Near Cambodia’s Temple Ruins, a Devotion to Learning

Millions of tourists come here every year to visit the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat, an influx that has helped transform what once resembled a small, laid-back village into a thriving and cosmopolitan town with thumping nightlife and more than 10,000 hotel rooms. But the explosion of the tourism industry here has also done something less predictable. Siem Reap, which had no universities a decade ago, is now Cambodia’s second-largest hub for higher education, after the capital, Phnom Penh. The sons and daughters of impoverished rice
farmers flock here to work as tour guides, receptionists, bartenders and waitresses.When their shifts are over, they study finance, English and accounting. “I never imagined that I could go to university,” said Hem Sophoan, a 31-year-old tour guide who is now studying for his second master’s degree. “There’s been so much change and opportunities for young people.” The establishment of fi ve private universities here is helping to transform the work force in this part of Cambodia, one of Asia’s poorest countries and a society still living in the shadow
of the genocidal rule of the Khmer Rouge. Employers say that English profi ciency is rising and that workers who attend universities stand out for their ability to express themselves and make decisions. A generation of students who would otherwise havehad little hope to study beyond high school are enduring grueling schedules to get a degree and pursue their dreams.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 10 Page 46.

CAMBODIA’S ART OF SURVIVAL

The country’s rich artistic culture was destroyed in the 70s by the brutal  Khmer Rouge regime. Today, despite terrible poverty, a revival is taking place – and it is gaining international recognition Down a dusty road litt ered with motorbikes and tuk-tuks, past the charred red monument to independence and through a leafy courtyard populated by stray dogs, there stands a derelict-looking, 1960s cinderblock school in Phnom Penh where, on weekends, the atonal sounds of Khmer opera waft out of its shuttered windows. In this ad-hoc dance studio, 15 pairs of feet are pointing delicately upwards, in geometric contrast to the checkered tiles on the floor. As the partners twirl side by side, their fingers bent backwards, shy smiles on their young faces, repeated patt erns emerge in their footsteps. “Cambodian folk dance is a visual form of storytelling, about religion, nature, weddings and funerals,” whispers Neang Visal, 21, a dancer who is looking on. “This dance, the krama dance, is about farming.” It is hard to imagine a paean to agriculture that would have the same clout in the west today. But in a nation that lost 90% of its artists, musicians, dancers and intellectuals to the brutal Khmer Rouge regime of 1975-79, remembering the past is a vital aspect of safeguarding the future.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 10 Page 40.

Koh Rong . . .

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
The importance of tourism to Cambodia’s future economy by Michael Horton After more than a decade of spectacular growth, how can the tourism industry in Cambodia respond to the more demanding market conditions now faced by holiday destinations worldwide? In common with all periods of adversity, the current situation also presents opportunities for those willing and able to respond to the challenges ahead. as a holistic destination in its own right. In recent years the question taxing most industry players was how to increase the yield from each tourist: how to encourage them to stay longer; how to add more value? With visitor numbers
expected to fall, this has assumed a greater priority, and is now joined by the question of how to keep up the numbers. Undoubtedly and quite rightly, any future Cambodian tourism experience is going to involve the Angkor temples. This World Heritage Site has driven tourism development and it has been relatively easy and inexpensive to improve the infrastructure around a small area of Siem Reap to produce world class,

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 10 Page 36.

An Awarding Country with Pristine tropical islands

Cambodia was voted the world’s second favourite long - haul destination for British tourists at the 2009 Guardian, Observer and guardian.co.uk Travel Awards in the UK. Cambodia fi nished second to New Zealand and ahead of Chile (3); Vietnam (4); and Japan (5). ConCERT - a Siem Reap based organisation that helps tourists support local worthy causes - has won the prestigious British Guild of Travel Writers’ Award for the Best Overseas Tourism Initiative. The award is given for the best new (less than two years old) overseas tourism project, which not only has tourist potential but is of benefi t to the local community and environment.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 10 Page 28.

SWIMMING IN SIHANOUK VILLE

Sihanouk Ville, also known as “Kampong Som,” is like a Florida resort town dropped oddly on Cambodia’s southern coast, on the Gulf of Thailand. Founded a mere 50 years ago as a deep - water port, Sihanouk Ville
experienced a tourist boom in the 1960s when local and visiting beachgoers headed to the coast, looking for sand and sun without crossing into Thailand. As a result, much of the shorefront property has been scooped up by moderately luxurious resorts. Budget tourists still have plenty of options, however, with a few backpacker hot-spots sandwiching the posher hotels.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 10 Page 22.

Precious gemstones in Cambodia

Cambodia is rich in many varieties of gems, but let’s talk here about precious gems only – sapphires, rubies and emeralds. The most famous Cambodian mines are located in Pailin. Sapphires from Pailin are considered among the best sapphires in the world, there’s even a special color grade “Pailin” used in jewelry for classifi cation of blue sapphires. Besides sapphires, Pailin has ruby and emerald mines, however, production of emeralds is minimal. Most part of emeralds you fi nd in Cambodia are imported from India.
If you plan to purchase precious gemstones in Cambodia, mention that there are no gemological institutes or professional experts who may verify your stone and provide you with an official certificate. Your success depends on your knowledge in this domain, seller’s honesty, your personal luck and your intuition. When buying stones, don’t forget that export of precious gemstones is illegal in Cambodia unless you buy fi nished
jewelry products – rings, bracelets or pendants with gems. But is it still profi table: the price you pay for a sapphire ring will anyway be much lower comparing with European markets. Gold used for jewelry in Cambodia is often a base - alloy and doesn’t correspond to international standards. If you are serious about jewelry business, better to test local gold with reagents; you can find them in many specialized shops.
Cambodian jewelry market is flooded by fake stones. Don’t even pay att ention to an extraordinary $17 off er for a silver bracelet massively decorated with small blue “Cambodian sapphires” –  it is fake for sure, as well as two-carat rubies just for $50 each. Even in big central shops you risk to pay a sapphire price for a piece of colored glass. Certificates issued by street jewelry boutiques are not to be trusted. Another common fraud
– sellers show you a positive reply from a

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 10 Page 16.

CAMBODIA GEMS & JEWELRY FAIR 2012

Organized by Cambodian Ministry of Commerce in association with Hong Kong’s World Trade Fair (International) Limited (International sole agent), the annual national flagship jewelry fair - The 4th Cambodia Gems & Jewelry Fair (4th CGJF), will be held on June 14 to 17, 2012 at Diamond Island Convention & Exhibition Centre (Koh Pich), at the Kingdom’s capital city Phnom Penh. The Fair has been positioned as the most important sourcing platform in the country, presenting the Cambodian gems and jewelry to the overseas markets and bringing the fi nest international diamonds, gemstones, fine jewelry designs and timepieces to the country. With the fast growing market of over 14 million population, Cambodia has emerged as one of the safest nations and most attractive economies in the region. An average GDP growth of 8% in the past 10
years has exceeded all expectations, and through its membership in ASEAN (since 1999) and in the World Trade Organization (since 2004), the country has made tremendous progress in integrating its emerging economy into the regional and global trading system. H.E. Dr. Cham Prasidh, Senior Minister, Minister
of Commerce, added that “our country has possessed four fundamental advantages - political stability; macro - economic stability; a sound, transparent & predictable legal framework and many trade preferences. And the success of CGJF is greatly attributed to the growing trend of the markets in gems and jewelry in Cambodia as well as in the region and the world.”

