Asean: Asia's Perfect 10

Angelina Jolie's Journey to Cambodia

2011-07-19T11:59:00.000+08:00

Ancient bronze back boat returns to Cambodian National Museum

2011-07-12T15:04:00.003+08:00

Read more on Phnom Penh Post

"Image from Phnom Penh Post"

AN ancient bronze boat prow ornament from the finest flowering of the Khmer empire has been handed over to the National Museum of Cambodia by retired Thai-based collector Douglas Latchford.

The intricately cast bronze, dating from between 1080-1181, is the only one of its kind ever found.

“This particular one is also depicted in the stone relief on the south wall of the Bayon temple,” said Latchford, who has been collecting Khmer and Indian art for the past 50 years.

Cambodia Scene in Transformer 3

2011-07-08T16:20:00.001+08:00

In one small part of this massively hit film, there is a 11-sec scenes taken in Cambodia:

ASEAN-China youth leaders to form association

2011-06-27T11:08:00.000+08:00

[NOTE]: Taken completely and directly from http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7421476.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

The youth leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China (ASEAN-China) on said he will establish an ASEAN-China Youths' Association aimed at building closer relations and cooperation and sharing experience.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of a two-day ASEAN-China youth leaders symposium on Sunday, Sok Theavuth, youth leader of Cambodia, said that the meeting agreed to work toward the establishment of the ASEAN-China Youths' Association in order to promote linkage, share experience, and to ensure that the voice of youths remain be heard, considered, and recognized by respective governments of the ASEAN member states and China.

"We will give our suggestion for the establishment of the association to the ASEAN-China leaders at the 14th Summit in Indonesia in November 2011," he said.

Meanwhile, Cambodian Secretary of State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Kao Kim Hourn said that youth leaders are playing an important role to further nurture and boost the relations between the ASEAN-China.

"As the future leaders, they can be a valuable asset to further build trust and promote mutual understanding between and among our peoples of ASEAN and China," he said during closing the symposium.

The symposium was attended by approximately 65 youth leaders from the ASEAN countries and China aimed at building closer regional friendship relations and cooperation.

Wu Jing, associate professor at China's Guizhou University, said that ASEAN and China are good neighbors and good strategic partners.

"We are confident that with concerted efforts of all parties, China-ASEAN will hold out immense prospects of development toward a regional prosperity," she said.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Source:Xinhua

The Lost Pop Music Of South East Asia

2011-06-12T08:15:00.002+08:00

A large portion of Asian pop music from the 1960s and 1970s has been lost.
Asking the locals about Asian pop music from the past is a bit like asking about ancient archeological treasures..... not easy to find. Nontheless it did not stop me from trying to hunt down some of these lost treasures. My travels have taken me to little Indonesian backstreet shops and markets.
Due to the extreme rarity of early 60s/70s rock'n'roll music from SE Asia, I would not dare to hope that any true collector would ever sell me any good condition tapes or vinyl records. As for the original master tapes, if they still exist, they would be beyond my poor man's bank account. But I would be very happy to have a transfer to CD of the original recordings. A good home computer can make a relatively nice transfer from old records to the CD format.
Hmmm...... then again, if any of you folks out there should come across a groovy looking record in a second-hand shop....... let me know, OK.
Even though it isn't Indonesian, I'll tell you this little music snippet.
In Australia I tracked down the obscure folk/rock duo Fred Dyer and Terry Fielding, who in the late 60s/early 70s, had recorded some psych/fuzz Carnaby Street-ish stuff, as well as music with a folk or country sound, including their ode to Moby Dick. The song was simply called "The Whale". This song tribute to the great whale and author Herman Melville, was something I had wanted as badly as Captain Ahab wanted revenge upon the whale that took his leg. I was obsessed with the search for this song. I remembered hearing it as a kid on the old car radio, sort of like a theme song for our dawn patrol surfaris, as my father drove into the darkness, on our way to the surf beaches. With the doom laden chorus echoing in my head, I would ponder the enigmatic ocean, as I lay on my surfboard.
Many years later I tried to find this song, but no CD shop had any information about it, and they had never heard of the musicians Fielding & Dyer. Even a long search on the internet, over many years, revealed nothing. Vanished like a ghost.
By pure chance I came across the lyrics and guitar tabs in the Mudcat Folk Music Forum. Best thing - it was posted by Fred Dyer himself and included his email. From there on it was easy. Mr Dyer was surprised that someone still remembered his obscure independent release from 38 years ago, and more than happy to transfer his old record to CD on his home computer and send me several copies, autographed by himself and his old music mate Terry Fielding.

So my point is that the old Indonesian and other SE Asian pop music is definitely still out there........ somewhere.
It is just a matter of finding the right person to ask.

My Sincere Apology

2011-06-02T16:37:00.003+08:00

To Those Who May Concern

First of all, I would like to express my regret in my inability to response to your emails which have been sent to me in between July 2010 until now. I was away from our official email, and as I returned to manage it, I found myself miss lots of interaction opportunity.

This is my complete mistake as the main contributor. I am sorry that those who had sent me email did not get the appropriate response from the blog. We hope you would not find this disturbing as we are now also facing difficulty in running this blog.

But we still keep our believe in this blog, this movement. And thus, THIS BLOG WILL NEVER CEASE TO EXIST.

As the main contributors, I have nothing but my proclamation that there will be new posts coming, sooner or later. AND also that from now on, the MAILBOX WILL BE MONITORED IN A MORE REGULAR BASIS.

I hope this post can ensure all of you out there, who wish to send us articles for posting.

I sincerely apology for my lacks of commitment and I therefore vow to perform better as the team captain.

With Friendship, True Love or Brotherhood

Chhaly Samsokrith, Main Contributor of Asia's Perfect 10

Southeast Asian Masterpieces

2010-07-15T13:05:00.002+08:00

Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity

The Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity was made by the Director-General of UNESCO starting in 2001 to raise awareness on intangible cultural heritage and encourage local communities to protect them and the local people who sustain these forms of cultural expressions.

Several manifestations of intangible heritage around the world were awarded the title of Masterpieces to recognize the value of the non-material component of culture, as well as entail the commitment of states to promote and safeguard the Masterpieces.Further proclamations occurred biennially until 2005.

To date, a total of 90 Masterpieces from 70 countries have been proclaimed. It's a long list, but I would like to focus on Southeast Asian masterpieces.

~Cambodia~
The Royal Ballet of Cambodia

Sbek Thom, Khmer Shadow Theatre

~Indonesia~
The Wayang Puppet Theatre

The Indonesian Kris

The Indonesian Batik

~Malaysia~
Mak Yong Theatre

~Philippines~
The Darangen Epic of the Maranao People of Lake Lanao

~Vietnam~
Nha Nhac, Vietnamese Court Music

Space of Gong Culture

The Quan ho folk songs

BacCamp Phnom Penh 2010 [3]

2010-07-06T22:18:00.000+08:00

BarCamp Phnom Penh 2010 September 25th- 26th

PHNOM PENH – The most anticipated and friendly technology-related event will arrive on September 25th and 26th 2010 at University of Puthisastra (UP) with the support of an open group of IT personnel, bloggers, and the nonprofit and business community. Dubbed as “BarCamp Phnom Penh” which was influenced by California’s 2005 innovative “impromptu” gathering The BarCamp, this is the third time the event takes place in Cambodia’s capital of Phnom Penh. An estimation of 1,000 information technology enthusiasts (local and international) are expected to show up at this “unconference” meeting.

