Cock Fighting, Old Khmer Traditional Game
Games and play made ordinary days more enjoyable for Khmers living in the countryside during ancient times. During festivals, holidays, or after a long rice harvest, people in the countryside especially would unpack their games to release the stress of daily living. Before its great political instability throughout the last several decades, Cambodia had been known as a civilized country, a cultural center full of tradition and entertainment.
Cock fighting, still popular in rural communities today, has been a favorite pastime for centuries. Sculpture of men and their angry cocks are carved into the stone of the Bayon temple, bearing witness to the timelessness of this tradition. Men in particular love the flying feathers, and women who turn their eyes away from a fowl game are said to commit a sin against the cocks.
The elephant terrace at Angkor Thom also has been decorated with carvings of elephant fighting, indicating that the crowing cock was not alone. Duels between beasts like buffalos, elephants and pigs have fallen from popularity, dying with the men that incited them.
Cock Fighting is old gaming in Cambodia. The Games and play has made ordinary days more enjoyable for Khmers living in the countryside during ancient times. During festivals, holidays, weekend or after a long rice harvest, people in the countryside especially would unpack their games to release the stress of daily living. Before its great political instability throughout the last several decades, Cambodia had been known as a civilized country, a cultural center full of tradition and entertainment. Cock fighting, still popular in rural communities today, has been a favorite pastime for
Cambodia Cock Fighting
centuries.
Cockfighting was not always centered on gambling, however. In ancient times, participants used the tradition as a kind of warm exchange, bestowing winners with a small bottle of rice wine. After the duel, opponents would cheerfully share the wine as a sign of camaraderie. This sportsmanship has faded with time, and presently more people turn to the sport not for friendship but for money. Still, others simply love the prestige and respect that accompanies a solid victory.
Entertainment
Cinemas
Since the encouragement from the Ministry of Fine Arts and Culture and the Cambodian people strongly support to the Khmer films, most abandoned cinemas have been re-open. Recently, the Khmer films is very popular for Cambodian people not only in city but also provinces. The Khmer movies can be seen around the city at the main street - such as Kirirom Cinema - Sihanouk blvd., Luxe Cinema - Norodom blvd., Vimean Tip - Monivong blvd...
Movie Houses
English language movies shown in private viewing rooms at Movie Street Video Center, #116, Sihanouk blvd., The French Cultural Center (Street 184) hosts French films at 6:30PM every few days. The Russian Market (Toul Tom Pong) carries the most recent movies CDs.
Nightclubs
Cambodian History
No one knows for certain how long people have lived in what is now Cambodia, as studies of its prehistory are undeveloped. A carbon-l4 dating from a cave in northwestern Cambodia suggests that people using stone tools lived in the cave as early as 4000 bc, and rice has been grown on Cambodian soil since well before the 1st century ad. The first Cambodians likely arrived long before either of these dates. They probably migrated from the north, although nothing is known about their language or their way of life.
By the beginning of the 1st century ad, Chinese traders began to report the existence of inland and coastal kingdoms in Cambodia. These kingdoms already owed much to Indian culture, which provided alphabets, art forms, architectural styles, religions (Hinduism and Buddhism), and a stratified class system. Local beliefs that stressed the importance of ancestral spirits coexisted with the Indian religions and remain powerful today.
Cambodia's modem-day culture has its roots in the 1st to 6th centuries in a state referred to as Funan, known as the oldest Indianized state in Southeast Asia. It is from this period that evolved Cambodia's language, part of the Mon-Khmer family, which contains elements of Sanskrit, its ancient religion of Hinduism and Buddhism. Historians have noted, for example, that Cambodians can be distinguished from their neighbors by their clothing - checkered scarves known as Kramas are worn instead of straw hats.
Funan gave way to the Angkor Empire with the rise to power of King Jayavarman II in 802. The following 600 years saw powerful Khmer kings dominate much of present day Southeast Asia, from the borders of Myanmar east to the South China Sea and north to Laos. It was during this period that Khmer kings built the most extensive concentration of religious temples in the world - the Angkor temple complex. The most successful of Angkor's kings, Jayavarman II, Indravarman I, Suryavarman II and Jayavarman VII, also devised a masterpiece of ancient engineering: a sophisticated irrigation system that includes barays (gigantic man-made lakes) and canals that ensured as many as three rice crops a year. Part of this system is still in use today.
The Khmer Kingdom (Funan)
Early Chinese writers referred to a kingdom in Cambodia that they called Funan. Modern-day archaeological findings provide evidence of a commercial society centered on the Mekong Delta that flourished from the 1st century to the 6th century. Among these findings are excavations of a port city from the 1st century, located in the region of Oc-Eo in what is now southern Vietnam. Served by a network of canals, the city was an important trade link between India and China. Ongoing excavations in southern Cambodia have revealed the existence of another important city near the present-day village of Angkor Borei.
A group of inland kingdoms, known collectively to the Chinese as Zhenla, flourished in the 6th and 7th centuries from southern Cambodia to southern Laos. The first stone inscriptions in the Khmer language and the first brick and stone Hindu temples in Cambodia date from the Zhenla period.
Angkor Era
Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom The giant faces carved on the Bayon temple at the Angkor Thum complex in northwestern Cambodia represent both the Buddha and King Jayavarman VII (ruled about 1130-1219). Although a Buddhist temple, Angkor Thum was modeled after the great Hindu temple complex of Angkor Wat.
In the early 9th century a Khmer (ethnic Cambodian) prince returned to Cambodia from abroad. He probably arrived from nearby Java or Sumatra, where he may have been held hostage by island kings who had asserted control over portions of the Southeast Asian mainland.
In a series of ceremonies at different sites, the prince declared himself ruler of a new independent kingdom, which unified several local principalities. His kingdom eventually came to be centered near present-day Siemreab in northwestern Cambodia. The prince, known to his successors as Jayavarman II, inaugurated a cult honoring the Hindu god Shiva as a devaraja (Sanskrit term meaning "god-king"). The cult, which legitimized the king's rule by linking him with Shiva, persisted at the Cambodian court for more than two hundred years.
Between the early 9th century and the early 15th century, 26 monarchs ruled successively over the Khmer kingdom (known as Angkor, the modern name for its capital city).
King Jayavarman VII
The successors of Jayavarman II built the great temples for which Angkor is famous.
Historians have dated more than a thousand temple sites and over a thousand stone inscriptions (most of them on temple walls) to this era.
Notable among the Khmer builder-kings were Suyavarman II, who built the temple known as Angkor Wat in the mid-12th century, and Jayavarman VII, who built the Bayon temple at Angkor Thum and several other large Buddhist temples half a century later. Jayavarman VII, a fervent Buddhist, also built hospitals and rest houses along the roads that crisscrossed the kingdom. Most of the monarchs, however, seem to have been more concerned with displaying and increasing their power than with the welfare of their subjects.
By the beginning of the 1st century ad, Chinese traders began to report the existence of inland and coastal kingdoms in Cambodia. These kingdoms already owed much to Indian culture, which provided alphabets, art forms, architectural styles, religions (Hinduism and Buddhism), and a stratified class system. Local beliefs that stressed the importance of ancestral spirits coexisted with the Indian religions and remain powerful today.
Cambodia's modem-day culture has its roots in the 1st to 6th centuries in a state referred to as Funan, known as the oldest Indianized state in Southeast Asia. It is from this period that evolved Cambodia's language, part of the Mon-Khmer family, which contains elements of Sanskrit, its ancient religion of Hinduism and Buddhism. Historians have noted, for example, that Cambodians can be distinguished from their neighbors by their clothing - checkered scarves known as Kramas are worn instead of straw hats.