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 10 Page 12.

AGRICULTURE IN CAMBODIA 2011

The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) recently approved agricultural investment projects worth more than $230 million, involving rubber, palm oil and sugar production and processing. China’s Yellow Field International Ltd and Great Field International are planning to invest $74.6 million and $66.4 million respectively to grow sugar cane and other crops; Vietnam plans two rubber plantations and processing
factories; a Malaysian company is investing in a palm oil plantation, while United States - based Horizon Agriculture Development and Singapore and Malaysia’s Mondul Agri Resources plan to invest $28.8 million and $30 million respectively to grow rubber trees. For investors looking to grow and process crops, Cambodia is an ideal location as it has plenty of land available for agricultural concessions. From 1993 to 2009 a total of 126 companies were granted land concessions for growing crops, according to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Concessions for the period totalled 1,335,724 hectares in 16 Cambodian provinces. Cambodia is rich in farmland and hopes to att ract more investment to the sector. The country wants to develop its rice exports and therefore welcomes investors, especially those willing to work with small farmers. In return for investments such as credit and technical assistance, farmers would be contracted to sell their crops to the investor.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 9 Page 46.

CAMBODIA FESTIVITIES

The Kingdom of Cambodia has a wealth of traditional and cultural festivals dated according to the Cambodian lunar calendar. All of these festivals are infl uenced by the concepts of Buddhism, Hinduism, and royal cultures.
The festivals, which serve as a source of great joy, merriment and Cambodia’s national colors, play a major role in infl uencing tourists’ opinions, behaviors, and options. Most of these are a time of great rejoicing for the predominantly urban and the rural populace. Nowadays the whole nation unites in understanding its cultural values and traditions. On these pages, are some of the important celebrations organized during the year.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 9 Page 38.

Social Stratification and Social Mobility

Social strata in precommunist Cambodia may be viewed as constituting a spectrum, with an elite group or upper class at one end and a lower class consisting of rural peasants and unskilled urban workers at the other end. The elite group was composed of high - ranking government, military, and religious leaders, characterized by high prestige, wealth, and education or by members one of the royal or noble families. Each one of the subgroups had its own internal ranking system. Before the ouster of Sihanouk in 1970, the highest ranks of the elite group were fi lled largely by those born into them. The republican regime in the early 1970s invalidated all royal and noble titles, and the only titles of social significance legally in use in connection with the elite group were those gained through achievement. Military and government titles tended to replace royal and noble titles. In spite of the legislated loss of titles, however, wide public recognition of the royalty and the nobility continued. The deferential linguistic usages and the behavior styles directed toward members of these groups persisted through the 1970s and, to a limited extent, were still present in the late 1980s.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 9 Page 35.

Battambang Products

Khmer Grape Wine:
Khmer’s Red Wine is made from grape fruits and is a new product in Battambang Cambodia. Cambodia’s grape wine was recognized by OVOP National Committee as a product of One Village One Product. In order to see the grape plantation, you drive towards Banan temple; you will approach the three - hectare
vineyard on the left hand in Banan. Soil in Battambang is quite a good for growing grapes. At least 300 bott les of wine has been on sale in Battambang market town every month. Around 10,000 bottles have been annually produced. Immortality: Grape Wine is a Khmer homemade product, which is produced to help improve living conditions of all Khmer peoples that certainly lead to One Village, One Products.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 9 Page 20.

RICE BOWL OF CAMBODIA

Battambang is a relaxed and laid back town sitt ing on the banks of the Sangker River just to the south west of the Tonle Sap lake, Battambang is primarily a farmer and trader town, The area is known locally and internationally as the “Rice Bowl” of Cambodia. RICE  BOWL OF CAMBODIA This is because the economy of Battambang is extremely efficient in the production of rice, and additionally because of the comparative advantage and local endowments in the region. An estimated 2,400 square kilometers of land is used in rice production, with the figure growing consistently each year. The abundance of land results in over 500,000 tonnes of rice being produced annually; around 300,000 tonnes of that rice is traded locally and internationally and makes a refreshing change from the tourist town of Siem Reap as it still has a very local, untouristed, provincial atmosphere.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 9 Page 18.

CAMBODIA’S FASHIONABLE REBELS

As the sun sets, the rebels come out. Their favourite form of transport is the Scoopy motorbike. Their destination is Phnom Penh’s riverside branch of Pencil. On the face of it, this is an unlikely venue for youthful
insurrection. This nondescript, low - rise building in Cambodia’s capital was, until recently, a slightly shabby supermarket. But where the shelves of food and household goods once stood, the rag trade has taken over.
This is what the rebels have come for. You shall know them by the brevity of their skirts and the blondness of
their hair. Too much flesh? They arrive in force. Hundreds of motorbikes are already crammed into the narrow parking area in front of Pencil by 17:00, and a growing queue of others is starting to block the road. The four-wheeled drive cars dropping off  the more well -to - do rebels exacerbate the congestion.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 9 Page 14.

IN BETWEEN SHOPPING AND GAMBLING

In Aranya Prathet, Thailand (Rong Kluea Market / Thai Border side) you will be surprised to fi nd there are a lot of shops and you could spend all day shopping. Rong Kluea Market is what “Aran” is best known for. It starts up at 7am. There is a sense of repetition as you walk through the stalls and shops because they sell similar goods in batches, but it is worth looking for that bargain or something special. Popular with Thai and Cambodian who want to buy secondhand brand names to re - sell,  Rong Kluea is the largest market on Eastern Seaboard of Thailand. Thousands of Thai and Cambodian visit on the weekend, walking around or renting motorcycles and bicycles because you cannot walk around the entire market in one day. You will see Levis, Ben Sherman, and all other manner of discarded clothing, handbags, and lots of other stuff  that actually look better worn than new. Traders come to purchase counterfeit goods for their stores. Things to see include; not only secondhand & new clothing, but also food, dry fi sh, fruit and vegetables.  Many visitors

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 9 Page 10.

KHMER ART HISTORY

Prehistory
Several prehistoric sites are known in Cambodia (inc. Samrong Sen, Anlong Phdao, Melou Prei, and Laang Spean). It is believed that many more prehistoric sites exist, but have yet to be discovered. However, remnants of circular earthwork villages dating from the Neolithic times are found in the province of Kompong Cham.
Ancient stone, bronze tools and weapons, enigmatic bronze drums similar to those found at the Dong Son site in Vietnam (thought to be used in rain and war ceremonies), and ancient ceramics have been found and documented. Current archaeological research into Cambodia’s extensive prehistory will no doubt provide better insight into the lives of the people who made these objects, and give us a more concrete time-frame for their dates of manufacture.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 8 Page 38.

