The Biggest Hidden Pre-Angkorian City, Mahendraparvata on Phnom Kulen, Revealed

Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/11/lost-city-medieval-discovered-hidden-beneath-cambodian-jungle?CMP=share_btn_fb#_=_

The ancient Angkor City of Khmer Empire is supposed to be the largest capital in the world from 8th to 15th century just to the present of largest temple in the area. However, researchers scan the floor under the jungle near Phnom Kulen using new laser technology and get new data about the hidden city beneath the forest on Phnom Kulen plateau. 

Historically, King Jayavarman II declared the sovereignty and power of Khmer Empire in early 9th century on Phnom Kulen as the starting point of Angkor Period. We used to hear about Mahendraparvata city in history, but we never know that it was that large in addition to the present of lowland Angkor city. At last, we can now see ancient Angkor City with larger scale as the best of Khmer Empire. 

From this research, one thing to be interested is about the good management for transportation and water irrigation system link to the core of Angkor Town, Angkor Wat and to the Preah Khan Temple in Kompong Svay, Kompong Thom. Preah Khan Kompong Svay used to be the most important town to produce iron for the Kingdom, especially for Angkor Construction. We can also see how Mahendraparvata played the key role in Angkor Period and how million of residents live in that town. There is said to have more than 1 million people living in Angkor City at that time. 

The dense population shows how strength the Angkor City was able to do many things at the same time like water irrigation system, people management, higher education to people from around the world, city planning and transportation to various town throughout the Khmer Empire by linking to Sokhotey (Sokhothai), ancient town  in the far north of Khmer Empire bordering with Burman Kingdom, to Nokor Sreythommareach (Nakhon Sithammarath) in the far south close to Malay Kingdom (Java), Kanchanaborey far west bordering with Mon Kingdom, to Prey Nokor (Ho Chi Minh) far east close to Champa Kingdom.and Khmemarath (Khammouan) & Luang Prabang in the far north close to China. 

Quoting from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/11/lost-city-medieval-discovered-hidden-beneath-cambodian-jungle?CMP=share_btn_fb#_=_:

Evans said: “We have entire cities discovered beneath the forest that no one knew were there – at Preah Khan of Kompong Svay and, it turns out, we uncovered only a part of Mahendraparvata on Phnom Kulen [in the 2012 survey] … this time we got the whole deal and it’s big, the size of Phnom Penh big.”
 A research fellow at Siem Reap’s École Française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO) and the architect of the Cambodian Archaeological Lidar Initiative (Cali), Evans will speak at the Royal Geographic Society in London about the findings on Monday.Evans obtained European Research Council (ERC) funding for the project, based on the success of his first lidar (light detection and ranging) survey in Cambodia in 2012. That uncovered a complex urban landscape connecting medieval temple-cities, such as Beng Mealea and Koh Ker, to Angkor, and confirmed what archaeologists had long suspected, that there was a city beneath Mount Kulen. It was not until the results of the significantly larger 2015 survey were analysed that the size of the city was apparent.

The Angkor City was historically largest capital with dense population of Khmer people and other small ethnic group bringing in from nearby area. We hope this research can bring more understanding about Angkor City and Khmer Empire, especially how the development and collapse of this city occurred. We, Cambodian, really thank so much for the research done and hope more data could be revealed as soon as possible. Ancient town is supposed to equip with higher scientific technology in city development and temple construction. Many mysteries of Angkor is still here and we, young generation, wish to learn more and accept it as the lesson for future generation planning!

Huy Meas, Neang Meas Metrey, and Her Collections

Huy Meas has been so popular since the early of 1960s for her valuable songs, reading poem, role play in Lakhon Niyeay, and radio hosting programs. She was once said to win the provincial singing competition and surprise to every residents. Coming from Battambang province, she abandoned her study at diploma level at school and started her career as prominent singer In Steung Khiev Restaurant along with Ros Sereysothea, Pen Ran and Im Songseum. Then moving to capital for more opportunities, she lived near Pov Om School in Toul Kork! Her tiny sweet voice allowed her to gain attention from audience so quickly. Her talent in singing brought her fame with help of elder artists, lyricists and musicians. Then she got a chance to join national radio team for several programs, mostly Lakhon Niyeay and hosting singer interview and song narration. Her professional title was Neang Meas Metrey for radio and Thida Somleng Roneat Ek for song. Her most famous songs are Reatrey Sekong, Veasna Chomkar Somrong, Somphors Borey Chulong, Por Neang Meastrey, etc. Beside singing, she also showed her talent with her special tiny sweet voice in Lakhorn Niyeay mostly with Mr. Nheok Sokhom and national radio team such as Kompong Thom Chumrum Chet, Pka Sla Rus Roy, Banher Snae, Kbot Peak Sonya, Srolanh Bong Chea Nich, Chhnam Oun 16, ChaEt Chet Pros Snae...... There is a record posted to YouTube for her poem reading, so let's enjoy her collections as below:

Lesson Learned from Impact Hub Phnom Penh Event - Marketing Skills

This morning, there is an interesting events about Marketing Skills from 9:00AM to 12:00PM organized by Impact Hub Phnom Penh @ Joma Bakery Cafe and presented by Mr. Niek Van Veen, Marketing Director @ Cellcard. 

