Cambodian People Join the Fund-Raising and Show Sympathy to Japanese!

Since the tsunami and earthquake occurred in northeast Japan, Cambodian people felt very sad to this natural disaster that is believed to kill people at least 10,000 people and destroyed most of the city in northeastern area. By seeing the photos and video from internet, TV, and other mass medias, we the people of Cambodia are going to participate in showing the sadness and would like to relieve the burden of unhappiness during these days. Since then everywhere throughout Cambodia, especially Phnom Penh, people started to contribute some money and write their name to show Japanese people that we are having the sadness as Japanese as we used to experience the bad situation in Pol Pot Regime and local wars for a few decades and that might be helpful for the victim of this natural disaster at Japan Embassy to relieve their stress. This is also Cambodian people's heart towards the same people on this earth in which we do not want any body to face the bad situation that kill a lot of people. We still wish Japanese people to get happiness again. We encourage all of you to still stand to overcome this obstacle for your country. Even though, right now nuclear radiation is spreading over Japan, we still believe the Japanese Government will be able to resolve this problem soon.

Sadness of Natural Disaster in Japan!

These few days, Japan faced the difficult time in his history to be damaged by Tsunami in the northeastern part, especially Sendai. Also, there was the earthquake occurred at the same time that made the beauty of some Japan's modern cities disappeared by getting the bad conditions difficult to describe. Since then, all countries around the world are feeling so sad and sympathy to Japan, especially to Japanese. Even though, there were thousand of people dead and all the infrastructure damaged, we still believe that Japan will recover soon. We wish Japanese to get the well-being again as before the Tsunami and earthquake.

ROS SEREYSOTHEA - រស់ សេរីសុទ្ធា, CAMBODIA GOLDEN VOICE “PREAH RAJANI SAMLENG MEAS”

ROS SEREYSOTHEA

ROS Sereysothea was the most famous female Singer in Cambodia before Pol Pot Regime. She was born on November 06, 1947 in Damnak Luong Village, Wat Kor Commune, Sangker District (Battambang District now), Battambang Province. Her birth name is ROS Sothea with several nicknames: Rey, Serey, and Serey Suor. Sothea’s father, ROS Sabun, was born in Changva Real Village, Roleang Neak Commune, Kompong Tralach District, Kompong Chhnang Province; he was a former soldier in French Colonial and the traditional music teacher. Sothea’s mother, NATH Samean, was born in Kompong Luong Village, Wat Kor Commune, Sangker District, Battambang Province and was a housewife. According to the video interview with her both older sisters, Sothea has 5 siblings (4 sisters and a brother) including ROS Saboeurn (born in 1942), ROS Saboeurth (born in 1944), ROS Sokunthea (born in 1946, brother), and ROS Sorphorn (born in 1958). Both of her older sisters and her father survived after Pol Pot Regime because they stayed in Battambang during the fall of Phnom Penh; ROS Saboeurn has been living in Battambang after Pol Pot Regime with her orphan grand children.

In her childhood, Sothea was a good child and could sing since she was 2 or 3 years old. Her father also taught her very well how to sing with traditional instruments for wedding and other ceremonies. Then she always went with her father to sing in nearby villages to earn money for her family support. In the early age as a child, in her free time she usually sang the songs for her family. She likes singing the songs of MAO Sareth and other singers’ songs. Therefore, her voice was blended in the good manner for singing the sweet long voice. Talking about her favorite snack, she likes to eat green mango, banana, and other fruits with prahok chili sauces. According to KEO Chanbor, Sothea would love to go visiting her teacher, BUN Thorng, who was Chanbor’s father and close friend of Sothea’s father. Chanbor’s family loved Sothea very much and usually asked Sothea to sing during green fruit picnic at Chanbor’s house. Not only singing, Sothea also did well at marathon, study at school, and housework. She was smart, friendly, and hard-working, but reserved. Her voice was simple and soft during speaking, but was loudly sweet and long during singing. According to Kung Bunchhoeurn, Sothea expressed her excited and sad feeling during her singing on “Bopha Bakprea” in 1974 because she had memories at young age over there. Sothea attended the Takaksen Sala Primary School (Wat Kampheng Primary School) in mid 1950s. Later, she continued studying at Neth Yorng Women High School in 1962. However, Sothea got more famous quickly along with two seniors of her school, HUY Meas and PEN Rorn, since she was so friendly and successful as she was a provincial representative to attend the national marathon competition. She won the national marathon contest many times during the competition in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Kompong Cham, etc. During extra hours with Prof. BUN Thorng, ROS Sereysothea was well-known for sadness singer; HUY Meas was admired for smotr, storytelling, and descriptive singing; PEN Rorn was good at funny singing. IM Song Seum and three younger sisters of PEN Rorn (PEN Rorm and PEN Chantha) were also studying in these extra hours. In 1963, Sothea applied for Khmer New Year provincial singing contest and got 1^st rank with the best voice for femal singers. She sang three songs: Chet Mday (Original KEO Montha), Sambot Krom Kneuy and Ktom Chorea (Original MAO Sareth).