With momentum gained from our previous BarCamp Phnom Penh events (2008 and 2009) the organizing teams are hard at work developing an innovative BarCamp Phnom Penh 2010.

“The idea is to bring the like-minded people together to witness the greatness of the BarCamp” Said Samsokrith, known as Denith, who joined the organizing team this year. “It is the time when people are free to share and at the same time, being shared. You cannot tell how much you improve after participating in such event but I can tell that if you truly follow its rules, you will find the excitement of the event. And the rule is simple: participate.”

“How the BarCamp works is relatively easy. If you have a topic, and you want to present or discuss about it, post that topic on the presentation slot on the board and then you’ll be given a room and time to do your presentation or discussion with the participants.” Denith added.

Last year, the BarCamp Phnom Penh received enormous support from prospective sponsors like Ezecom, Sabay, InSTEDD, Open Institute, Yejj, Yellow Page, House Thirty-Two, Pizza World, T&C etc. We are hoping that this year, these companies and more within our tech community will join us to help make this a historic event again. Their contributions will add attractions and excitement to this upcoming event in addition to the opportunity to present themselves to the public.

With our plan to bring more activities to the event, we are hoping to attract a bigger number of participants and to help them to see more of the beauty of BarCamp concept, and altogether, participate in a dynamic discussion of the national and regional technological evolution we are undergoing, where technology is a fast growing part of our daily life. Come and join us if you are also looking forward to see a bigger and more exciting BarCamp Phnom Penh this year.

Registration opens at: http://barcampphnompenh.org

Chantra Be
Lead Organizer, BarCamp Phnom Penh
Chantra.be [at] gmail [dot] com
Mobile: (+855) 12 316 781

We're back

2010-06-02T11:41:00.002+08:00

Dear both supporters and contributors

I feel quite embarrassed that the blog was dead for a few months this year. It was as if there is no more works to do for this blog. I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you that, this blog will never ends, no matter what, as long as I'm alive.

All contributors to this blog has become very busy at the moment, that is the main cause of the long halt of incoming posts. But the blog has been visited regularly, and I am very proud of this, to my contributor, supporters, followers and subscribers.

But now, I can re-assure you that the blog will be active again, and more posts will be coming. Thank you for visiting our blog and hope you enjoy reading our articles.

Big thanks and good luck

Samsokrith Chhaly

Cambodia to host ASEAN-US military exercise 2010

2010-06-01T09:34:00.000+08:00

Cambodia to host ASEAN-U.S. military exercise in 2010

PHNOM PENH, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will host a large-scale ASEAN-U.S. military exercise in 2010, Khmer-language newspaper the Deum Ampil said on Tuesday.

"It is an honor for Cambodia to be chosen by ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and superpower U.S. as the location for such a large-scale international military exercise," Pol Saroeurn, Commander-in-Chief of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), told the paper.

"We will take efforts to make it a success," he said, adding that he will also instruct all his subordinates to be careful with the work.

The Sihanoukville port will be used as the maritime location ofthis military haul, the paper also quoted a governmental official as saying on condition of anonymity.

Cambodia once joined international military exercises respectively in Bangladesh and Mongolia and also sent peacekeepers to Sudan for de-mining operation under the U.N. umbrella.

In April 2008, 40 Cambodian soldiers participated in a three-week multi-national peace-keeping exercise in Bangladesh.

The U.S.-led mission was named "Ambassador of Peace" and involved some 400 soldiers from 12 countries, including Bangladesh,India, Indonesia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Nepal, Brunei,Mongolia, Tonga, Cambodia and U.S.

In July 2007, 43 Cambodian soldiers took part in a military exercise for UN peacekeeping mission in Mongolia.

In addition, Cambodia sent 135 deminers to Sudan in 2006 for UN peacekeeping mission, and then 139 in June 2007 to replace the oldones. The deminers were renewed again

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/...nt_10933685.htm

Elly Tran ha

2010-05-24T23:34:00.003+08:00

Source:
Elly Tran Ha (otherwise known as Elly Kim Hong, 阮金紅), is a pretty Vietnamese model who recently got famous on the Internet as her photos are circulated. She is 22 years old this year (2009) and is an American-borned-Vietnamese, who has recently moved back to Vietnam from the USA. She works as a part-time model while furthering her studies.

Basic information about Elly Tran Ha 阮金紅

Real name: Tran Ha 阮金紅
Nick name: Elly
Blood type: A
Date of birth: 08-06-1987
Height: 168cm
Weight: 47kg
Measures: 88:58:90
Location: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Elly Tran ha

2010-05-24T23:34:00.000+08:00

Asean-China Free-Trade Zone - Are You Ready?

2009-12-29T18:45:00.001+08:00

There are! But if like me you are only a regular citizen, we will not notice it or even bother with these new things from the ASEAN organization. Example, the Asean-China Free-Trade Agreement, heard of it? Maybe, but most of us did not pay attention.

Here's the news, the Asean-China FTA will take effect when the clock strikes midnight of January 1, 2010 UTC+0800. That means, all trade goods under the agreement will have no more tariffs (and some goods will have less import taxes instead).

(Originally posted at: Snow World)

What does it mean? It will give traders from China an easy way to export their products on Asean countries - at the same price level or even less than what we offer locally! Example rice, we all know (especially if you live in the Philippines and VietNam) that the rice from China are *ehemm* superior than what we offer. Additionally, their labor is cheaper too.

Starting January 1, 2010, Chinese farmers with their superior rice and cheap labor will be able to export their product in any Asean country at the same price or even less than what our local farmers can offer. Previously, these imported rice have to be sold higher because of the tariffs or import taxes.

It is only one of the many example and is always the number one worry of many agricultural-based countries like the Philippines, VietNam, Indonesia, and India (<-- India is worries that the Asean-India FTA will mean the superior Asean products will kill their local industry).Maybe by now you are worried too. We should! But let us not forget that these free-trade zone agreements are two-way. Meaning, we can export our respective superior products over to China and compete with their local products (and don't we always say that their products fails miserably in quality control?)

This is competition. In a world that is going global (in all sense of the word), the only way left for us to survive and possibly push our economy up is to compete globally.

Going back to our example, if for example the Philippine Government and Farmers wants to stick with rice farming and not explore other opportunities then why not adapt China's rice and methods? My cousin who graduated from UPLB and his batchmates were sent to China years ago to do just that!

Sadly, after they returned with the knowledge and technology, local NGOs and farmers refused to accept this new rice and methods. Now the Asean-China FTA is here to stay, we are now worried of what it can do to our local farmers.

Tell me if I am missing something here, but as far as what I heard, local groups and farmers just do not want to accept this new thing. They are afraid of change.

Secondly, I do not understand why our government is still holding on the rice industry. I think it is time that we refocus our energy and time to an industry that will give us a better return in the long run. For example the BPO (aka call-center) industry.