Funan gave way to the Angkor Empire with the rise to power of King Jayavarman II in 802. The following 600 years saw powerful Khmer kings dominate much of present day Southeast Asia, from the borders of Myanmar east to the South China Sea and north to Laos. It was during this period that Khmer kings built the most extensive concentration of religious temples in the world - the Angkor temple complex. The most successful of Angkor's kings, Jayavarman II, Indravarman I, Suryavarman II and Jayavarman VII, also devised a masterpiece of ancient engineering: a sophisticated irrigation system that includes barays (gigantic man-made lakes) and canals that ensured as many as three rice crops a year. Part of this system is still in use today.
The Khmer Kingdom (Funan)
Early Chinese writers referred to a kingdom in Cambodia that they called Funan. Modern-day archaeological findings provide evidence of a commercial society centered on the Mekong Delta that flourished from the 1st century to the 6th century. Among these findings are excavations of a port city from the 1st century, located in the region of Oc-Eo in what is now southern Vietnam. Served by a network of canals, the city was an important trade link between India and China. Ongoing excavations in southern Cambodia have revealed the existence of another important city near the present-day village of Angkor Borei.
A group of inland kingdoms, known collectively to the Chinese as Zhenla, flourished in the 6th and 7th centuries from southern Cambodia to southern Laos. The first stone inscriptions in the Khmer language and the first brick and stone Hindu temples in Cambodia date from the Zhenla period.
Angkor Era
Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom The giant faces carved on the Bayon temple at the Angkor Thum complex in northwestern Cambodia represent both the Buddha and King Jayavarman VII (ruled about 1130-1219). Although a Buddhist temple, Angkor Thum was modeled after the great Hindu temple complex of Angkor Wat.
In the early 9th century a Khmer (ethnic Cambodian) prince returned to Cambodia from abroad. He probably arrived from nearby Java or Sumatra, where he may have been held hostage by island kings who had asserted control over portions of the Southeast Asian mainland.
In a series of ceremonies at different sites, the prince declared himself ruler of a new independent kingdom, which unified several local principalities. His kingdom eventually came to be centered near present-day Siemreab in northwestern Cambodia. The prince, known to his successors as Jayavarman II, inaugurated a cult honoring the Hindu god Shiva as a devaraja (Sanskrit term meaning "god-king"). The cult, which legitimized the king's rule by linking him with Shiva, persisted at the Cambodian court for more than two hundred years.
Between the early 9th century and the early 15th century, 26 monarchs ruled successively over the Khmer kingdom (known as Angkor, the modern name for its capital city).
King Jayavarman VII
The successors of Jayavarman II built the great temples for which Angkor is famous.
Historians have dated more than a thousand temple sites and over a thousand stone inscriptions (most of them on temple walls) to this era.
Notable among the Khmer builder-kings were Suyavarman II, who built the temple known as Angkor Wat in the mid-12th century, and Jayavarman VII, who built the Bayon temple at Angkor Thum and several other large Buddhist temples half a century later. Jayavarman VII, a fervent Buddhist, also built hospitals and rest houses along the roads that crisscrossed the kingdom. Most of the monarchs, however, seem to have been more concerned with displaying and increasing their power than with the welfare of their subjects.
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Cambodian History
Transportation in Cambodia
Bus
There are a few of bus companies providing transportation between Phnom Penh and the provinces that have better road and connect with Phnom Penh. All buses are air-conditioned and equipped with Video TV. The average travel speed of the buses is about 80 kilometers per hour. Bus stations are mostly located around Phsa Thmey (New Central market) area. For their latest schedule or exact departure time and price, you may contact them directly.
Boat
There are eight boat companies currently providing services between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and one boat company operating Phnom Penh to Chau Doc. Since there is limited numbers of passenger travel, boat companies are taking turn to cruise, one company a day. 7:00AM is the departure time and half hour shall be arrived prior to the departure. Ticket shall be bought at least one-day advance for the assured seat but it is also available at location. All boats are equipped with air-conditioner, toilet and Video TV. Enjoy your ride, experience your journey with rooftop and you will have the benefit of spectacular scenery and see the true Cambodian villagers.
Taxis, Motortaxis, Reumork or Cyclo
There are no meter taxis, the taxi costs from 5$-7$ from the 20-50 minutes ride into and within the city center. Cheaper, faster and less comfortable, motorcycle taxis can be hired for $2 in town. For transfer from hotel to airport costs from 8$-10$ per way and you can find it at most hotels and travel agencies near by you.
At the moment, most tourists can find the easy way by taking the REUMORK (Tri-cycle motor) or Cyclo (Tri-cycle) at any where in city with cheap price. Cyclo is charged in cheapest price and it is most used by many tourists who wanted to visit city slowly.
For taxi to province, you can find it around Phsar Thmei (New Central market) or Phsar Deum Ker or at any travel agents.
Train
Train is available only from Phnom Penh to Battambang Province, and depart from Phnom Penh about 5AM or 6AM with travel almost full day.
There are a few of bus companies providing transportation between Phnom Penh and the provinces that have better road and connect with Phnom Penh. All buses are air-conditioned and equipped with Video TV. The average travel speed of the buses is about 80 kilometers per hour. Bus stations are mostly located around Phsa Thmey (New Central market) area. For their latest schedule or exact departure time and price, you may contact them directly.
Boat
There are eight boat companies currently providing services between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and one boat company operating Phnom Penh to Chau Doc. Since there is limited numbers of passenger travel, boat companies are taking turn to cruise, one company a day. 7:00AM is the departure time and half hour shall be arrived prior to the departure. Ticket shall be bought at least one-day advance for the assured seat but it is also available at location. All boats are equipped with air-conditioner, toilet and Video TV. Enjoy your ride, experience your journey with rooftop and you will have the benefit of spectacular scenery and see the true Cambodian villagers.
Taxis, Motortaxis, Reumork or Cyclo
There are no meter taxis, the taxi costs from 5$-7$ from the 20-50 minutes ride into and within the city center. Cheaper, faster and less comfortable, motorcycle taxis can be hired for $2 in town. For transfer from hotel to airport costs from 8$-10$ per way and you can find it at most hotels and travel agencies near by you.
At the moment, most tourists can find the easy way by taking the REUMORK (Tri-cycle motor) or Cyclo (Tri-cycle) at any where in city with cheap price. Cyclo is charged in cheapest price and it is most used by many tourists who wanted to visit city slowly.
For taxi to province, you can find it around Phsar Thmei (New Central market) or Phsar Deum Ker or at any travel agents.
Train
Train is available only from Phnom Penh to Battambang Province, and depart from Phnom Penh about 5AM or 6AM with travel almost full day.
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Transportation in Cambodia
Events in Cambodia
Events in Cambodia
January 01: International New Year’s Day
January 07: Victory Day Over Genocide Regime
February 09: Meak Bochea Day - Buddha's preaching
March 08: International Women's Day
April 14-16: Cambodian New Year
A three-day celebration after the end of harvest to mark the turn of The New Year according to the Khmer lunar calendar. Every home is seen with attractive decorations. shrines are full of food and beverages given as offerings to God.. Other people attend Buddhist temples where traditional games are also performed. Click here for more details about Khmer New Year.
May 01: International Labor Day
May 08: Visaka Bochea Day - Birthday of Buddha
May 12: Royal Ploughing Ceremony
It is culturally celebrated to alert the nation of the commencement of rainy season, and farmers to be ready for farming rice by starting to plough. The venue is a field at a wing of Royal Palace, Phnom Penh. The scene is interesting as it depicts real ploughing activities where cows are given a variety of crops to eat. Based on the choices of crops eaten by the cows, prediction are made for the coming year. Click here for more details about Ploughing Ceremony.
May 13-15: Birthday of King Sihamony
During king's birthday, a giant firework display is held close to the riverbanks in front of the Royal Palace.
June 18: Royal Birthday of H.M Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk
September 24: Constitution's Day
September 18-20: Pchum Ben Day - The Soul Day
A religious festival to bless the souls of ancestors, relatives and friends alike who have passed away. Household members attend Buddhist temples.
