Take Back the Tech Click for more details on this two week campaign. Thanks to Channa for help with Khmer design! Tags: Cambodia,gender,technology

Selected Contemporary Khmer Literature Reyum Institute will launch its new book on Friday, December,1st 2006 at 9:00 AM. Reyum: #47, st. 178, Phnom Penh, Cambodia (near the National Museum). http://www.reyum.org [from 'What's On'] Tags: Cambodia

Memorial Service A memorial service was held for Sabine Trannin today at Wat Langka, Phnom Penh. Many friends and co-workers were present at the ceremony which included Buddhist monks and a Christian priest. Tags: Cambodia

Music for Machines If you're game for 'Khmer Music 101', Arne Sahlen and RUFA professors and students are reprising their popular Canada Day show, presented in Khmer and English. Classic forms of both Khmer and Western music are showcased. All money goes to the Cambodia Support Group's repair shop projects. 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm Friday 24, at Russian Cultural Centre. Admission is free, donations encouraged. [From What's On] Tags: Cambodia

In Memoriam Sabine Trannin passed away early this morning, at 7 AM. She was twenty six and left us far before her time. I heard the news at lunch time and came to her office. A space had been set up where small offerings could be made and incense was lit. Many staff and friends were there, sitting in small groups, some talking, others sitting quietly. In a gathering like this people tread carefully, trying to show respect for the sorrow of others, carrying their own grief as best they can. Some food was laid out, and I awkwardly gathered a plate. I found I had no sense of taste, no appetite. My stomach was knotted up like a fist. Still in a state of shock and disbelief, I simply wasn’t in the everyday world. A list was passed around so people could write their contact information for the funeral. Living and working with Cambodians I’ve heard some tragic stories. They can emerge suddenly out of an ordinary conversation - a language lesson, a work discussion. After, the speaker sometimes questions aloud how they manage to carry on. It’s a rhetorical question. They answer themselves: Usually there’s a small pause - and an effort to get back to the world of ordinary life, the quotidian. The speaker changes the topic, or gets up to wash some dishes, or shuffles some papers and resumes work. Because they’re alive. By the simple actions they do, they carry on. The sum total of these can add up to extraordinary results. Sabine had been director of Bophana Center for two years. Her enthusiasm and energy were infectious, and drew many others to become involved in its vital project of archiving, documentation and research. It was gratifying to see the organization rapidly develop from a concept to a three story center, full of busy staffers working on vital projects. At about 2 PM a framed picture of her arrived for the memorial display. Somehow seeing the portrait verified it, validated what I didn’t want to believe. The familiar face was now not just an image but a record, an icon. She had entered the realm of history and documentation that she had strived to improve. Twenty-six years is a short time to make a mark on the world. But Sabine truly left a legacy. And those of us remaining in the world of the ordinary can show our affection, admiration, and respect by carrying this work forward. As demonstrated by our own small efforts, from day to day. Tags: cambodia,cinema

Bits and Bobs, Bits of Blogs: Cambodia in Chicago Writes up a Brazil-Cambodia cultural exchange. Cool Pix! http://tonlesap.typepad.com/cambochicago/2006/11/upcoming_events.html Camwhoring Cambodia - photoblog & trip chronicle. http://camwhoresincambodia.blogspot.com Hot Cup of Joe - why does looting look so similar all the world over? http://hotcupofjoe.blogspot.com/2006/11/stolen-and-looted-cultural-history.html Fashion Incubator Overview of labor relations in Cambodia. All in the name of style. http://www.fashion-incubator.com/mt/archives/better_factories_in_.html Village Motoman http://www.seapabkk.org/newdesign/fellowshipsdetail.php?No=246 Old article, good summary - I wonder if this is still continuing? Hmm, someone got a fellowship to write this. Tags: Cambodia

BETTY FORD AND GT FALCONS Some advance notice this time, so you've got no excuse not to show up. Saturday November 25 @ Rock Bar, #49 Street 86 Phnom Penh. 9 PM until late, free entry. More about Cambodia's current rock and roll scene at Mr. Khmerang's page: http://www.khmerang.com/cambodiarocks.php [More events at What's On] Tags: cambodia,rock+and+roll