Since then in 1963, Sothea had the opportunity to sing for Lom Hae You Thea Phirum Group and Steung Khiev Bar near Phsar Nat of Battambang Town. Her earning from singing could support her family to live in a better condition. Being so famous in the province, Sothea usually had the opportunity to sing with Phnom Penh artists during their travel to Battambang. In 1964, Sothea came to Phnom Penh and joined the Ministry of Broadcasting (Krosuong Khosana Kar) to sing for radio; Mr. Pov Sipho wrote a first song for her, "Steung Khiev". She and her mother lived near HUY Meas’s house and Pov Om School in Tuol Kok area. Sothea started to earn more money by singing in different places (restaurant, bar, and so on) with IM Song Seum. IM Song Seum usually supported Sothea for singing together. In fact, Sothea usually rented a cyclo for travelling. Over there, she also got support from other singers from the same province like HUY Meas, PEN Rorn, etc. Also, she started to know other Cambodian famous singers such as TOCH Teng, SOS Math etc. At last, she met SIN Sisamut who later introduced her to many lyricists and musician like HAS Salorn, VOY Ho, MA Laopi, SVAY Som Oeur, KONG Bunchheourn, HENG Huor Veng, and MAEL Bun.

For just the early life in Phnom Penh since 1964 with the first song of Stung Khiev, she started her career step by step and learnt from other famous singers. In 1967 she decided to marry SOS Math even though her family convinced her not to do so because SOS Math already had several wives. Living with SOS Math, ROS Sereysothea’s life became harder. More than that one evening while she was singing in the night club, the drunken man stood up and replied to the song she sang making SOS Mat angry and slapped her face causing her mouth bleeding. This case brought the big issue for ROS Sereysothea’s 6-month marriage; she and her mother returned sadly to her beloved hometown, Battambang.

The situation changed with the action from SIN Sisamut who supported ROS Sereysothea and put his belief on ROS Sereysothea to be a good partner for him to continue the singing art. Then SIN Sisamut went to Battambang to talk with ROS Sereysothea and encouraged her to come back to Phnom Penh. This worked well; ROS Sereysothea gave up her sadness and stood bravely to continue her beloved career. Her mother also came with her again to take care of her; they moved to live near Kampuchea Krom Blvd. One day, while SIN Sisamut took ROS Sereysothea to sing the song “Kort Bros Muk Kmol”. SOS Math came with his guards to bother ROS Sereysothea. Sin Sisamut, who had the same position as SOS Math, stood to protect ROS Sereysothea by talking to SOS Math that he was the one to take her back there, and he must be responsible for her safety. SOS Mat returned and never disturbed her again. The fame of ROS Sereysothea became more glorious from year to year. In 1968, HUY Siphan, the son of Preah Chan Penh Vong (La Lune Restaurant) fell in love with her. She was granted the title of “Preah Rajani Samleng Meas” by Young Prince NORODOM Shihanouk in 1969. They stayed together as husband and wife without marriage and gave birth to a son, Huy Siphanara. They lived happily for only a short period of time and then separated. Later, Sothea made  a new relationship with Military General Srey Ya in 1970s.  ROS Sereysothea usually visited her family and her professor in Battambang. According to KEO Chanbo, she was still the same as before being famous. She was so friendly, polite, helpful, and grateful.