October 29: Royal Coronation of King Sihamoni
October 31: Birthday of King Father Norodom Sihanouk
November 09: Independence Day
November 01-03: Water Festival
Not only it marks the reversing flow of Tonle Sap River
January 01: International New Year’s Day
January 07: Victory Day Over Genocide Regime
February 09: Meak Bochea Day - Buddha's preaching
March 08: International Women's Day
April 14-16: Cambodian New Year
A three-day celebration after the end of harvest to mark the turn of The New Year according to the Khmer lunar calendar. Every home is seen with attractive decorations. shrines are full of food and beverages given as offerings to God.. Other people attend Buddhist temples where traditional games are also performed. Click here for more details about Khmer New Year.
May 01: International Labor Day
May 08: Visaka Bochea Day - Birthday of Buddha
May 12: Royal Ploughing Ceremony
It is culturally celebrated to alert the nation of the commencement of rainy season, and farmers to be ready for farming rice by starting to plough. The venue is a field at a wing of Royal Palace, Phnom Penh. The scene is interesting as it depicts real ploughing activities where cows are given a variety of crops to eat. Based on the choices of crops eaten by the cows, prediction are made for the coming year. Click here for more details about Ploughing Ceremony.
May 13-15: Birthday of King Sihamony
During king's birthday, a giant firework display is held close to the riverbanks in front of the Royal Palace.
June 18: Royal Birthday of H.M Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk
September 24: Constitution's Day
September 18-20: Pchum Ben Day - The Soul Day
A religious festival to bless the souls of ancestors, relatives and friends alike who have passed away. Household members attend Buddhist temples.
October 29: Royal Coronation of King Sihamoni
October 31: Birthday of King Father Norodom Sihanouk
November 09: Independence Day
November 01-03: Water Festival
Not only it marks the reversing flow of Tonle Sap River
Labels:
Events in Cambodia
Cambodia Religion
Religion
Thearavada Buddhism is the official religion in Cambodia which is practiced by 95 percent of the population-- just like that of Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka. However, Christianity and Cham Muslim are being active and popular among a large number of population as well in the capital and provinces, showing a sign of growth. Daoism and Confuism are also commonly practiced among the Chinese people.
Buddhist monks are highly disciplined and must follow 227 rules in addition to the ten basic precepts of being a good Buddhist. Monks cannot take part in entertainment. They lead simple lives dedicated to Buddhism and the temple.
Buddhists see the universe and all life as part of a cycle of eternal change. They follow the teaching of Buddha, an Indian prince born in the sixth century B.C. Buddhists believe that a person is continually reborn, in human or nonhuman form, depending on his or her actions in a previous life. They are released from this cycle only when thy reach nirvana, which may be attained by achieving good karma through earning merit and following the Buddhist path of correct living.
Earning merit is an important of Buddhist life. Buddhists in Cambodia earn merit by giving money, goods, and labor to the temples, or by providing one of the two daily meals of the monks.
Children often look after the fruits trees and vegetable gardens inside their local wat, or temple. Boys can earn merit by becoming temple servants or novice monks for a short time. Most young men remain monks for less than a year.
Thearavada Buddhism is the official religion in Cambodia which is practiced by 95 percent of the population-- just like that of Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka. However, Christianity and Cham Muslim are being active and popular among a large number of population as well in the capital and provinces, showing a sign of growth. Daoism and Confuism are also commonly practiced among the Chinese people.
Buddhist monks are highly disciplined and must follow 227 rules in addition to the ten basic precepts of being a good Buddhist. Monks cannot take part in entertainment. They lead simple lives dedicated to Buddhism and the temple.
Buddhists see the universe and all life as part of a cycle of eternal change. They follow the teaching of Buddha, an Indian prince born in the sixth century B.C. Buddhists believe that a person is continually reborn, in human or nonhuman form, depending on his or her actions in a previous life. They are released from this cycle only when thy reach nirvana, which may be attained by achieving good karma through earning merit and following the Buddhist path of correct living.
Earning merit is an important of Buddhist life. Buddhists in Cambodia earn merit by giving money, goods, and labor to the temples, or by providing one of the two daily meals of the monks.
Children often look after the fruits trees and vegetable gardens inside their local wat, or temple. Boys can earn merit by becoming temple servants or novice monks for a short time. Most young men remain monks for less than a year.
Labels:
Cambodia Religion
Economy Cambodia
Macro-Economic Development
Growth, Poverty, Reform Priorities
The development challenge facing Cambodia is to sustain growth, reduce poverty, and accelerate the completion of the reform agenda. To accomplish these medium term goals will require effective economic management and considerable inflows of external assistance in order to support the implementation of public investment priorities and raise the pace and consistency of structural reform. Moreover, mechanisms to reduce poverty and protect vulnerable groups from accelerated transformation must be put in place. The development needs of Cambodia have shifted from survival mode to a medium term strategic framework for rapid adjustment and growth supported by sound macro and sectorial policies, and complementary public investment and technical assistance programs.
Adjustment and growth, such are the objectives pursued by the MEF. It is important to strengthen the macroeconomic balances in order to allow for the healthy, sustainable growth of the economy. On this basis, sector-driven strategies tended to increase and diversify production, parallel with the budget strategy of reducing financial dependence and encouraging social progress.
The path covered in five years (1994-98), albeit one that shows deficiencies to be corrected and delays to be resolved, seems satisfactory, overall. Progress has been noteworthy and the results indicators positive mainly due to a good concurrence of external factors affecting economic development, and also to the clear direction given by national policies.
Results Indicators - Positive Development
The outcomes of the results indicators appears to be positive, according to the information in Table below:
Growth, Poverty, Reform Priorities
The development challenge facing Cambodia is to sustain growth, reduce poverty, and accelerate the completion of the reform agenda. To accomplish these medium term goals will require effective economic management and considerable inflows of external assistance in order to support the implementation of public investment priorities and raise the pace and consistency of structural reform. Moreover, mechanisms to reduce poverty and protect vulnerable groups from accelerated transformation must be put in place. The development needs of Cambodia have shifted from survival mode to a medium term strategic framework for rapid adjustment and growth supported by sound macro and sectorial policies, and complementary public investment and technical assistance programs.
Adjustment and growth, such are the objectives pursued by the MEF. It is important to strengthen the macroeconomic balances in order to allow for the healthy, sustainable growth of the economy. On this basis, sector-driven strategies tended to increase and diversify production, parallel with the budget strategy of reducing financial dependence and encouraging social progress.
The path covered in five years (1994-98), albeit one that shows deficiencies to be corrected and delays to be resolved, seems satisfactory, overall. Progress has been noteworthy and the results indicators positive mainly due to a good concurrence of external factors affecting economic development, and also to the clear direction given by national policies.
Results Indicators - Positive Development
The outcomes of the results indicators appears to be positive, according to the information in Table below:
Labels:
Economy Cambodia
The King
His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni is the son of His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk, former King of Cambodia and of Her Majesty Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk of Cambodia.
King Sihamoni's selection was endorsed by Prime Minister Hun Sen and National Assembly Speaker Prince Norodom Ranariddh (the new king's brother), both members of the throne council.
He was crowned in Phnom Penh on October 29. Born on Thursday 14 May 1953, in Phnom Penh, His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni is the son of His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia and of Her Majesty Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk of Cambodia. Sihamoni remains a bachelor and has no children, which means he does not have a direct successor if one were to be required.
However, this should not be a problem as the King in Cambodia is selected by the throne council.
Norodom Sihamoni speaks Khmer, French, Czech, English and Russian. He is the first Czech speaking monarch after Ferdinand I of Austria.
Education Background
1959-1962: Primary schooling at the Norodom school and then at the Descartes high school in Phnom Penh (Cambodia)
King Sihamoni's selection was endorsed by Prime Minister Hun Sen and National Assembly Speaker Prince Norodom Ranariddh (the new king's brother), both members of the throne council.
He was crowned in Phnom Penh on October 29. Born on Thursday 14 May 1953, in Phnom Penh, His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni is the son of His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia and of Her Majesty Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk of Cambodia. Sihamoni remains a bachelor and has no children, which means he does not have a direct successor if one were to be required.