Before going to the detail of the knowledge gained from this session, let's briefly get to know about Impact Hub Phnom Penh. Based on their information, Impact Hub PP is a co-working space, community and global platform using the power of collaborative entrepreneurship to create positive change in Cambodia. This team is running by a Cambodian Woman, Ms. Kuy Sophea and a group of foreigners (led by Mr. Alberto Cresmonesi from Italy) working in Cambodia to lead and provide the consultation for Social Enterprise and Young Start-Up in Cambodia and act as the educational institution opening freely for young Cambodian, entrepreneur and active foreigners from different countries to share, learn, consult, network and cooperate for the innovation in modern business within Cambodia; they are really creative and initiative for the positive change among young Cambodian Start-up and the social entrepreneur. They regularly organize very good educational and networking events for the public and broadcast their information on https://phnompenh.impacthub.net/ or http://socialenterprisecambodia.org you may go to register your user @ www.eventbrite.com for registering to attend more events with this team as well as other events in Phnom Penh or any places you go. If you really go to Impact Hub Phnom Penh office, you will see the best innovation and design warmly welcome you! Recently, Impact Hub Phnom Penh is cooperating with Zaman University, Cellcard, and business networks for more creative and networking events.

At the start of the session, He explained about the foundation and the secret ingredient for the successful marketing innovation. Based on his presentation, Marketing is sometimes said to be just a promotion or cheating for only selling products. It is not true! Marketing is everything creating value for the target segment. For instance, CocaCola is promoted for the happiness using the quotes "Open a Coke, Open Happiness!" or one company advertise the lipstick product with picture of pig using colorful lipstick mouth design on it. According to his source from American Marketing Association, marketing is the activity, set of institution and process for the creating community, delivering and exchanging offering that have VALUE for customers, clients, partners and society at large. For example, the cost of the product is USD1.00 and you sell it @ USD1.50, so USD0.50 is the value that you get and the customer get the value for the product usage. Sometimes, it does happen even for the fake products! Do not imagine about fake product selling in the market with no value or advantage to the consumer. Let's figure out about PLACEBOS. Most of foreigners knew about this product! Why it is faked? Based on the history, PLACEBOS was used while the patient requested for medicine and complained about their health. The doctor knew it is not matter with him, so he gave the fake medicine (PLACEBOS) to the patient. After he got it, he said he felt better meaning even it is fake it is worth for the marketing as people get cured by their own perception other than that medicine. Remember, The Value of that product in the eye of the patient is the main factor to promote PLACEBOS which is said just to contain water without any special medical ingredients.

Let's proceed to the hot topic for marketing skills which is the marketing mix 4Ps:

In addition to that, he added more 2 Ps including People (staff) and Process (Cost really low and faster delivery from door to door).

Ex: Selling Lemonade!

                               Adult                             Kid

Product                   Sour                            Sweet

Place                     Traffic Light                Playground

Promotion             Walk Around             Lemonade stand

Price                       KHR500                    KHR100

Last but not least, let's focus on how to develop the right marketing mix with STP model. First, Segment: grouping the customer by their age such adult vs Child. For example, you decide to segment your customer as adult age 19 years old. Then Target:  Segment with location or specific criteria. For instance, you figure out the best target is adult age 19 years old in Phnom Penh only. Finally, Position your product: low cost and differentiated! For example, the price of a cup of coffee is USD1.50 in the market and then you find way to lower cost led to low price only USD1.25 per cup of coffee. Or you may sell coffee with low price and more options like Capuccino, Latte, Smoothie, Orange Juice.... The session is over and Mr. Niek Van Veen had the last words before the end. "Doing marketing research, never ask what your customer want, but ask what they need!" "People didn't buy your products, they buy solutions to their problem!" "Poetry is when you make new things familiars and familiar things new!"

