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.

—————————————

*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.

There were no immediate plans to re-broadcast the show…
This should ensure bootleg copies of the naughty opera hit the stands within days.
Like the tempest in a teacup with Reahu, censorship just brings more attention.

Y’aurais tellement de choses à vous raconter d’un coup que j’en
postillone à l’avance…
Laissez moi just’un peu reprendre mon souffle… la pendule à l’heure, les
yeux en face des trous… et, un ptit rembraillage… Car ce fut une sacrée
course… d’endurance…
En y mettant un peu de chrono-logique, je devrais peut être arriver a
vous le conter …
Bhor, fin du bail de trois ans… et la Dernière exagération avant
relocalisation…on avait bien envie de faire vibrer tout ça… puis on
avait ce projet de poubelles, pardon, d’environnement… Et puis non,
finalement …,de poubelles car aucune agence environnementale n’a eu
l’audace d’y mêler son vocabulaire… C’est donc dans une complète liberté
de goût et de couleurs que Bhor à été transformé une promenade
artistique dans l’univers du déchet et du gaspi… dans un pays ou le
recyclage est déjà totalement intégré pour cause de pauvreté…c’est ce
qui ne l’est pas qui nous intéressait, alors nous nous sommes
concentrés 15 jours sur un périmètre de 800 m autour du Bhor , et avons
collecté tout ce qui n’avait pas trouvé repreneur et qui ne puait pas
trop…… bon il faut dire aussi que la poubelle du Bhor allait aussi être
bien utile car dans un aussi grand local, et avec le nombres de projets
auxquels nous avons participé, 3 ans ça donne le temps d’avoir un sacré
stock de merdouilles qui servent toujours et de bouts de décors que ce
serait trop con de jeter …Alors nous avons raconté une histoire avec
tout ça … invitant dix jeunes de Phnom Penh musiciens et comédiens pour
la faire vivre aux visiteurs sur les trois étages de l’immeuble… pendant
trois heures tous les soirs,10 jours durant…avec bien sur le week-end
des spectacles sur la grande scène devant…
allez on va citer tout le monde,car, franchement, ils l’ont fait super
bien :
-Pô Kiou avec un spectacle crée à Bhor « rock’the’trash »
-un superbe défilé de trash fashion par les artistes de Rubbish Project de Phnom P

- les « Ceux Qui Marchent Debout » fanfare funk française invitée
par le CCF de PP

- les danseurs et comédiens de EPic Arts /Kampot

- et les fameux « Pirates du Mékong » de PP

- Okun & the tyrans (Kompong Som)

- Les M’lop Tapang Kids (Kompong Som)

Aux ficelles et bidouillages Benji assisté de Madame Pouil-pouil ,
Aux commentaires, traductions et gestions des affaires locales MC
Vanry Meth
Dans l’embrouillis des câbles son et les galères de prises elec Juan
Philip Monteiro
Aux nerfs, à la chaudière et au pilotage Bob passion…

Quand J’vous disait que c’était une sacrée aventure… 400 visiteurs dans
l’immeuble chaque soir, et on n’à pas essayé de compter dans la rue…
Voici pour le premier round ….
Je repasse pour vous compter le deuxième….dés qu’il me desserrent la
camisole…

Robot Translation below:

Y’ of a blow that I would have so much things to tell you in postillone in advance… Let to me just’ a little take again my breath… the clock per hour, the eyes opposite the holes… and, a ptit rembraillage… Because it one was crowned race… of endurance… By putting a little chronological at it, I would have can be to arrive has you to tell it… Bhor, end of lease the three years… and Last front exaggeration relocalization… one wanted well to make vibrate all that… then one had this project of dustbins, forgiveness, of environment… And then not, finally…, of dustbins because no environmental agency had audacity to mingle its vocabulary with it… It is thus in a complete freedom of taste and colors that Bhor at summer transformed a walk artistic in the universe of waste and the gaspi… in a country or it recycling is already completely integrated due to poverty… it is what is not it which interested us, then we are concentrates 15 days on a perimeter of 800 m around Bhor, and collected all that had not found transferee and who did not puait too much …… good it should be also said that the dustbin of Bhor was also going to be quite useful because in such a large room, and with the numbers of projects which we took part, 3 years that gives the time to have crowned one stock of merdouilles which is always used and as ends of decorations that it would be too idiot to throw… Alors we told a history with all that… inviting ten young people of Phnom Penh musicians and actors to make it live with the visitors on the three floors of the building… during three hours every evening, 10 days lasting… with of course the weekend spectacles on the large scene in front of… go one will quote everyone, because, frankly, they did it super well: – Po Kiou with one spectacle creates in Bhor “rock’ the’ trash” – a superb procession of trash fashion by the artists of Rubbish Project de Phnom P – “those Which Go Upright” brass band funk French guest by the CCF of PP – dancers and actors of EPic /Kampot Arts – and famous “Pirates of the Mekong” of PP – Okun & the tyrants (Kompong Som) – Me lop Tapang Kids (Kompong Som) With the strings and bidouillages Benji assisted Mrs Pouil-pouil, With the comments, translations and managements of the local businesses MC Vanry Meth In the embrouillis of the cables its and the galères of catches elec Juan Philip Monteiro With the nerves, the boiler and piloting Bob passion… When I said that it was one to you crowned ventures… 400 visitors in the building each evening, and one with step tried to count in the street… Here for the first round…. I pass by again to count the second to you….as soon as it loosen me the nightshirt…

Tags: cambodia,performance,trash,khmer

(Above: Em Satya & family)

It didn’t disappoint, and it was great to finally see the show that’s been years in the making. My only regret is we couldn’t take pictures of the show and set inside, but that’s show biz, and a nudge for you to check it out yourself.

The show was accessible to both a Khmer and foreign audience, and while subtitled, many could get the gist of the dual-language story due to savvy staging. Ieng Sithul added a real sense of grounding and gravitas to the show.  Tony Re-al stole his scenes as a gleefully glib rapping bodyguard – having seen the show shape up over time, he was well chosen for commentary on centre stage action.

Some familiar faces were back in town: nice to see John Burt, Him Sophy and Catherine Filloux in their element.  Also managed to catch up with opera singer Amara, and (PP Post dubbed ‘glamour girl’) Duey Kol – the former playing a ‘beer girl’ as well as general ensemble member, the latter helping out with the production. Both did short stints with Cambodian Living Arts in 2003 & 2004, and are back for more! Now that’s follow-through.

Apparently the show has evolved and changed a lot since the premiere in Lowell, which no doubt reflects creative minds at work.  How many operas can you watch, and then get to meet the cast and crew directly after? Phnom Penh is a small city but in this instance, I’m not complaining.  Seeing the Cambodian Living Arts crew, as well as friends from Siem Reap, Amrita Performing Arts, Sovanna Phum, Epic, and Meta-House made for a great time.

Without the pressure of the opening night, the crew seemed pretty relaxed and happy to be doing their thing.  Goss has it that Sok An showed up the first night, which made for a little nervousness. Would the show cut too close to the bone in social commentary?  Well, judging by the fact that H.E. sent a heap of his pals to the second night would indicate he liked it.  The organizers had to scramble to get some extra seats. And it’s hoped that there might be performance for the King, pending protocol.

Despite rumors of a third week, John Burt regretfully noted that while there is heaps of enthusiasm, logistically the opera would lose money the longer it stays here.  International stars + low cost local seats = a negative cash balance. But there are definitely more staging plans in the works. And I’ll be back with some friends for the final show.

More? Blogs:
http://www.andybrouwer.co.uk/blog/2008/11/legendary-ieng-sithul.html
http://www.andybrouwer.co.uk/blog/2008/11/elephants-are-celebrating.html
http://dianephelan.wordpress.com
http://www.scotstafford.com/index/scot_stafford/Entries/2008/4/25_Entry_1.html

Tags:opera,cambodia,khmer

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Tags: cambodia,photography,collage,blog