However, this should not be a problem as the King in Cambodia is selected by the throne council.
Norodom Sihamoni speaks Khmer, French, Czech, English and Russian. He is the first Czech speaking monarch after Ferdinand I of Austria.
Education Background
1959-1962: Primary schooling at the Norodom school and then at the Descartes high school in Phnom Penh (Cambodia)
Labels:
The King
Khmer People
Khmer People
Ethnic Composition
The population of Cambodia today is about 10 million. About 90-95 percent of the people are Khmer ethnic. The remaining 5-10 percent include Chinese-Khmers, Khmer Islam or Chams, ethnic hill-tribe people, known as the Khmer Loeu, and Vietnamese. About 10 percent of the population lives in Phnom Penh, the capital, making Cambodia largely a country of rural dwellers, farmers and 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 central and in southeastern Cambodia, the major differences among these groups lie in social organization, language, and religion. The majority of the inhabitants of Cambodia are settled in fairly permanent villages near the major bodies of water in the Tonle Sap Basin-Mekong Lowlands region. The Khmer Loeu live in widely scattered villages that are abandoned when the cultivated land in the vicinity is exhausted. The permanently settled Khmer and Cham villages usually located on or near the banks of a river or other bodies of water. Cham villages usually are made up almost entirely of Cham, but Khmer villages, especially in central and in southeastern of Cambodia, typically include sizable Chinese communities.
The Khmer Loeu
Ethnic Composition
The population of Cambodia today is about 10 million. About 90-95 percent of the people are Khmer ethnic. The remaining 5-10 percent include Chinese-Khmers, Khmer Islam or Chams, ethnic hill-tribe people, known as the Khmer Loeu, and Vietnamese. About 10 percent of the population lives in Phnom Penh, the capital, making Cambodia largely a country of rural dwellers, farmers and 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 central and in southeastern Cambodia, the major differences among these groups lie in social organization, language, and religion. The majority of the inhabitants of Cambodia are settled in fairly permanent villages near the major bodies of water in the Tonle Sap Basin-Mekong Lowlands region. The Khmer Loeu live in widely scattered villages that are abandoned when the cultivated land in the vicinity is exhausted. The permanently settled Khmer and Cham villages usually located on or near the banks of a river or other bodies of water. Cham villages usually are made up almost entirely of Cham, but Khmer villages, especially in central and in southeastern of Cambodia, typically include sizable Chinese communities.
The Khmer Loeu
Labels:
Khmer People
Royal Government of Cambodia
Royal Government of Cambodia
In the past two decades, Cambodia has gone through many major changes reflecting the heroic sacrifice of the Cambodian people to protect and to rebuild their homeland, the standard of their living, and the prosperity of their future. With the October 23, 1991 Paris Peace Agreement, Cambodia achieves full right and sovereignty. For the result, the Cambodian people may fervently develop their country with generous assistance from international communities.
Before reaching their goal of prosperity, they facedmany critical proceedings. With His Majesty vision of Preah Bat Samdech NorodomSihanouk, the beloved king of the Cambodia people, peace and nationalreconciliation were finally achieved.
At the second session of the auspicious plenarymeeting of the National Assembly, I (Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister) have the honor to submit the Royal Government of Cambodia's Platform for approval from the august legislative body, the National Assembly. It is a foundation of governance to ensure peace, stability, democracy and development for the Cambodian people and to rebuild their country.
In the past two decades, Cambodia has gone through many major changes reflecting the heroic sacrifice of the Cambodian people to protect and to rebuild their homeland, the standard of their living, and the prosperity of their future. With the October 23, 1991 Paris Peace Agreement, Cambodia achieves full right and sovereignty. For the result, the Cambodian people may fervently develop their country with generous assistance from international communities.
Before reaching their goal of prosperity, they facedmany critical proceedings. With His Majesty vision of Preah Bat Samdech NorodomSihanouk, the beloved king of the Cambodia people, peace and nationalreconciliation were finally achieved.
At the second session of the auspicious plenarymeeting of the National Assembly, I (Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister) have the honor to submit the Royal Government of Cambodia's Platform for approval from the august legislative body, the National Assembly. It is a foundation of governance to ensure peace, stability, democracy and development for the Cambodian people and to rebuild their country.
Labels:
Royal Government of Cambodia
Khmer Music
Musical instruments for popular tales and educational
There are two kinds of traditional music: one is the Pin Peath with stringed and percussion instruments and the other the Mohory with only stringed instruments. The different instruments are: Pin Peath is a group of instruments which have Roneath (xylophone in metal or bamboo), Kong (percussion instrument surrounding the player), a pear of Skor Thom (a very big drum, which has two faces, for making the rhythm), Sampho (a big drum,which has two faces, for making the rhythm), Sro Lai (a big recorder),Chhoeng (percussion instrument hitting each other for making rhythm).
This kind of music is used to accompany dances, praying to God or spirit and other ceremonies. Mohory is a group of instruments, which have Khoem (with 35 horizontal strings instrument), Ta Khe (with 3 horizontal strings instrument), Tro (with vertical strings instrument), Skor Dai (a small drum for making rhythm), Khloy (recorder) and Chhoeng.
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Khmer Music
Khmer Dance
Khmer Dance
Classical Dance of Cambodia The epic poem of Rama (Ramayana) is believed to have been revealed to a Hindu holy man named Valmiki by Brahma, the god of creation. This religious literary work, dating from about ad 4, is known in various versions throughout India and Southeast Asia. In Cambodia, the story has been set to music and dance and performed by the Royal Ballet since the 18th century.
Although the epic is also known in the villages, where it is translated orally or dramatized in the popular shadow puppet theater, the ballet was traditionally a courtly art performed in the palace or for princely festivals. The music of the ballet is performed by the Pinpeat orchestra, which is made up of traditional xylophones, metallophones, horizontal gongs, drums, and cymbals.
History
Khmer classical dance derived from Indian court dance, which traces its origins to the apsarases of Hindu mythology, heavenly female nymphs who were born to dance for the gods. The traditions of Thailand and Java (in Indonesia) also influenced the music and dance of Cambodia. In classical Cambodian dance, women, dressed in brightly colored costumes with elaborate headdresses, perform slow, graceful movements accompanied by a percussive ensemble known as the pinpeat. Pinpeat orchestras include drums, gongs, and bamboo xylophones.
In Cambodia's villages, plays performed by actors wearing masks are popular. Shadow plays, performed using black leather puppets that enact scenes from the Reamkern, are also enjoyed. Folk dancing is popular in rural Cambodia and is performed spontaneously to a drumbeat.
Khmer Traditional Apsara Dance
At the heart of classical form is the Apsara, the joyful, almost wanton dancer whose images are everywhere. Princess Buppha Devi, who currently serves as the Minister of Culture, is a master of Apsar dancing, which dates to the 1st century. The graceful movements of the Apsara dancers, adorned with gold headdresses and silken tunics and skirts, are carved on the walls of many of the temples at Angkor.
Estimates are that there were 3,000 Apsara dancers in the 12th century court of King Jayavarman VII.
Over the centuries Khmer dancing lent its influence to the classical ballet of neighboring countries, and some of its postures and movements are similar to other Southeast Asian dance forms. But according to Princess Buppha Devi, "The Khmer kingdom started its traditions in the 8th century, 500 years before Thailand." In 1400, with the sacking of the Angkor Empire, the Apsara dancers were seized and taken to Thailand. Apsara dancing is one of two elements of classical ballet, the other being "today" dancing, the depiction of early
myths. Many of the dances involve performing a fragment of the Ramayana, the ancient Indian epic that is one and a half times as long as the Odyssey. Others are based on the legendary battles and mythical sagas carved in bas relief on the walls of the temples of Angkor-including the Churning of the Sea of Milk, the great battle between gods and demons for the holy liquid that gives immortality. There are 100 dances and dramas.
