Koh Tral, “Ecotourism Island”

Koh Tral (Tral Island), aka Phu Quoc Island today, is the very big island located in the Gulf of Thailand near the coast of Cambodia and is well-known for ecotourism. It is the edge of Cardamom Mountain Range (Chuor Phnom Kravanh) under the sea. It covers the area of about 574 sq km in which is under the control of Vietnam today. It is only 15 km far from the coast of Kompot Province of Cambodia and 115 km from Rach Gia (in Khmer “Kromuon Sar Province”) of Vietnam. Historically, Koh Tral belonged to Cambodia until early of twentieth century. During French Colonial, this island was annexed administratively to Cochichina in the purpose of collecting tax from all Khmer Citizens living on those islands. When French Colonial transferred the territory of Kampuchea Krom to Vietnam on June 4^th, 1949, the ownership of the island was not clarified. It means both countries had the right to discuss later. Since the ancient time, many Khmer citizens lived there and usually did the fishery to support their life. Unfortunately, they were pushed out of the island by Government of South Vietnam in the 1957 while there was a conflict between Cambodia and South Vietnam. Then Vietnam took control of the island until today. Since then more and more Vietnamese have been going to live there reaching approximately 85,000 people as today. The good view of coastal area on this island is in the eye of all tourists around the world who love the nature. It should be noticed that the west coast of the island is the great place for ecotourism. Most of foreign tourists go there and sunbathe every day. Also, there are a lot of lives under the sea, especially the beautiful coral reefs and many kinds of sea fish. Tourists are so happy to visit this island and to see the blue sea with fresh air. More importantly, the island is full of green forest and high mountains. All tourists may get the opportunity to visit these areas naturally. Other activities could be conducted to satisfy the visitors such as sailing, boating, etc; modern building hotel are standing along the western and southern coast of this island. From Cambodia, the view of Tral Island could be seen clearly as it is near to Cambodia’s coast rather than Vietnam’s. In short, Tral Island or Phu Quoc Island is the ecotourism sites for all tourists around the globe. There is a hope that all tourists would be allowed to visit there from Cambodia by going in the morning and returning back in the evening in order to improve the tourism for both countries. In the future, business operation from Cambodia and Vietnam will be expected to run on this island for economic purposes together to make the island one of the best business site in South East Asia (SEA). There is the strong believe that Koh Tral Island will be one of the most interesting natural sites in South East Asia soon. “Friendship! Cooperation! Business! ”

By: POK Panhavuth

Central Market - ផ្សារធំថ្មី “Past & Present”

Phsar Thom Thmey in early 1960s, Phnom Penh

Phsar Thom Thmey, aka Central Market, is the most interesting site for cultural tourism in Phnom Penh nowadays since it is one of the oldest site in this capital. Phsar Thom Thmey was built from 1935 to 1937 by French for Cambodia. In 1960s, there was the clear plan around this market. The tower of the market with four long branch looked like a flower in the green forest if there was a camera to capture from the sky, but this flower in fact was blooming in the central part of this modern city. The air system along with the construction was considered seriously. Green garden with several green trees were arranged in front of the wide entrance to the market. The car park along the road was set and respected by all citizens in Phnom Penh. As the business center, many people went in and out, but the tidiness of citizens during that time has been being admired until today. Many flats and tall buildings were built along each road near this market. The good view of proper plan for these buildings was seen through the picture captured in Sangkum Reastr Niyum (1953-1970). Many years was gone with changes of Cambodia’s political situation, the good view vanished. Luckily, Central Market is recovered with new style around the ancient building of this market within these last few years. The recovery is conducted with the long-term cooperation between Royal Government of Cambodia and Government of France. The new look of this market is being seen in this year. At last, the busiest business center from previous generation will go on towards the future of Cambodia. “Good Air system in construction bring good health for all people  staying in this new building!”