The BPO industry is beyond "free-trade zones", there is nothing to import and export in this industry. Our government should spend less on industries (and people) who refuses any help and upgrades and redirect it to those that will benefit from it.

Or how about the gaming industry? Today's generation of Filipinos are too much into gaming, I'm sure many of those gamers are dreaming of creating their very own games!

How about our graduating Nurses? Instead of them going abroad why don't we build a project that will keep them right here at home? We also have the animation industry, maybe I am not exaggerating when I say that Filipinos were involved in many of the popular animations in the world.

And of course electronics, Filipinos are known to be good manufacturers of electronic products. If we can improve this industry then one day we will be able to compete head-on with China.

Give China the rice industry to rule. Let us concentrate on industries where we are not yet far behind or still far ahead from China. Let us improve those industries and dominate their own market right at their home.

Now if anyone will say "but China is huge, sooner or later they will dominate us" then we might as well surrender our sovereignty and join the People's Republic of China (that's what they want anyway).

The Asean-China Free-Trade zone is here to stay. January 1, 2010 will be a new world for all of us Aseans. We may not notice its effects but it will be there around us.

It is up to you my fellow Asean to find that industry where China is still weak, improve those industries before China does, and we will have the Asean-China FTA working for us more than it does for China.

Happy New Year Asean Citizens!! Let's face 2010 together!

(Originally posted at: Snow World)

Good reads:

In Southeast Asia, Unease Over Free Trade Zone

Manila proceeds with ASEAN tariff deal

Ancient Angkorian Highway

2009-12-02T08:37:00.000+08:00

A map of the most important Khmer sites during the Khmer Empire! There are stone highways, canals, and bridges connected to the Angkor-Phimai temples, Angkor-Wat Phou temples, Angkor-Sambor prei kuk temples, Beng Melea-Wat Phou, Angkor- Roy et, and many many more!

GUY NICHOLSON

WAT PHU CHAMPASAK, LAOS — From Saturday's Globe and Mail Published on Saturday, Feb. 04, 2006 2:37AM EST Last updated on Sunday, Apr. 05, 2009 1:26AM EDT

Standing below the ruins of Wat Phu Champasak, it's easy to see why kings and temple builders lavished attention on this spot for several hundred years. At midmorning on a weekday, it's less obvious why I can see just three other Westerners visiting one of the most venerated shrines in Southeast Asia.

The crumbling pile of palaces, galleries and balustrades occupies the lower slope of a mountain long sacred to the people of southern Laos. Water said to be holy seeps from the rocks behind the exquisitely carved sanctuary at the temple's highest level, and I can just pick out the Mekong River's muddy brown flow a few kilometres to the east. The location is as remarkable now as it must have been in the fifth century, when the first stones were laid.

This astonishing ancient monument, home to a festival attended by thousands every February, was linked for centuries by a stone road to the fabled Angkor temples of what is now northwestern Cambodia and on to a host of related sites in Thailand. [size=5][size=5]If it still existed today, it would be a cultural and historical superhighway comparable to the Inca Trail or the Silk Road,[/size][/size] but the route was already long overgrown by the time the region's modern borders were drawn in the colonial era. The revolutions of the 1970s closed temples and borders alike.

Geography and security issues have long made it cumbersome and dangerous to visit these ruins as a united whole. While Thailand is accessible to visitors, Cambodia and Laos have been slow to open up.

The last political barrier has finally fallen in the past couple of years, allowing adventurous tourists to transit a remote and unofficial border area less than 100 kilometres from Wat Phu. When the infrastructure improves, there's every chance that tourist demand will resurrect the historic connection between Laos and Cambodia.

For now though, overland travel along this route remains something of an adventure. I've picked up the trail at Angkor and its gateway town, Siem Reap, where tourist arrivals reached nearly 700,000 last year.

It's becoming impossible to find the kind of solitude that used to prevail here -- a disappointment for those hoping to play Indiana Jones or Laura Croft, but a welcome development for mainstream visitors and the Cambodian economy. Security is no longer a major issue, new hotels and restaurants are opening every week and road development is making it simple to visit formerly remote ruins such as Beng Melea and Koh Ker.

However, the tarmac does not extend to Laos, just 200 kilometres to the northeast. So, although it's possible to cheat and take a 45-minute flight across the border, the next leg of my trip begins with a ride on a fast boat south to Phnom Penh.

Just after dawn, our ferry leaves the chaotic landing of Chong Khneas, winds down a spindly river and guns its motors at the mouth of Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. I sit on the speedboat's roof for the whole five-hour trip, trying to avoid sunburn but unwilling to miss sights of the stilt homes and dry-season rice paddies flashing past.

Phnom Penh was my home for three years and it is the hub of Cambodia's slowly improving transportation network, so I feel a wave of nostalgia when the boat deposits us at the capital's doorstep. I book a ticket on a small "minibus" -- a creaky van, really -- heading north the next morning.

When dawn breaks, our driver already has us outside the capital and is laying steadily on the horn as he weaves across both lanes, forcing smaller oncoming vehicles to the shoulder, as per Cambodian custom. We pass through Skuon -- a crossroads known for fried spiders, a local delicacy -- before half the passengers have even woken up. We pass Kampong Cham and turn onto a rutted red-dust road.

We are entering a part of the country that is geographically distinct from tabletop-flat central Cambodia -- rice fields give way to scrub forest as we climb slowly into the highlands that lead to Vietnam. There are also cultural differences; beside one particularly dusty stretch of road sits a mosque used by the Cham, Cambodia's main religious minority.

It has been barely five hours by the time we arrive in the riverside town of Kratie, and I have a decision to make. Stay the night, or push closer to the border? A glance at the town and a grumbling in my stomach persuade me to stay, and I'm rewarded with the kind of afternoon that comes only with travelling overland: I watch Irrawaddy dolphins on the Mekong, peruse the town's crumbling French-colonial architecture and join locals at the riverside to watch a fiery sunset.

Early the next morning, I'm aboard another minibus with Laos in my sights. The road to Stung Treng has much in common with the road to Kratie, except that there's even less pavement. We slowly navigate over potholes the size of truck beds and the dust from passing trucks begins to filter in through the bus's tattered floorboard. It's early afternoon by the time we reach Stung Treng -- just in time to catch another speedboat.

However, unlike the heavy-duty vessel that carried tourists south from Siem Reap, this boat feels fragile -- little more than a few planks of wood with a large outboard motor. For an hour and a half, my knees get intimate with my chin as we slalom through a course of rocks, sandbars and whirlpools. It's the dry season and the Mekong's waters are low.

Docking at the Cambodian border post is obviously a cultural experience for the five other tourists crammed into the speedboat, and for the six energetic French seniors we meet passing through in the other direction. Bargaining strategy is plotted as the groups negotiate with guards over the size of bribe -- this is, after all, an "unofficial" crossing. My basic Khmer language skills get me off the hook for half the others' rate: about $1.20 instead of $2.30. But I have no such privileges on the Lao side of the river. At least I'm finally across the border.