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Khmer Dance
Phnom Bakheng
Phnom Bakheng
Location: 1300 m north of Angkor Wat, just south of Angkor Thom.
King: Yasovarman I
Date: 9th-10th century
Religion: Hindu
Access: At the east side.
"Phnom" means "hill" in the Khmer language. Phnom Bakheng is a 65-metre hill a few hundred metres south of the gate to Angkor Thom.
It is the only natural hill in the area. Climbing the hill after a day walking around the monuments can be a challenge, but the view from the top just before sunset is a rewarding sight. You see the sun go down over the western Baray while the five towers of Angkor Wat slowly disappear in the jungle to the east.
You enter Phnom Bakheng by a steep path with some steps on the east side. On the top you will find one of the oldest temples, built by
Yasovarman I.
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Phnom Bakheng
Preah Khan Temple
Location: North of Angkor Thom
King: Jayavarman VII
Date: 1191
Religion: Buddhist
Access: At the east and west side.
Preah Khan is a large temple complex mostly hidden from the view if you pass by on the main road. For some reasons it is not visited often, probably because everybody is passing it on their way to Ta Prohm. A visit to Preah Khan is however very interesting. The architecture is pretty complicated, and the style is quite different from other sites. It has the customary outer wall with large gates, but the main temple is no temple mount, and one building (marked red in the map) with round colums looks like the Romans must have visited
here. Take at least a few hours to visit this site as it is bigger as it seems, the outer walls are some 800 metres in length. They are not shown in the plan above.
At the inside of the walls you will find reliefs of giant serpents and 7 meter high Garudas, the largest to be found in any temple in the region.
Prah Khan looked a bit like Ta Prom, with large figtrees towering over the ruins. Some time ago Preah Khan was declared a World Monument and extensive restoration is taking place. It will take quite some time before the work is finished. However, the site is so large that it is was not closed to the public, and there is plenty to admire here.
Most of the trees have gone, as has the smaller vegetation which had reclaimed the site after an earlier restoration had to be abonded in 1972, when the civil war forced all foreigners out of the country. Some bases of trunks are still standing, including a big one appearantly struck by lightning.
King: Jayavarman VII
Date: 1191
Religion: Buddhist
Access: At the east and west side.
Preah Khan is a large temple complex mostly hidden from the view if you pass by on the main road. For some reasons it is not visited often, probably because everybody is passing it on their way to Ta Prohm. A visit to Preah Khan is however very interesting. The architecture is pretty complicated, and the style is quite different from other sites. It has the customary outer wall with large gates, but the main temple is no temple mount, and one building (marked red in the map) with round colums looks like the Romans must have visited
here. Take at least a few hours to visit this site as it is bigger as it seems, the outer walls are some 800 metres in length. They are not shown in the plan above.
At the inside of the walls you will find reliefs of giant serpents and 7 meter high Garudas, the largest to be found in any temple in the region.
Prah Khan looked a bit like Ta Prom, with large figtrees towering over the ruins. Some time ago Preah Khan was declared a World Monument and extensive restoration is taking place. It will take quite some time before the work is finished. However, the site is so large that it is was not closed to the public, and there is plenty to admire here.
Most of the trees have gone, as has the smaller vegetation which had reclaimed the site after an earlier restoration had to be abonded in 1972, when the civil war forced all foreigners out of the country. Some bases of trunks are still standing, including a big one appearantly struck by lightning.
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Preah Khan Temple
Phimeanakas Temple
Phimeanakas Temple
Location: Angkor Thom, north of the Bayon
King: several
Date: Late 10th century
Religion: Hindu
Access: At the west side.
Coming through the woods from the Baphuon temple you pass the sandstone wall of Phimeanakas at the south gate. You'd better stay on the path, as landmines are still bundant in Cambodia! The temple
is essentially a three-level temple mount with little decoration. The sanctuary itself is in a bad condition, the walls and stairways are slowly sagging. If you want to climb to the upper level better use the western stairway..
The grounds were once crowded with wooden housing for the king and its court. Little remains today, the jungle has reclaimed almost everything. I think this contributes a lot to the charm of the complex, and I hope it will be decided to leave it in it's present state.
Location: Angkor Thom, north of the Bayon
King: several
Date: Late 10th century
Religion: Hindu
Access: At the west side.
Coming through the woods from the Baphuon temple you pass the sandstone wall of Phimeanakas at the south gate. You'd better stay on the path, as landmines are still bundant in Cambodia! The temple
is essentially a three-level temple mount with little decoration. The sanctuary itself is in a bad condition, the walls and stairways are slowly sagging. If you want to climb to the upper level better use the western stairway..
The grounds were once crowded with wooden housing for the king and its court. Little remains today, the jungle has reclaimed almost everything. I think this contributes a lot to the charm of the complex, and I hope it will be decided to leave it in it's present state.
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Phimeanakas Temple
The Terrace of the Elephant King
The Terrace of the Elephant King
Location: Angkor Thom, north of the Bayon.
King: Jayavarman VII
Date: late 12th century
Religion: Buddhist.
This terrace consists of some 300 metres of ornately carved sandstone walls, with starcases adjourned by three-headed elephants. Most scenes depict the art of hunting with lots of lions and tigers trying to fight the elephants.
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The Terrace of the Elephant King
The Bakong temple
The Bakong temple
Location: Roluos group
King: Indravarman I
Date: 881 A.D.
Religion: Hindu
Access: At the east side.
Bakong
The Bakong is the first real pyramidal shaped temple built in Cambodia to take the form which researchers have come to call "temple mountain". Before the Bakong, this architectural type had not fully emerged, and even at Ak Yum, on the southern dike of the Western Baray, the form is not yet totally achieved.
Before entering an enclosure measuring 400 by 300 meters which is surrounded by an exterior wall and a moat somewhat wider than it is deep, we find ourselves in a larger enclosure measuring 900 by 700 meters. In this outer enclosure, ruins and remains of at least 22 sanctuaries are found. These sanctuaries can perhaps be considered satellites of the central complex in that some of them, instead of facing east, turn to face the central pyramid.
The naga (serpent) with seven heads found on the side of the entrance causeway appears here for the first time in the place which will be taken by future naga balustrades. The brick towers, located at the foot of the pyramid, still have their original wooden supporting beams despite the ravages of time.
Location: Roluos group
King: Indravarman I
Date: 881 A.D.
Religion: Hindu
Access: At the east side.
Bakong
The Bakong is the first real pyramidal shaped temple built in Cambodia to take the form which researchers have come to call "temple mountain". Before the Bakong, this architectural type had not fully emerged, and even at Ak Yum, on the southern dike of the Western Baray, the form is not yet totally achieved.
Before entering an enclosure measuring 400 by 300 meters which is surrounded by an exterior wall and a moat somewhat wider than it is deep, we find ourselves in a larger enclosure measuring 900 by 700 meters. In this outer enclosure, ruins and remains of at least 22 sanctuaries are found. These sanctuaries can perhaps be considered satellites of the central complex in that some of them, instead of facing east, turn to face the central pyramid.
The naga (serpent) with seven heads found on the side of the entrance causeway appears here for the first time in the place which will be taken by future naga balustrades. The brick towers, located at the foot of the pyramid, still have their original wooden supporting beams despite the ravages of time.
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The Bakong temple
Stung Treng Province
History
It was first a part of the Khmer Empire, then the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang and later the Lao kingdom of Champassack. The province
was ceded back to Cambodia during the period of French Indochina, in 1904. Its name in Laotian is Xieng Teng.
Owing to its border location and forested mountain areas in the northeast of the province, there was much communist guerrilla activity in
Stung Treng during Cambodia's recent past. The insurgency lasted from the Vietnamese infiltration in the 1950s until the late Khmer Rouge
years.