By: POK Panhavuth

Phsar Thom Thmey in 2011, Phnom Penh

Life in Cambodia Today

Cambodian was known for either prosperous life or miserable life through thousand years ago. During the peace and prosperity, Khmer people lived happily; when the war occurred, life became difficult to describe. However, life in Cambodia today is so critical to know as the full peace-keeping and the progress of development are going on. Even though Cambodian was considered as poor with low income, there are still many wealthy people living happily. They could earn a lot of money with their flexibility in doing business or skill in the job market. Most of these people live in the glorious life with high education. They pursue their study until Bachelor Degree, Master Degree, or PhD. They are smart in getting scholarship for their education. More and more people can access the higher education, especially getting opportunity to study abroad. When they go overseas, they do their best to protect the value of Cambodia and her prestige. They often come back to their country with professional skill. In daily life, they usually buy expensive products for their family and sometimes go out for dinner in all famous restaurants, especially in Phnom Penh. All young men and some old men often meet their peers to drink beer; some of them use this chance to reinforce their interpersonal skill. Some men said drinking was bad in the eye of women, but men thought about it in different way from women’s sight. They sometimes go travelling overseas with their family, especially to Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, China, and so on. Similarly, the high ranking people and tycoon always earn much money than other people in this country. High ranking people hold the power in everything, especially governing the whole country. Therefore, it is easy for them to get high salary and receive more money from other sources; and tycoons are doing great investment in every field of the country such as Tycoon Mong Rithy as the example.  Their wealth sometimes is considered as the wealth of millionaires in the country. They live in the big house with the most expensive furniture. They usually attend the big ceremony or events in the famous place as the example of Naga World’s annual event. Now, since the education is being seen important for life, they usually transfer their children to study overseas in famous educational institutions or let their children study in the most expensive school in the country. Last generation is less educated while next generation is highly educated and could be the strong leader in the future for both society and business. In contrast, there are still many people living in the poor condition and many average-income earning people throughout the country. Poor people live in day-to-day life. They earn less than 1 US dollar while the entire price in the market are increasing from time to time. Luckily for those living in the countryside that at least they can find something to eat cheaper than in the city or provincial center. Even though life of the poor is so miserable, but the critical thought usually appears to their mind that life today is more value if the sight of Pol Pot Regime was shown. Most of them are struggling for better life in less expectation, but some of them really make life better with the right opportunity and career legally. On the other hand, most of average-income earning people are civil servants and hard-working farmers. They are put to this level of income as the low salary getting from government and there is also less opportunity for them to earn much money as other group of people in the society. For example, life of teacher in Cambodia is very difficult to describe. They work for long time with less income for that effort. Public teachers not only spend time to teach at school, but they also take long time to search and correct the homework or exams of all students. Their salary should be given in the valuable level as the life of teacher in Sangkum Reastr Niyum Regime (1953-1970). Giving value more to teacher, reinforcing society’s development more quickly than expected! Apparently, farmers who work very hard to do the agricultural practices earn enough to support their life while only less percentage of them can earn much from their career. The mutual interest of these two kinds of people is to live in the simple way. They earn less money; they must spend less than that. Therefore, they usually use the cheap products and avoid materialism as possible as they can. They usually get more diseases than the rich one since the cheap products are less quality and chemical included. It should be noticed that both the poor and average-income earning people’s next generation are doing their best to pursue higher education through scholarship from various sources. Some of them achieve their goal and get bachelor degree at least. Additionally, the general lives in small percentage of them fall into the drug addiction and domestic violence. Most these people face the problems of AIDS, stress, death, etc. The good habit seeing today is exercising and travelling in which have contributed to the success of Cambodian daily life. Habit of corruption is the real issue in this society and difficult to eliminate in order to improve all lives in Cambodia. In short, life of Cambodian people is getting better and better with positive expectation for the near future. Any way, there is an encouragement to government of Cambodia to proceed implementing the development plan and to bring the welfare for all citizens throughout the country, especially health service. All citizens must be brave to solve all the issues and obstacles in daily life. Healthcare must be the first criteria for well-being in Cambodia. “Life is short! Let’s do it!” “Health and flexibility are so important for success in life!”

