Tạp chí Cabodia ASIA LIFE tháng 01/2014

012014
ISSUE85
www.asialifemagazine.com
Get
Creative
$ave
$ave
$ave
!!!
Get
Fit !
Discover
Cambodia
NEW
YEAR
NEW
START
Chill
Out
More
4 AsiaLIFE Cambodia
The first of January is a time for hangovers and, when
the fog clears a little, new hopes. Who hasn’t started
the international New Year with the aim of kicking a
vice, like smoking or biting your nails, learning a new
skill, or losing an extra pound or two?
Yet, as months pass by, good intentions can fall by
the wayside. Perhaps some ambitious aims, like giving
your life a total overhaul, are just too big to handle. But,

worry not, rather than thinking of the big picture, there
are plenty of little ways to spice up your life.
This month, our cover feature details some practical
measures that can inspire you to fulfil a multitude of
goals, such as getting fit, finding your inner creativity and
making the most of the diversity Cambodia has to offer.
We hope that our suggestions have the potential
to help kick-start 2014 in a positive way, whatever
your interests may be. And don’t forget, if you feel
your resolve flagging, there’s always Chinese New
Year on Jan. 31 and Khmer New Year in April to start
afresh, again.
Elsewhere in this issue, Marissa Carruthers has
sought advice from Cambodia Biker Club on how riders
can stay safe on the road. It highlights the importance
of adequate insurance and a good-quality helmet, and I
have to agree. Even if you are the best driver on earth,
the chaos of Cambodia’s roads (and its daredevil
drivers) is a force to be reckoned with. And, after all, it’s
much better to be safe than sorry.
This edition also features a spread of children’s
photographs, sourced throughout Cambodia as part of
a nationwide competition. The youngsters who took
part, especially when you consider their age, captured
the spirit and community of a nation, complete with a
unique view-point that only a child can bring.
So, as a New Year dawns, their excellent images
have ensured that my resolution is to make the most of
this wonderful country and the opportunities it brings. I
hope it might be yours too.

Ellie Dyer
note from the editor
Group Editor-in-Chief /
Director Cambodia:
Mark Bibby Jackson

Managing Editor Cambodia:
Ellie Dyer

Associate Editor:
Marissa Carruthers
Editorial Assistant:
Joanna Mayhew
Editor-at-Large Cambodia:
Mai Lynn Miller Nguyen
Siem Reap:
Joanna Wolfarth
Distribution:
Sorn Chandara
096 9999 351
Printing:
Sok Heng Printing House
Group Director Sales &
Marketing / Director Vietnam:
Jonny Edbrooke

Director Thailand:
Nattamon Limthanachai (Oh)

Art Director Cambodia:

Hilary Fastier
Photographers:
Charles Fox & Conor Wall
Sales Director Cambodia:
Sorn Chantha


Sales and Accounts:
Seang Seiha
012 581 455
Accountant:
Seang Satya
AsiaLIFE Group
AsiaLIFE is a registered trademark.
No content may be reproduced in any form
without prior authorisation of the owners.
© 360º Media.
For advertising enquiries call Chantha on 012 576 878.
Special thanks to: Darren Gall, Gemma Mullen, Dr Lucy
Haurisa, Paul Dodd, Abby Seiff, Clothilde Le Coz, Anna Clare
Spelman, David Preece, Ryan Taylor and Cambodia Restaurant
Association – for their contribution to this issue.
Next time you're in Vietnam, check out the latest
issue of AsiaLIFE or download it from
www.asialifemagazine.com
On the Cover
Photography: Conor Wall
Art Direction: Hilary Fastier
6 AsiaLIFE Cambodia

12 Picks of the Month
14 Openings
16 Dispatches
18 Phnom Penh Calendar
20 Photo Essay
24 Q&A: Kang Rithisal
26 New Year, New Start
front
38 Racing the Sun
40 Temple Hideaway
getaway
42 Urban Foragers
44 Ninja
45 Banyan Thai Cuisine
food
32 Safe Ride, Safe Life
34 A Child's Eye View
36 Khmer Steel
storyboard
on the cover
53 Listings
88 Phnom Penh Map
96 Pub Quiz
back
46 Behind the Design
48 Wish You Were Here
style & design
34
012014
ISSUE85