Saturday started off with a march to Wat Phnom as Forum Asia finished their 'Human Rights Defenders Forum'. I'd met Claire and the Wide-Eyed Documentaries team the previous evening and we worked up a sweat trying to get some good photos and film. (Marco: "If you trip, don't fall on the camera!) The Indonesians and Malaysians seemed right into the march; they seem to have more experience at this sort of thing. There were a few undercover police watching (not that hard to spot). Somewhere along the way an elephant joined us. By then most apprehensions had gone and everyone was pretty upbeat. 2. Sweaty, tired, I went back home and spent a few hours puzzling over comics fonts. Looks like I may have to develop a new Khmer handwritten style font somewhere down the line. Kind of like what the KhmerOS project has done, but a little more stylized. Westerners prefer organic looking fonts for comic art, but the general Khmer cartoon consensus so far is that computery = cool. 3. After a few hours of eyestrain I called it a night and went to Vandy Rattana's exhibition at Le Popil. The black and white photos had a real timeless quality to them, and it was nice to see a good turnout for this show. (Above: Rattana talks with a guest.) Stefan was proudly touting the opening of 'Popil Snack'! Also ran into Café Dantrey's Sarah, and soon I hope to have an interview about the radio show. 4. After eight pretty much everyone headed over to see Dy Saveth's show. Yours truly and the Wide Eyed crew were in a 'food mood' but couldn't miss out on the show. And beer has carbohydrates, yes? Beer is food. We were joined by a writer friend from the States who was more wisely pacing herself with fruit juice, and by showtime the place was pretty packed with a mixed batch of people. Dy Saveth came on at about 8:30 and was joined by Leang Seckon, you can see the gig review here: http://andybrouwer.blogspot.com/2006/11/dy-saveth-back-on-stage.html (above: Leang Seckon, Dy Saveth.) (Drag show closed off the evening.) By 11:30 we stumbled out for a pizza and chewed over an eventful day. Tags: Cambodia,human+rights,music,photography

'Looking in my Office' is an exhibition by Cambodian photographer Vandy Rattana.

Opening party Saturday 18th November, 6.30pm.

Popil PhotoGallery 126, street 19 - Phnom Penh, Cambodia Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 7pm.

012 99 27 50 www.lepopil.com

[from What's On] Tags: Cambodia,visual+art

'Life on the Khmer Railways' Drawings and Paintings by Srey Bandole at The Art House (upstairs at Warehouse) in Siem Reap Monday November 20th 6.30-8.30pm www.thearthousesiemreap.com (And congratulations to Bandole on his recent wedding!) [from What's On] Tags: Cambodia,visual+art

Reflections from the Camera Lens Elizabeth Briel shares some great student pictures and personal thoughts as she looks back on her year teaching photography in Cambodia. Go and read: http://elizabethbriel.blogspot.com Tags: Cambodia,photography

Liquid Lunch New Phnom Penh gallery Salaa Art gets a mention in today's Cambodia Daily. Sculpture from the 'Peace of Art' crew and more.... Paintings galore... An addendum: in addition to the art, there's food! Salaa Art is home to the 'Soup Kitchen' which has coffee, tea, and some cheap tasty offerings. My favorite so far is the carrot soup. With prices like this I'll be curious to see what kind of clientele it attracts. How to get there? Above 'Mekong Web' (go in and up three flights of stairs) at 339 E2 Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh. Just between Special Happy Pizza and Fast Net. Open every day (except Sundays) from 8am to 10pm. Tags: Cambodia,visual+art

Polish Film Week After checking out the music at Russian Cultural Centre this last weekend I found out that it's Polish film week! Far out. Think about it; how often do you get the chance to see a free Krzystof Kieslowski film? Much less a screening of the entire Decalogue? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Decalogue If you can handle public television? Give it a go. I believe the films will be subtitled in English but can't guarantee it. http://www.yellowpages-cambodia.com/community/cultural-organisations/russian-centre-of-science-and-culture-1098.html And if you don't like it, there are sports pubs and bubble tea places within a two minute motodop ride's distance. Definitely one of the things I like about Phnom Penh; the simple, the surreal and sublime are all within reach.

