Apr 2nd, 2017 by Jinja
I’m seeing an increasing number of advertisements, as well as dubious products on the shelves in pharmacies and supermarkets.
http://sea-globe.com/cambodia-business-beauty/
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/post-plus/risky-quest-beauty-cambodia
Could not make this stuff up. (Sigh.)
Can’t people be comfortable with the skin they’re in?
Jan 16th, 2016 by Jinja
I’m pleased to note that academic and friend Erik Davis is launching his new book at Meta-House Tuesday evening.
“Book Launch About The Buddhism” https://www.facebook.com/events/888602147861478/ 
Note: *Free Finger Food*!!
While funerals can be a bit socially taboo to discuss, Erik’s extensive religious studies background enables him to profile unique and fascinating glimpses into how ritual practice informs and reflects on everyday reality in Cambodia.
You can find the book on sale at the event, or at Monument Books in Cambodia.
Some background and context:
http://sea-globe.com/erik-w-davis-buddhist-monks-cambodia-southeast-asia-globe/
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/post-weekend/deathpower
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/post-weekend/how-serious-are-cambodias-land-rights-protesters-about-their-curses
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/meeting-white-witch-kampot
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/post-weekend/his-hometown-mysteries-abound-about-fake-%E2%80%98buddha%E2%80%99
Nov 3rd, 2015 by Jinja
The Cambodian Center for Independent Media launched its ‘Legacy of Impunity’ exhibition at Meta-House this evening, in tandem with Cambodian Center for Human Rights’ “Never Forget” (at the Mansion, Foreign Correspondents Club). Both were launched in solidarity with today’s International Day To End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
I missed the CCHR event but at Meta-House, I was intrigued to find some very clear and solid documentation of the peril frequently facing local Khmer journalists.
Why a gallery exhibition? One could say there is art in a good story. And secondly, as the political sphere has become increasingly unstable over the last two weeks, this is a relatively safe way to express concern for those who uphold democratic institutions. 
Freedom Park and the concomitant issues surrounding it could be reserved for an exhibition on just that brief and dramatic period.
CCIM’s 2014 report: http://www.ccimcambodia.org/reports/116-challenges-for-independent-media-2014
Two exhibitions, six days left. Well worth your time. And do take a moment to sign the ‘Justice For Journalists’ online petition: http://www.change.org/p/justice-for-journalists-kh
(Logo (above) provided by International Free Expression Exchange ([IFEX]) for International Day to End Impunity.)
Oct 11th, 2015 by Jinja
This last Friday morning (estimated 1 AM) a fire broke out in the buildings behind Java Cafe. Four residences were damaged as well as the office of Java Cafe / Gallery, including a number of irreplaceable art items in storage.
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/fire-destroys-5-homes-decades-of-artwork-97079/
Nine families remain in the area, with severe structural damage. (Above.) It is possible that some members of the community may have some issues related to smoke inhalation. In a country where few have fire insurance, health insurance, or other resources, some of the families are believed to have lost nearly everything in their homes.
Thanks to calls on social media, local community members have donated over $700 in cash and a substantial number of household items. (Cash is preferred, household items are welcome as well.)
At 3pm this afternoon a donation of money and household donations took place (below), to be distributed under the supervision of the local village chief.
A further donation of household items took place at 4pm. Java Cafe will accept donations up until 10 PM tonight, closing for several days due to Pchum Ben holiday. It will re-open on Wednesday the 14th.
Due to the Pchum Ben holiday season, it is a particularly challenging time to manage relief efforts. It has been very gratifying to see the immediate response of many varied Phnom Penh residents.
During Pchum Ben holiday, donations will be accepted at nearby Willow Boutique.
http://yp.com.kh/listings/kh43755-the-willow-boutique-hotel
For further news and updates, follow Java on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/javacafeandgallery
It is expected that international fundraising venues will be established in the near future (i.e. ‘Kickstarter’, bank transfer, etc). Default contact email: Dana@JavaArts.org.
Additional pictures:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jinja_cambodia/albums/72157659255960749
Interested parties are welcome to share these pictures freely, to assist in the relief effort.
On social media, please reference the hashtag #JavaFireKH.
Sep 29th, 2015 by Jinja
In a country where Valentine’s Day bears broad similarities to Prom Night, romance is serious business.
Hence there’s a bit of hubbub about the first Khmer-language ‘friend finder’ (wink wink) / dating app ‘Matchstix‘, going strong since its July launch.
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/post-weekend/swipe-right-bringing-hook-apps-cambodia
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/13885/matchstix-delivers-cambodia—s-first—-friend-finder—-app/
Tinder-style functionality in Khmer language? Many parents will be appalled at the idea. But in a country that is phone-crazy, with more sim cards than citizens, it may be hard to avoid.
But let’s see what the target group – young, urban, literate Cambodians – derive from it. Already, the product team is setting its sights on a bigger target – Myanmar, one of the few countries in the region where regulation will be tough to enforce. (See below).
Cambodia is a country that adores the concept of romance in music and film, but is still deeply conservative. As recently as 2006, wives of government officials wanted a ban on 3g phones, on the rationale they’d enable mistresses. https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/senior-officials-wives-want-3g-phones-banned-1118/
I’d expect future apps to be used as a family effort – as we are seeing in the Indian diaspora.
Jinja
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