FISHERIES CAMBODIAN

The freshwater capture fi sheries of Cambodia are among the most productive in the world (Baranetal 2006, MRC 2010). Fishing has been central to rural livelihoods in Cambodia at least since the times of Angkor; along with rice farming, it holds a central place in rural livelihood strategies and cultural practices, involving 2 million to 4 million rural people (Baran et al 2006, MRC 2010). Fish and other living aquatic resources are enormously important for food security and nutrition, as noted earlier, contributing up to three-fourths of animal protein in rural diets (Hortle et al 2007). In 2009, fi sheries contributed 25.2 percent to agricultural sector activities and therefore are a significant economic activity. Inland capture fisheries dominate national fisheries production.
While it is known that natural production varies from year to year and is strongly infl uenced by hydrological patt erns, determining  estimates of production is very diffi  cult (Coates 2002). Generally production is estimated using catch records and is stated as being between 280,000 tonnes and 400,000 tonnes per year of fi sh, with additional production of around 60,000 tonnes per year of ‘other aquatic animals’16 (OAA) (MRC 2004).

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 8 Page 35.

TODAY CAMBODIA TELECOMS, MOBILE INTERNET AND FORECASTS

Hot competition continues in Cambodia’s mobile sector as market rationalisation begins Cambodia has successfully managed its transition into a vibrant telecom market. Despite the country’s status as one of the least
developed nations in the world and whilst it remains one of the poorer countries in Southeast Asia, Cambodia’s efforts to expand and upgrade its telecom infrastructure have certainly been bearing fruit. There was very little infrastructure remaining from before the tumultuous Khmer Rouge days. As a result, Cambodia bypassed rebuilding the fi xed-line market and quickly launched into alternative technologies, jump-starting its telecommunications infrastructure with digital technology. Not surprisingly, mobile services have completely overwhelmed the market. By end 2010, there were nine mobile operators vigorously competing with each other in a market segment that was growing at a healthy rate. Coming into 2011 there were an estimated
8.4 million mobile subscribers (penetration 55%) in the country.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 8 Page 25.

Tiger Temple

The infamous Thailand Tiger Temple is located at Kanchanaburi, a couple of hours drive from Bangkok. It is very popular with visitors to Thailand and many people end up visiting either directly or as part of a combination tour. Some visitors actually make the trip to Thailand specifi cally to visit the Tiger Temple!
Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua, or the Tiger Temple, is a Theravada Buddhist forest temple in western Thailand. It is a sanctuary for numerous animals, including several tame tigers. The tigers walk around freely once a day and can be pett ed by visitors. The Tiger Temple is located in the Saiyok district of the Kanchanaburi province, not far from the border with Myanmar, along the 323 highway.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 8 Page 17.

CAMBODIA - THE SOCIETY AND ITS ENVIRONMENT

SINCE 1975 CAMBODIA has suffered through one of the most catastrophic periods in its long history.
The takeover of the country by the communist Khmer Rouge in 1975, its violent aftermath, and the constant warfare between communist and noncommunist factions has resulted in widespread and major changes in the Cambodian social fabric. The country was plunged into a dark age from which it was slowly emerging in the late 1980s. Under the Khmer Rouge, the entire social structure of the country suffered radical and massive changes. An estimated 1 million to 2 million Cambodians died during the first three - and - one-half years of communist rule. Traditional family life was violently disrupted and virtually abolished between 1975 and 1979.
Nuclear families - the most important units of Cambodian society - were broken up and were replaced with communal groupings.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 8 Page 12.

TAKE THE CAMBO CHALLENGE

LARGE Minority is teaming with local NGO, Mlup Baitong, to organize the 2nd Cambo Challenge, an 11 - day tuk - tuk odyssey on 6 - 17 November 2011, over 1,450 kilometers throughout central and eastern
Cambodia, with 10% of the proceeds earmarked for LARGE Minority’s fl agship project: the Water Supply Pipeline System. State-of-the-art tuk-tuk comes fully equipped for the long journey From 6-17th November
2011, intrepid travelers from around the world will traverse over 1,450 kilometers of challenging terrain on traditional tuk tuks. The 11-day journey will give teams of two or three a close up and personal experience of
some of the most fascinating historical sites and natural delights of the “Kingdom of Wonder”, while raising funds for social and environmental projects.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 7 Page 50.

BRUNEI, CAMBODIA PLANS DIRECT AIR LINKS TO BOOST TOURISM

BRUNEI and Cambodia are in talks of establishing direct air links to further boost both nation’s tourism sector and strengthen bilateral cooperation. Establishing a direct fl ight to Cambodia will give Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA), Brunei’s national air carrier, a big market advantage to lure its neighbouring Malaysian tourists to fly from the Sultanate, said the outgoing Ambassador of Cambodia to Brunei, Nan Sy, in an interview yesterday.
He said that tourists residing in the Malaysian neighbouring states of Kuching, Miri and Labuan would have to fly to Kuala Lumpur to visit Cambodia as direct fl ights from these destinations were not available. “When we have direct fl ights from here, Brunei will have a big market,” he said. “If we do have direct fl ights, they (the
neighbouring tourists) don’t have to fl y to KL, they just have to come by car here and fl y from Brunei to Phnom Penh, (Cambodia’s capital) for approximately 1hr and 45mins.”

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 7 Page 48.

CAMBODIA Q1 TOURIST ARRIVALS UP

Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism, Statistics and ICT Department reported, that international arrivals for the first quarter of this year grew 13.9% from 683,692 to 778,467 trips. Neighbouring Vietnam was the top supplier mainly through overland checkpoints. Out of 778,467 visits recorded, 735,132 were categorised under leisure travel and just 35,605 businesses and the balance 7,730 for other travel purposes. Asia accounted for 63.57% or 494,862 arrivals. ASEAN and East Asia were the largest subregion suppliers - 235,409 (+10.3%) and 252,063 (+20%) respectively. South Asia, western Asia and the Middle East were still new markets for Cambodia with only 1,217 (+12.9%), 379 and 3,023 (+0.5%) arrivals respectively. Europe produced 180,672 arrivals, mostly (72.73%) from West Europe and Scandinavia (131,399, +3.68%), while East Europe supplied 18.96% (34,260, +74.8%) and South Europe, 7.35% (13,283, +11.4%). Visitors from Oceania increased 6.3% to reach 32,236, while the Americas grew 8.2% to 66,116 and Africa, rising 25.8% to 1,558.
Vietnam was the top source market with 130,831 trips, a growth of 19.4% compared to the same quarter last year.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 7 Page 47.

People of Cambodia

Cambodia is ethnically homogeneous. More than 90% of its population is of Khmer origin and speaks the Khmer language, the country’s offi  cial language. The remainder include Chinese, Vietnamese, Cham, Khmer Loeu, and Indians. The Khmer language is a member of the Mon - Khmer subfamily of the Austroasiatic language group. French, once the lingua franca of Indochina and still spoken by some, mostly older Cambodians as a second language, remains the language of instruction in various schools and universities that are often funded by the government of France. Cambodian French, a remnant of the country’s colonial past, is a dialect found in Cambodia and is frequently used in government. However, in recent decades, many younger
Cambodians and those in the business - class have favoured learning English. In the major cities and tourist centers, English is widely spoken and taught at a large number of schools due to the overwhelming number of tourists from English - speaking countries. Even in the most rural outposts, however, most young people speak at least some English, as it is often taught by monks at the local pagodas where many children are educated.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 7 Page 45.

