Tourism

now browsing by category

 
Posted by: | Posted on: September 16, 2008

P’chum Ben: Its Significance

Among Cambodian annual festivities, P’chum Ben and Kan Ben are considered very significant. Literally, P’chum Ben means the gathering of the pieces of cooked rice to offer to the deceased. It culminates in 15th of full moon day and ends in 15th of waning moon day in lunar calendar of the 9th month or September 14 to September 28. The values of this festival notably inscribed its universal similarity, traditional practice, Buddhist ethics, and social, economic, political driven-force.

Universally, the festivity occurs during the darkest night. During these 15 days, the night in Cambodia is so dark and humid allowed Cambodian people to accelerate their belief of ghosts who dare appear only in the very dark night. The belief coincides with some Western countries especially Canada and America that their Halloween Day also happens in the very dark night. The purpose of the festival is to refer to ghosts or spirit, but practice is in different formats. Cambodian Buddhists bring food to offer to the Sangha, but Canadians and Americans joyfully play “trick or treat” with each other by transforming themselves as the night ghosts. Thailand and Lao also celebrate this day for the gratefulness to their deceased called Kao Sarth.

Read More …

Posted by: | Posted on: September 7, 2008

The Beauty of Phnom Penh: the Pearl of Asia

Phnom Penh was named after the complete building of mountain dedicated to Don Penh who were the senior devoted Buddhist initiated to worship the important Buddhas consecrated on the top of this mountain. This Cambodian latest capital significantly attracted by its view in the conjunction of four main rivers: Upper Mekong, Lower Mekong, Thonle Sap, and Thonle Basak. It also appeals by the stylizing of French legacy which once called “the pearl of Asia” in same time of Saigon.

If you have chance to visit Phnom Penh, I suggest to go early morning to see the sun rise in front of the Royal Palace. Boomingly, many Phnom Penhians prefer to exercise early morning gathering with many different groups. They run, walk, dance and play. Music is lullabying amid morning dew ground and dawn sky.

Pigeons are flockingly exercising with hundreds of people. The sun gradually appears while the dark quickly dispelled. The red beam beautifully reflects the red tile roof of the palace exhibits the canvas of neatly painting. Many peoples eagerly open their eyes to stare at the soft morning sun. If you were sitting here, you must feel so incredible great to chill yourself under the smoke of morning dew with the light beautiful rising sun appearing from the water.

Before roads flooded by jammed vehicles, this esoteric morning atmosphere surely provides you the fresh air breathing deep into lung to appreciate with further achievement of your new day.

Posted by: | Posted on: August 30, 2008

World Cultural Heritage of Angkor Watt: pride of the nickel-and-dime

Douglas Gardner, United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative addressed at the “Cambodia Outlook Conference 2007” (ref.1) Read More …