Travel professionals recognized AngkorWat as the historical gems lying on its doorstep in 2015, winning praise from several big players in the travel industry. The earliest indications that Siem Reap might soon become a popular travel destination appeared in November 2014, when Skyscanner announced its list of anticipated “Top holiday hotspots” for 2015. The Future Laboratory named Siem Reap…
Who can forget the young Cambodian 14years old, Thaksin, a souvenir seller in Ta Phrom, who became a social media sensation in 2018 due to his remarkable linguistic prowess? In a 3-minute conversation, Thaksin shows off his ability in selling souvenir in 9 different languages including Japanese, Cantonese, Mandarin, French, Bahasa Melayu, English, Filipino, Spanish,…
You’ve definitely heard of the traditional Apsara dance if you’ve ever visited Cambodia or even just done a quick Google search on the country. Princess Sisowath Kossamak, the mother of well-known arts supporter Prince Sihanouk, revived traditional Apsara dance for the Royal Cambodian Ballet in the 1940s. Apsara dance is recognized for its long, beautiful…
The closest medium to expressing the inexpressible, after silence, is music. Despite the fact that each country has its own language or languages, there is only one language that we can all understand: the language of music. Sinn Sisamouth (1932–1976) was a Cambodian singer-songwriter active from the 1950s to the 1970s. Sisamouth is known as…
For almost 30 years, the Phare family of extraordinary organizations has touched the hearts of many. Phare performing social enterprise (PPSE), which was founded just 9 years ago, has quickly grown to become one of Cambodia’s most respected and successful social enterprise role models, notably in the cultural tourism and creative industries. Phare Creative Studio’s…
The “Jew’s Harp,” a popular musical instrument, can be found in many places around the world, but the Cambodian version is special. It is a priceless component of Cambodia’s living cultural legacy and is known in Khmer as Angkuoch, which is generally pronounced “Aarng-koo-oy.” It is a traditional musical instrument made of bamboo that has…
In many ways, hip-hop surprisingly gained the interest of young audiences despite the lack of progress in original Cambodian music until recent years. It is believed that the prominent rap element of hip hop blends naturally with verbal Khmer traditions of singing and poetry recitation. VannDa, like many others his age, belongs to the younger…
“Cambodia’s national wheelchair basketball team for the 12th ASEAN Para Games has been unveiled at a ceremony at Prince Holding Group’s headquarters in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to mark the country’s participation in the region’s biggest sporting event.” When Cambodia wheelchair basketball players take the floor at next year’s games, they will be wearing freshly designed…