In 1972, she became the first woman parachutist in Cambodia broadcasted on national television channel. She brought ROS Sokunthea and ROS Sereysorphorn to join the military and let them became military parachutists. For her singing career, she still kept singing and sang many songs mostly with SIN Sisamut and other singers. Memory of her singing in studio for the song “Proat Sner Nov Pichenda”, her tears came out of her eyes as the sadness through the meaning of the song in her hometown, Battambang. The peak of her fame was in 1973. She sang in a variety of situation like traditional wedding, emotional, jerk, rock and roll, New Year, and other foreign style (Japanese, Chinese, English, etc). In early April 1975, Sothea, Rorn, and other singers went to sing for Khmer New Year in Pailin. Prior to the Phnom Penh Fall on April 17, 1975, Sothea got a letter from her sister in Battambang to hurry back to Phnom Penh in order to look after her mother, brother, sister and nephews. She took the car from Pailin to Battambang and took the private helicopter to Phnom Penh while the news about the coming fall of Lon Nol military was informed. Sothea stayed with her family members in Tuol Kok area including Sereysorphorn, Sokunthea, her mother, her  children, a child of ROS Saboeurth, and three children of ROS Saboeurn.

On April 17, 1975, she was separated from other artists as simple person to leave Phnom Penh for Phnom Sroch District, Kompong Speu with her family members and a son. For her early arrival, she kept the secret about herself and lived as simple people from Phnom Penh working in the rice field long hours and got only porridge. Then she was forced to get married to a local man. Since more and more people from Phnom Penh went to that area, the name of her fame was released. However, her fame of the life in Phnom Penh made her life harder because Khmer Rouge military did not like Phnom Penh people. One day in mid-April 1977 there was the crowd of people talking and surrounding Ros Sereysothea as they rarely had seen her in person even though, her family members such as her new husband, her mother, Ros Sereysorphorn and Pen Chantha tried to beg them to stop surrounding and talking about Ros Sereysothea; as that day, there was a Khmer Rouge Meeting, less people joined. Khmer rouge accused Ros Sereysothea for causing chaos. One week later (around 27 or 28 April 1977), Ros Sereysothea and her family members were taken out and killed. Through three years eight months twenty days, not only her life, but also thousands of her songs were seriously destroyed; some were lost and some remain in the bad condition. Only few amounts of her songs left in good manner in 1980s. Many of her co-singers were put to death, and the condition of their songs was similar to her. Everything was damaged; millions of Khmer people were killed include her and other famous singers. Her life story was also known to the world through the international movie about her, titled “Golden Voice”. Some Khmer researchers also try to get more information of her as possible as they can to put her life as the memory and heritage to next generation. Gradually from 1979, her songs have been bringing and releasing back to Cambodia from Khmer Communities in former Cambodia’s provinces in Thailand and Vietnam, foreign countries. Until then, her voice has been being heard everywhere throughout Cambodia for many years with the everlasting fame towards the future. “Golden voice will go on forever!” “Heart of a daughter is deeply cold to support her family and relatives!”

                                                                                                                 

By: POK Panhavuth

HAIRSTYLE OF APSARA IN THE ANGKOR ERA AS THE PEAK OF KHMER HAIR ART

Apsara is the spirit of Khmer Empire, especially Angkor City. Even though Cambodia used to go through the unstable political situation, Apsara is still the real evidence for glorious Khmer Art to stand for thousand of years for next generation Khmer artists to follow. Remarkably, all Khmer temples through out the mainland Southeast Asia include Thailand, South of Vietnam, Laos, & Cambodia consists of many Apsara dancing on the wall with much jewelry in the excellent manner of Khmer Art. However, only Apsara in Angkor City shows the special talent of Khmer Artists in Angkor Era to sculpt the Apsara on the wall of the temples with special manners. Among those special manners, the hairstyle is the most noticeable thing on Apsara Sculpture. Only Angkor Wat Temple’s Apsara Sculpture has shown many different hairstyles of Apsara in which were designed by Khmer Artist in Angkor Era. Most Apsara appears with three-top side of hairstyle. Besides that, Apsara are sculpted with five-top side, two-top side, one-top side, and only tied hair. Significantly, there is also the different design for each kind of hairstyle. For other temples through out the Khmer Kingdom as Angkor Empire, Apsara’s hairstyle, Apsara has more than three or five-top side of hairstyle. Also, the art of sculpture sometimes is different from Apsara on the wall of Angkor Wat. It is sure that Cambodia has its own identity in hairstyle since Angkor Era or before that. Therefore, there is the recommendation for Khmer Artist today to take for showing Khmer Art in modern movie or show with the innovative ideas to adapt these hairstyles to the modern influence into new manners. For example, Khmer modern artists could take the techniques of Apsara hairstyles to follow in the modern art just without wearing jewelry as Apsara. All Apsara hairstyle is so good for modernized hairstyle. It is believed to be the best way to reduce foreign influence and to show the real style of Khmer Art to the world. The picture below shows the different hairstyle of Apsara:

Sangker River as “The Blood System of Battambang”

Sangker River in Battambang, Cambodia

Sangker River is the main source of water for agriculture and daily uses in Battambang Province besides the Great Lake. It flows into the Tonle Sap Lake (Great Lake) from Kravanh Mountain (Cardamom Mountain) in the area near Thailand-Cambodia Borders. Sangker River has become the symbol for Battambang since it is known through many famous songs of Sin Sisamuth, Ros Sereysothea, Huy Meas, Pen Rorn, In Yeng, etc. 

Through the body of this river, some places in the area on the foot of Kravanh Mountain are considered as the most attractive destination for both local tourists and international tourists in this province such as Chamlong Kuy Rapid, Sek Sork Rapid, Pechchinda Rapid, Chrolong Bopata Rapid, etc. These spots are not only the place for tourist to swim and play with water, but also to relax, to take photos, and to enjoy the scene of the nature like forest, sound of the bird & wild animal, flow of natural water over many stone in the middle of the river, and so on. Significantly, those resorts are gaining more recognition from all tourists when the smooth national road 57A was repaired to provide comforts for travelling not like before which was difficult to travel. Sangker River has also provided many fish every year, especially during 1980s in which the river was full of fish rather than today. 

Furthermore, this river looked so beautiful with the clean and mirror-like water before Pol Pot Regime in contrast to nowadays that it has changed to the dusty river in which caused by mining activities for gems and washing those in the river as the responsibility of most Thai businessmen with the permission from the local authorities in Pailin Province during 1980s and 1990s. Even though there is the bad effect on Sangker River, it still plays an important role until today to provide water for agricultural activities throughout the most land of Battambang and Khmer people living in Battambang also use water from this river to use in either daily activity or business. 

More than that, Sangker River has been the main water way for medium boat or small ship to travel from Battambang to other ports & vice versa since the former regime. Last but not least, this river is used every year for provincial boat racing festival (Water Festival) in order to choose the best racing boat to challenge with other racing boat from other provinces of Cambodia in the biggest Water Festival in Phnom Penh. 

In brief, I think Sangker River is really important as it is the blood system for Battambang with many advantages for local people in many generations. I would like to suggest the governor of Battambang to keep their attention on the river protection and please try to recover the good view of the water in this river if possible in the future. I do believe that one day Sangker River will be the “Diamond River or Blue River” of Battambang again.

By: POK Panhavuth

Phnom Khiev Waterfall in Pailin!

Flow of Water From the Top of Mountain

Phnom Khiev is the beautiful natural resort in Pailin, Cambodia. This resort locates on Khiev Mountain not far away from National Road 57A which run from Battambang to Pailin, but the gate of pathway to this resort stands before the destination of Phnom Yat. You as the tourists just turn from National Road 57A through small pathway up and down until reach the step of mountain that is the most attractive place for holiday and relaxation. Along this pathway, you can take photo for the view of green forest, breath the fresh air, and hear the sound of wild insects. Additionally, this natural resort is developed with the expense of much money, so that causes to require tourists to pay some money for entering the resort on the foot step of the mountain. After paying for the entering fees, you will be able to enjoy in this resort as what the tourist want. However, all of you should be careful while driving up the mountain because the pathway is highly up and not straight that seems easily to get accident of falling to the side of mountain or hitting with another vehicle. Anyway, by driving with full attention, there will be no problems for all of you and let enjoy with this natural resort! On the destination, there are many kiosks for you to rent. You could lie down, chat with friends or family who go with you, eat foods in the good environment. Then you can go to touch the cold water flow from the top of mountain and take photo as the souvenirs. There are many steps and you should try to come up one by one to see what the beautiful Phnom Khiev and sense the feeling of climbing up the large rock of the natural mountain. Later, you should see clearly those large rocks lay and imagine how they were arranged by the nature since million of years ago and how many time that local former people use for living. According to my own experience, you will be aware of that answer and feel pity and love to the nature. Finally, after playing enough in this resort, you will come back with the fresh emotions.