*musicMusicMUSIC!* B E N E F I T S H O W to aid training and jobs for disabled people Arne Sahlen & friends - ragtime, classical, jazz; Khmer traditional music; Sin Sisamuth songs and more - displays, photos, stories of peoples lives transformed by the KAVTV electric-electronic course for men and women with disabilities at the RUSSIAN CULTURAL CENTRE, 103 Norodom Blvd, north of Independence Monument SATURDAY, NOV 11 - 2 shows, 3:30 and 6:00 pm *ADMISSION BY DONATION* Co-sponsored by Canada’s CAMBODIA SUPPORT GROUP 016-722021; csg [at] cyberlink.bc.ca - - - - Enjoy exciting, varied music to aid training and jobs for the disabled, with pianist-singer Arne Sahlen & friends, including National School and Royal University musicians headed by the highly esteemed Mr. Soy Sareth. musicMusicMUSIC takes place Saturday November 11 at the Russian Cultural Centre, 103 Norodom (two blocks north of Independence Monument) - two shows, 3:30 & 6 pm; Admission by donation. The concert format, combining many styles of music, is a big hit here. After a similar July event, listener Naly wrote: “...most of all, the audience greatly appreciated the mixing of classical music, ragtime/ jazz music, Cambodian traditional music, Cambodian/Italian opera and Canadian folk music together.. ? the show will surely be appreciated by Cambodians and foreigners of all ages. Thank you again, this was one of the most enjoyable evenings I've had in many years. Congratulations and many thanks.” KAVTV’ss electrical-electronic training gives hope, skills and employment aid to people with polio, club foot amputations, and other disabilities. Its 90%+ success rate beats that of many programs worldwide. Graduates work in companies like JVC, Sony and Camintel, or open their own repair shops in many provinces as well as in Phnom Penh. Three marriages are counted among recent graduates. With new skill and economic clout, they can take full part in Khmer society. KAVTV Director Hem Phang has great vision and heart for his students. Himself an amputee, he keeps track of them all as they make their success in life. Canada’s Cambodia Support Group (CSG), the concert co-sponsor, is a proud partner of KAVTV. "This is one of the very best projects I have seen in 16 Cambodia visits," says Arne, a CSG Director. "I spend lots of time at the school, and we just forget disabilities in its lively climate of ABILITY carried on waves of laughter and learning." For more concert or KAVTV details, contact 016-722021 or csg [via] cyberlink.bc.ca [from What's On]

It's a bird, it's a plane... it's a bird. But not just any bird - Supermoeun, 'Superchicken', the anti-bird flu mascot that appears in pamphlets and animated commercials. Rough translation: "Only you can prevent Bird Flu", "Keep Cambodia free of Bird Flu". Tags: Cambodia, bird+flu,avian+flu

"Memories - 1938 to 1954" Exhibition Well, it's Independence Day in Cambodia and people are celebrating with Independence Day cakes, parties and the like. (Well, not really. Most people are just enjoying a day off.) If you want to get a little history about this holiday, you could try dropping by Svay Ken's place. As a younger man he used to work at 'Le Royal' hotel - last night he was the honored guest at a reception to mark the opening of his new exhibition. Now at first floor, #17E1 Street 47 ('French Street'), Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh. (Close to Wat Phnom). 012 382 511. "Memories - 1938 to 1954" shows his recollections of French Protectorate and pre-independence times. Particularly fascinating are his descriptions of serving in the nationalist 'Chivapol' troops that trained with wooden sticks as guns, due to lack of resources. His written recollections of this time won him an award in the Nou Hach Literary Journal. (Above: Colonial troops surrender weapons to Chivapol troops.) It's well worth a look, bringing a personal view on a very specific moment in time. (Also showing once again that Svay Ken is one of the hardest working Khmer painters you can find.) [Images courtesy Svay Ken, all rights reserved] Tags: Cambodia,painting,history,khmer