BAMBOO RAILWAYS BATTAMBANG

Battambang is Cambodia’s second most populous city, and a popular tourist destination due to the many nearby ancient temples, Buddhist shrines and the infamous bamboo railway. It is also the capital city of the
Battambang province. One of the celebrated of Battambang is The Bamboo Railways. Despite the long civil war and the reign of terror by the Khmer Rouge, the 1930s railway tracks around Battambang are surprisingly
still pretty usable.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 7 Page 38.

THE CAMBODIA KING’S PALACE

The establishment of the Royal Palace at Phnom Penh in 1866 is a comparatively recent event in the history of the Khmer and Cambodia. The seat of Khmer power in the region rested at or near Angkor north of the Great Tonle Sap Lake from 802 AD until the early 15th century. After the Khmer court moved from Angkor in the 15th century, it fi rst sett led in Phnom Penh which back then named as Krong Chatomok Serei Mongkol in 1434 (or 1446) and stayed for some decades, but by 1494 had moved on to Basan, and later Longvek and then Oudong. The capital did not return to Phnom Penh until the 19th century and there is no record or remnants of any Royal Palace in Phnom Penh prior to the 19th century. In 1813, King Ang Chan (1796–1834) constructed Banteay Kev (the ‘Cristal Citadel’) on the site of the current Royal Palace and stayed there very briefly before moving to Oudong.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 7 Page 35.

HISTORY OF PHNOM PENH

Long ago in 1372 A.D., there was a wealthy elderly woman named Penh living near the banks of the four river fronts. Her house was built on a plateau east of a hill. One day, heavy rains fl ooded the area. Daun Penh (Grandma Penh) went down to the dock and saw a koki tree floating towards the river bank. The strong fronting tides kept the koki tree floating nearby that particular river bank. Immediately, Daun Penh called for her
neighbors to help get the tree out of the river. They tied a rope to the tree and gradually pulled it out of the water.  While Daun Penh was wiping the mud off  of the tree, she saw four Buddha bronze statues and a stone statue of Divinity in the hole of the tree trunk. The statue of Divinity was standing and held a bat in one hand and a conch shell in the other. Daun Penh and her neighbors were very happy to see those sacred objects and paraded them to Daun Penh’s house. She arranged to have a small hut built to temporarily house the statues.
Later, Daun Penh called on her neighbors again for help to pile up more dirt on the hill west of her house.

 Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 7 Page 31.

PHNOM BOKOR NATIONAL PARK

The most beautiful and most mystical natural park of Southeast Asia, it is, of course, Phnom Bokor. 140 thousand hectares of untouched mountain jungle, the biggest herd of wild elephants in Southeast Asia.  Park Phnom Bokor is located in Elephant mountains, being a continuation of the Cardamom Mountains (Kravan). Most park Phnom Bokor point - mountain Kamtjaj is high (Bokor, Phnom on Khmer dictionary means - the mountain) has a height of 1077 meters above sea level and is the point second highest point in Cambodia. Once at the entrance to the park, virgin forests begin. National park Phnom Bokor, beginning somewhere with 250 meters, it is densely covered by almost impassable primary jungle, from a height of approximately, 910 meters
all of park Bokor is covered by a rather equal plateau. Where there once lived a wild herd of elephants, there are now more than 100 individuals. Also in Phnom Bokor live tigers, foxes, the greatest set of snakes and others, certainly monkeys. On the top there is a Pagoda.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 7 Page 25.

Cambodia’s export of garments up 45 pct. in Q1

Cambodia has seen a 45 percent rise in garment  exports in the first quarter of this year, compared with the same period last year, according to the statistics of the Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday. From January to March, the country had exported garments and textiles in a total value of 976 million U.S. dollars, up 45 percent from 671 million U.S. dollars in the same period last year.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 7 Page 20.

Cambodia imports 42 pct of electricity from neighboring nations

Even though Cambodia has increased its power supply capacity, this country still imported 42 percent of all electricity supply to the country in 2010, according to a government’s report. The report, fi led by Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, showed that in 2010, Cambodia imported about 42 percent of electricity from Laos, Thailand and Vietnam with total capacity of about 225 MW.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 7 Page 19.

Cambodia’s exports of rubber latex up 66 pct in Q1

Cambodia has seen a 66 percent rise in the exports of rubber latex in the first quarter of this year, compared
with the same period last year, showed the figure from Cambodian Ministry of Commerce. The figure recorded that from January to March this year, the country had exported a total 11,821 tons of rubber latex with the total revenues of 55 million U.S. dollars, up 66 percent from 7, 129 tons with the revenues of 18 million U.S. dollars in the same quarter last year.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 7 Page 18.

Cambodia’s inflation to hit 6 pct due to soaring oil, food prices: UN survey

The inflation rate in Cambodia for 2011 could rise to 6 percent, up from 4.1 percent last year due to the increasing prices of food, oil and a weaker U.S. dollar currency, said the United Nations in its economic
and social survey of Asia and the Pacific 2011. The UN’s infl ation forecast is still lower than that of 6.5
percent by the International  Monetary Fund, but higher than the World Bank forecast at 5 percent, the Asian
Development Bank at 5.5 percent and the government of Cambodia at below 5 percent. Petroleum prices in Cambodia have increased by 11 percent since the start of the year.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 7 Page 17.

Cambodia receives 813 new companies in Q1

Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce reported it  has issued operating licenses to 813 new companies in the first quarter of this year, up 48 percent from 549 companies at the same period last year. Of the number, 99 companies  are owned by Chinese, 90 firms by South Koreans, 90 by Vietnamese, 16 by Malaysians, 12 by Thais, and the rest owned by local business people.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 7 Page 16.

INDOCHINA ROAD LINKS FUNDED BY THE JAPANESE

The triangle of land where the Lao, Vietnamese and Cambodian borders meet is experiencing rapid  development as the three  countries work to improve transport links. The Lao part of the development
triangle is located in Attapeu province in southern Laos. “The development triangle is receiving funding assistance from the Japanese government,” he pointed out. In Laos, construction has started on a road in  the
Samakkhixay district of the province which will eventually link to Vietnam and Cambodia through Phouvong district.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 7 Page 15.

Fish Massage... The Risks of Spreading Diseases

Fish Massage... The Risks of Spreading Diseases Fish massage or fi sh bite therapy is quite popular because it is believed to be able to relieve fatigue and stress and can make  the skin smooth. But enthusiasts of this therapy should be wary of some things. Health experts warn that fi sh spa contains some  risk of spreading diseases. Especially if the fi sh  used is not Garra rufa or known as doctor fi sh. Many fi sh spas today uses Chinchin fi sh because it is much cheaper than the Garra rufa fish.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 6 Page 36.

Cambodia property prices drop

Cambodia’s land values fell up to 15 percent year-to-year in 2010, according to the National Valuers Association of  Cambodia (NVAC). The drop from an average $2,500 to $4,500 in 2009 to US$2,000 to $4,000 per square metre for 2010, was experienced across the commercial and residential sectors. Analysts say the real estate market will stablise this year, noting also that the rate of property transactions was increasing compared to 2009. “The market has already hit the bottom it will stablise this year. I hope that it will start to

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 6 Page 28.