Site description
Stung Treng is located in the upper Cambodian reaches of the Lower Mekong River. Declared as a Ramsar site in 1999, the site extends 37 km along the Mekong River from 6 km north of Stung Treng town to 3 km south of the Lao boarder. The site encompasses the entire Mekong River, its islands and channels, to the terrestrial boundary 150 metres to the landward side of the riverbanks. In some areas the river is very broad with numerous channels between rocky and sandy islands. In others, the river forms a single channel with fast flowing current. Seasonal variation in water height is up to 10 metres. In the dry season rapids can be seen where bedrock is close to the surface.
There are 10,000 people living within, or close to the site boundaries. This number is expected to increase with the improved security situation in this remote part of Cambodia. Three of the islands within the Ramsar site are permanently populated with established villages.
It was first a part of the Khmer Empire, then the Lao kingdom of Lan Xang and later the Lao kingdom of Champassack. The province
was ceded back to Cambodia during the period of French Indochina, in 1904. Its name in Laotian is Xieng Teng.
Owing to its border location and forested mountain areas in the northeast of the province, there was much communist guerrilla activity in
Stung Treng during Cambodia's recent past. The insurgency lasted from the Vietnamese infiltration in the 1950s until the late Khmer Rouge
years.
Site description
Stung Treng is located in the upper Cambodian reaches of the Lower Mekong River. Declared as a Ramsar site in 1999, the site extends 37 km along the Mekong River from 6 km north of Stung Treng town to 3 km south of the Lao boarder. The site encompasses the entire Mekong River, its islands and channels, to the terrestrial boundary 150 metres to the landward side of the riverbanks. In some areas the river is very broad with numerous channels between rocky and sandy islands. In others, the river forms a single channel with fast flowing current. Seasonal variation in water height is up to 10 metres. In the dry season rapids can be seen where bedrock is close to the surface.
There are 10,000 people living within, or close to the site boundaries. This number is expected to increase with the improved security situation in this remote part of Cambodia. Three of the islands within the Ramsar site are permanently populated with established villages.
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Stung Treng Province
Kratie Povince
KRATIE
Is a sleepy Mekong River town situated on the east bank of the mighty river? It’s very picturesque with sandbars and big islands out front and bends in the river. Unlike in many towns around Cambodia, the war years were fairly kind to the French architecture and the roads, at least in the town itself. There are some nice-looking homes of French and Khmer style scattered about, adding to the pleasant feel of the place.
The rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins make their home in the Mekong River, just north of Kratie. With only around fifteen to twenty remaining, they are worth a visit. Whether you are just on a trip seeing the river towns along the Mekong or taking a full circuit trip around the east and northeast, Kratie is a nice place to spend a night or two.
FEATURES AND HISTORY OF MEKONG DOLPHIN
Mekong dolphin’lrrawaddy dolphin’s, the rare aquatic mammals in the world, live in fresh water. At present, only 80 to 100 dolphin live in the Mekong River between Kratie and Stung Treng and Cambodia-Laos border.Big dolphins are 2 to 2.8 m long with the weight of almost 200 kg. One female dolphin can give birth to only one baby for every 2 to 3 years and raise its baby by nursing like human beings ( They are mammals not fish). Dolphin are clever because they have a special vocal system for mutual interaction and perception while preying on fish. Their food is fish, especially scale-less fishes, oysters, snails, and clams in the river.
Dolphin like swimming cheerfully in small groups of 3 to 5. Dolphin can live up to 20 or 40 years.
Before the civil war, thousands of dolphin lived in the Mekong River, Tonle Sap and along the river leading to Vietnam. In Pol Pot time, a number of dolphins were killed for fat or hunted for pleasure. Using grenades,
electrified tools, and fishing with big-hole mesh were the main causes of rapid decrease in dolphin population in the Mekong River. Since 1998, several international organizations cooperated with the local authorities as well as competent institutions have worked closely in the Mekong River. Now the Royal Government is paying most attention to persevering the Mekong River dolphins.
Kampy Resort:
Is the great natural resort where is home to Dolphins. When we travel along the National Road No. 7 to the North about 15Km from the provincial town, we will arrive at abridge of Prek Kam Py where we have seen a very novel view of the Mekong River consisting of thousands of islands full of green water plants. Usually from January to May, there are local and international visitors, who call on the Kam Py resort for swimming,
Is a sleepy Mekong River town situated on the east bank of the mighty river? It’s very picturesque with sandbars and big islands out front and bends in the river. Unlike in many towns around Cambodia, the war years were fairly kind to the French architecture and the roads, at least in the town itself. There are some nice-looking homes of French and Khmer style scattered about, adding to the pleasant feel of the place.
The rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins make their home in the Mekong River, just north of Kratie. With only around fifteen to twenty remaining, they are worth a visit. Whether you are just on a trip seeing the river towns along the Mekong or taking a full circuit trip around the east and northeast, Kratie is a nice place to spend a night or two.
FEATURES AND HISTORY OF MEKONG DOLPHIN
Mekong dolphin’lrrawaddy dolphin’s, the rare aquatic mammals in the world, live in fresh water. At present, only 80 to 100 dolphin live in the Mekong River between Kratie and Stung Treng and Cambodia-Laos border.Big dolphins are 2 to 2.8 m long with the weight of almost 200 kg. One female dolphin can give birth to only one baby for every 2 to 3 years and raise its baby by nursing like human beings ( They are mammals not fish). Dolphin are clever because they have a special vocal system for mutual interaction and perception while preying on fish. Their food is fish, especially scale-less fishes, oysters, snails, and clams in the river.
Dolphin like swimming cheerfully in small groups of 3 to 5. Dolphin can live up to 20 or 40 years.
Before the civil war, thousands of dolphin lived in the Mekong River, Tonle Sap and along the river leading to Vietnam. In Pol Pot time, a number of dolphins were killed for fat or hunted for pleasure. Using grenades,
electrified tools, and fishing with big-hole mesh were the main causes of rapid decrease in dolphin population in the Mekong River. Since 1998, several international organizations cooperated with the local authorities as well as competent institutions have worked closely in the Mekong River. Now the Royal Government is paying most attention to persevering the Mekong River dolphins.
Kampy Resort:
Is the great natural resort where is home to Dolphins. When we travel along the National Road No. 7 to the North about 15Km from the provincial town, we will arrive at abridge of Prek Kam Py where we have seen a very novel view of the Mekong River consisting of thousands of islands full of green water plants. Usually from January to May, there are local and international visitors, who call on the Kam Py resort for swimming,
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Kratie Povince
Shihanuk Ville(Kompong Som Province)
Shihanuk Ville
Sihanouk Ville is a coastal city that is collated 235 km southwest of Phnom Penh. It can be reached by National Road No 4. The Cambodian seaside paradise can be visited all year round.
Its charm results from a harmonious combination of undulation mountain, tropical islands, translucent seawater, glittering sand, swaying palms, tourist spots, and an international seaport, along with a mild climate and a cooling breeze.
The tranquil water is perfect for relaxing after tiring visits to Angkor, swimming in the evening through the phosphorescent water that gleams like diamonds, and sunbathing on the white sandy beach. Watching the sunset along the coast is the perfect ending to the day. If you want to see beautiful natural scenery and breathe clean fresh air and enjoy extraordinarily delicious seafood, Sihanouk Ville has it all. There is a wide variety of accommodation and restaurants available at a reasonable price.
It takes about 4 hours to journey from Phnom Penh to Sihanouk Ville on a comfortable luxury air-conditioned bus. You will enjoy the wonderful view of mountains, forests and valleys along the road, all of which will make your journey an unforgettable one.
In a land with thousands of years of history, Sihanoukville is a colorful but tragic upstart. A mere fifty years ago, a French-Cambodian construction carved a camp out of the jungle and started building the first deep-sea port of a newly independent Cambodia. Named Sihanoukville in 1964 after the ruling prince of Cambodia, the booming port and its golden beaches soon drew Cambodia's jetsetting elite, spawning the first Angkor Beer brewery and the modernist seven-story Independence Hotel which, claim locals, even played host to Jacqueline Kennedy on her whirlwind tour of Cambodia in 1967.
Alas, the party came to an abrupt end in 1970 when Sihanouk was deposed in a coup and Cambodia descended into civil war. The town – renamed Kompong Som – soon fell on hard times: the victorious Khmer Rouge used the Independence Hotel for target practice and, when they made the mistake of hijacking an American container ship, the port was bombed by the U.S. Air Force. Even after Pol Pot's regime was driven from power, the bumpy highway to the capital was long notorious for banditry and the beaches stayed empty.
Peace returned in 1997 and in the ensuing ten years Sihanoukville has been busy picking up the pieces. First visited only by a few intrepid backpackers, guidebooks still talk of walls pockmarked by bullets, but any signs of war are hard to spot in today's Sihanoukville, whose new symbol seems to be the construction site. After 30 years of housing only ghosts, the Independence Hotel is up and running again, more and more Khmers and expats have settled down to run bars and restaurants, and the buzz of what the New York Times dubbed "Asia's next trendsetting beach" is starting to spread far and wide.
Sihanouk Ville is a coastal city that is collated 235 km southwest of Phnom Penh. It can be reached by National Road No 4. The Cambodian seaside paradise can be visited all year round.
Its charm results from a harmonious combination of undulation mountain, tropical islands, translucent seawater, glittering sand, swaying palms, tourist spots, and an international seaport, along with a mild climate and a cooling breeze.
The tranquil water is perfect for relaxing after tiring visits to Angkor, swimming in the evening through the phosphorescent water that gleams like diamonds, and sunbathing on the white sandy beach. Watching the sunset along the coast is the perfect ending to the day. If you want to see beautiful natural scenery and breathe clean fresh air and enjoy extraordinarily delicious seafood, Sihanouk Ville has it all. There is a wide variety of accommodation and restaurants available at a reasonable price.
It takes about 4 hours to journey from Phnom Penh to Sihanouk Ville on a comfortable luxury air-conditioned bus. You will enjoy the wonderful view of mountains, forests and valleys along the road, all of which will make your journey an unforgettable one.
In a land with thousands of years of history, Sihanoukville is a colorful but tragic upstart. A mere fifty years ago, a French-Cambodian construction carved a camp out of the jungle and started building the first deep-sea port of a newly independent Cambodia. Named Sihanoukville in 1964 after the ruling prince of Cambodia, the booming port and its golden beaches soon drew Cambodia's jetsetting elite, spawning the first Angkor Beer brewery and the modernist seven-story Independence Hotel which, claim locals, even played host to Jacqueline Kennedy on her whirlwind tour of Cambodia in 1967.
Alas, the party came to an abrupt end in 1970 when Sihanouk was deposed in a coup and Cambodia descended into civil war. The town – renamed Kompong Som – soon fell on hard times: the victorious Khmer Rouge used the Independence Hotel for target practice and, when they made the mistake of hijacking an American container ship, the port was bombed by the U.S. Air Force. Even after Pol Pot's regime was driven from power, the bumpy highway to the capital was long notorious for banditry and the beaches stayed empty.
Peace returned in 1997 and in the ensuing ten years Sihanoukville has been busy picking up the pieces. First visited only by a few intrepid backpackers, guidebooks still talk of walls pockmarked by bullets, but any signs of war are hard to spot in today's Sihanoukville, whose new symbol seems to be the construction site. After 30 years of housing only ghosts, the Independence Hotel is up and running again, more and more Khmers and expats have settled down to run bars and restaurants, and the buzz of what the New York Times dubbed "Asia's next trendsetting beach" is starting to spread far and wide.
Ratanakiri Province
Geography and climate
Map of Ratanakiri, with major roads indicated in red
The geography of Ratanakiri Province is diverse, encompassing rolling hills, mountains, plateaus, lowland watersheds, and lakes. Two major rivers, Tonle San and Tonle Srepok, flow from east to west across the province. The province is known for its lush forests; as of 1997, 70–80% of the province was forested, either with old-growth forest or with secondary forest regrown after cultivation. In the far north of the province are mountains of the Anna mite Range; the area is characterized by dense broadleaf evergreen forests, relatively poor soil, and abundant wildlife. In the highlands between Tonle San and Tonle Srepok, the home of the vast majority of Ratanakiri's population, a hilly basalt plateau provides fertile red soils.Secondary forests dominate this region.South of the Srepok River is a flat area of tropical deciduous forests.
Like other areas of Cambodia, Ratanakiri has a monsoonal climate with a rainy season from June to October, a cool season from November to January, and a hot season from March to May.Ratanakiri tends to be cooler than elsewhere in Cambodia. The average daily high temperature in the province is 34.0 °C (93.2 °F), and the average daily low temperature is 22.1 °C (71.8 °F).Annual precipitation is approximately 2,200 millimeters (87 in).Flooding often occurs during the rainy season and has been exacerbated by the newly built Yali Falls Dam.
Aerial view of Yak Loum, a crater lake near Ban lung
Ratanakiri has some of the most biologically diverse lowland tropical rainforest and montage forest ecosystems in mainland Southeast Asia.[40] One 1996 survey of two sites in Ratanakiri and one site in neighboring Mondulkiri recorded 44 mammal species, 76 bird species, and 9 reptile species. A 2007 survey of Ratanakiri's Virachey National Park recorded 30 ant species, 19 katydid species, 37 fish species, 35 reptile species, 26 amphibian species, and 15 mammal species, including several species never before observed. Wildlife includes Asian elephants, gaur, and monkeys. Ratanakiri is an important site for the conservation of endangered birds, including the giant ibis and the greater adjutant.[34] The province's forests contain a wide variety of flora; one half-hectare forest inventory identified 189 species of trees and 320 species of ground flora and saplings.Nearly half of Ratanakiri has been set aside in protected areas, which include Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary and Virachey National Park. Even these protected areas, however, are subject to illegal logging, poaching, and mineral extraction. Though the province has been known for its relatively pristine environment, recent development has spawned environmental problems. The unspoiled image of the province often conflicts with the reality on the ground: visitors "expecting to find pristine forests teeming with wildlife are increasingly disappointed to find lifeless patches of freshly cut tree stumps".Land use patterns are changing as population growth has accelerated and agriculture and logging have intensified. Soil erosion is increasing, and microclimates are being altered.Habitat loss and unsustainable hunting have contributed to the province's decreasing biodiversity
I. Background
Province Capital: 636 km. north - east of Phnom Penh
Area: 11,052 Square kilometers
Population: 94243 people (ethnic minority) represent 75.77% of the total.
Religion: Buddhism and Animism.
Accessibility: by air, by land, by boat (from Phnom Penh to Kracheh or Steung Treng in rainy season only), continue by car from Katie and by plane or car from Steung Treng to Ratanakiri.
Major occupations: farming
Major products: gemstones & agriculture
Major industries: farming & tourism
II. Introduction
Map of Ratanakiri, with major roads indicated in red
The geography of Ratanakiri Province is diverse, encompassing rolling hills, mountains, plateaus, lowland watersheds, and lakes. Two major rivers, Tonle San and Tonle Srepok, flow from east to west across the province. The province is known for its lush forests; as of 1997, 70–80% of the province was forested, either with old-growth forest or with secondary forest regrown after cultivation. In the far north of the province are mountains of the Anna mite Range; the area is characterized by dense broadleaf evergreen forests, relatively poor soil, and abundant wildlife. In the highlands between Tonle San and Tonle Srepok, the home of the vast majority of Ratanakiri's population, a hilly basalt plateau provides fertile red soils.Secondary forests dominate this region.South of the Srepok River is a flat area of tropical deciduous forests.
Like other areas of Cambodia, Ratanakiri has a monsoonal climate with a rainy season from June to October, a cool season from November to January, and a hot season from March to May.Ratanakiri tends to be cooler than elsewhere in Cambodia. The average daily high temperature in the province is 34.0 °C (93.2 °F), and the average daily low temperature is 22.1 °C (71.8 °F).Annual precipitation is approximately 2,200 millimeters (87 in).Flooding often occurs during the rainy season and has been exacerbated by the newly built Yali Falls Dam.