By: POK Panhavuth

Kouprey - គោព្រៃ, “Rarest Wild Animal in Cambodia”

In Cambodia, there are remained rarest wild animals throughout her evergreen forest. Among these rarest wild animals, Kouprey, aka gray ox or Cambodian forest ox, is considered to be an endangered one. This kind of wild animal was discovered only in Cambodia in 1937 by natural scientists. It lived in northern forest of Cambodia in the province of Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, Rattanakiri, Mondulkiri, etc. According to Microsoft Encarta 2009, the appearance of Kouprey is seen as:

“…a large, ox-like animal, slightly smaller and more slender than the gaur. A full-grown Kouprey is about 2.4 m (8 ft) long with a tail 1.2 m (4 ft) long. A bull typically stands about 1.6 m (5.5 ft) high at the shoulder.

The Kouprey has a short, close, grayish or brownish black coat. Its tail ends in a tassel of long hairs. Both bulls and cows have a well-developed dewlap hanging from their necks and horns that project outward from the head, sweeping forward and upward.  The horn spread of a bull may be as wide as 76 cm (30 in). The outer horn of the adult male has an opening about 13 cm (5 in) from its tip that exposes the tip of an inner horn. This inner horn is surrounded at its base by a cuff of shredded horn fibers….”

Since the local wars for the last few decades ago occurred, Kouprey living in the forest was believed to be killed by bombs and hunting. Its number was believed to decrease quickly as Mekong dolphin in Kratie Province from thousands to less number. Until now, there is no clear data about its number in the evergreen forest of Cambodia. Some people thought that Kouprey was lost from the world since no one could rarely see this wild animal. However, there is no evidence whether Kouprey remained in Cambodian forest or lost. Actually, Kouprey is an interesting wild animal for either Cambodian residents or foreigners. If it is still existed, it will be the good opportunity for Cambodia to attract more tourists and Royal Government of Cambodia must take immediate actions to conserve this rarest wild animal. Finally, there is a hope that Kouprey still survives and lives in the evergreen forest of Cambodia as other rarest animals under conservation. “Join together to protect all the world rarest animals through possible actions!” “Everything has a life, let’s them survive!”

By: POK Panhavuth

Khmer Kingdom and Her Elephant

All the ancient nations in South East Asia considered elephant as the powerful animal for their countries. Apparently, Cambodia, aka descendant of Angkor Empire and the most ancient country in this region, considers elephant as the most important animal for the kingdom since the early formal state establishment in 1^st century. 

Elephant is considered as the strongest animal and helpful towards the achievement of the kingdom. It should be noticed that if there are a lot of white elephants in the kingdom, residents believe there will be peace and prosperity for the country. In the ancient time, there are many elephants living in evergreen forest throughout the kingdom from northern area of Laos today towards the southern part bordering with Srivijaya Kingdom. According to Khmer History and the sculpture of Elephant in Angkor City, the royal family and Khmer military used elephant in transportation. Everywhere the king and his family went, they used elephants that were raised as the part of royal ownership in the royal palace in which there was a group of men to take care those elephants. Similarly, when there was a war, King and other leaders of the army rode the elephants towards the destination of the enemies or the fighting field with enemies. Moreover, elephants contributed a lot of efforts in the process of building ancient temples in this kingdom. Statues and sculptures of those elephants represent their memory for the kingdom and Khmer People. Until now, elephants remain in less number, but are now being interesting for tourism at Angkor City and Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh. Furthermore, the Khmer craft art embraces the statues of elephant with lively sculpture on their body as the souvenir selling to tourists. 

In short, elephants have being taken an important role in daily life of Cambodia from royal family to low ranking people since the ancient time. Elephants will be expected to bring more benefits to the kingdom and to be conserved attentively. Royal Government of Cambodia should promote the love for elephants and increases their number as possible as the chance provided. In the near future, tourists will come to Cambodia more and more and elephants will play an important role to serve all of them in visiting the Kingdom, especially Angkor City. “Elephants are making kingdom prosperous again!” “Love elephants! Love Cambodia!”

By: POK  Panhavuth

Perspective on Human Resource in Cambodia & Her Labor Market Today

Cambodia is a developing country and a member of ASEAN. Since the short period of time for development in this country has been being conducted from 1990s, she is considered to have problems in developing high capacity human resource and labor market for her own human resource because the educational sector was damaged seriously in Pol Pot Regime (1975-1979) and less investment. Most of high capacity human resource and some educational institutions were lost during that period. However, until now human resource in Cambodia is going to be better and better since there is the good opportunity for her students to pursue higher education both locally and overseas while more foreign investment are coming to Cambodia.