Kampot and Battambang offer alternative to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap

Cambodia has many towns worth visiting and away from the Siem Reap and Phnom Penh urban areas there are  beautiful beaches, deserted islands, mountains and waterfalls. The towns in Cambodia vary greatly and all have something to off er the visitor. Below are just two of the most popular with both Cambodians and tourists, together with a list of things to do in each town. Kampot – in the Province of the Same Name, Cambodia The province of Kampot off ers beaches, mountains, caves, waterfalls and an architectural gem of a town of the same name located on the banks of the river. Its close proximity to the sea makes it popular with Cambodians who love its Cham atmosphere and it’s sleepy, relaxed ambience. Tourists love it for the French colonial and Chinese architecture that still survives as well as the charming riverfront with bars and restaurants  from which to watch the sunset.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 6 Page 24.

The Man Who Saved the Whales

In the last half of the 19th century, whales were facing extinction.  They were hunted in large part because their oil was the best,  most affordable illuminant available to growing western nations.  One man more than any other headed off  their extinction, a man whose picture should be in on the wall of every Greenpeace office:  John D. Rockefeller, founder of the Standard Oil Company. It  is  an understatement to say that entrepreneurs of the 19th century like Rockefeller have a bad reputation.  As a group, they are called “robber barons,” a term that implies their wealth came purely from theft rather than from any value creation.  While it is said that “history is written by the victors”, I would observe that despite the fact that socialism and communism have been given a pretty good drubbing over the last 30 years, the statists still seem to be writing history.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 6 Page 14.

Tourism is Key to Cambodia’s Improving Economy

According to Cambodia Ministry of Tourism (MOT), the “Kingdom of  Wonder” attracted 2,161,577 visitors in 2009 and is projecting a 12% increase this year to 2.4 million. In the first seven months, the country recorded 1,423,505 arrivals, a 13.8% year-on-year increase. The top 10 markets were Vietnam (+51.3%), South Korea (+34.4%), China (+40.6%), USA (-4.4%), Japan (+8.4%), the UK (-4.19%), France (+1%), Taiwan (+32%), Australia (+17%), and Thailand (-10.4%). The unprecedented surge in arrivals from Vietnam is attributed to the December 2008 14-day visa-free agreement signed between the two countries.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 6 Page 10.

In Praise of the Tuk-Tuk

Let’s start with the name. “Tuk-tuk” is the name given to any motorized  rickshaw. It was fi rst developed in Thailand in the 1960s when the government banned the human-powered “pedicab”, citing both the danger to its driver and passengers, and the traffic havoc created, when human-powered and gasoline engines tried to share busy city streets. There was also dismay from humanrights advocates who charged that peddle-powered
pedicabs full of large Western tourists were an affront to the human dignity of their drivers.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 5 Page 38.

Cambodia’s “Great Lake”

The Tonlé Sap (Khmer for “Large Fresh Water River,” but more commonly translated as “Great Lake”) is a combined lake and river system of major importance to Cambodia. The Tonlé Sap is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia, an ecological hot spot designated by the United Nations as a “biosphere” site in 1997.
The Tonlé Sap is unique for two reasons: its fl ow changes direction twice a year; and the portion that forms the lake expands and shrinks dramatically with the seasons.  From November to May, Cambodia’s dry season, the Tonlé Sap drains into the Mekong River at Phnom Penh. However, when the year’s heavy rains begin in June, the Tonlé Sap backs up to form an enormous lake.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 5 Page 34.

South Korea Shows the Way

When I relocated from New York City to Seoul, South Korea’s capital, in 1996, I found the city vibrant and fascinating, but also surprisingly provincial. Koreans preferred their fermented kimchi over any other food, and
though I certainly enjoy the spicy staple of my homeland, the feebleness of my digestive system occasionally
demanded a respite from the chili-laden cabbage. In 1996, that proved challenging.  Aside from some fast-food joints and wallet-straining restaurants at five-star hotels, foreign cuisine was hard to come by.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 5 Page 30.

A Most Remarkable Man

Even Most Remarkable Man the barest outline of his life story is remarkable. Born October 31,  1922, Norodom Sihanouk, twice served as king of Cambodia (1941–55 and 1993–2004). He also served as prime minister, head of state, and president. He attempted to steer a neutral course for Cambodia in its civil and foreign wars of the late 20th century. He was born the grandson of a king. Had he been born into a different family, he probably would have devoted his career to his abiding love, fi lm making. He was born in Phnom Penh but educated in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) and Paris. As a youth he associated with artists and musicians.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 5 Page 26.

Private English-language Schools Fill Void

The bloody reign of the Khmer Rouge, and the subsequent war to expel  the Vietnamese invaders who deposed them, had many horrific consequences for Cambodia, not least of which was the  death or emigration of most of  the educated class in the country which included essentially all those able to read and write, and
teach, English.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 5 Page 24.

Cambodian Rail Line Reopened to Help Regional Trade

Cambodia has reopened a stretch of railway destroyed during the country’s war and officials described it as a step towards boosting regional trade through rail links with neighbors. The Asian Development Bank is contributing $84 million to a $141 million project to repair 400 miles of railway linking Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, to its borders with Thailand and Vietnam by 2013. Cambodia is providing $20 million, with Japan and Australia providing the balance. The fi rst section offi  cially opened in October runs 75 miles southwest from Phnom Penh to Touk Meas in Kampot province, near the border with Vietnam.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 5 Page 22.

Russian Tourists Find Bliss in Goa, While the Indian Government Tightens Visa Restrictions

Tired of city life and the notoriously harsh winter weather, Russians are  increasingly taking time out in Goa – and some aren’t going  home. But now India has in- creased visa restrictions in an attempt to curb the infl ux.
Five years ago, Yulia Solovyevlife was like that of any otheryoung professional coming fromthe provinces to Moscow insearch of a career. Mornings began with a quick cup of coffee in atiny rented room, a walk throughslushy streets to the metro, carriages packed with tired faces,and on to the bleak office whereshe
worked as an interpreter.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 5 Page 18.

Cambodia Geared To Host An Unforgettable Event

Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 13 December 2010 – This year’s ASEAN Tourism  Forum (ATF) TRAVEX (Travel
Exchange) 2011 registered an overwhelming response, with over 500 exhibition booths fully sold by end October 2010. All ten member-nations will be well-represented at this annual leisure travel trade event which
showcases the largest contingent of ASEAN destination products and services.   While some 1,000 buyers have registered their interest to source at the event, only 400 have been selected to att end under a privileged hosting programme. Buyer profile this year includes delegates from Asia-Pacific (55 percent), Europe (37 per cent) and  the rest of the world.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 5 Page 10.

Cambodian tourism on the cusp of a major boom

For a small nation and a bit out of the way for main air traffic along the so-called  kangaroo route from Australia to Europe or East Asia to South-east Asia, Cambodia is doing rather nicely with its tourism industry.
The temples of Angkor are easily the main tourist-puller, drawing more than a million of them each year and making the tidy little town of Siem Reap home to more than 10,000 hotel rooms of all star-categories.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 5 Page 8.

What makes a “5-Star” hotel a 5-Star hotel?