Although the southern tip of Laos is more than 700 kilometres by road from Vientiane, the capital, there is plenty to see in this region. Just north of the border, the Mekong widens to reveal a delta of sandbars and rapids known as Si Phan Don --- literally 4,000 islands -- where there is a low-key but growing tourism industry. Pakse and Savanakhet are old French market towns whose colonial shop houses are crumbling into picturesque neglect even as proximity to nearby Thailand fuels their new economies.

But I haven't spent three long days in the sticks for anything but the holiest temple ruins in Laos, and Wat Phu Champasak fails to disappoint. Ground was broken here under the Chenla civilization that ruled Cambodia and southern Laos in the fifth century, but the structures remaining today were built several hundred years later, during the Angkor period.

The similarity to Cambodia's temples is striking as I walk down an entrance causeway between two dry reservoirs and pass matching sandstone palaces, barely restored despite the temple's 2001 designation as a World Heritage Site. One suspects this will change if the moneyed masses start arriving.

I can feel the late-morning heat as I climb a sagging laterite staircase through a corridor of white-blossomed frangipani trees. This sanctuary is much higher than what you see south of the border, where builders were forced to construct their own mountains. The lintel carvings here are as exquisite as any of its type, speaking to the fact that this began life as a Hindu monument, like many Khmer ruins converted to modern Buddhist use.

With a quiet moment to spare, I pause near the bottom to consider a tiny structure just south of the stairs. [size=5]Beside it are several chunks of rock imbedded in a row -- remnants of the 1,000-year-old stone road leading south to Angkor.[/size] They lead nowhere now but the dense undergrowth, yet I remain impressed -- after all, this remains the second-best road from Cambodia.

A Trip to Koh Kong

2009-11-04T11:20:00.012+08:00

A Land dubbed as the next Hong Kong

This article is about my trip and my impression over this land. I actually travelled to its city, Koh Kong city, but have reached some destinations along the road there. What I can tell about this land is that it has both potential for tourism and industrial revolution.

The journey to Koh Kong was quite a long one, if you prefer to drive in a reasonable speed to enjoy the beauty of nature surrounding there. It took me 5 and a half hours to reach Koh Kong city. The road was in good condition, there were several spots that need repairing or more attentions. But all in all, the road is reliable. Reaching Koh Kong, we can witness plenty types of landscape, ranging from mountainous to sea side. We can relax during our travelling hour because the scenic views of nature along the road will sap away your stresses. In past time, it is difficult and requires more time to reach Koh Kong, but the government built four important bridge to make the journey faster and easier. The four bridges are Srae Ambel Bridge, OngDong Tek Bridge, Tropeng Roong Bridge and Ta Tai Bridge.

We can say that with these four bridges, it is less costly to travel to Koh Kong as well, because there used to be ferries rent to transport us to other shore, now it is unnecessary. The road could be a long.dragging one because there are hundreds of turning point and the driver needs to have extra cautions in order to maintain the overall safety of the travel. However, there is no many accidents reported, so no need to worry. You can also rest for every time you reaches any of the four bridges, because there will be villages locate there and you can find several things to can buy.

For 5 hours of travelling, you'll arrive at Koh Kong, a land of a new hope for Cambodia. It has several interesting areas such as the Koh Kong resort, Koh Kong Special Economic Zone, Koh Kong Safari World Prey Koang Kang and many other areas. Eventhough beach is scarce at Koh Kong city, we can access the beach through the Koh Kong resort. The beach is good enough for a good sea sight, but not for some other activities because the area is located near the disputed area and the Thai troops will not welcome any "intrusion." In Koh Kong city, you can also find the longest bridge in Cambodia, which is 1,900 meters long and serve as a connection to Koh Kong resort. Koh Kong Special Economic Zone is the most interesting topic, because it is hinted that a Korean vehicle assembly factory will be built there, and many more to come. The Zone is the prospect of the future economic development of Cambodia and for this, Koh Kong has been considered to rise rivals to Hong Kong. The Zone is easily found, but I could not provide details about entry. One other interesting part of Koh Kong city is Prey Koang Kang, which is a mangrove tropical forest. It was initially preserved and re-structured in 1997 and in present day, it is opened for tourists and there is a handful of projects related to the area like hotels, restaurants, and other resorts. Koh Kong Safari World Is another places to visit and we can enjoy our moments with the animals.

Koh Kong, along with Kep and Shihanouk Ville, can give you all a great time with the sea and the mountains. It is also part of Cardamom Mountains and Kirirom National Parks thus nature is abundant . I recommend this place for a "getting-away-from-the-hard-day" resting visit because Koh Kong would offer us many kinds of activities and scenic views. The fresh air is also a healer of stressful head and headaches.

Cambodia becomes permanent member of World Heritage Committee

2009-10-28T08:50:00.000+08:00

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) — Cambodian Prime Minister on Tuesday expressed his warmly welcome as Cambodia becomes the permanent member of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) of UNESCO in 17th general assembly in France.

“ It is a new pride for our country that became fully permanent member of the world heritage committee,” Hun Sen told over 2,000 students in graduation ceremony of a university in Phnom Penh. “ Itwill promote the image and prestige of the Kingdom of Cambodia on the world arena,” he added.

On behalf of new permanent member of the WHC, Cambodia will implement its mission with high responsibility and will strengthen the cooperation with other countries, he said.

“ We will enhance capacity building and study multi experiences with the world heritage committee, UNESCO, and other international forums,” he stressed.

Moreover, Hun Sen said that Cambodia will do more to follow the common purposes in the WHC that has been working on conservation, culture and heritage development. “ We have to enhance more international cooperation to move forward of conservation and heritage development.”

The Kingdom of Cambodia was elected as a member of the WHC thanks to her richness in cultural properties and history including intangible cultural properties, several of which were inscribed on the World Heritage List, namely the Royal Ballet, the Shadow Theater, Angkor area, and the Temple of Preah Vihear, the premier said.

Cambodia becomes one of 21 permanent members which represent 186 countries in the world in the 17th general assembly of world heritage committee that is held from Oct. 23 to 28, 2009 in Paris, France at UNESCO Headquarters.

Cambodia became a member of UNESCO in 1951.

Some Malaysian Food Scenes

2009-10-16T16:23:00.005+08:00

In Malaysia, the golden word of the Malaysian society is 'makan', which means 'eat' in Malay. Indeed, food is Malaysia's favourite, if not national pastime. This is due to the wide and diverse variety of cuisines available, a reflection of the country's multicultural society. This national love of food makes it Malaysia's most powerful uniting factor, which is why despite the recent race politics rocking the country the Malay will still unhesitatingly enjoy roti canai, the Indian his steaming hot plate of char kuay teow and the Chinese ordering nasi lemak without thinking twice.

Malaysia's cuisine does not only consists of Malay, Chinese, Indian and the lesser-known Dayak, but Nyonya food as well. Nyonya food is a fusion of Chinese and Malay recipes and styles of cooking as the community itself is a result of intermarriages between the Chinese and Malays in olden times. Local cuisines can be widely found in hawker stalls (sometimes called mamak for those serving Indian food), kopitiams (coffee shops) and restaurants as well; although the more popular places for enjoying local food would be at the former two. In fact, it is not uncommon to see people of varied financial and social status eating next to each other under the din of coffee shop chatter or clouded by sweet-smelling smoke and steam arising from the hawkers' humble woks.

