A brief response to the frequent assertion that there isn’t much choice in places to go, things to do or people to meet in Phnom Penh.

I began blogging about things Cambodian in 2002, initially from Siem Reap.

I wrote about nearly everything that took my interest because if I didn’t get it on the web, few else would at the time.* I noticed something after a while: my blog was getting clogged with art and event announcements.

In 2005 I started a simple ‘What’s On’ blog* where I could zap the info directly from email-to-blog. I add tidbits to it as I see fit to this day. As of 2012 there are heaps of gig guides competing for your eyeballs and advertising dollars.

So off the top of my head, here is a list of things you can do besides hanging out in dive bars with ‘crispy’ expats.

Arty Things:

Java Gallery
http://javaarts.org/

SaSaBassac Exhibitions
http://sasabassac.com/

Cambodian Living Arts (check out their ‘Children of the Bassac’ performances)
http://www.facebook.com/Cambodianlivingarts

Sovanna Phum
http://shadow-puppets.org/

Romeet Gallery
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Romeet-Gallery/234387659945905

Tiny Toones
http://www.tinytoones.org/

Bophana Center
http://bophana.org

Meta-House
http://www.meta-house.com/

French Cultural Centre
http://www.meta-house.com/

Smarty Things:

Human Sciences Happy Hours in Phnom Penh
http://hshhpp.pbworks.com/w/page/19665521/Home

TedxPhnomPenh
http://tedxphnompenh.com

BarCamp Phnom Penh
http://2011.barcampphnompenh.org

Nerd Night Phnom Penh
http://www.facebook.com/nerdnightphnompenh

Meetups:

Digital Drinks
http://www.facebook.com/DigitalDrinksPP

Drinks by Design
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Drinks-By-Design/256108197769622

Green Drinks
http://www.greendrinks.org/–/Phnom%20Penh

Phnom Penh Swings (Dance, not partner swapping.)
http://www.pppswings.com

Hash House Harriers
http://www.p2h3.com

Gig Guides

AsiaLife
http://www.asialifeguide.com/

Pocket Guide
http://www.cambodiapocketguide.com/

Expat-Advisory
http://Expat-Advisory.com

Lady Penh
http://ladypenh.com

Leng Pleng
http://www.lengpleng.com

What’s On
http://www.sangsalapak.org.kh/whatson

A very old list of Cambodia-centric sites
http://www.delicious.com/slugdog/forum

As said before, this is a very rough list, there’s a gajillion more. Please to explore and enjoy.

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*This ‘web up everything’ role has been largely taken by friend Andy Brouwer. http://blog.andybrouwer.co.uk/ It’s made me feel more free to be less of a generalist. (For example, last year made a commitment to draw one comic a day at QuickDraw.Me. I highly recommend checking out his blog for a much more accurate view of the cultural landscape.

*Quite possibly the first in-Cambodia ‘What’s On’ blog. Glad to see other folks taking on the challenge.

Well, it made for a snappy title. I should probably say ‘love laughs at the problems and discrimination associated with leprosy’, but I think readers will get the general idea.

With National Culture Day approaching, here’s some sights from the ongoing performances at the Chaktomuk.

This is a dress rehearsal for Kok Thlok Theatre Company, for their presentation of colored shadow puppets (quite rare) “Prah Thin Vong Neng Prah Neang Pov”. (The title of the story is the names of the leading characters.) Boy meets girl. Girl likes boy, but it turns out he’s a leper. (And really a prince in disguise). Her sisters and family shun Neang Pov, hijinks ensue, and prejudice gets the boot.

If the schedule is correct, performance  repeats 8:30 am Sunday. I’ll be curious to see what goes on at ‘La Rue Dance’ @  Wat Botum 6:30pm Sunday evening. (Thanks Andy for the reminder!) http://www.andybrouwer.co.uk/blog/2010/02/street-performance.html

Postscript: The Phnom Penh Post finally gets its act in gear as the festival ENDS:
Folk dance headlines two-week culture fest
Forgotten form of theatre comes out of the shadows

Tags: cambodia,dance,khmer,theatre

Looking for more photo-collage fun? Try www.bobpassion.net

Tags: cambodia,photography,collage,blog

An overcast day in Phnom Penh is perfect cover for what would usually be a short but sweaty procession.

Many of these trucks I’d seen previously at Sihanoukville’s ‘BHOR All-in Art Centre’.

A giant wheelchair? That’s right, ’cause the parade is headed to the Chaktomuk Theatre to kick off the Spotlight Festival: ‘See Ability, not Disability‘.

I’ve got to get a proper copy of this. Cambodia has its own signing vocabulary and alphabet but shares some international signs too.

Toot toot! Don’t miss the boat! Next: the opening ceremony.

Tags: cambodia,arts,festival,exhibition,parade,spotlightfestival