For years, the words “5 Star” and “luxury” were interchangeable when it  came to hotels. What many travelers
may not realize is that the 5-Star rating might be viewed most realistically as a semi-reliable standard, meaning different things in different places. But it is in general a good overall guide as to what to expect from a given hotel.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 4 Page 30.

The Russians Are Coming,

Visitors to Sihanoukville, Cambodia’s main beach resort, might be surprised by the sizeable number of  Russian tourists and residents. This beach resort, Cambodia’s most popular with a population of 150,000, is home to at least two Russian restaurants that serve home-made herring, pickles and borscht (Russian beet soup with sour cream), as well as a nightclub that plays Russian music that was built around an old Soviet aircraft.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 4 Page 28.

Cambodia Is Still a Hard Sell for Investment Companies

PHNOM PENH Douglas Clayton arrived in Phnom Penh in 2007 to start a  private equity fund, looking to get $100 million in funds under management. His fi rm, Leopard Capital, started in 2008, is one of four private equity funds here backed by overseas investors, and the first to have completed an investment.  “Anyone can announce they want to start a fund, but getting investors to back you is a challenge,” Mr. Clayton, Leopard’s chief executive and managing partner, said in an interview. “All the groups that started here had no track record, including us. It’s a doubly hard story to sell.”

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 4 Page 24.

Khmer cuisine: diverse, and original

To discover the cooking of Cambodia is to take a step back in time, to the era of  the kingdom of Angkor, the cradle of Khmer civilization. It was then that Cambodian cooking first developed its identity and began to flourish. Rarely written down, recipes were instead handed down from mother to daughter. From this ancient origin has come a traditional cuisine of unsuspected sophistication a unique blend of flavors and colors that enhance the always fresh, natural ingredients.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 4 Page 22.

Lions, Tigers and Bears...Wow!

While Cambodia is best known  for the mighty Angkor Wat  temples, beyond these temples the natural beauty of the country is waiting to be discovered. Cambodia offers many opportunities for adventure travel, and ecotourism, such as: trekking in tropical forests; sighting rare wildlife, water-based adventures on rivers and beaches, cycling along dirt roads through traditional villages, and more…

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 4 Page 20.

Culture Shock: Driving In Cambodia

Flying straight west, Cambodia is about 12,000 kilometers from my home in  Winnipeg, Canada. So, why am
I in Siem Reap city in Cambodia, hanging off  the back of a motorized rickshaw – known locally as a “tuk tuk” -  that’s piloted by a local man who apparently has a death wish? Let’s get back to that tuk-tuk in a minute.
Before my wedding in March, I worked double-time to be able to take three-and –a-half weeks off  for a honeymoon in Southeast Asia. While we visited Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, I fell in love with Angkor
Wat in Siem Reap Cambodia.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 4 Page 16.

Cambodia – Kingdom of Wonder… and a land of contrasts

Cambodia is a land of stark contrasts. It has stunning natural beauty,  the awe-inspiring temples and monuments of a great civilization, unique ecosystems, and it has made considerable progress from the dark days of the
Khmer Rouge regime of the  1970s. Nevertheless, in common with many developing countries, the benefits from this progress are not evenly spread. It is still one of the world’s poorest nations and unbelievable, grinding,
poverty is a brutal fact of life for many people.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 4 Page 14.

Cambodia’s New Anti-Corruption Law Goes Into Effect

More than 15 years after it was first proposed, Cambodia’s new anti-corruption law has gone into effect with the swearing-in of the first 14 special investigators. While critics complain that the law is still not up to international standards, it offers the hope of progress in an area of great concern to Cambodians foreign
residents and investors alike.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 4 Page 10.

Business Manners & Etiquette in Cambodia

When meeting a group of Khmers (Cambodians) you will always be introduced to the highest ranking person
first; similarly you should have the most senior of your group greet them. You should then introduce people in your group according to their rank, so that your Cambodian counterparts can understand the dynamics of the
group.  This is very important in a hierarchical society like Cambodia’s, where standing – and status – within the group are clear-cut and always recognized.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 4 Page 8.

Cambodia to pump oil in 2012

A Cambodian man fills a motorbike’s fuel tank along a street in Phnom Penh on July 1, 2010. Cambodia will begin pumping oil for the first time in December 2012 as it looks to tap the potential of its off shore reserves, the government said on July 1, 2010.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 3 Page 38.

The Slumdog Socialite

Standing on a mountain of rubbish in 40-degree heat, I found myself staring into the biggest pair of brown eyes I’d ever seen. They belonged to a little girl of about six.  Peeking from under a tarpaulin, she was looking at me with curiosity. Few tourists to Cambodia ever venture into this particular area. And who can blame them?
As my eyes finally moved from hers, I noticed she was barefoot and entirely naked. My heart lurched. I was sweltering in the merciless heat. The stench of rotting rubbish was overpowering. I was literally teetering on piles of rotting nappies, syringes, decomposing food and discarded cans and bottles.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 3 Page 28.

Common diseases during the “rainy season”

Each year during the rainy season you will notice that people are sick more oft en. With the air
cooler and more humid, a virus can cause many people to become sick. Children especially can become
sick quite easily during the rainy season.
Diseases that are common in the rainy season:
1.   Respiratory system infections.
2.   Diseases from mosquitoes; vectors such a Hemorrhagic fever and dengue fever.
3.   If there is flooding, you will see foot rot disease.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 3 Page 24.

Foods & Health Health Benefits of Brown Rice

What is Brown Rice?
Brown rice is also called ‘unpolished rice’ and is brown in color. It is actually how all rice looks before it goes
through the  process of polishing. Every rice grain has an outer layer of a slightly stiff  cover called the ‘hull’ or husk. The husk is always removed from the seed for both white and brown rice. Under this layer is a thin brownish layer called the ‘bran’ layer. This brownish layer on the rice seed clings to the seed and is removed through a polishing process. In the case of brown rice, the brownish bran layer is left  intact and only the top stiff  cover is removed.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 3 Page 18.

Khmer Wedding

A traditional Khmer wedding is one of the most joyous occasions for a Khmer family and typically lasts for three days. It is a grand aff air, full of color and festivity, as well as steeped in tradition. Family, friends, and
the community come together to share in the celebration. Musicians play throughout the day on traditional instruments, and the couple is dressed like royalty. The bride may change her outfi t several times in one day.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 3 Page 17.

Cambodian Traditional Practices & Personality

In Cambodia, people are educated to thank you every time someone has done a good thing for them. Cambodians are expected to be honest and polite at all times. Public challenges or disagreements are not
common behaviors. Cambodians usually won’t do anything that leads them to feel unsafe. Anger or indignation will upset others, which may be dangerous.  Khmer people are quite easy going, 90% of Cambodians are ethnic
Khmers and speak Khmer. The remaining 10 percent include Chinese-Khmers, Khmer Muslims, ethnic hill-tribe people, known as the Khmer Loeu,  and Vietnamese. About 10 per-cent of the population lives in
Phnom Penh, the capital, making Cambodia largely a country of rural dwellers, farmers and mostly Khmer artisans. The ethnic groups that constitute Cambodian society possess a number of economic and demographic
commonalties. For example. Chinese merchants lived mainly in urban centers and play middlemen in many economic cycles, but they also preserve differences in their social and cultural institutions. They were concentrated mostly in the central provinces and in southeastern Cambodia.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 3 Page 16. 