Of course, as Malaysia moves alongside other nations of this world, foreign cuisine makes its way to the country and into the welcoming stomachs of eager Malaysians. In fact, foreign cuisine is enjoyed as much as local cuisine is and both exist harmoniously on the menu. Examples of common foreign cuisine available in this country are Western and other Asian varieties, such as Japanese, Thai, Middle Eastern and others. Popular franchises such as KFC, McDonald, Burger King, Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks are also easily found and softens the impact of cultural shock. However it is also not uncommon to see these fast-food outlets offering local twists to their menu.

Malaysia has an active food scene, with new eating hang-outs popping up every now and then. This topic aims to introduce Malaysia's inimitable food scene - from what's good to eat, to where as well as various good food blogs - which while eagerly embracing foreign tastes also takes fierce pride in its local gastronomic heritage.

Nasi Lemak
Nasi lemak basically means 'rice in cream', as the rice is first soaked in coconut cream and then steamed. This gives the rice its distinctive light, creamy flavour. Sometimes pandan (screwpine) leaves will be added as the rice steams to give it some fragrance.

Nasi lemak usually comes with accompaniments such as a slice or two of hard-boiled egg, sambal ikan bilis (spicy anchovy condiment), cucumbers slices and salted fish. It is traditionally served on banana leaf or oil-absorbing brown paper, but nowadays you can find it in a polysterene lunchbox or simply wrapped in plastic. You may also have it served on a plate.

Nasi Dagang
Means 'trader's rice' in Malay. Also known as Nasi Dagae in the Kelantanese dialect. It is a popular dish of the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, especially in Kelantan and Terengganu. Consists of reddish-brown rice cooked in coconut milk and accompaniments like kerisik (toasted grated coconut), acar (pickled vegetables, pronounced 'achar'), hard-boiled egg and fish curry.

Nasi Kerabu
Yes, the rice is blue! A concise description from flickr:
This rice dish is a regional specialty from Kelantan and the rice is tinted blue from petals of flowers called bunga telang (clitoria).

The blue rice is then served with a combination of fresh aromatic herbs, or known as ulam, hence the other name for this rice dish - Nasi Ulam. The Ulam here consists of local mint, basil, lemongrass, kaffir lime/ turmeric leaves, bunga kantan (torch ginger flower buds) etc and is served with raw vegetables (bean sprouts, long beans etc), salted egg, kerisik (grated coconut), tumis (pounded chilli paste) and a good serving of ground black pepper.

Nasi Paprik (also known as Nasi Goreng Paprik)
While Nasi Paprik is considered part of the Malay cuisine in Malaysia, it is actually Thai in origin. It is also known as Nasi Pad Prik, with Pad Prik being a Thai phrase (I looked up somewhere and it said pad = stir-fried, prik = chilli). It is rice fried in chilli or tomato sauce with a topping of stir-fried chicken and vegetables. This picture features sambal belacan (shrimp paste condiment) in the background.

Nasi Goreng Kampung
Means 'Village-Style Fried Rice'. A simple but delicious consisting of rice fried with anchovies, shallots and vegetables. There are several versions, but the fried anchovies and shallots are what makes it a nasi goreng kampung. This dish can also be fried with soy sauce, which would give it a dark colour.

Ketupat
Ketupat is basically rice wrapped in woven palm leaf. Uncooked rice is first filled into the woven pouch and then boiled. The grains will then expand and the rice becomes compressed. Usually served during Hari Raya Aidilfitri, a Muslim festival also known as Eid ul-Fitr in other countries. It is eaten with curry or rendang, or served as an accompaniment to satay. To eat the ketupat, simply slice the pouch into half. Traditional ketupat is usually plain, but nowadays other varieties are made by adding spices, corn, etc.

Kangkung Belacan
One of the popular dishes in Malay cuisine that is also a common household dish due to the simplicity of its nature. Consists of kangkung (water spinach) stir-fried in belacan (shrimp paste). Chilli is commonly added in the wok as well for extra oomph, although one can opt out of it. Kangkung can be quite a challenge to chew due to its stringy (and some say rubbery) characteristic for the uninitiated, but once you get over that this simple dish is a delight to eat.

Ayam Percik
Spicy barbequed chicken and easily found in roadside stalls in Kelantan. The chicken is marinated with salt, sugar, chilli powder and turmeric powder. The spice paste on the other hand is made of candlenuts, garlic, dried chillies, red chillies, ginger and shallots. The paste is then fried with tamarind (for the sourness) and lemon grass (for flavour and fragrance), after which water, coconut milk, sugar and salt are added to make a spicy gravy. The chicken is then barbequed over 'a low charcoal fire or under a grill, basting frequently with the gravy, until the chicken is cooked' (norlia.com).

Beef Rendang
A dish brought to Malaysia by Minangkabau settlers, it is a popular serving at Malay feasts and festivals. It takes around 3 hours to cook, during which it boils until it is almost dry, moist only with the thick gravy that is left behind. The meat is also tenderised during this period and absorbs the spicy condiments, which makes this dish such a burst of flavours. It is in a nutshell, a spicy beef stew cooked in coconut milk.

Serunding
Serunding is basically the dry, floss version of rendang and has a long shelf life. I LOVE serunding. One can munch on it as a snack or eat it with a steaming hot plate of rice.

Ikan Bakar
Fish barbequed/grilled with turmeric, chilli or a spicy sauce.

Keropok Lekor
A specialty of Terengganu and other east coast states of Peninsular Malaysia. A recipe borne out of the largely fishing communities there. It is basically shredded fish and batter deep-fried, and usually eaten as a snack with chilli sauce.

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Disclaimer: text and photos is taken from http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=212744&st=0 ... The thread is posted by member by the sn "Crystalized Dream" Thus these photos and texts are not in our possessions.

The Legendary "Tomb of The White Elephant" at Koh Ker

2009-10-13T17:03:00.002+08:00

Prasat Thom pyramid standing 40 meters high without the ligham! At it's peak would have been 50 meters high!

Builder of Koh ker is King Jayavarman 6th! Here's a portrait of the King on the last section showing the first three pictures!

In the Northern Cambodian province of Preah Vihear, the eponymous temple acquired some international fame with its listing in July 2008 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and because of the border dispute with neighbouring Thailand around the area. However, another highly sacred place in the same province, which deserves some attention: the Koh Ker archaeological group, located 50 miles northeast of the Angkor complex, has long been inaccessible. A week ago, the Phnom Penh branch of the French Ecole Française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO) launched a campaign to excavate this exceptional site.

The particularity of Koh Ker
To this day, only Henri Parmentier carried out an important study of Koh Ker, back at the beginning of last century and as part of research at the EFEO . Since then, a few archaeological soundings have been made by archaeologists from Apsara (the authority in charge of the site management) but no important excavation was carried out, thus leaving the site surrounded by mystery. The site used to be a temporary capital founded by Jayavarman IV – he later settled there in 921AD. That period of time was short but crucial in the history of the Khmer empire, the epicentre of which revolved around the Angkorian era in the present-day Siem Reap province.