By: POK Panhavuth

My Comment on Criticism about Apsara Dance Between Khmer People vs Thai People

Apsara Dance on The Wall of Angkor Wat Temple

Queen Kosomak Nearyrath 

 Our Dance in Late 1800s (Khmer Dance)

Yes, I understand what is the point of conflict lately. Anyway, Cambodia is still Khmer even our culture is not 100% preserved because of the war for centuries. However, I believe Khmer or Cambodian is the next generation of Khmer Empire for sure and Thai today is also the bloodline linking to ancient Khmer, Tai-Kadai, Mon, and other ethnic people. The main point is sometimes Thai claims ownself as the new people, not Khmer bloodline. Thai dynasty is the mix with Thai prince and Khmer princess for the beginning of the states and even today king is linking to Khmer bloodline from Cambodia as well. The reason for copy is that Thai never claim it is belong to Khmer Empire, but said to belong to Khom Kingdom (?) that really makes Khmer upset about this point! Do not ever say that Khmer empire is vanished, but it just gives the life to Khmer kingdom itself (Cambodia) and new two kingdoms (Thailand and Laos) that both is still adapting to the music from Khmer Empire mixing with those people in their areas. Some traditional music of Laos still sound exactly the same to Cambodian traditional music as you may research more about the gift and training of Angkor Khmer King given to the first Lao Prince in Angkor City and marrying Khmer Princess along with the intelligent people to serve for the new Kingdom, Laos as an example. Thai history is not really different from this condition, but just because Thai is a bit greedy to take more territory for Angkor Khmer Empire as their own and to destroy Khmer Empire from time to time that led to the fall of Khmer Angkor Empire and Khmer Kingdom, Cambodia to lose the chance to redevelop again and again! Only during Sangkum Reastr Niyum Regime and today is the breathing time for Khmer Kingdom to recover and start the new journey! What we hate the most is getting the used and then hiding the sources and try to destroy the original. Thai kingdom gain the strength because they got the development and leadership plan from Angkor Empire and Long Vek Era! I really like what Thai people have, but do not try to claim as your own, please referencing and do not accuse Cambodian not belong to Khmer Empire that is the main issue! I understand that normally people innovate on the existing culture! I knew that our royal dance some was retaught back to Khmer by Thai Royal, but do not forget the main sources of those dance that Thai took those art and artist away from Khmer when we did fall. Our dance is not really come from Thai solely, we also still remains our own in Royal Palace for hundred of years that make the movement so much different from Thai and please list down how many dances are the same between Thai and Khmer. Even the same name, but different movement. Our apsara dance was recreated by our Queen Kosomak Nearyrath in Sangkum Reastr Niyum (1955-1970) from the study of Apsara Dance on our temple that is not 100% the same as the original already losed and it is not transferred back to Cambodia by Thai Royal. My question to you all is that Why some Thai said Khom Kingdom rather than Khmer Empire to the existing Khmer temple and ancient daily used material in Thailand? Please study again not only Thai sources, but from the international research! Last, but not least, I do love both culture, even I prefer my own more! Even I am Khmer, I still love to listen to some ancient music from Thai and Lanna Kingdom! Anyway, please stop fucking words and stupid ideas about Khmer! I heard Thai consider the word "Khmer" so bad and some torturing Khmer people to the sea when they travel to Thailand for works! What our people, Khmer try to do today is not to conflict with you guy, Thai, but to redevelop, preserve and innovate on our existing culture as well! If you put yourself in our shoes, you'll understand what it means! What we need is development and stop chemical on our imported product from Thailand that is my request and let's make a friendship!

Note: You :refers to Thai People!

By: POK Panhavuth

Perspectives on Youth Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprises in Cambodia

Calling back to the past decades of Cambodia, it's a pain to let such peaceful land to get affected by regional wars and long-term poverty. Anyway, Cambodian people today in cooperation with the right overseas partners start thinking about the real needs of the economic growth and take action on the matters. The initiatives from Youth University Club and Impact HUB Phnom Penh has been done to promote young entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity among university students and young businessmen in running the scores of social enterprises. So many workshops and seminars related to Entrepreneurship and the role model of the innovative young businessmen has been the very great opportunity for young learners and professionals to get new concepts to start running their own business. It should be noticed on the key universities and institutions to run those projects are Impact HUB Phnom Penh & Social Enterprise Cambodia @ Joma Bakery Cafe, Zaman University, Pannasastra University of Cambodia, Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP, IFL, CKCC & CJCC), AIESEC, Ministry of Commerce, Institute of Technology in Cambodia, Transparency International and Development Innovation. The existing social enterprises in Cambodia are EaCo Co., Ltd, ANAKOT Asia, Cambodian Farmer Rice, ARC Hub PNH, Khmer Creations, Cambodia Knits, Sovannak Palm Sugar, WaterSHED... In Addition, researchers are doing their best to get more data on the real needs of community and business opportunity in Cambodia in contribution to the social enterprise development. Finally, it is so positive for young Cambodian and foreigners to hold hand and create the very best social enterprise full of the innovation and creativity to solve the social issues and accelerate the economic growth in Cambodia. The President of The United States, John F. Kennedy quoted, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country"