463820
8 AsiaLIFE Cambodia
Jan 2014
Tony Hawk Stops off At
Skateistan
Legendary skateboarder Tony
Hawk showcased his skills when
he stopped off at the Skateistan
centre in Phnom Penh on Nov.
28. It was an emotional visit for
the American who was able to
meet Srey Neang, the child he
sponsored during a trip to the
country six years ago, for the first
time. “Being given the chance
to see her here with all the other
kids is just amazing,” he told
AsiaLIFE. Hawk sponsored the
17-year-old after visiting the
Cambodian Children’s Fund
and has been paying for her
education ever since. Srey
Neang was able to hand over a
photo album of her life, before
being treated to a private
skateboarding lesson. “When I
came here last time there was no
sign of skateboarding anywhere,”
says Hawk, who is renowned for

completing the first documented
900 — a 2.5 aerial spin — as
well as a series of video games.
“It’s incredible what they are
doing here because skating
is a good way to get kids
active and playing together but
not necessarily against each
other,” he says. Skateistan
Cambodia is an NGO that was
launched in 2011 after proving
a hit in Afghanistan. It provides
educational and recreational
facilities for vulnerable children.
For more information, visit
kh.skateistan.org
Great Britain by Tuk-Tuk
Cambodia is being educated
on Britain’s diverse culture
after Ambassador Mark
Gooding launched 300
“Great” British tuk-tuks onto
the capital’s streets on Dec.
3. Each tuk-tuk carries
an image representing the
European country’s diversity,
heritage, creativity and
innovation. Pictures include
the Houses of Parliament,
the Scottish Highlands,

Stonehenge and the Angel
of the North. The aim is to
showcase contemporary
Britain alongside the historic,
as well as highlighting the
creativity of country as the
birthplace of bands including
The Beatles and artists such
as Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst
and Banksy. It also produced
Shakespeare and is home to
world-famous universities
such as Oxford and
Cambridge. “I am delighted
to launch our Great British
tuk-tuks to raise awareness
in Cambodia of Great Britain,
a country that is both familiar
and surprising, a small island
with big ideas,” Ambassador
Gooding said. For more
information, visit the UK in
Cambodia Facebook page.
On The Grid
The Asian Development Bank
and Australia are expanding
access to reliable energy for
rural households in Svay Rieng
and Kampong Cham provinces,
it was announced last month. A

$6.1 million Australian Aid grant,
administered by the bank, will
finance the construction of
220 kilometers of medium-
voltage and 400 kilometers of
low-voltage electricity lines in
Svay Rieng province, where
less than 20 percent of houses
are connected to continuous
energy. The project will connect
an additional 8,000 households
in the province to the electricity
grid, while promoting the use
of up to 90,000 fuel-efficient
cook-stoves in rural areas of
Kampong Cham province.
Sam Jam for Skateistan
AsiaLIFE Cambodia 9
Showing Secrets
Artist Oeur Sokuntevy is presenting an exploration of sub-
conscious and dream-like imagery at Java Café on Sihanouk
Boulevard, Phnom Penh, until Jan. 12. The new series of paintings
investigates the concept of personal secrets. The works feature
scenes and portraits of fictional characters where something
is clearly going on beneath the surface, whether it is portrayed
by a hand signal or a facial expression. Feminine iconography
is well represented while textiles, like traditional sarongs, are
depicted with intricate details. The ever-present flower imagery
also takes on a different manifestation in every piece.
Sleep’in Cambodia

A new photography book that celebrates the humble nap has been
launched. Sleep’in Cambodia by Greg Mo captures images of indi-
viduals slumbering throughout Cambodia. The photographs feature
a myriad of subjects and locations. Guards, merchants, tuk-tuk
and motorcycle drivers, as well as everyday people, have been
snapped in sleep, wherever the urge to doze struck. The 52-page
book retails for $19 and is on sale at Monument Books, DisPlay,
FCC riverside, Carnet d’Asie and D’s Books.
10 AsiaLIFE Cambodia
Jan 2014
Situations
on Show
Portraits of Cambodian life
created by artist Lim Muy
Theam are currently on
exhibition at the McDermott
Gallery in Siem Reap.
Inspired by pagoda murals,
the respected artist’s
striking lacquered pieces
capture ordinary people
performing daily activities,
exploring the line between
the common and sacred. The
talented Takeo-born artist
left Cambodia as a child in
1980 and, after graduating
from the Fine Art School in
Paris, returned to revive the
Kingdom’s arts and crafts. The