A few sculptures from Koh Ker found their way to the Phnom Penh National Museum: here, a giant Garuda is on display at the entrance, welcoming visitors and there, a dancing Shiva is the evidence of a true revolution in Angkorian art.

To Eric Bourdonneau, a lecturer at the EFEO and a professor at the Phnom Penh Faculty of Archaeology, the site is a remarkable group for many reasons, whether it be in terms of architecture, with its mount-temple culminating at 115ft, a record height, or in terms of iconography, as it introduces “narrative scenes via the staging of sculpture in the round [three-dimension sculpture] when up until then, temple iconography was limited to a few divine representations displayed in the narrow frame of the lintels and pediments of the structure.

Having a small artificial hill talk…
In Koh Ker, non-believers might not detect the presence, in a straight line with the main temple (Prasat Thom) – the development of a plan controlled by lines had never been observed previously and conveyed the expansion of the divine here below –, of an artificial hill, named the “Tomb of the White Elephant” as a reference to a Khmer legend. The hill is indeed the centre of Eric Bourdonneau’s research and he intends, with two excavation campaigns, to find out about the secrets of that place: which part did the hill play in the layout of the ritual of Prasat Thom?

The historian and archaeologist, who specialised his research in the study of great sacred sites in Cambodia, seems to have his own theory, even though he wishes to remain cautious on the topic for the time being. What he can tell us at least, is that “the erecting of that hill – which is unique, or nearly unique in the field of archaeology relating to ancient Cambodia – is to be classified among the many innovations which come together with the ‘exploit’ of King Jayavarman IV, i.e. the transformation of the King’s place of activity (the capital and its Royal sanctuary) into a ‘natural’ sacred place, just like Wat Phou”. The latter, the EFEO expert details, is located on the western bank of the Mekong in the far South of Laos and was probably the most important of all sacred places in ancient Cambodia. The successive Kings were always intent on placing their reign under the protection of the divinities present in those places, which stood out due to their sacred worth.

“The Tomb of the White Elephant”: the legend
The tale, as it has been handed down throughout the centuries, is that of a white elephant, then King of all elephants. His daughter, Eric Bourdonneau recounts, “Had great beauty; she was descended from the gods and was taken away by the King of Cambodia who empowered her as first Queen in the Kingdom. The white elephant – well-identified in ethnological literature as both the sign and the source of Royal power – desperately tried to find his daughter but died of exhaustion before succeeding in weakening the compound of the Royal palace built by Jayavarman IV. A mausoleum was constructed nearby in his honour: this mausoleum is the hill located to the West of Prasat Thom”. And today, at the top of that hill, a small structure shelters the image of the white elephant.

Excavations will lead to more digging
The excavation campaign is part of a wider research project about the great sacred places of ancient Cambodia, and was started in 2007 by the Phnom Penh archaeological branch of the EFEO. It comes after more than a decade of efforts to constitute, under the direction of Bruno Bruguier, an inventory of the odd 3,000 sites and a series of archaeological maps covering the whole of Cambodia. “The idea is to study the different ways in which the divine is present”, Eric Bourdonneau explains. “And I call ‘sacred’ places where the divine was not erected by devout followers but appears in a natural way. Man only makes this presence more obvious, but it is already there.”

It would be bad manners to disturb a place that is somewhat “inhabited” and where cult is of high importance. On Tuesday February 17th, a ceremony was organised on the site of Koh Ker, as if to obtain consent to start digging and opening up the ground to divide it into two so-called diagnostic trenches. The ground was cleared of mines prior to the operation. The digging work required some thirty workers supervised by Eric Bourdonneau and an archeologist who is not part of the EFEO, and was carried out in collaboration with two young archeologists from Apsara. The first campaign should last for about 6 weeks and will be followed by a second digging mission during the next dry season, in March/April 2010.

Quoted from a thread of an AsiaFinest member by the sn: Intradaka1.

Original thread posted on 13th Oct 2009.

http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=214864

Storm and flash floods kill 8 Cambodian

2009-09-29T21:44:00.001+08:00

After Philippine, this time is Cambodia:

A torrential storm and flash floods killed at least eight people, including six children, Cambodian officials said Tuesday.

Three girls and a boy, aged between 14 and 18, were killed Sunday when they were swept out to sea while swimming in a heavy storm in Preah Sihanouk province, in the southeast of the country, said the province's deputy police chief Yim Bunnath.

In nearby Kampot province, two men were killed by flash floods, said the province's deputy governor Soth Ya. Another 1,500 people were evacuated Monday to higher ground, he said.

In Kampong Cham province in the east, a six-year-old boy and a nine-year-old girl drowned Sunday while swimming in a pond during heavy rain, the Khmer-language newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea reported Tuesday.

Parts of the Cambodian countryside are now flooded because of seasonal monsoon rain.

Quoted from other sites:
http://www.aol.com.au/news/story/Storm-and-flash-floods-kill-8-Cambodians/2363028/index.html

Donate for FREE via XOOM, to the Philippine National Red Cross

2009-09-29T21:32:00.001+08:00

Death toll nears 100 from tropical storm Ketsana

2009-09-28T15:58:00.000+08:00

By Manila
Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Nearly 100 people were killed as tropical storm Ketsana battered a wide area in the Philippines, dumping record rainfall on the capital that caused the worst flooding in 40 years, officials said Sunday.

Fifty people were also missing in floods and landslides following rains that exceeded what Hurricane Katrina dumped on New Orleans in August 2005, local officials and military spokesmen said.

Authorities rushed rescue and relief efforts to thousands of people who spent the night on the roofs of submerged houses in Manila and surrounding provinces. Some were trapped in their cars on flooded streets.

Defence Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said soldiers and volunteers rescued more than 5,000 drenched people from rooftops as the weather improved and floods receded in affected municipalities on Sunday.

"Our target is to finish the rescue operations before dark today," he said. "We have mobilized our air assets to find the people who need help and direct our forces there. We will continue our rescue operations until everyone that needs help is reached."

The US government dispatched a helicopter and additional rubber boats to help in the rescue operations. Various UN agencies also donated funds to assist relief operations.

Rizal province east of Manila was one of the worst hit. One municipality in the province, Cainta, was almost completely submerged in floodwaters and still unreachable on Sunday.

At least 56 people died in floods in the province, provincial Governor Casimiro Ynares III said.

"Forty-five are still missing," he said. "We really need more rubber boats. We can't get through roads that are flooded. In some areas, the roads are blocked by stranded vehicles."

Lieutenant Colonel Noel Detoyato, a civil military operations officer, said soldiers recovered 30 bodies in the town of Tanay alone in Rizal. The other fatalities drowned in the towns of Angono, Baras, Rodriguez, Teresa and San Mateo.

At least 11 people drowned in the Manila suburb of Marikina. The bodies were laid out on the streets as rescuers struggled to reach some isolated areas.

Thirty more people either drowned, were electrocuted, buried in landslides, struck by fallen trees and collapsed walls or suffered a heart attack in Manila, as well as the provinces of Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Cavite and Apayao.