By: Pok Panhavuth

Youth in Cambodia and Khmer New Year ២៥៥៩​

(Images from Cambodian Facebook Sharing)

Coming Khmer New Year Day, Cambodian youth has shown their talent and initiatives to promote Cambodia to the world! Many youth has been engaging with the campaign for technology, world record and social responsibility during this holiday for last few years including the Angkor Sangkranta in Siem Reap. Preparing for this event during Khmer New Year ២៥៥៩​, Cambodian Youth Union from different provinces and capital of Phnom Penh travelling to the same destination, Angkor Resort. This year they prepare many big events including 2015 traditional dancers and the biggest sticky rice cake (Nom Ansom Yeak) to get the Guinness World Records. According to news from VOD interviewed Mr. Som Rattana today in Facebook, the biggest sticky rice cake (Nom Ansom Yeak) was successfully registered into Guinness World Records for the total weight 4040 kg (More than 4 tons) promoting the tradition and culture of Cambodia. Besides that, many other traditional activities are ready to serve both local and foreign tourists such as famous ancient boxing, traditional dances, Lakhon Sromorl Sbaek Toch and Sbaek Thom, popular games... They're going to enjoy day and night at Angkor Ancient Town! At the same time, tourists could enjoy seeing the old temples around this area.

(Old Khmer - Pre-War)

Most of Cambodian teens leave Phnom Penh for hometown or short trip during Khmer New Year. Thousands of them are expected to go to support Angkor Sangkranta, the biggest event in Cambodia. Others go to enjoy and help family to prepare and celebrate Khmer New Year nationwide. They go with gift, food and drink granting to parents and relatives; they pay high respect and visit people in the village or neighbor. They decorate the house and surrounding area with special lighting. In each town, there is the firework and concert to promote Khmer New Year and tradition among youth including popular games, dancing and selling their sole product in each provinces. In Battambang Town, local residents and foreigners enjoyed firework, concert, popular games (breaking the pot), dancing, night market and good lighting decoration last night. It should be noticed that it's so funny for a brave foreign boy showing confident to challenges in popular games and dancing.

Wish everyone good luck and smile happily for this season! "We got it!  Yeah, Bravo Cambodia!"

Earth Hour Cambodia 2015 by AYC & WWF

Cambodian Youth is now motivated by the international campaign called, "Earth Hour". According AYC Team in cooperation with WWF, Earth Hour campaign is celebrated on March 28, 2015 in 162 countries including Cambodia, the third celebration. What does it mean? Earth Hour is the initiative action for all people around the globe to understand about the climate change going on recently and to know about the effect of over use of the electricity. Human being today uses the energy without knowing the cause of it. The technology to generate the power from hydro-dam does pollute the environment and if we overuse uselessly, it means we are causing the climate change. Let's turn off the light for one hour to express about the commitment to stop the climate change. Let's figure out and reduce the electric usage as much as possible when you don't need it. Please save the electricity and save our environment!

On March 28, 2015, AYC Teams do the best to organize the big event at Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP) at 5:00PM until 8:30PM. They are very creative and initiative to make everyone enjoyable and aware of the concern on the useless electricity not in need. They put mats for all participants to sit down and enjoy the programs inside the football field. The team controls very well; they are young, but so talent in event management. For example, Mr. PHORK Visal does his best effort as AYC team member to make this movement forwards. That's the key point to be enjoyable about youth movement in Cambodia right now. We are ready! Are you ready? There are two famous singers to be there: Mr. CHHORN Sovannareach and Ms. MEAS Soksorphea giving two special songs each. Later, the special art shows about Lakhorn Sromorl and Monkey Remixed Traditional and Modern Dance who won the first rank in Hanoi Competition. Q&A Award session is so interesting to focus on the knowledge about Earth Hour and its mission. Lighting the candles in the field is the special session prepared by AYC Team; they share one candle each to all participants and give the light together to show that electric saving could be done by everyone! This is so great!

At the end of programs, the rain and wind starts up, but the event still continues till the end! This is the commitment that if we want to do it, you can do it! Do not forget to save your electricity for saving the earth!

"We are the first generation to be aware of the climate change and we are the last generation to find the solution for the climate change!", said Mr. Barack Obama, The U.S. President.

By: POK Panhavuth