By: Pok Panhavuth

Khmer Kingdom and Her People

Smile! Smile! Smile! (Friendliness of Khmer People)

Khmer Village Along the River near Wat Phnom in 1866

Cambodia, Kingdom of Wonder, locates in the Indochina Peninsula of the Southeast Asia Area. Nowadays, Cambodia covers the area of 181,035 km² and her border is along with Thailand in the west and north, Laos in the north, Vietnam in the east and southeast, and the Gulf of Thailand in the southwest. Cambodia used to be the most powerful kingdom, “Angkor Kingdom”, in Southeast Asia Region from 9^th to 15^th century that covered all the territory of Cambodia, most of Thailand, Laos, & the South part of Vietnam (Kampuchea Krom); the Gulf of Thailand, some part of Andaman Sea, and some part of South China Sea today. After Angkor era, this Kingdom was also known for her strong power again in Longvek Era, but it was damaged again by Siam (Thai) in 1594. 

Khmer is people for this kingdom. However, today Khmer is separated between the lost and remained territory. Majority of Khmer people are living in their own country “Cambodia”. Anyway, there are also millions of Khmer remain in the former territory of Angkor Kingdom around Cambodia. 

First, millions of Khmer, called “Khmer Sorin”, are living in Southeast territory of Thailand today such as Sorin, Nakhon ratchasima, Chanthaburi, Trat, Rayong, Nakhon Nayok, Srah Keo, Sisaket, Burirum, Yasothon, Oubun rachathani, Roiet, Chonburi, Lopburi, chaiyaphum, Mohasarakam, Amnatcharoen, Saraburi, Nonthaburi, etc. In fact, there are Khmer living in other provinces in Thailand, but they absorbed into Thai people like Sukhothai as example. Actually, Khmer temples remain in such provinces that Khmer are living and some other provinces like Sukhothai, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Sakon Nakhon, Phetchaburi, Lamphon, Kamphaengphet, Phisanulok, Phichit, Singburi, Nakhon Phanom, Ayuthyea, Nakhon Sawan, Uthaithani, Suphanburi, Lampang, Phrae, Samut Songkhram, Nongkhai, Udon thani, Nongbua Lamprio, etc. 

Second, in Laos, there are also Khmer people living in the south provinces, especially in Champasak. The main famous Khmer temple in these provinces is Wat Phu Temple, “the former Khmer capital in Chenla Era”. Obviously, Angkor Kingdom used to control all the territory of Laos today with her strong power. 

Finally, around 8 millions (Statistics in 2009 from Khmer Krom Federation’s Website) of Khmer, called “Khmer Krom”, are living in their own territory under Vietnamese Government’s control in the south of Vietnam. Khmer territory in this area include Mesor, Kuohkaung, Prey Nokor (Hochiminh City today), Peam Banteay Meas, Kromuon Sor, Teuk Khmao (Chroy of Cambodia in the French Map during French Colonial), Moat Chruk, Khleang, Long Hor, Prek Reussey, Kompong Reussey, Ou Kab, Preah Suorkea, Preah Trapeang, Pul Leav, Tuol Tamouk, Kompong Srokatrey (Changva Trapeang), Rong Damrey, Phsa Dek, Svay Taung, Peam Bareach, Chmouh Thmey, most part of Kontum & Dalat Plateau, and other islands, especially two large islands include Koh Tral (in front of Kampot Province of Cambodia today) and Koh Trolach. Furthermore, there are many Khmer Temple through out this territory, but most of them are broken down gradually. However, until now Vietnamese government has changed these entire Khmer name into Vietnamese name instead. 

Additionally, besides these areas, there are also some Khmer people living in the rest of the world after they fled from their homeland during the war such as Khmer Community in USA, Australia, France, Canada, Malaysia, etc. Even though Khmer people are living in different places, they still firmly continue their ancestors’ culture, language, tradition, religion, lifestyle, food, songs & music, etc. Unfortunately, Khmer Krom people are facing the restriction from Vietnamese government in continuing their culture, tradition, religion, language, lifestyle, and education in the pagoda. And one more problem between Vietnamese government and Khmer Krom today is the land conflict caused by the Vietnamese government and Vietnamese people confiscating the land of Khmer Krom for agriculture in some provinces that have continued since the control of Kampuchea Krom by Vietnam in 1949. 

In Short, there is a hope that in the future Khmer people who are living in different places will keep the good relationship with each other to improve the culture of Khmer towards the development of the bright future. Finally, there is just a request to appeal the Vietnamese government not to restrict too much on Khmer Krom in practice what they want because Khmer Krom people need only high living standard, development, and peace as Vietnamese people.

By: POK Panhavuth