The most famous destination for higher education in Cambodia is Phnom Penh Capital. There are many big well-known educational institutions there such as Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), Institute of Foreign Language (IFL), Institute of Technology in Cambodia (ITC or aka Techno), Royal University of Law and Economics (RULE), the University of Cambodia (UC), Cambodian Mekong University (CMU), National University of Management (NUM), Norton University, Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia (PUC), National Institute of Business (NIB), Australian Center for Education (ACE), Limkokwing International University, Zaman International University, North Bridge International School, and so on. Recently, the educational activities in Phnom Penh are more dynamic than before. Most of university students are doing the practical skill with their knowledge and flexibility in group study, presentation, debate on various topics for intra-university and extra-university, Mock Trials and Client Counseling for university students majoring in law, etc. These students are seen as the most competent human resource among million youths throughout the country. Significantly, her law university students are making Cambodia well-known for their participation in many events and gaining success on the international stage. They are very good at using English as a second language in which some universities are English-based. Also, they also focus on learning other languages such as French, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and so on.

More importantly, there is a strong believe that human resource in Cambodia right now are very strong and intelligent. Every year more and more students have been getting scholarship to study abroad like Japan, France, the United State, Australia, China, South Korea, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, New Zealand, Philippine, Brunei, Singapore,… They are seen as the good competitors at international universities and usually earn the good grade. Studying abroad enables the Khmer scholarship students to cooperate with the institution they study at and to create the association of Khmer students helping each other overseas by sharing experience and advice to next generation from Cambodia to gain full capacity in getting grade “A” result at those universities. After graduating from their university abroad, they usually come back to serve their country in different fields. Besides foreign scholarship, other opportunities are also being provided to Cambodian university students such as home stay, exchange program, training, etc. These programs run in a short period of time from a month to several months. Students can get this opportunity if they are hard-working, initiative, and smart in finding the information about these programs. Since then, many skills and new ideas have been being brought back by these students to Cambodia and soon human resource in Cambodia will be able to satisfy the needs of the labor market.

Even though human resource in Cambodia are being more competent and skillful, labor market is still the main problems to them since it is so small against millions of workforce aka the supplies for the labor market, especially in Phnom Penh. However, more and more foreign direct investment (FDI) has been getting to Cambodia to expand the labor market from year to year. It is really good for the expansion of labor market in Cambodia, but more and more university students graduate every year and they will try to find the job as possible as they could. Therefore, challenges are occurring within the whole country for the employment. The requirements of labor market today are also high to reach. Most of private companies demand the work experience while most university students freshly graduate without any professional experience. Only small number of these students could find the way out by doing volunteer or internship to get professional experience, but this kind of chances are also limited since less institutions provide this option. Other students connect themselves to the social network to find the job. In contrast, there is a big change of Cambodian university students now that they are beginning the career life since the second year and third year with low salary at a start in order to exchange for experience as the tool for future career.

In conclusion, nowadays Cambodia are full of human resource with high competence and her labor market are being improved even though it is still not enough space for all her workforces. There is an expectation that all university students in Cambodia will be able to access the labor market with their knowledge and practical skill and the opportunity to gain experience through volunteer and internship will be provided by all organizations and institutions. Also, there is an appeal to all foreign companies coming to invest in Cambodia should provide more training opportunity for all Cambodian staffs since some of them are knowledgeable, but still lack of practical skills. The positive aspect of labor market is that in the near future more foreign companies will come to do their business in Cambodia because Cambodia is the great destination to do all kind of businesses and plenty of natural resource is not being used 100%. For all Cambodian university students, they should prepare themselves in advance for both knowledge and practical skills and if possible they should establish their own business rather than waiting to apply for a job. One more thing to be considered is that interpersonal skill are playing an important role in the labor market, so those who are weak in communication must take action to develop this skill as quickly as possible. Royal Government of Cambodia should review her actions again in developing local jobs for all residents, to attract more foreign investments, and to reinforce her public policy in cooperation regarding foreign direct investment. “Be the Best!” “Bringing your paid-in capital to invest here, earning more profit as well as helping human resource in Cambodia!”

By: POK Panhavuth