Detoyato said the fatalities in Laguna included two soldiers and three government militiamen who were dispatched to rescue flood victims in Pami town.

"The ill-fated team rescued more than 20 people before they were swept away by the strong current," he said. "Two other militiamen were missing."

The weather bureau said the rainfall recorded Saturday in Manila was the capital's heaviest since 1967.

Nilo Prisco, head of the weather bureau, said the storm dumped 410.6 millimetres of rain in Manila in just nine hours, which was almost double the rainfall brought about by Hurricane Katrina.

The amount also exceeded the average monthly rainfall of 391 millimetres and the 1967 record of 331 millimetres.

"We can only attribute this to climate change," Prisco said.

School classes in all levels were suspended on Monday in Manila and the affected provinces to allow unhampered relief operations.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council said more than 290,000 people were affected by Ketsana, which has strengthened as it moved away from the Philippines. More than 47,000 were in evacuation centres, it added.

The weather bureau said the storm was packing maximum winds of 105 kilometres per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 135 kph. It was moving west-north-west at 24 kph towards the South China Sea.

Quoted from other sites. Be praise to the originator.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/09/27/regional/regional_30113165.php

A Message of Peace on the Holy Month

2009-08-21T15:57:00.005+08:00

Look at this building and have a guess... What do you see? A Hindu temple? Or a Buddhist one, perhaps? In fact, this is an Islamic mosque. The name is Masjid Menara Kudus located in Kauman Village, Central Java, Indonesia.

This old minaret of the mosque built by Sunan Kudus (one of the '9 Saints' credited for the spread of Islam on Java island) in 1549 adopted traditional Javanese architecture of that time, which was heavily influenced by Hindu and Buddhist styles. Sunan Kudus was very gentle and tolerant to the local culture. He made good use of the symbolisms in Hinduism and Buddhism such as Noble Eightfold Path ('Ārya'ṣṭāṅga mārgaḥ' in Buddhism) and manifested it into architecure (especially for mosques, minarets, entrance gates, and place of ablutions).

To respect the Hindus, on one occasion he deliberately tied his cow on the courtyard of his mosque. The Hindus who revered cows soon felt sympathetic after listening to his explanation. To this very day, there are still a lot of people in the area (most of them are Muslims) who refused to slaughter bulls and cows out of respect to his teachings.

Isn't it a wonderful world if respect each other and maintain peace? As the new moon begins to reveal itself in the nightsky, we would like to wish our Muslim sisters and brothers Ramadan Kareem, Happy Ramadan! May this holy month shower blessing upon you and the entire world. Let peace be your guide! Selamat Menunaikan Ibadah Puasa Bulan Suci Ramadhan!

Burmese Secret Beautifier

2009-08-19T12:39:00.002+08:00

Burmese Secret Beauty

What kind of gift it is for that a cosmetic and skin conditioner are not made from factory but from forest? Burmese people has been treasuring this
treasures for so long and it is quite guilty for not to share to others.

Thanaka, Burmese ancient cosmetic which is used until present day, is that gift. It is made from Sandalwood tree, when ground, the bark of Thanaka Tree acts as an astringent, sunscreen and antiseptic. [3] It is worn by ladies, old and young alike, and it is hard to find a woman who does not like Thanaka. [1] You can only find it on sell in Myanmar.

The scientific name of thanatkha plant is Limonia acidissima (Roxb). It belongs to the Rutaceae family together with the Thi or Linonium elephantum (corr), the Okshit or Aegle marmelos (L) and the pyindaw-thein or Micromelum hirsutum (Oliver) plants. The thanatkha grows in the southern and western parts of India, the northwestern part of the Himalayas, the Punjab State, the Assam State and in Myanmar, in the dry zone: from Shwebo district in the midlands to Pyay district further south. The thanatkha plants that grow on dry, rocky soil produce hard, thin barks, long-lasting and durable in use. The best thanatkha plants are naturally slow in growth and it takes three to ten years for the tree trunk to grow two inches in diameter. The barks obtained from these trees are so fragrant that the womenfolk here adore them very much. Accordingly, they fetch good prices in the market. Various kinds of thanatkha differs in quality but those produced from Shwebo district and the Shinmataung thanatkha from Pakokku district are the best and the most famous in our country. [3]

Following the destruction of the Shwemadaw Pagoda in the earthquake of 1930, the clearing the ruins there led to the discovery of a circular stone slab used by Princess Razadatukalya, daughter of Hanthawaddy Sinbyshin Minn for grinding the Thanakha bark . Afterwards, the slab was donated to the Pagoda as a valuable antique. [2]

The thankatkha is a very useful plant and its plays a great part in the field of Myanmar indigenous medicine. The leaves are used as a remedy for epilepsy, in some regions. The berry-like fruit also is used as antidotes and tonics. The ripe fruits, plucked and cultivated within the same day is supposed to produce healthy plants. The blossoms are adorned by women and their smell is sweet and fragrant. The bark is rubbed with a little water to induce the liquid which is worn for self-beautification. The thanatkha liquid has the properties of making the skin cool and smooth, having a refreshing and cool fragrance, beautifying the users. It also cures pimples and acne. The hard, yellowish, sweet-smelling thanatkha wood is used to make handicrafts such as trinkets, combs, boxes and many others. The root possesses much medicinal value and is used in Myanmar indigenous laxatives. [3]

The cosmetic appears in many forms; in its raw - and highly prized - state it will be sold in markets in small 10-18cm long branches and logs. These are ground vertically, round and round, on a special flat circular whetstone with a few drops of water, producing a milky yellow liquid that ist hen immediately applied to the skin. While wet it is virtually translucent but in an hour, it dries to a rich yellow crust. [1]

Thanaka is a prized wood, in 1958, The former British colonial government has approved the Forest Act, which added Thanaka tress to its list of protected trees. It stated: "no person shall collect or remove for trade purposes… Thanaka wood and bark."

Thanaka is sure a good souvenir to be brought home when travelling to Myanmar. Its smell, its figure and its secret are sure to keep a good memory of this country.

[1]http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/a-natural-skin-care-thanaka-thanakha-traditional-make-up-and-eco-friendly-solution-of-chemicals-503667.html
[2]http://myanmartravelinformation.com/mti-myanmar-culture/thanakha.htm
[3]http://www.myanmar-image.com/articles/thanakha/

Asean City

2009-08-08T04:34:00.000+08:00

Today marks the 42^nd Asean Day a non-Holiday for a region struggling to get recognized by its own peoples. I said it before, time and again, to make August 8^th a special non-working Holiday so that people will talk about it - increase awareness.

If people are working, their minds are set on their jobs. But if they don't have work, or they'll receive premium or double pay, they will ask about "the Holiday". What is it about? Why August 8^th? Where are we now? Is it really working?

I can't help but think that this Asean Day is just another regular day because they do not want the Asean peoples to be aware of it, once we the public are, then questions like "Is it effective?" and "Are they really doing their jobs?" and "Do our country need Asean?" will be asked. Are there things to hide from the Asean people?

Let's leave it at that, for today we are going to take a tour... so let's go to Asean City.