Culture, Customs & Traditions

Most of Cambodia’s population lives in rural areas as farmers.   In the countryside, houses are made of palm leaves and bamboo and are usually built on stilts to protect them from fl oods that occur annually.  A rural village is most oft en made up of a group of houses that center around a central area.  The husband is the head of the family,  Khmer Country Side he is responsible for providing the family’s shelter and food, while a wife controls her family’s fi nances. The Khmer wife is also considered the ethical and religious heart of her family. In  the countryside, her duties include caring for children, washing clothes, cleaning the house, and growing rice. Clothing is simple and material possessions are hard to come by.  Women tend to wear cott on shirts  with ankle length skirts. Men and women both wear a krama, a multipurpose cott on garment. Family life in the city is quite similar. The wife may also work outside the home.  In the city clothing is simple, Cambodians usually wear Western style clean nice looking clothes. Cambodian families typically have about five children.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 3 Page 14.

Religion Most Khmer Buddhist believe in the Four Noble Truths

Most Khmer are Buddhist and believe in the Four Noble Truths. These are:
 • All sentient beings suff er. Birth, death, and other separations are inescapably part of life.
 • The cause of suff ering is desire. Desire
is manifested by att achment to life, to security, to others, to being itself, etc.
 • The way to end suff ering is to cease to desire.
 • To  way  to  cease to desire is to  follow the Eightfold Path:
(1) right belief (2) right intent
(3) right speech, 4) right conduct (5) right endeavor or livelihood
(6) right effort
(7) right mindfulness
(8) right meditation.
Following the path leads to cessation of desire and to nirvana or emancipation from rebirth and the endless cycles  of  suffering. The picture is of the Buddha meditating, protected by Naga. Worship is at a  temple and at altars in individual homes. Worship at temples is usually led by one or more monks,  oft en with the gentle assistance by a lay elder.  As worship includes monks and congregation chanting in Pali or Bali they also burn joss sticks, and pray. Worship may be concluded by the monks eating their food. Buddhism believes that all bad Karma was created in the past, based upon beginning less greed, hatred and delusion. And born of body, mouth and mind., I now repent and reform. It is the well known Repentance Verse in Buddhism.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 3 Page 10.

Prime Minister’s Message...

Cambodia has gone through a rapid transition; starting from scratch aft er the civil war to the current situation in which the country enjoys peace, political and macro-economic stability and social progress. This favor
able environment is a prerequisite for the future growth and prosperity of Cambodia.  Based on this solid foundation, Cambodia has integrated itself into the region and the world and engaged in both bilateral and
multilateral cooperation, with special emphasis placed on establishing political, economic, cultural, trade and investment ties. The Royal Government of Cambodia welcomes public and private partnerships in Cambodia;
the government pays great attention to the business environment and promoting private sector competitiveness.
The Royal Government considers the private sector to be the engine of growth, with its own role that of strategist and manager of  the development, to ensure stability, transparency and predictability.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 3 Page 8.

There is a Black Cat around Cambodia

Liam Mackenzie has a white Bolognese doggy living in a black studio on a central street of Siem Riep City. His business card, his own design with a Liam Mackenzie stylish form at the side of a colorful fl owerstamp, says that he is photographer, teacher, friendly, graphic designer, funny, polite, intelligent, dependable, determined, organized, tall, awesome, patient, logical, lethargic, rider, loyal, modest, determined, proud, large, stubborn and quixotic. All those adjectives can be proven aft er talking with him in a studio of about 5X10 square meters of black walls, two desks, a black umbrella, some professional Cannon cameras and lights for taking photos. Photography in Cambodia is reduced to children and temples. His pictures are a real run through colors, lights, perspectives and unexplored sites from Australia to the Khmer lands.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 2 Page 32.

A Sea Change Late In Life Exodus to Cambodia

When I first arrived to settle in Thailand in the late 1990’s I wisely decided to board in a guest house in
Pattaya’s southern beachfront suburb of Jomtien, which was owned by a well known Australian Expat. The
“Hare & Hound” guesthouse was run by Mr. Graham Ingles, who had owned similar establishments in the
Kingdom for many decades; so talking to him and the long-time expats who regularly drank at his ground floor
beer bar was an essential education.

Graham was aff ectionately known as “Pa” by the Thai people because his wise advice was greatly respected and freely given by all who would respectfully listen. Conversely, Graham could be quite abrasive and somewhat sarcastic to those who tried to talk B/S to him by straying from the truth or taking him for a fool,
which he certainly was not.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 2 Page 30.

Boutique Villas in Siem Reap S For Original Tourism

Surely original tourism would be difficult to define. As originality means new proposals, then we have to show examples.  Sojourn Boutique Villas in Siem Reap is one of those experiences we can define as original. The idea is not to see only the fascinating millenarian rocks of the temples, but to meet the Cambodian traditions and culture.  Fiona Kidston and Anthony Jaensch are from Australia. A couple of young entrepreneurs that fell in love with Cambodia and decided to sett le in Siem Reap city with their business ideas for responsible tourism. It meant that, as foreigners  investing in the country, they would choose to operate their business ventures in a way that  would provide local Cambodian people with a benefit from their own success, while respecting their unique cultural identity. As with many expatriates that have decided to sett le in the country, they came six years ago for holidays and decided to stay. The fi rst decade of the century has been of special changes for a country like Cambodia: from the nightmares of wars, conflicts and misery, to a very dynamic developing nation that is attracting visitors and investors from everywhere in the globe. Fiona and Anthony have been direct witnesses of that change in the last five years.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 2 Page 29. 

Khmer MARKET Living the Experience!

Siem Reap Food Basket
Here, you can get a glance of what the cost of living is in the popular market. The modern malls just put European or Western prices to any product, expecting to get  Dollars from foreigners. If you are a tourist on a tight budget, you can be especially sensitive to prices. But anybody can enjoy buying in the Psah (the Khmer word for Market). The following is the food basket list in Psah Leu, the popular market at the National Road, not far from the bus station. Our Cambodian secretary who buys there every day, says to just compare prices with your own country. If you like to cook while you are in Cambodia, just buy what you need in the popular market and you will fi nd it easy to get along with Cambodians: (Prices will be noticably higher on or near major holidays).  

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 2 Page 26.

A question of Arrangement

Bride price, dowry, possession, obligation, and arranged marriage.  Words that instantly  make the average western woman cringe, and yet in Cambodia these are parts of every girl’s life, and never more so then at the announcement of her upcoming wedding.  Survey any group of western woman and reactions to bride prices and dowries certainly fall on the negative side. Yet, in Cambodia and in many parts of Asia the dowry is a sign of a future husband’s capability to provide, and look aft er his new wife. The concept is completely normal and being off ended by it, is seen as at best funny, or at worse, ill- advised and ignorant. Arranged marriages are alive and well in Cambodia. Most marriages have been arranged by parents rather than by the nuptials themselves.  Forced arrangements are now on the decline and girls have the right to refuse their parents, but in practice this is extremely uncommon.  Love is not necessarily a driving force and something that comes later, if at all.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 2 Page 25.

The Resurrection of Indradevi and Jayarajadevi, “Queens of the 12th Century Khmer Kingdom”

An ordinary day of temple exploration has led to an extraordinary discovery. Hidden in a narrow labyrinth of galleries, amid dark and moss-covered stone walls and ceilings in precarious danger of collapse; there stood before me two queens of the 12th century Khmer kingdom. It was unknown to the eyes of the world and the
Cambodians, who fondly remembered the queens through oral history with no pictures and rare writt en notes; nevertheless, ever present, these stately queens had endured the ravages of time, invading jungle, and human pillage. I proudly present to you the 12th century Khmer royals, Queen Indradevi and Queen Jayarajadevi. These sisters were the spouses, professors, and advisers of the beloved and most respected King Jayavarman VII, the prolific builders of temples, hospitals, and training centers for the people of Cambodia.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 2 Page 18.

Angkor National Museum The Legend Revealed

The Angkor National Museum is the most important museum dedicated to the Angkor civilization in Cambodia
and Asia.  It is located in Siem Riep  City, in the exclusive Charles de Gaulle Avenue, at the north of the National Road. Its collection, exhibited in eight galleries (the Exclusive    Gallery and the other ones identifi ed from A to G), numbers several masterpieces of theAngkor temples and it is the most complete representation of the culture, history and archeology of the Golden Age of Cambodia. The Charles de Gaulle Avenue is not far from the temples itself (about two kilometers from downtown). The facade keeps the harmony of the Angkorian unique architecture. Comparable to any modern museum in the world, it has a fast ticketing service system (and it is possible to book online), a Guide Map and Audio Tour Set (personal translation device) with eight languages (Khmer, English, German, Korean, Japanese, French, Chinese and Thai.)

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 2 Page 17.

Banking in Siem Reap Main banks in Siem Riep :

Siem Reap is a special city with a complete infrastructure for the needs of any kind of visitor. ATMs can be found along the most central streets and markets. Several foreign currencies are available in a good number of money exchange offices and banks. In a general sense, security is good, taking tof course the normal preventions as in any other country. Visa, Visa Plus, MasterCard, Maestro and Cirrus are accepted, among many others.

SBC Bank
Banking in Siem Reap
Main banks in Siem Riep :
SBC stands for Singapore Banking Corporation. It traced its presence in the Kingdom since 1993 and it’s present in most of the Cambodian provinces. In Siem Riep you can fi nd it in the Sivatha Street.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 2 Page 16.

Finances from Cambodia 2010 Economical Perspectives

The survey (it can be found at htt p:// www.iri.org) gathered a sample of 1,600 Cambodians older than 18 years from the 24 provinces and a separate group of 400 Muslim Cambodians. Officials and their families were
excluded from the survey. 79 % of inquired people believe that Cambodia is going to the right direction because it has now more roads (76 %), more schools (61 %), more health clinics (29 %), more pagodas (21 %), more bridges (17 %), less poverty (17 %), more irrigation built (16 %), better water and electricity supply (11 %), good business environment (11 %) and more peace (11 %).  21 % say that the country is going in the wrong direction because there is more corruption (38%), still poverty (29 %), prices of goods are too high (29 %), nepotism (29 %), prices of crops are low for farmers  12 APRIL - JUNE , 2010 (17 %), business is doing poor (13 %), gasoline and energy is too high (12 %), not enough jobs (12 %), threats to take land from people (11 %) and poor infrastructure (10 %).

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 2 Page 14.

ANGKOR WAT... At the Center of the World

A NGKOR WAT was built under the reign of SURYAVARMAN II (1113 - 1150) and it is the  biggest temple of the Angkor civilization. It can be translated as City Temple and  became a national emblem of Cambodia (the national flag represents three of its central towers). The complex is located six kilometers (3.72 miles) at the north of Siem Riep downtown and one kilometer (0.62 miles) at the south of Angkor Thom. This is a place that has inspired visitors thru the centuries. The City of the Temples, the City of the Pagodas, the Sacred City, the National Temple and many other places have tried to describe the impressions of those who get in contact with it for the first time. Angkor Wat is a square of 210 hectares oriented to the West, unlike the other temples. Its whole structure represents Mount Meru in the Hindu traditions, the Sacred Mountain that is considered the center of the universe and the home of Lord Brahma and the Devas.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 2 Page 8.

The King and the Wat Damnak Library

This is the Center for Khmer Studies that was opened on the 15th of January  by King Norodom Sihamoni, in a moving blessing ceremony.  The time of war for Cambodia meant the destruction of books and thinkers. The recovery from this disaster is in the process of rescuing the most selective cultural identity of the survivors of the ancient Angkor civilization. To do so, we need to proceed to resurrect the history, art, traditions and society of Cambodians. At the same time, Cambodia has established its place in the South East  Asian region.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 2 Page 6.

SieDl Keap-Angkor Desilk's owner, Rasmey Keo is a young aspiring Cambodian business woman of Chinese heritage

Keo has dedicated her life to raising funds to support the construction of schools in rural Cambodia providing
sustainable quality education for Cambodia's neediest children. She has also provided financial and logistical support for numerous local organizations that work with disadvantaged children to obtain vocational training and work placement. The talented and multi - lingual Keo is well educated with a 5 years University Degree in Economics. Her first position was as a customer service agent for a Travel & Tour agency and later becoming an accountant for the Cambodian Public Bank, a multi - year best customer service award winner for all of Cambodia.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 1 Page 14.

HONG KONG OR The easiest way to get to Koh Kong in south western Cambodia

Many of Pattaya's expats escape the madness of Patfaya's annual Song Kran event, by holidaying in fhe Philippines or Hong Kong, but there is an easier and cheaper alternative. Simply travel south to the last remairung narrow strip of Thai territory! cross into Cambodia, and within lO-Kms you find yourself crossing a modern 1.9 Km. bridge into the beautiful little fishing & Iourist town of Koh Kong. While everybody knows that the former British coLony Hong Kong is situated on the south western coastline of China, it is probably only' dedicated travelers to southern Cambodia, who know where the small coastal town of Koh Kong is
located.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 1 Page 12.

FINANCES FROM CAMBODIA

We start a new year and the eyes of the global markets are expecting best numbers in 2010. The last 18 months were the worst in economy in the world since the 1930s Great Dep'ression. Especially huge economies like US, Japan ana Britain suffered the consequences of the sudden crush of several markets around the world duiring the first months of the year. Just the fear to the financial chaos rose the numbers of unemployment, worsened the situation of immigrants, caused cuts in exports and imports and reduced tourism around the globe.



Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 1 Page 8.

Phnom Penh, 575 Years Younger...

Phnom Penh Municipality
opened the celebrations of the 575th Anniversary of the foundation of the city in Wat Phnom, the Sacred Hill hold to be the historical spot that gave name and identity to the Cambodian capital. With a trade fair, music concerts and fireworks on December 30th and 31st, the city administration welcomed the new year with the assistance of several personalities, among them more than one thousand officials from the nine districts of the capital, students, locals and visitors.

Read More in Cambodia Insight Website on Issue 1 Page 6.