer Hip Hop Part 5 A- Ping has a new album out, and he wants to share. Downloadable music at the link below. http://www.boeungkaplhaok.com/ http://khmer.cc/community/t.c?b=12&t=32365 (Cheers to Phatry for the writeup!) Tags: Cambodia, hiphop

Ghost Stories Is it just me, or is every theatre in Phnom Penh showing horror films? Most of the cinemas are forgoing the painted advertisments of one-two years ago for photoshopped kitsch art. It's a little sad to see this form of advertising changing. I have to admit though, the prospect of being turned into a crocodile never looked so attractive. Tags: Cambodia

Books and Music This last weekend we had our marathon four hour Annual General Meeting of the Federation for the Development of the Book Sector in Cambodia. There's a lot going on, including

• 'Good Books' TV program on TVK,
• A research visit to Thailand to meet the publishing community
• A move to a new headquarters in the Ministry of Education's Distribution department
• Reports from our many committees and subcommittees
• 'Komik Cambodia' exchange

I've got a soft spot for book people. It's easy to be bookish in a developed, literate country. In Cambodia? You have to struggle more to be culturally literate, and I admire those who have survived times of censorship to emerge as writers and publishers. And coming up on the 24th? Another annual meeting, this time of the Nou Hach Literary Journal. If you care to look there are heaps of literary groups in Cambodia. I would like to see some more translation. Many of the poems and stories from the Journal have been serialized in Koh Santapheap newspaper. We finish the meeting - just in time for a massive downpour of rain! My 5 year old motorcycle needs to 'dry out' before it starts. If it was a horse, it might be time to put it out to pasture. I push it down Norodom through some drizzle and stop for some food. I'm a bit drained, feeling completely nonverbal, and spend some time sketching a comic. By the time I'm finished eating and drawing I give my moto another try and the engine turns over. I go home intending to review a proposal and do some other work, and then think, fuck it. I'm wet and tired, I could do with some rock and roll. And a new Khmer band, the "Sub Students", are playing over at Snow's with Betty Ford and the GT Falcons. Dodgy moto or not, that would fit the bill just fine. I call my social coordinator Jane for directions, toss on some fresh clothes and zoom off across the Japanese Bridge. Cool, pals Steffi and Kirsten are there! One Beer Lao later, I run into Matt of the Falcons. Alas, it seems that the Sub-Students are indeed students, and sometimes must nod to the fact that they have multiple responsiblities. So the headliners take to the stage and shake the rafters. Like 'The I Love You' band? You'll love this one. Here's 30 seconds of blurry video courtesy digital camera. (Anyone else got pictures to share?) http://www.archive.org/download/bfordgtfalcons_snows01/bfordgtfalcons_snows.MPG Been keeping Khmer hours of late (6am start) so I don't stay for the whole set. It's my loss. Here's hoping I can catch both the Falcons and Sub-Students again in the near future. It's a great closing to a crazy day. Tags: Cambodia

The Political Economy of Aid, Governance, and Policy-Making: Cambodia in Global, National, and Sectoral Perspectives"

by Sophal Ear: 1.8 meg PDF file, English.

 

WMFU Radio in New York is asking for help in identifying Khmer MP3s. Can anyone help 'Beware of the Blog'?

Buy me a vowel Looking at the current crop of adwords, there are times I'm glad I'm not 'one of Google's bitches', as a friend puts it. I've been ad free since 2002. But it's not too late to sign up. Has anyone gotten actual money from them, I wonder? Could provide an incentive to blog; even small increments count more in Camboland.

Rainy Season Scenes from a sudden downpour, May 30. People were more amused than dismayed. By far the most succesful vehicle on the waterlogged streets? Your friendly Cyclo man. Ride above the water and avoid splashing others. Tags: Cambodia

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