During the visit of Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong last week, Cambodia is encouraged to develop the tourism master plan to boost its economy. Mr. Goh Chok Tong advised to Cambodia leader Hun Sen that it is difficult for Cambodia to compete with its neighboring countries in term of heavy industry, but he believe that the hidden asset of tourism could be developed successfully. Currently, Cambodia receive less than half a million tourists per year. To attain its goal of one million tourists, Cambodia has to expand its infrastructure such as the road networks as well as the other attractions.Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong will send expert team to help in developing the master plan on tourism for Cambodia.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
New Flooding in Cambodia (2001)
Just like last year, the start of the monsoon season has brought abundant rains and has pushed the water level of the Mekong to record highs. Right now the situation in the Upper Mekong region is the worst. Parts of the towns of Stung Treng and Kratie are flooded and only accessible by boat.
Further south, lower lying parts of Kompong Cham have also been inundated and a bridge on National Road no.6 has been damaged and is being repaired. Right now visitors wanting to reach Kompong Cham, Kompong Thom or Siem Reap by road, best take the speedboat Phnom Penh-Kpg Cham or Phnom Penh-Siem Reap or they have to use National Rd No.5 and then cross the Tonle Bassac on the Prek Kdam ferry near Oudong. Material damages have reached 15 millions of US Dollars and 35 people have died so far. Waters are due to receded in the next days.
At the moment there is no need to postpone trips to Cambodia, as the cities of Phnom Penh and the temples at Angkor are not affected and can be visited as usual. Some adjustments might be needed for overland trips to Kompong Cham.
Further south, lower lying parts of Kompong Cham have also been inundated and a bridge on National Road no.6 has been damaged and is being repaired. Right now visitors wanting to reach Kompong Cham, Kompong Thom or Siem Reap by road, best take the speedboat Phnom Penh-Kpg Cham or Phnom Penh-Siem Reap or they have to use National Rd No.5 and then cross the Tonle Bassac on the Prek Kdam ferry near Oudong. Material damages have reached 15 millions of US Dollars and 35 people have died so far. Waters are due to receded in the next days.
At the moment there is no need to postpone trips to Cambodia, as the cities of Phnom Penh and the temples at Angkor are not affected and can be visited as usual. Some adjustments might be needed for overland trips to Kompong Cham.
First Public Bus Launced in Cambodia
On 1st June 2001, Phnom Penh began its experimental project to run the public buses in the city. The project was funded initially by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It is the attempt to help easing the traffic and to provide the Cambodian people with the first mass transit system in the capital.
17 out of 23 buses continues to operate on the two main routes passing along the Monivong Boulevard and around downtown. Last month, over a hundred thousand people rode on these buses. The bus fare is at 500 riels per adult, but will be raised to 800 riels soon (US$ = approx. 5,000 riels). The operation loses over US$ 1,000 per day and the fund is subsidized by the Phnom Penh Municipality.
17 out of 23 buses continues to operate on the two main routes passing along the Monivong Boulevard and around downtown. Last month, over a hundred thousand people rode on these buses. The bus fare is at 500 riels per adult, but will be raised to 800 riels soon (US$ = approx. 5,000 riels). The operation loses over US$ 1,000 per day and the fund is subsidized by the Phnom Penh Municipality.
Angkor Wat to host Concert of the Year
The Raffles Group and the Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor are organizing theevent of the year in Cambodia on Friday 6th December 2002 - a concertfeaturing world famous Spanish tenor José Carreras with the temple of AngkorWat as a backdrop. The tentative program is as follows:
6.15pm - Transfer from Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor to Angkor Wat
7pm - 9pm - Western set dinner with free flow of wine and a live bandplaying during dinner.
9pm - Jose Carerras backed by the 95-piece Singapore Symphonic Orchestra
10pm - 200 Apsara dancers on stage
10.45 pm - Jose Carreras finale
11.15 - 11.30pm Concert ends
There will be space for 1,500 spectators who will be treated to a dinner bythe Grand Hotel D'Angkor (included in the ticket price). Dress code isformal.