Aerial view of Yak Loum, a crater lake near Ban lung
Ratanakiri has some of the most biologically diverse lowland tropical rainforest and montage forest ecosystems in mainland Southeast Asia.[40] One 1996 survey of two sites in Ratanakiri and one site in neighboring Mondulkiri recorded 44 mammal species, 76 bird species, and 9 reptile species. A 2007 survey of Ratanakiri's Virachey National Park recorded 30 ant species, 19 katydid species, 37 fish species, 35 reptile species, 26 amphibian species, and 15 mammal species, including several species never before observed. Wildlife includes Asian elephants, gaur, and monkeys. Ratanakiri is an important site for the conservation of endangered birds, including the giant ibis and the greater adjutant.[34] The province's forests contain a wide variety of flora; one half-hectare forest inventory identified 189 species of trees and 320 species of ground flora and saplings.Nearly half of Ratanakiri has been set aside in protected areas, which include Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary and Virachey National Park. Even these protected areas, however, are subject to illegal logging, poaching, and mineral extraction. Though the province has been known for its relatively pristine environment, recent development has spawned environmental problems. The unspoiled image of the province often conflicts with the reality on the ground: visitors "expecting to find pristine forests teeming with wildlife are increasingly disappointed to find lifeless patches of freshly cut tree stumps".Land use patterns are changing as population growth has accelerated and agriculture and logging have intensified. Soil erosion is increasing, and microclimates are being altered.Habitat loss and unsustainable hunting have contributed to the province's decreasing biodiversity
I. Background
Province Capital: 636 km. north - east of Phnom Penh
Area: 11,052 Square kilometers
Population: 94243 people (ethnic minority) represent 75.77% of the total.
Religion: Buddhism and Animism.
Accessibility: by air, by land, by boat (from Phnom Penh to Kracheh or Steung Treng in rainy season only), continue by car from Katie and by plane or car from Steung Treng to Ratanakiri.
Major occupations: farming
Major products: gemstones & agriculture
Major industries: farming & tourism
II. Introduction
Labels:
Ratanakiri Province
Mondulkiri Province
Introduction
Cambodia Photo Mondulkiri is an eastern province of Cambodia, which is the most sparsely populated province in the whole country although being the largest province in Cambodia. The province is chock full of natural beauty, with thickly forested mountains, powerful waterfalls and the lush green rolling hills of the western side. Despite the growing deforestation, especially due to the valuable minerals remaining in the deep red, fertile ground, Mondulkiri has still one of the biggest successional woodlands of Cambodia. Except being in Sen Monorom, you’ll find deep pure jungle, with a huge variety of flora and fauna. You may also find gigantic and beautiful waterfalls, where you can take an empowering shower, such as the impressive Bou Sraa.
Sen Monorom is the provincial capital and doesn’t show up as a typical Cambodian town, while it is the only town the province has to speak of. With approx. 7500 inhabitants, 20 guesthouses, 12 restaurants, 3 bars and no post office it is often compared to American Wild West frontier towns. Concerning the quietness and beauty of Sen Monorom people from other parts of the country move here and therefore the land price doubled from 2006 to 2007.
The town of Sen Monorom is the best base camp for travellers who want to explore the surrounding areas. A quiet but beautiful town nestled into the hills; it has a lot of potential to develop into a centre for non-intrusive eco-tourism. At present, it’s very undeveloped, which gives you a feeling of going somewhere off the beaten tourist trail. Add to that the communities of hill tribe people, who are not affected by mass-tourism, as they are in neighbouring Thailand, and you have an area that is very attractive to the adventure traveller.
Also interesting is the variety of languages being used: Khmer, hill tribe languages, Vietnamese and Lao. 80 percent of the population in Mondulkiri is made up of ten tribal minorities, with the majority of them being the Chunchiet from the tribe of the Phnong. The remaining 20 percent are Khmer, Chinese and Muslim Cham. Most of the population lives off the land, planting rice, fruit trees and a variety of vegetables. Others grow, coffee, strawberries, rubber and cashew nuts. More and more houses are built in the typical Khmer style. Visiting the hill tribes you still can find the traditional Phnong houses. In the houses you can find traditional gongs and big jars, whereby the last ones are said to be more than a thousand years old. There are various sorts of gongs used for different occasions. Jars and gongs are among the most valuable possessions in an indigenous community, whether in traditional, spiritual or material terms. During the Khmer Rouge Regime those objects were buried in hidden places in the jungle and in many cases they still wait in the ground.
Geography
Mondulkiri province is situated on the South - East plateau (approx. altitude around 200-1000 metres), it’s capital Sen Monorom is about 375 Km from Phnom Penh. It is bordering Vietnam to the East and South, Ratanakiri to the North, and Kratie province to the West.
Beside a bunch of smaller rivers, which grow quite big during the rainy season, there are two bigger rivers crossing the province ( the Preaek Chhbaar and the Preaek Te River ). The total area of Mondulkiri is about 14,288 square kilometres.
Cambodia Photo Mondulkiri is an eastern province of Cambodia, which is the most sparsely populated province in the whole country although being the largest province in Cambodia. The province is chock full of natural beauty, with thickly forested mountains, powerful waterfalls and the lush green rolling hills of the western side. Despite the growing deforestation, especially due to the valuable minerals remaining in the deep red, fertile ground, Mondulkiri has still one of the biggest successional woodlands of Cambodia. Except being in Sen Monorom, you’ll find deep pure jungle, with a huge variety of flora and fauna. You may also find gigantic and beautiful waterfalls, where you can take an empowering shower, such as the impressive Bou Sraa.
Sen Monorom is the provincial capital and doesn’t show up as a typical Cambodian town, while it is the only town the province has to speak of. With approx. 7500 inhabitants, 20 guesthouses, 12 restaurants, 3 bars and no post office it is often compared to American Wild West frontier towns. Concerning the quietness and beauty of Sen Monorom people from other parts of the country move here and therefore the land price doubled from 2006 to 2007.
The town of Sen Monorom is the best base camp for travellers who want to explore the surrounding areas. A quiet but beautiful town nestled into the hills; it has a lot of potential to develop into a centre for non-intrusive eco-tourism. At present, it’s very undeveloped, which gives you a feeling of going somewhere off the beaten tourist trail. Add to that the communities of hill tribe people, who are not affected by mass-tourism, as they are in neighbouring Thailand, and you have an area that is very attractive to the adventure traveller.
Also interesting is the variety of languages being used: Khmer, hill tribe languages, Vietnamese and Lao. 80 percent of the population in Mondulkiri is made up of ten tribal minorities, with the majority of them being the Chunchiet from the tribe of the Phnong. The remaining 20 percent are Khmer, Chinese and Muslim Cham. Most of the population lives off the land, planting rice, fruit trees and a variety of vegetables. Others grow, coffee, strawberries, rubber and cashew nuts. More and more houses are built in the typical Khmer style. Visiting the hill tribes you still can find the traditional Phnong houses. In the houses you can find traditional gongs and big jars, whereby the last ones are said to be more than a thousand years old. There are various sorts of gongs used for different occasions. Jars and gongs are among the most valuable possessions in an indigenous community, whether in traditional, spiritual or material terms. During the Khmer Rouge Regime those objects were buried in hidden places in the jungle and in many cases they still wait in the ground.
Geography
Mondulkiri province is situated on the South - East plateau (approx. altitude around 200-1000 metres), it’s capital Sen Monorom is about 375 Km from Phnom Penh. It is bordering Vietnam to the East and South, Ratanakiri to the North, and Kratie province to the West.
Beside a bunch of smaller rivers, which grow quite big during the rainy season, there are two bigger rivers crossing the province ( the Preaek Chhbaar and the Preaek Te River ). The total area of Mondulkiri is about 14,288 square kilometres.
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Mondulkiri Province
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