exhibition runs until Feb. 28.
Handicrafts Celebrated
This month’s Angkor Handicraft
Fair will bring together more
than 100 exhibitors from
across Cambodia to celebrate
traditional Khmer arts and
crafts. Over the course of
five days, visitors can expect
live demonstrations of crafts
such as silk weaving, stone
carving, ceramics, lacquer-
work and jewellery making.
There will also be a fashion
show, circus performances
and traditional music, dance
and puppet shows. The event
takes place in Raffles Gardens,
Siem Reap from Jan. 9 to 13.
Gibbon Release
A pair of pileated gibbons
was released into the Angkor
forest last month, as part
of a joint initiative between
conservation group Wildlife
Alliance, the Apsara Authority
and the Forestry Administration.
Gibbons were once native to
the area but were hunted to
eradication over the last few

decades. The reintroduction of
the animals marks the start of a
project that hopes to reestablish
communities of wildlife that were
once indigenous to Angkor.
AsiaLIFE Cambodia 11
Lovers of British comedy will no
doubt be familiar with the flawed
character of Alan Partridge.
Created by comedian Steve
Coogan, Alan is a narcissistic
and socially incompetent
radio-DJ-slash-TV-presenter
hailing from the British county of
Norfolk. The hilarious feature-
length movie Alpha Papa,
released last year, finds Alan with
a slot at North Norfolk Digital, a
radio station that has just been
taken over by a trendy media
conglomerate called Shape.
As jobs are axed, a bizarre
police siege develops, perhaps
offering a chance of salvation for
Partridge’s lacklustre career.
Listen: Memory from Darkness
Try: Flyboarding
PICKS OF THE MONTH
Visit: Bighistoryproject.com

Big history is an emerging academic discipline that explains
the scientific origin of the universe from its beginnings 13.7
billion years ago. To make this massive timeline a little more
digestible, leading scientists and scholars have created
bighistoryproject.com. The site condenses the history of the
universe and presents it as lessons designed for high school
students. Short episodes map out how simple things, such
as salt, significantly influenced the evolution of the first land
animals, and in turn humankind.
Watch: Alpha Papa
This 25-minute classical work for piano, cello and violin reflects
on the experiences of the prisoners, workers and farmers that
Him Sophy met during the Khmer Rouge years. “Life was a
nightmare,” says the Cambodian composer. "The memories
were dark; fear became a deadly companion both day and
night." Though first penned in 1990, the piece made its world
debut last July when performed by the New York New Music
Ensemble. A CD of the haunting, yet at times uplifting, tracks will
be available to buy from Cambodia Living Arts and Monument
Books this month for $12.
Download: Sleep Time
Ever been awoken by your
alarm clock, only to feel like
you’ve been raised from the
dead? Sleep Time may be
able to help. The app tracks
and graphs sleep cycles —
identifying when you are in
deep and light sleep through
your movements. The

morning alarm, which you
set with a 30-minute time
window, will identify when
you are in a light sleep before
going off, ensuring that you
have a bright and breezy
start to the day.
The sunshine paradise of Otres
beach in Sihanoukville has a new
activity to tempt the masses —
besides its yellow sands, delicious
seafood and gently lapping
waves. Flyboarding involves
strapping yourself to high-
powered water-jets that
will, in theory, propel users
up to nine-metres into
the air and above the
waves like an aqua
superhero. Sessions
cost $50 for 15
minutes. For more
information, visit
flyboardcambodia.
com.
Kampuchea Party Republic
12 AsiaLIFE Cambodia
Demining Rats
Memorandum of Understanding signed to test out rats
trained to sniff for buried ordnance.

Tony Hawk
Superstar inspires Cambodia’s boarders on
recent trip to the Kingdom.
Intellectual Property Rights
Newly launched Motion Picture Association of Cambodia set
to take on pirated DVDs in Phnom Penh.
Import Prices
Government crackdown on customs corruption could lead to
price hikes for imported goods.
Guilt-free Snacking
Psychologists discover that celebratory snacks keep you slim,
but those racked with post-treat guilt consequently abandon
diet plans and pack on the pounds.
GOING UP
GOING DOWN
Auld Lang Syne
We all sang it at New Year, but who knows the words?
Chinese Barbecues
Beijing destroys more than 500 open-air barbecues in an
ongoing war against air pollution.
Clowns
UK police warn Norfolk residents to ignore clowns after
residents are unnerved by a wave of sightings.
Jail Breaks
The most mundane prison escape of all-time takes places in
Sweden, when a prisoner breaks out to see a dentist, and
then voluntarily returns.
World’s Ugliest Dog
R.I.P. Elwood, a Chinese-crested Chihuahua mix who
had the dubious accolade of being the planet’s

worst looking dog before his death aged eight.
14 AsiaLIFE Cambodia
OPENINGS
URBAN CHIC
TEAV BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Imagination is key for standing out in the capital’s competitive hotel
industry, and it is something Teav Boutique Hotel has got down to a tee.
Pitching itself as a modern art hotel, the venue screams urban chic with
a smooth mix of grey, black and white stone. Simple drawings depicting
scenes from the Angkor period, including the traditional tragic love story of
Tum Teav, adorn the walls, with each of the 12 rooms decorated with the
designs. The luxurious rooms (from $80 to $200 a night) come complete
with huge bathrooms containing a deep stone bath, a power shower and
balconies overlooking the pool. The hotel also has a conference room and
office space.
14 Street 310, Phnom Penh. Tel. 017 989 191.
KEP DINING
MR MAB VERY DELICIOUS
The idyllic Spring Valley resort in Kep has opened a new restaurant,
which is taking a fresh look at traditional Cambodian cuisine. The menu
features street food-style lunches and set multi-course menus as night,
with dishes such as Kep crab with peppercorns (plucked from Mr Mab’s
micro-plantation) and delicious duck curry served up. With the promise
of jackfruit rum smoothies, Mekong martinis and cool jazz, it’s bound to
be an exciting new edition to Kep’s rapidly evolving dining scene.
Spring Valley Resort, Phum Thmey, Khum Prey Thom, Kep. Tel: 036 666
6673. Email:
Offering an oasis of tropical calm, La Librairie hotel and restaurant
is the perfect place to unwind. The décor is a simple but elegant
fusion of Chinese, Vietnamese and French, with a splash of Khmer

thrown in. Exposed brickwork combined with terracotta tiles gives
the hotel a modern feel. The 20 rooms (from $45 to $90 per night)
ooze contemporary cool, with black four-poster beds sitting alongside
classical whites and wooden floors. An impressive staircase stretches
up three floors to an airy skylight, and dangling lanterns cast a soft light
in the evening. The first floor is home to a small library where guests are
invited to exchange books. On the ground floor, a lengthy swimming
pool sits next to a restaurant serving up Asian and Western food, which
is also open to outside visitors.
22 Street 184, Phnom Penh. Tel. 023 221 812.
CONTEMPORARY COOL
LA LIBRAIRIE
AsiaLIFE Cambodia 15
DESIGN EMPORIUM
CRASH TEST DUMMIES
Phnom Penh’s cool crew has got a new place to dress up thanks to
Crash Test Dummies. The latest venture from The Dollhouse team offers
designers a space to showcase their work. The quirky store sits above
Mumoo’s on hip Street 240½ and contains an eclectic mix of men’s and
women’s clothes, shoes, jewellery and accessories from 14 designers.
The collections offer cute dresses, casual daywear, denim from Javo’s
Vintage Jeans, evening gowns and vintage-inspired jewellery. Menswear
takes in a range of printed t-shirts, jackets and trousers, with sister
company Paperdolls adding its Paperboys collection to the rails. Owner
Ryan Drewe Taylor says: “There is a lot of talent out there, so we
wanted to offer them a platform.”
Street 240½. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 8.30am to 6.30pm.
TASTE THE OCEAN
ISLAND SOUP AND GRILL SEAFOOD
From shrimp to squid, string-ray, crabs, oysters and clams, Island

Soup and Grill Seafood is embracing all the sea has to offer. Set on
Street 184, the cozy restaurant is crisp and clean, featuring classy
wooden tables and cheerful striped walls. Beers cost from $1 and
glasses of house wine from $2.75, but it’s the seafood that takes
centre stage. Try the special squid soup ($7) or, for non sea-lovers,
the phnom plerng (volcano mountain) grill with beef for $5.50. New
customers in January will recieve a loyalty card, valid until June,
entitling them to a 10 percent discount on future visits.
36E Street 184, Phnom Penh. Tel: 012 480 077. Open from 11am
to 9.30pm.
A MODERN CLASSIC
DISPLAY
If you’re after funky household goods, then DisPlay will satisfy your
needs. The shop sells a range of interior items — all hand-selected or
created by co-owners Alain Tang, Coralie Chea and Pascal Koy. Light
fills the spacious shop, which is painted in white. A rainbow of towels,
cushions and quirky storage boxes add splashes of colour, while
carefully crafted furniture, including unique stools made from crates,
add a touch of sophistication. Other items include super-soft pillows
and Snack Bar coasters that smell of chocolate and cheese. “We like
to mix classic with modern with our designs and choose items that
look really designer at affordable prices,” says interior architect Tang.
178 Street 63, Phnom Penh. Open daily from 10am to 9pm.
16 AsiaLIFE Cambodia
DISPATCHES
Travel news from around the region and beyond
An Indie Paradise
The crystalline pop of Glaswegian trio Chvrches, the
psychedelic riffs of New Zealand’s Unknown Mortal
Orchestra, and the new-wave beats of Singapore’s

Vandetta are just some of the rising indie acts to
discover at St Jerome’s Laneway Festival in Singapore
on Jan. 25. Organisers of the festival, which is marking
its 10th year, have curated a sweet lineup of 18 new and
seminal artists that will grace the stage at The Meadow
in Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay, the country’s
outdoor urban garden and events venue. Tickets are
$150 and can be bought at singapore.lanewayfestival.
com/buy-tickets.
Got Rice?
Sydney’s Tropfest, the world’s largest short film festival,
extends to Southeast Asia for the first time on Jan. 24 and
Jan. 25. Tropfest Southeast Asia, hosted in Malaysia, will
feature shortlisted films from 11 regional countries including
Brunei, East Timor and Myanmar. Each film submission
can be no longer than seven minutes and must incorporate
a loose interpretation of the Tropfest signature item or
concept, with this year’s being the word ‘rice’. Tropfest,
which is open to the public, has been running for 21 years
in Australia and has satellite festivals in the US, the Middle
East, Paris and more. Visit tropfest.com.
Winter is Coming
For half a month, more than 15,000 workers carve four
million cubic feet of ice for the Harbin International Ice and
Snow Culture Festival. The festival runs from Jan. 5 to Feb.
28 in Harbin, China’s northernmost city. This temporary
ice metropolis includes four ice parks and amusement
zones, containing 1,000 sculptures made from ice carved
out of the Songhua River. Guests can marvel at the ice
architecture and enjoy festivities, including an ice lantern

show, a sculpture competition, alpine skiing, dog-sledding,
Siberian tiger watching, a carnival and a fireworks display.
Check out tours and pricing at icefestivalharbin.com.
AsiaLIFE Cambodia 17
18 AsiaLIFE Cambodia
17
19
JAN
Billy Page from the UK and Adelisa Concepcion from
The Philippines kick-start New Year's at Equinox on
Street 278.
Cine Saturdays at the Bophana Centre on Street 200
from 4pm. Enslaved tells the story of real people affected
by human trafficking in Cambodia, while Butterfly (Korean
with English sub-titles) explores the journey of six-year-old
Jin Young after he is sold into a child trafficking ring.
04
JAN
11
JAN
Core by artist Ben
Thynal runs until Jan.
19 at Romeet Gallery
on Street 178. The
show explores ideas
around the individual
and the community in
Cambodian society.
Ben plays with the
eye through optical

illusions, sometimes
resulting in dizzying
effects.
01
19
JAN
Opening weekend of the Our City Festival, marked
by a group exhibition curated by photographer
Sovan Philong. Events include Moto Moto, a physical
theatre performance raising awareness of the
dangers of motorbike driving in Cambodia at 4pm on
Jan. 18, a village festival in the White Building from
5.30pm to 8.30pm on Jan. 18, and an artist parade
of Cambodia Living Arts musicians on “yarn-stormed”
cyclos at 4pm on Jan. 19. Visit ourcityfestival.org for
more venue information.
Building a Sustainable Future - Kouk Khleang Youth
Centre (KKYC) exhibition and presentation from 6pm
to 8pm at Meta House. The show aims to promote
sustainable building practices and materials by
presenting the design and construction process. Komitu
Architects will facilitate a free tour of ecological architecture of the
sites on Jan. 25 from 9am to 3pm, leaving from Meta House.
CALENDAR PHNOM PENH
Have an event coming up?
Send information and dates to

Jorng Jam
exhibition
opening and

artist talks at
the Bophana
Audiovisual
Resource
Centre
on Street
200 from 3pm to 6pm, running until Feb. 8. The
show brings together artists and members of the
community to reclaim, reinvent and remember family
photographs and stories from Cambodia’s past.
On the Streets exhibition at Java Café from 6pm to
9pm. Inspired by vendor cultures in Southeast Asia,
this exhibition is a comparative look at the effects of
globalisation on public communities worldwide.
JAN
25
MobileCamp Asia runs at the Institute of Technology
of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, from 8am to 5.30pm.
The mobile app-themed edition of tech conference
BarCamp aims to bring together mobile enthusiasts,
explorers, developers and professionals to share
their visions for the future of mobility in the region.
For more information, visit mobilecamp.asia.
The Last Refuge screens at the Bophana Centre
from 4pm. The film follows the Bunong in Eastern
Cambodia as they confront land issues and forest
clearing.
JAN
18
07

16
JAN
Free knitting classes
with complimentary
yarn and loaned
needles for
contributors to
the “cylco-storm”
project at Java Café
(downstairs) on
Sihanouk Boulevard
from 6.30pm. It’s
possible to learn how
to do basic knitting in
10 minutes and get
going!
Svay Ken: Phnom
Penh Painter
exhibition at Meta
House from 6pm to
9pm. As part of the
Our City Festival, this show
explores the work of an artist
who has recorded the daily life
of his friends and family.
22
JAN
Phnom Penh:
Rescue Archaeology
book launch and

opening exhibition
at Sa Sa Bassac
Gallery from 6pm to 8.30pm.
The show includes a 90-minute
screening featuring 12 videos
and documents by nine artists.
21
JAN
24
JAN
-
-
AsiaLIFE Cambodia 19
EVERY MONDAY
Mad Monday at The Empire, 6pm • Yoga at Yoga Phnom Penh.
Sweat and Samadhi at 8am, YogAbs/YogButt at 12.15pm and
Beginner's Flow at 5.45pm. See yogaphnompenh.com
EVERY TUESDAY
Swing dancing at Doors with lindy-hop specialist Janice Wilson from
7pm. Classes are $3 or $25 for 10 lessons • Beginner salsa lessons
at The Groove on Street 282 from 8pm to 9pm, $5 per person • Latino
Time at Cabaret on Street 154 at 6.30pm
EVERY WEDNESDAY
Latin Fever at The Latin Quarter • Trivia in the garden at The Willow,
$2 entry and 7.30pm start • Salsa with DJ Jimmy at Equinox on
Street 278 • Acoustic music at Kep’s Sailing Club by guitarist Mr Rya
from 6pm to 9pm
EVERY THURSDAY
Open Mic at Paddy Rice Irish Sports Bar • Art House Sessions at
8.30pm at The Flicks Community Movie House. Enjoy the secret trea-