Tickets are priced at USD500, 1,000 and USD1,500. Tables of 10 persons can be booked and reserved in advance. Guests with tickets and staying at the Grand Hotel will be treated to a pre-dinner cocktail at the hotel (only in-house guests!). Proceeds of the concert will go to the Cambodian Red Cross, Landmine Victims and Wild AID
IMPORTANT NOTE: For bookings at the Grand Hotel D'Angkor on the night of 6th December it will be compulsory to purchase a ticket to the concert. Please make sure to warn/inform potential guests about this significant extra cost!
6.15pm - Transfer from Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor to Angkor Wat
7pm - 9pm - Western set dinner with free flow of wine and a live bandplaying during dinner.
9pm - Jose Carerras backed by the 95-piece Singapore Symphonic Orchestra
10pm - 200 Apsara dancers on stage
10.45 pm - Jose Carreras finale
11.15 - 11.30pm Concert ends
There will be space for 1,500 spectators who will be treated to a dinner bythe Grand Hotel D'Angkor (included in the ticket price). Dress code isformal.
Tickets are priced at USD500, 1,000 and USD1,500. Tables of 10 persons can be booked and reserved in advance. Guests with tickets and staying at the Grand Hotel will be treated to a pre-dinner cocktail at the hotel (only in-house guests!). Proceeds of the concert will go to the Cambodian Red Cross, Landmine Victims and Wild AID
IMPORTANT NOTE: For bookings at the Grand Hotel D'Angkor on the night of 6th December it will be compulsory to purchase a ticket to the concert. Please make sure to warn/inform potential guests about this significant extra cost!
Cambodia cracks down Sex Tourists
Phnom Penh Tourism Bureau chief Chen Samon announced this month that 70 officers were monitoring guest houses, hotels and tourist sites to try to combat child sex abuse. The crackdown on child sex tourism was spurred in action in response to mounting international protests, including direct pressure from the Australian Government. After a report from The Age revealing last month that hundreds of Australian men were traveling to Cambodia for child sex. The crackdown - which has led to the arrest of two Australians and a Briton accused of raping children - has also resulted in the rescue of 15 children from Phnom Penh brothels and the arrest of three Vietnamese men involved in trafficking children.
Cambodian Festival Honors Spirits of Dead
The lost ancient Buddhist ceremony was resurrected for the remembrance of the 1.7 million victims of Pol Pot's "killing field" during the brutal Khmer Rouge rule.
Cambodians offer prayers to the spirits of dead at the Annual Pchnum Benn Festival in Phnom Pehn.
Thousands of Cambodians offer rice and cakes on Sunday to unhappy spirits of the millions who perished under the Khmer Rouge. That horrible event evokes the ceremony which is lost in ancient Buddhist folklore to commemorate the victims of the event. One of the participants of the festival told that his loved ones died of starvation; he came then to offer them food.
Cambodians offer prayers to the spirits of dead at the Annual Pchnum Benn Festival in Phnom Pehn.
Thousands of Cambodians offer rice and cakes on Sunday to unhappy spirits of the millions who perished under the Khmer Rouge. That horrible event evokes the ceremony which is lost in ancient Buddhist folklore to commemorate the victims of the event. One of the participants of the festival told that his loved ones died of starvation; he came then to offer them food.
Annual Pchnum Benn Festival in Phnom Pehn.
The lost ancient Buddhist ceremony was resurrected for the remembrance of the 1.7 million victims of Pol Pot's "killing field" during the brutal Khmer Rouge rule. Cambodians offer prayers to the spirits of dead at the Annual Pchnum Benn Festival in Phnom Pehn.
Thousands of Cambodians offer rice and cakes on Sunday to unhappy spirits of the millions who perished under the Khmer Rouge. That horrible event evokes the ceremony which is lost in ancient Buddhist folklore to commemorate the victims of the event. One of the participants of the festival told that his loved ones died of starvation; he came then to offer them food.
Thousands of Cambodians offer rice and cakes on Sunday to unhappy spirits of the millions who perished under the Khmer Rouge. That horrible event evokes the ceremony which is lost in ancient Buddhist folklore to commemorate the victims of the event. One of the participants of the festival told that his loved ones died of starvation; he came then to offer them food.
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