Buy Cambodian Products Trade Fair

I brought my aging brick of a digital camera to this weekend's Trade Fair to see what I could find. The noonday sun's heat helped me get some pictures of the booths without too many people. (And a small sunburn.) Click to enlarge any photo. In contrast to May's Provincial Expo, this trade fair included a fair number of international companies looking to expand their markets. Looks like a whole heap of groups were involved in setting this one up.
Ok, let's check it out!	Stone carvings	The Buddhist Institute patiently endured a stand of public toilets as well as a tractor display.
A beauty school with an expert so good he can cut your hair blindfolded. (Not that it's standard practice...)	Confirel, purveyor of Cambodian-made booze. I've used many a bottle as a duty-free gift for overseas visitors.	The biggest traffic at high noon was a humble earring stand.
'Feel Right' Tea helps you get 'loose'.	Healthy Chef? More like 'Scary Chef'! This picture, at least.	Not my beverage of choice. Spy, why?
Quite a bit of curiosity here. "Taiwan King Master Coconut Jelly".	'Crocodile Tail Drink'? Do tell. Not sure if this is local.	Industrial containers, anyone?
PSI in the unofficial 'NGO row' at the back. (They're not an NGO but are mighty tight with 'em.) Funded by an erotic novelties company in the States, their hope is more people having healthy sex = a bigger market for condoms and related items.	New Enterprise Creation Program. Hmm.	999 Bakery. Mmm.
More bakery action	Now here's a great niche specialty store. Not only are babies smart, they say the darnedest things.	Bubble Tea. This guy was real enthused to have his picture taken. (Just 'cause I'm a barang doesn't mean I'm the press!)
Gold Bear Beer with obligatory soundtrack.	Hagar Soya couldn't give their samples away fast enough.	You want industrial containers? You got 'em, right here.
Jade Beer. Not the noisiest booth.	KC Solar. Intriguing. "The Power of Life"	'Sraa Tukraluk' - 'alcohol mixed' = Khmer cocktail.
The Night Owls from Spark Nightclub came out to squint in the sunlight and sell their CDs.	Vitamilk, a Thai product. (Cheers Mongkol for correction!)	Obligatory whitening cream booth. Dark skin = manual labor. So people tend to value a paler look whenever possible.
Peace Book Center	Award for loudest and most obnoxious sound system goes to 'Blue Ice' Beer. Ouch!
Brought to you by Phnom Penh Small and Medium Industry Association (PSMIA), GTZ, USAID, Cambodia MSME, RSK, Hi-Tech, HR. Inc., Yellow Pages Cambodia, and one or two others I couldn't make out... It was fun to see and I and wish I'd had more time to go over the whole scene more thoroughly. Did you go? You're welcome to share your comments, corrections, observations via email or comment. Looking for more Khmer goodies? Try http://www.khmerproducts.com.

Tags: Cambodia,trade

Feel Right A hectic Water Festival with some out-of-town guests and gifts to boot! Had a great deal of fun shooting loads of pictures, people watching, - and product watching. (below) The Khmer text on top attempts to transcribe 'Feel Right Tea' into Khmer. There is no 'f' in the Cambodian alphabet so it's usually approximated with a 'ha' symbol and a 'w' subscript. Great Photoshop job on 'before' and 'after', yes? If you think the claims are a bit extravagant you should see some of the traveling medicine shows (much like the old Stateside variety) that make the rounds in the countryside. Stay tuned for more pictures from the Nov. 4-6 Trade Expo. Tags: Cambodia,tea

Voices from the past When I began this blog back in 2002 the internet autobahn was frighteningly slow. I never thought I'd be sharing big files like *film clips*. But that's what I'm doing today. If you have a fast enough connection, just click to view. Click below for trailer for 'Don't Think I've Forgotten' (documentary) http://dontthinkiveforgotten.com And 'The Golden Voice' (Docudrama) http://www.thegoldenvoicemovie.com Loving the historical footage in that first trailer, can't wait to see more! Tags: Cambodia,cinema

Odds and Ends A few bits and pieces prior to the insanity of Water Festival. *If New York is the Big Apple, what is Phnom Penh? The big Sawmaw? Suggestions? *Phnom Penh based Betty Ford and the GT Falcons have additions and subtractions keeping them busy. More @ What's On. *Big trouble in 'Little Phnom Penh'? From the Long Beach Press-Telegram: "Cambodia Town" is on hold for further evaluation. I've got a number of mixed thoughts on this one. http://www.presstelegram.com/search/ci_4534802 http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_4545709 *This looks like a Japanese-language Cambodia related blog portal. Hmm... http://www.angkor-ruins.com/blogs/blogs.htm Babelfish English translation: http://tinyurl.com/vqj9r Tags: Cambodia

Festival Extra In conjunction with the Water Festival (November 4th, 5th and 6th), there will be an exposition of 'Made in Cambodia' products at the same time. If it's anything like May's provincial expo (picture above) this should be lots of fun. Some more info about local commerce at http://www.khmerproducts.com (The site was done by volunteers, go team!) Doesn't seem to have any info about upcoming expo though. (check out Saonarath's summary of Water Festival in link above!) Tags: Cambodia,commerce,business

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