Kampuchea Crossings

Bump to baby on the beaten expat track

A Chinese-Khmer tradition slowly fading

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Neak Ta Chen
I’ve been in Cambodia for over seven years now and have never heard of this annual tradition that takes place around the full moon, signaling the end of Chinese New Year. The Chinese I know who live in Phnom Penh don’t have a clue of it, and Khmers don’t want to claim it as their tradition. The most prominent community still practicing it around Phnom Penh is in Takmao (the biggest celebrations). Festival activities include a wide range of spirit mediums, channeling the gamut of intentions towards their human communities. These mediums will draw blood and use it to facilitate a prediction, guide decisions and confer protections.

Given I have little interest in seeing it, I have very scant knowledge of the event. So here’s a Cambodia Daily piece on it: Spirits, Possessions Mark End to Chinese New Year, by Dene-Hern Chen and Chin Chan, February 27, 2013

Then and now – going home is bittersweet

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Then and Now

Looking through photos from our trip to the Philippines back in December. It was such a treat to meet the extended families (who I sadly don’t recall very well), but who have so many stories of us, and who even dug out some of our old toys or pictures and diplomas and long-forgotten trinkets from our past. Trying to digitize all of it is a project!

the GOP gets introduced to reality (and facts)

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What a spectacular and stunning loss for the GOP. Record numbers of women and minorities (muslims, gays, latinos, asian-pacifics, blacks..) were voted into office on Nov 07, and were for the first time in history a majority of each party’s caucus in the House of Representatives.

For fast-tracking this inevitable reality, I give my heartfelt thanks to the misinformation campaign of Karl Rove, the Faux News spin machine, and the most vile members of the GOP who hijacked the platform to preach dogma, promote hate and blacklist those with opposing views. These charlatans have failed their party and America by keeping their believer base cocooned in a bubble of lies and fear. Without facts to inform GOP strategy, it’s advantage team blue. That this outcome came completely out of left field, and rendered Republicans so speechless that night is icing on the cake for those of us who respect science/math and have been increasingly shocked at the growing contempt for facts over the past decade. They need a reboot to stay relevant cuz America badly needs a viable opposition party (parties!).

Photo taken from the Democrats Abroad (Washington DC’s) Facebook stream

Democrats and Republicans on Foreign Aid

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A useful article on the differences between the platforms on US foreign aid. Especially interesting for my field is the debate on where to park Obama’s signature Global Health Initiative. This year a decision was made to maintain its diplomacy focus by parking it in the State Department (versus transferring it to USAID, the USG’s development agency). The discussion is an interesting one because it explores the nature of US foreign aid, which is managed by multiple USG agencies.

Cineplex theaters in Phnom Penh

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We used to treat ourselves to a trip to Bangkok just to see a movie on the big screen. I remember we twice checked out the local Khmer films. They sold fruit instead of popcorn, which was nice. But the air con was poor, the sound quality was horrible, and conversations including mobile phone calls were rampant. Once, about halfway or more through the film, the reel unexpectedly stopped and they started it right back at the beginning. Only the three or so foreigners sitting in the theater looked around, baffled, while everyone else seemed fine with it. It was not the theater experience we’re used to.

But now we have two very nice cineplex theaters in the Penh! Seats are big, screen and sound quality is great, and they even start on time! Plus, moviegoers are strongly encouraged to turn mobile phones off or put them on silent/vibrate and attendants make sure everyone complies. We even got to see Prometheus in 3D. Offerings this week include nonstop action with Bourne Legacy, Total Recall, Spiderman playing at both theaters. They also have family friendly Brave and Ice Age 4. And I’m amazed to see The Dictator (Sacha Baron Cohen) here, at Legend. Check out the listings before you go:

Sorya Cineplex

Legend Cinema at City Mall
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