Industrious Ants

Mar 22nd, 2007 by

Industrious Ants

RUFA south 04

Or should that be ‘industrial’? From Phnom Penh Royal University of Fine Art’s sculpture exhibition area. (South Campus).

Tags:,

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Getting Out the Vote

Mar 21st, 2007 by

Getting Out the Vote

commune elections

Above: one of many local candidate slates taped up as Cambodia gets ready to vote for commune elections. (April 1st, 2nd and 3rd. This one’s from Funcinpec.)

Loudspeaker trucks wind their way through the streets as the pace of campaigning picks up. Even some Wats are getting into the act, according to this Radio Free Asia broadcast. (55:30 minutes in.)
http://streamer1.rfa.org/archive/KHM/KHM-2007-0321-1830.mp3

And that’s not the only Wat wackiness going on – in Ratanakiri, a one-time proposition to allow gambling inside the grounds of a temple was quickly quashed. (Same podcast/broadcast, 37:00).

Tags:,

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Comfort Food

Mar 17th, 2007 by

Comfort Food
Pyonyang PP
From the Asia Times article on Pyongyang Cold Noodle restaurant: “In 1993, when Sihanouk was officially reinstalled as the king of Cambodia, he surrounded himself in the civil-war-torn country with people he knew he could trust – North Korean bodyguards.”

These bodyguards have been seen on occasion at ‘Pyongyang’, looking just a tad homesick. Could you blame them?

There are now three ‘Pyongyang‘ restaurants in Cambodia; Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, and the latest in Sihanoukville.

Asia Times http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/IC15Ae01.html
Commentary at Phnomenon, DAS
http://delicious.com/slugdog/pyongyang

Tags:,,

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Paging Cambodian Banks

Mar 16th, 2007 by

Paging Cambodian Banks

proverb_03

Wouldn’t you like to have something like this hanging in your office?

A Khmer proverb:
Someone who is dumb may live for hundred years, but it is not better one day in the life of someone who is truly intelligent. No wonder the old guy looks grumpy.

The text above the proverb and in the geometric patterns is Pali, phoneticized into Khmer, as part of a good luck charm blessed by monks. The piece was developed by art teacher Tor Vutha, of Phare Art School.

proverb_01

His observation (as he explains above:) why is it Cambodians draw good luck signs on dollar bills, rather than showing the same respect to Khmer money?

neang_khanin

Also in keeping with his theme of good luck charms, here’s a cool representation of Neang Khanin. At Centre Culturel Français right now, give it a look!

Tags:,,

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Down the Road

Mar 15th, 2007 by

Down the Road

Cambodia gets a bad rap on numerous scorecards – in the case of activism, I’ve heard Khmers and foreigners alike complain that Cambodians are reluctant to ‘take a stand’ for their rights.
They are, however, willing to walk for them.

A great example of simple, local activism is the Dhamma Yatra – a peace march first begun in 1992, by Venerable Maha Ghosananda.

In 1994, he led the march to Pailin, still Khmer Rouge territory at the time. Further marches walked through post-Khmer Rouge strongholds, and called for peace during times of civil unrest.
Some day, a book about the travels and tales of the Dhamma Yatra needs to be written. Alas, its leader has passed away.

Those who knew him and knew of him may react with sadness. I think those who knew him well might suggest that he is simply traveling further on his path.

Student Site: www.ghosananda.org
Washington Post http://tinyurl.com/2y7824
The Star http://tinyurl.com/2679bl
Buddhanet: http://www.buddhanet.net/masters/maha-gosanada.htm

[Via Mongkol, DAS] Tags:,

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »