Tag - Phnom Penh

Telling the story of a tragedy

December 2, 2010

Relatives blessing for the deceased / by: Dara Saoyuth

Having come to Phnom Penh to pursue higher education from my home in the province, it is rare that I have a few days off to visit my family. So, rather than joining the millions of people who came to Phnom Penh, I made the opposite trip and went home for the festival weekend.

I was sound asleep in my parents’ house, enjoying the comforts of familiar places, when my parents woke me up. I was rather annoyed, seeing that it was 2am, but once I understood what they were telling me, questions began to come to my mind, which was having an impossible time accepting that hundreds of people have actually died on the Koh Pich bridge.

Most of the questions involved the status of my friends still in the city and I frantically dialed numbers and sent out messages to find out if people were okay. Some of my friends had a similar reaction to mine upon being woken up – annoyed – but it was worth it to me to hear their voices.

I left the province at 7am, with few of my initial questions answered. As soon as I finished my lunch upon my return to the city, I hurriedly put my camera, recorder, notebook and a bottle of water into my backpack and rushed to the Phnom Penh Post office. I was asked by my editor to help another reporter, who was from America, to shoot a documentary about the event. After being so far away from the event earlier in the day, I was anxious to find out what really happened in my nation.

The Cambodian -Russian Friendship Hospital was teeming with crowds of victims’ relatives as we arrived. I immediately became overwhelmed by sadness, but this was the truth I wanted to see. For those involved in the stampede, desperation was the only emotion there was in the days after the stampede. We spent almost an hour walking around the hospital and nothing like tiredness even crossed my mind. I was too filled with sympathy and pity to consider anything else.

There were two big boards with victims’ photos stuck on either side. Some people burst into tears when they saw photos of their relatives lying dead. I couldn’t imagine. My friends and family were okay but I was still barely able to look at the rows of photos.

I talked with a girl who was among the many family members roaming the halls and tending to their kin. I talked to a girl who said her aunt was still alive in a nearby room, but was unable to move any part of her body. She said a few more words, but then stopped. As her eyes filled with tears, I couldn’t bear to ask any more questions or push her to talk more. My heart truly ached for her and all the others in her situation.

The fact that I was carrying a camera bag and a tripod, along with a fixed camera hanging around my neck, didn’t exactly make me inconspicuous; and as I walked by, I heard people whisper that another foreign journalist was there to cover their tragedy. I was proud that I looked like a professional to these people, but I also felt like I should put down all of this stuff and help calm people who were crying, carry coffins into the truck, or care for those still suffering. This was the first time I had been assigned a story like this, and it made me realise how difficult it must be for journalists to balance their duty to tell the story of terrible events and help the desperate people around them.

I wanted to separate my job that day from my feelings, but I simply couldn’t. This is my country and these were fellow Cambodians suffering around me. I kept imagining how terrible it would feel just to find out that someone I know was among the people who died that night on the bridge. If it was someone I truly loved I can’t imagine how bad it would hurt.

I arrived home with an overwhelming sense of sadness hanging on me. I called my friends who also helped report the story and they were also unable to shake the depression and fear that the day’s events had inspired. I thought about how the water festival has always been a happy time for Cambodian people, and whether that would ever be true again.

By: Dara Saoyuth

This article was published on Lift, Issue 47 published on December 02, 2010

You can also read the article on Phnom Penh Post website by CLICKING HERE

Water Festival Ends in Tragedy (saoyuth.wordpress.com)
Photos in the aftermath of Koh Pich accident (saoyuth.wordpress.com)
Cambodia stampede: ‘Bodies stacked upon bodies’ in Phnom Penh tragedy (guardian.co.uk)

Photos in the aftermath of Koh Pich accident

November 24, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Inform

Since I was at my hometown during Monday night’s stampede on Diamond Island’s north bridge, I could not capture the event.

Yesterday afternoon, as soon as I arrived the city, I went to the Phnom Penh Post office and was assigned to assist a foreign reporter in shooting documentary related to the accident.

I went to the Cambodia – Russian Khmer Friendship Hospital to the hospital where some bodies and victims were placed. I later went to Koh Pich to see the blessing ceremony for the deceased.

Below are some photos and video clips I shot in the aftermath of the tragedy.

[slideshow]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhUXoJ-kI5M&hl=en&fs=1] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWkzOnPwmXc&hl=en&fs=1] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5pcPlU7UwQ&hl=en&fs=1]

Dara Saoyuth

24/11/2010

What’s New (Shopping cheap at Sakura Japanese thrift store)

November 24, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

LIFT

4 Comments

If you are a savvy shopper in Phnom Penh, you have likely encountered many shops that sell second-hand clothes. You are sure to find some great deals at these shops, located in markets or along the street, but it is quite obvious that you are having a gander at used goods. This is not the case at the new Sakura Japanese thrift store located on St. 271 not far from Chea Sim Samky high school in the capital.

The one floor shop is well designed, with clothes that are so stylish that you wouldn’t know they were used unless you looked at the sign on the way in that says “Sakura Used Japanese Products.” As the name suggests, all of the products are imported from Japan, and the shipments contain more than just clothes, you are likely to find a bunch of stuff from furniture to toys, accessories and appliances.

The shop is open from 10am to 10pm, and I strolled up during the early afternoon on my lunch break from my studies at university. I was surprised at how many cars and motor-bikes were parked outside and once I walked in I saw that most of them were driven by students, who were still in their uniforms, also taking advantage of their midday break for some budget shopping.

The store is well lit and fans keep the airflow going, however there is a certain smell that only comes from used clothes, and despite the aesthetic appeal of the threads at Sakura, the old clothes smell still required a brief period for acclimation. Once we got used to smell my friends and I were able to stroll up and down the aisles and focus on finding the true gems within the racks packed with clothes.

Looking at the prices of the goods on display, we noticed another differences from the second hand shops we were used to: there was a much wider variety of prices. Some things were only 1,000 riel while other prized-pieces cost over US$300. In general things were still way cheaper than they would be at Pencil or Sorya.

People seemed quite interested in the shoes and household items at the shop, but I noted few clothes being tried on. I suspect it is because of the overflow of sweaters in the shop, which most Cambodians would only buy if they were planning a trip to Japan or a place with a comparably cold climate.

A few things jumped out at me while we pursued the offerings at the second-hand shop. There was a pair of shoes that were beautiful and looked nothing like any footwear I had seen before. I think a tear might have streamed down my face when I tried them on and they were a bit too tight for my foot. There was also a gorgeous kitchen set complete with a tea pot, plates and cupboards. My friend was moved to buy a teapot for his father but the price proved prohibitive and he gently set it back on the shelf.

Near the end of our hour-long browse we noticed a room with a sign that said employees only. Inside were piles and piles of clothes, toys and hundreds of other objects that would soon be on sale. Some brave customers went in anyhow but their time was fleeting as staff members soon asked them to get out. I heard them muttering about how many attractive and cheap goods they saw in the forbidden room.

Sakura has just about everything you could want, especially if you have the time to look around for a while. If you are a style snob who only wears the newest brand name stuff, perhaps this isn’t your spot, but for everyone else, you owe it to yourself to at least stop by.

By: Dara Saoyuth and Touch YinVvannith

This article was published on Lift, Issue 46 published on November 24, 2010

Water Festival Ends in Tragedy

November 23, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Hot news, Inform

People watching body lifting into coffin / by: Dara Saoyuth

Some of you might say it’s a bit late for Student Blog to run a story about an accident happened at Koh Pich (Diamond Island) on Monday night. As a Cambodian, I think this tragedy will never be outdated to write and it’s hard for me to let this event passed without having something on my blog.

Last night, I was at my hometown in Kampot province and while I was sleeping, my parents woke me up to watch a live broadcast program on TV. It’s around 2am at that time. Having a look on TV screen, I immediately felt shock because of what I saw and heard was about the tragedy that hundreds people died and other hundreds people injured.

A short time after I saw what was happening, I took my phones to call to some of my friends and relatives asking whether they are all right while lots of SMS came to my phone one after another asking whether I am ok.

Ki Media mentioned that the accident happened around 10:00pm on 22^nd of November 2010. You can read many articles about this accident written in both English and Khmer and to assist you, I will recommend you some addresses below.

Website in English:

1. Hundreds die in tragic end to water festival

2 Phnom Penh struggles to cope with tragic stampede_The Phnom Penh Post

Hundreds dead as popular water festival ends in tragedy_International News

Blog in Khmer:

1. ២២ វិច្ឆិកា ២០១០ មេរៀនមួយសម្រាប់ខ្មែរ

2. សាក្សី និង ជាជនរងគ្រោះថា សោកនាដកម្មបណ្តាលមកពីឆក់ចរន្តអគ្គិសនី

3. មហាសោកនាដកម្មកោះពេជ្រ

Dara Saoyuth

23/11/2010

Watching a new Cambodian film, Kiles

November 14, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Inform, LIFT, Personal Interest/Experience

2 Comments

If you read LIFT issue 44, you’ll know what a reporter wrote for this week in what’s new section. No wonder, it’s a review of a Cambodian drama film, Kiles (literally translate as Passion), written by Mao Ayuth, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Information.

After reading the review, I was so eager to watch the film. Fortunately, I received a free ticket from one of my friends, so Saturday afternoon was my second time I went to lux cinema watching films.

I don’t remember my first time in this cinema, but for this time, one thing I’ve noticed is that most of the audiences are teenagers who mostly walk in with their partners and some were still wearing school uniforms as if they were entering classroom. Before the film started, I was on my seat trying to fathom out the reason why there are small number of adults in the theater. Unfortunately, the film had started before I could find the answer, so let me give you a floor to come up with the answer to my doubt.

Below is the original review of the film written by Tet Chan, a LIFT reporter. Cheers,

Kiles poster

Perhaps you have heard stories about life in Cambodia during French colonization. Maybe you are even an expert on the period, but I’m certainly not. Hoping to learn more about postWorld War II Cambodia, I went with my friends to see Kiles, the newest movie to hit Cambodia’s theatres, and the first production by the Cambodia Film Commission, a government- funded initiative meant to raise the standard of Cambodian film.

The sounds of chanting plays over the opening scene as an old rich man named Kiles is lying in bed, lonely and weak. It doesn’t look like he has long to live, but, as luck would have it, the frail fellow recovers and returns to live with his four wives and countless servants.

The news keeps getting better for the geezer when one of these servants reads his palm and tells him that his fifth wife will be a beautiful young woman. Kiles isn’t a man to wait around for fortune to find him, so he tells his future-seeing househelp to track down someone who owes him money and demand that they give him their daughter’s hand in marriage to clear their debt.

The unfortunate and indebted man who the servant finds conveniently has a beautiful daughter named Teuy. Her devoted boyfriend Plok is a cremator, and he has been taking the golden coins from the mouths of corpses to save for their wedding. When the servant comes knocking he has 99 of the 100 coins needed to get engaged.

Close doesn’t cut it for Teuy’s father, who predictably agrees to marry her off to erase his debts.

It’s not long before old man Kiles and young beauty Teuy are preparing to be married. I’m not a movie-spoiler, so I’m not gonna tell you what happens next. I’ll say that it’s not as predictable as the plot I described thus far.

In some ways the movie seemed to sugggest it would be a sad love story, but that’s not how it was recieved. My friends and I laughed with the rest of the audience during much of the movie, especially a series of scenes showing Plok trying to commit suicide, once by taking a bowl, filling it with water and immersing his head in an attempt to drown. His efforts are so obviously futile that moviegoers don’t have to worry about his pending death. Plok isn’t a complete coward though, in another scene he puts his life on the line to steal his woman from the decrepit dude who stole her away … I’ll let you find out what happens when you see the movie. Feel free to thank me later.

While some of the scenes were silly, others were quite beautiful; with music and gorgeous Cambodian scenery that made me feel a bit of nationalistic pride while being entertained. It was refreshing to see a Cambodian movie with decent acting and voices that are actually recorded during production.

I was quite happy with my decision to spend an hour and half immersed in scenes and stories from Cambodia’s past. You too will have a new perspective on our history, and although some parts of the plot and character development were a bit thin, I walked out of the theatre optimistic about the future of Cambodian film.

Kiles is a unique type of filem in Cambodia these days. It was enjoyable to watch.

“I was happy having spent 90 minutes immersed in scenes from Cambodia’s past.”

14/11/2010

You can also read the article in LIFT, the Phnom Penh Post website by CLICKING HERE

5 Cool things by Dara Saoyuth

November 13, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

LIFT

Audio books

website for download audio books

To the more literary among us, it’s a problem that arises constantly during our waking hours. It’s time for you to go to school or finish your chores around the house, but you are in the middle of an amazing book and you just can’t stand to put it down. Now you can relax, letter-loving friends. It’s possible to stay stuck in a book while fulfilling your duties away from the page. Audio books might take a little getting used to, but, after a few listens you will be locked in. You will still have to deal with situations not conducive to continuing your bookish journey, but it will happen less often. My favourite sites for downloading audio books are http://h33t.com and http://www.mininova.org.

Blogging

Blogging

How many of you have your own blog? Chances are there will be a lot more of you once the word spreads through 5 cool things. That’s a good thing, since blogs are an awesome way to develop your writing and thinking skills, while making friends and expanding your exposure to people, news and events around the world. You don’t have to be a computer whiz to start a blog. In fact, once you set it up the only thing you really need to know how to do is type. Even my 95-year-old grandmother has a blog. That’s not true, however, it would illustrate how simple blogging can be. From now on, put your ideas online and let other people help you make them better.

Daily planner

Daily planner

What time do to you wake up and go to school? What do you do when you get home? What time do you go to bed? There are an infinite number of questions that you must answer throughout the day and you probably make most of them without much thought or consideration of how to best organise your time. Living a reactionary life might seem like the best path, but when you plan your day before it begins you can be sure not to forget things that tend to slip your mind. The only part of my day that I don’t plan in advance is grabbing my scheduler in the morning to map out the day ahead.

Voice recorder

Voice recorder

If you are anything like me, you and your computer have a pretty special relationship. Take it to a new level by making use of your computer’s ability to talk with you or, more specifically, to talk like you. Any fairly new computer has a built-in sound recorder and accompanying software that allows you to record your voice, play it back and possibly edit it as well. If your computer doesn’t have a built-in mic you can buy an external microphone or, better yet, a pair of headphones with a microphone attached. Once everything is set up you can use the simple but versatile technology for a bunch of different things. I usually use it to listen to my pronunciation and improve my spoken English. So ditch your outdated tape recorder and make the most of your computer’s capabilities.

Swimming

Swimming

I have long been a fan of trips to the sea for a weekend of frolicking by the ocean, swimming, however, has recently been climbing up my list of favourite pastimes in the city. Aquatic exercising has countless benefits for your health and body, but it is also enjoyable, a rare combination as far as workouts go. You can ramp up the fun and hang out poolside with your friends. But I have observed that each person you add to a swimming outing inevitably leads to a drop in the likelihood you will actually work out. With some exercises you feel sore and strained the next day, but after a couple of weeks swimming you will feel refreshed. The more time you spend in the water the better you will feel. So next time you are hot and bothered, sort yourself out with a swim.

by: Dara Saoyuth

This article was published on Lift, Issue 44 published on November 10, 2010

Invitation to IDEACAMP

November 4, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Inform

Dear Student Blog visitors,

As the author of the blog, I always try not to get all of you down after typing http://saoyuth.wordpress.com. Despite the fact that in most of my day, I have piles of homework to do and mountains of books to read, I still spend my rather limited time doing something for my blog. SO far, I have joint plenty of events including workshops, conferences, concerts, voluntary works, such and such. Some of you may wonder why I should do this, and, of course, the reson is that ‘I just want to satisfy my visitors curiosity’.

Below is the information about an event so-called ideacamp which will be held on 27-28 November 2010. More information please go to this website: http://yitcambodia.org. NOTE: Hope to see all of you there, and for those who cannot join, please don’t worry that you will miss the event because I will stay update with all of you since I’m one of the facilitators in the event as well.

.: IDEACAMP

As IDEACAMP organizer, I accordingly invite you all to participate our free IDEACAMP conference on the theme of “capacity building and social participation” which will held on 27-28 November 2010 at American Intercon Institute (AII), located at #270 ABCD, Mao Tse Tong Blvd, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia.

The IDEACAMP is to bring together high school, college/university students and young people from diverse institutions to meet with other youth and educators, professionals, researchers, academics and provide them a venue where they could share their ideas, views and knowledge on language, technology, leadership, social and also learn from others.

This conference will take 2 days from 27-28 [Saturday-Sunday] November 2010 which got the main sponsor from American Intercon Institute (AII), Moreover everyone can take your own laptop to be with you to access free internet wireless (WiFi) during the conference.

Nokia press launch N8 & C7 in Cambodia

November 3, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Inform

The Nokia N8 has just been launched in Cambodia last Thursday (28 October, 2010) and now it’s available in any mobile shop in Phnom Penh and in some provinces in the kingdom. The Nokia N8 comes with large 3.5 inches touch screen with resolution of 640 x 320 pixels and is available in five colors including dark grey, silver white, green, blue and orange. I surfed the internet this morning and saw the price of Nokia N8 in a phone shop in Phnom Penh, HAKSE, is $530.

I’m very lucky to be invited to join the launching event at Himawari hotel organized by Nokia International (Cambodia) and Phibious (Cambodia) Ltd. In the launching event, William Hamilton-Whyte, General Manager of Nokia Indochina, mentioned that Nokia N8 is very suitable for businessmen whose jobs need them to travel to many places to do any presentation. “With Nokia N8, we can do our slide presentation, show video from phone with good quality, and do something more than this,” said William Hamilton-Whyte.

Below are some photos taken at the event. Enjoy!

[slideshow]

Also read: Reputation with NOKIA Symbian^3 N8 & C7

by: Dara Saoyuth

03/11/2010

Reputation with NOKIA Symbian^3 N8 & C7

October 30, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

Inform

PRESS RELEASE

Phnom Penh, 28 October 2010

Since the official opening of its representative office in Phnom Penh last July, Nokia International OY (Cambodia) has continued to demonstrate its commitment to deliver new
experiences and knowledge by bringing in the latest advanced range of devices and solutions.

The two latest smartphones, named Nokia N8 and C7 were launched today to more than 40 media representatives, bloggers and local dealers. N8 and C7 are a powerful combination of internet, video, photos, music with Symbian operating system. “We understand the mobile phone customers’ needs in Cambodia and we aim to bring the latest innovation and technology to them. The launch of N8 and C7 devices today allows Nokia to deliver greater value and relevance towards the hi-end segment of the Cambodian consumers”, said William Hamilton-Whyte, General Manager of Nokia Indochina. On that occasion, local media, bloogers and dealers had hands on experience of the N8 & C7 with internet, photo and video editing features. “Our commitment is to bring real value and relevance in all of the markets where Nokia is present. This remains the goal and the promise of the Nokia brand that is to connect people in newer and better ways,” added William Hamilton-Whyte.

Nokia C7 / photo provided

With a population of 14 million, Cambodia has nearly 4 million mobile users, representing 26 percent of the population, according to the United Nations Development Program’s 2009 report, “Cambodia Country Competitiveness”. Beyond that, mobile phones have had a great impact on mobilizations and collective actions, during the biggest events in Cambodia for an example. The people use SMS text messaging for blessing, sharing latest news, nice video, photos or music. They satyed close to their friends and families, connected to the world. Talking with the latest mobile phone is the young Cambodian generation’s stylist.

“Cambodian market is on the move with 9 active telecommunications providers. Nokia N8 & C7 are the first Nokia smartphone based on the Symbian^3 software, and we believe it is a great devices for people in Cambodia who want to create amazing content, connect to their favourite social networks and be entertained with the latest on demand Web TV programme and Ovi Store apps,” commented Mohammed (Md.) Mesbahuddin, Business Development Manager for Nokia Cambodia and Laos.

Nokia N8 / photo provided

The Nokia N8 has been designed with a 12 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, Xenon flash and a large sensor that rivals those found in compact digital cameras. Additionally, the Nokia N8 offers the ability to make HD-quality videos and edit them with an intuitive built-in editing suite. Doubling as a portable entertainment center, you can enjoy HD-quality video with Dolby Digital Plus surround sound by plugging into their home theatre system. Not just a phone, N8 enables access to Web TV services that deliver programs, news and entertainment from channels like CNN, E! Entertainment, Paramount and National Geographic. You can update your status, share location and photos, and view live feeds from Facebook and Twitter in a single app directly on the home screen. Calendar events from social networks can also be transferred to the device calendar. Available from November 2010 at a retailed price of US$500 plus, Nokia N8 is a 3G phone which is available in five colors such as dark grey, silver white, green, blue and orange.

The Nokia C7 is a beautifully crafted smartphone with excellent social networking and sharing capabilities. The 3.5 inch full-touch AMOLED display is ideal for getting live updates from Facebook and Twitter directly to the home screen via the dedicated Social Client. It also enables easy messaging through many popular email accounts including Ovi, as well as quick access to the latest apps from Ovi Store, millions of tracks through Ovi Music and free voiceguided navigation with Ovi Maps. The Nokia C7 will be available in black, metal and brown at an estimated retail price of US$450 plus.

About Nokia
At Nokia, we are committed to connecting people. We combine advanced technology with personalized services that enable people to stay close to what matters to them. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people connect to one another with a Nokia device – from mobile phones to advanced smartphones and high-performance mobile computers. Today, Nokia is integrating its devices with innovative services through Ovi (www.ovi.com), including music, maps, apps, email and more. Nokia’s NAVTEQ is a leader in comprehensive digital mapping and navigation services, while Nokia Siemens Networks provides equipment, services and solutions for communications networks globally.

Media enquiries
Sokun Y
Tel. +855 77 555 689
Email: ext-sokun.y@nokia.com
Noy Chum
Tel. +855 12 714 211
Email: noy@phibious.com

Closing ceremony of the 1st annual CIFF

October 24, 2010

Dara Saoyuth

LIVE Blogging

I had spent around two hours joining the closing ceremony of the 1st Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) at Chaktomuk Theatre and I was lucky to bring my own camera with me tonight to shoot some photos for my blog visitors. SO don’t forget to scroll your mouse pointer down to see those photos including one short video clip.

At the spot, there was a presence of HE Him Chhey Em, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, government officials, famous film directors, actors, celebrities, and hundreds of Cambodian and foreign audiences.

After the end of closing ceremony, there was also a concert outside the hall by The Cambodian Space Project (below, you can watch a short video clip I took tonight).

This year is marked the 1st annual Cambodia International Film Festival, which was opened Wednesday, 20 October, at Chaktomuk Theatre and had been closed just a few hours ago.

During the festival, more than 100 international and Khmer productions were screened at six venues throughout Phnom Penh, such as Lux Cinema, Chenla Theatre, Bophana Center and Le Cinema at Centre Culturel Français (CCF); public outdoor screenings are at Golden Sorya Market and Diamond Island.

[slideshow] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GucYycZUY0&hl=en&fs=1]

by: Dara Saoyuth

24/10/2010

Reference: CIFF leaflet

Tag - Phnom Penh

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.: IDEACAMP