"Welcome to Asean City", the tour guide said, as the bus carrying you enters the city. "This city is home to 100,000 people from across the region, living together as one united neighborhood sharing their cultures with each other."

People are walking doing their own business as the the bus continues to roll on. Some will stop and wave to you, while some put their hands on their chest. "On your right is the Asean University. This is a dream come true after long years of being just a collection of State Universities across the region.", the tour guide proudly declares.

"I graduated from this University, with a Major in Asean Cultures, which enables me to work in any Asean member states in different culture-related fields," she continued.

Elementary school children are lining up waving the Asean flags as the tourist bus passes by. There are also the High School and College students, themselves wearing their respective national dress.

You were also shown the Asean Museum of Arts and Culture where each member States history are displayed (both in traditional means and virtual reality). There was also the Asean Religions block where different churches, mosques, and temples of the various faiths in the region are located - and co-existing peacefully with each other. The the Asean Hospital, the Asean City Hall, the Asean Sports Center, the Asean Police and Fire Stations, and the Asean Cyber Exchange Center.

"This is the Asean Cyber Exchange Center where each Asean City across the region can exchange information and knowledge with each other," Babysher said, which you just remembered. She showed you a virtual representation of the Asean Region (formerly known as South-East Asia) with each Asean City marked. Babysher moves her hand and the virtual scene moves accordingly, "this is where we are 'Asean City #7' in Bataan, Philippines, or 'Asean City Mabuhay' as it is officially named.

"These cities are villages with some privileges and restrictions. For example, Asean Cities have some autonomousity when it comes to the management of the village. And an example of restriction, the city have to exemplify the ideals of the ASEAN Organization - non-interference. In simplest of terms, these cities are meant for cultural exchanges, for you and me, as well as to serve as an ideal example of how we, as a region, can live together in spite of our diversity.

"And this ends today's tour my fellow Aseans. You are free to roam the city and learn more about Asean and its peoples. You can also visit the City Hall and ask for information of how you can become part of an Asean City. We will meet back here 4 hours from now. Mabuhay!" Babysher smiles and bows down.

Is this possible? Asean City? I hope so. This is, in my opinion, one way of spreading the Asean integration in the grassroots level. A huge project and will take maybe ten years to materialize. But how about choosing a village or a city and giving them the title "Asean City" if they pass a set of rigid tests and criteria?

The main purpose and objective of an Asean City is for cultural and information exchange. There is no better way to learn of each other's cultures but by establishing each cultures in each regional hub in the region. As someone hailing from the Philippines, we can have at least four Asean Cities - Northern Luzon, Megapolitan Manila, Visayas Region, and Mindanao Region.

Each Asean City will first and foremost, focus on its national culture. In this case the Philippine culture. Next, its local culture - for example in Mega Manila, the Tagalog culture. Then third and the most important of all, the culture of the other Asean Nations.

We're not just talking about Museums here, there's little cultural exchange in that, but rather making this Asean City a real village (or a city if one believes they can pull it out). A village where real people, real families are living. I am thinking that each Asean City should have 2 to 4 families of each member Nations.

These Asean Cities will be for cultural purposes only, they won't be allowed to have a say on politics specially the State in which it is located lest we invite unnecessary criticisms and possible collapse of the project. Leave the politics to the ASEAN Organization itself, and leave the cultural aspects to the people, after all it you and me that matters in this "Asean Integration".

I really hope this is possible. Feel free to expound on this idea.

Happy Asean Day everyone!!

Sisophon

2009-07-02T13:45:00.002+08:00

Sisophon (unofficial name) is known as Serey Sophorn which is the official name of this town.

It is only a few hours away from the Thai border town of Aranyaprathet.

Serey Sophone is the provincial town capital of Banteay Meanchey province.
Before 1986, it used to be a district in Battambang province before being elevated into a provincial capital of a new founded province.

Like most northwestern provinces, Banteay Meanchey province is fairly a rural area which is not quite developed as Phnom Penh or Siem Reap.

Sisophon is derived from Sri Sophon which is in Thai language despite being a Cambodian provincial capital town. It used to be captured and governed by the Siamese/Thai many times during 1800s to 1900s, then 1940-1945 before returning to Cambodia again and again.

In Wat Phnom which is located in Phnom Penh, there is a monument depicting the return of Battambang, Siem Reap and Sisophon provinces when the French (protectorate of Cambodia) successfully negotiated with the Siamese during the early 1900s.

You can notice the Treaty on the left side of the Late King Sisowath who ruled Cambodia from early 1900s to his death in 1927.

The treaty is in French language and is translated as Treaty between French and Siam on 15 March 1907 and it lists the three provinces that was returned to Cambodia from Siam, former name of Thailand.

The picture of the three ladies are on the right wall. They represent the returned provinces.
They give presents to the King Sisowath to show respect and also to rejoin the country again.

The left lady represent Siem Reap province as she wears the typical ancient Khmer style worn by royalties in Angkor Wat time, and she present the gift of Angkor Wat.

The middle lady represent Sisophon province. She give the king a present of Sisophon's flower symbolising beauty and graceness and the temple of Banteay Chmar (Not very sure). Her dressing looks a bit Siamese though it's probably result from being under the rule of Siam for many hundred years.

The right lady represent Battambang province. She present the king the powerful stick of Preah Kronhuong Dombong. In Khmer, the stick symbolise power and authority. Preah Kronhuong Dombong statue can be found in Battambang city of Battambang province.

There are many ways to get to Sisophon. One can travel to Sisophon via Poipet by crossing the Thai border from Aranyaprathet a.k.a Aran of Sra Kaew province. One can travel to Sisophon from Battambang province or even as far as Phnom Penh using National Road 5. One also can travel to Sisophon from Siem Reap province using National Road 6.
Thus Sisophon can be described as a hub, connecting three places together (Battambang, Siemreap, Aran/Poipet) . It's not uncommon to see goods and products coming out from Thailand via Poipet and her Thai sister town Aran to arrive in Sisophon and also to go to Phnom Penh, Battambang or Siem Reap.

The pictures below shows what Sisophon looks like.

You know you have arrived in Sisophon when you see the statue of Neang Srey Sisophon.

A random street.

Some areas are typically undeveloped and dusty. Life is very laidback in Sisophon.

The pictures honors the current His Majesty the King Norodom Sihamoni and pay respect to the ex king His Majesty King Norodom Sihanook who is the father of our new King.

Another picture showing respect to the Royal Family of Cambodia.

Another major statue in Sisophon.

A close up picture of the statue Preah Noreay, otherwise known as Preah Pisnu or Visnu.

A spanning shot of the town.

One of the markets in Sisophon, they sell anything from fresh vegetables to fruits and whatnot.

Another vendor sells fried crickets with some herbs, chilli and some sauce in Sisophon.

A vendor seller sells sticky rice in bamboo shoots, a delicacy and a fast food on the go.

Monks can be seen strolling around like in any other places in Cambodia.

A shop in Long Beach, California state in America.
The shop owners are probably from Sisophon.

Disclaimer: All of these pictures are founded from Google Images and are not the pictures of the blog or the author's. Credits go out to whoever took this pictures.