sures of the big screen for $3.50 • Steak Night at The Empire. Weekly
special at a big discount • Women’s Night at The Riverhouse • Movie
nights on the beach at Kep’s Sailing Club from 7pm • All About Jazz at
Cabaret from 7pm, wine and beer happy hour from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.
EVERY FRIDAY
Special happy hatha yoga classes at Yoga Phnom Penh, 5.45pm
discounted happy hour class • Seafood Haven at Korean Grill
restaurant, NagaWorld, from 5.30pm to 10pm. $20 per person
excluding beer, $30 per person including free flow draft beer. Tel: 023 22
88 22, www.nagaworld.com • Rhymn sessions at Doors from 9.30pm •
Intermediate salsa lessons ($12) and a dance party at The Latin Quarter
on Street 19 from 8.30pm.
EVERY SATURDAY
Cine Saturday at the Bophana Center, 64 Street 200, at 4pm • Art
classes for both children and adults at Romeet Gallery on Street 178,
costing $8.50 per session or $65 for 10. All material is provsided.
Register interest with Sreymao at or by
calling 077 55 07 59
EVERY SUNDAY
Escape at the InterContinental hotel’s Regency Café from 11.30am
to 3pm. Free-flow wine at $36 plus taxes per person • Morning
meditation with Beth Goldring, a zen Buddhist nun teacher. Sessions
held in a private home close to the national museum, all religions
welcome. yogaphnompenh.com • Phnom Penh Hash House Harriers’
run. Meet at 2.15pm at the railway station
EVERY DAY
Yoga classes at Yoga Phnom Penh, close to BKK market. For
information visit yogaphnompenh.com or enquire at 012 739 419 •
Daily four-hour photography tours with Michael Klinkhamer. Starts at
FCC, 363 Sisowath Quay, at 1.30pm. $35 per person (for groups of less

than four people add $10pp). Call 060 873 847 or visit klinkphoto.com
EVERY WEEKDAY
High tea at Public House on Street 204½, 3pm to 5.30pm. Scones,
finger sandwiches, sweets and tea. $9pp for high tea, $14 with a glass
of sparkling wine, $30pp with a bottle, $50 with a bottle of champagne.
Book for a min. of two guests at least one day in advance 017 770 754
EVERY MONDAY TO SATURDAY
Cultural performance at the National Museum at 7pm. Adult tickets
are $15, with discounts for advance puchases. For booking and
information call 017 998 570 or email
EVERY WEEKEND
Fishing trips on the Tonle Sap river from 3.30pm to 6.30pm. For
more information, visit fishinginphnompenh.wordpress.com or
email • Kids Sessions at 2pm at The
Flicks Community Movie House. $3.50 for adults, $2 for under 18
• Weekend brunch at Public House on Street 240½, from 10.30am to
2pm. $25 per person including bellinis or bloody Marys, $15 per person
if you’re on the wagon. Book in advance: 017 770 754
PHOTO ESSAY
Solomon Smiles
The 900 isles of the Solomons, east of Papua New
Guinea, make up one of the least explored island groups
on the planet. Writer and photographer Tom Perry lived
in the Solomon Islands for three years and recently
published SOLO: Life in the Solomon Islands, looking at
contemporary life across the country.
Visit tomperry.com.au for more information.

Kang Rithisal
Amrita Performing Arts celebrated its 10-year
anniversary late last year. The dance and theatre
company’s newly appointed executive director,
Kang Rithisal, plays a key role in ensuring that
contemporary artists take centre stage. Interview
by Joanna Mayhew, photograph by Charles Fox.
Why was Amrita founded?
Amrita was created to help
the revival and preservation of
Cambodian cultural performing
arts. Amrita is a Sanskrit word
which means eternity, so there
was an intention of trying to
say the arts should continue,
should always be perpetual.
Ofcially in 2011, we shifted to
being committed to the creation
of contemporary dance and
theatre. Our vision is nurturing
a young generation of artists,
who are ushering their ancient
performing arts heritage from
the past into the future.
What do you mean by
contemporary dance?
We have 15 young artists, aged
20 to 30, who are all classically
trained in Cambodian dance.
Because they are classically

trained, the contemporary
dance of Cambodia is not
something that’s inspired by
the Western ballet form, or
K-pop, or whatever. These
are people who were born in
the art, in the classical form,
and they are encountering
international artists who
bring new experiences, new
techniques, or new thought in
dance. These artists get inspired
by it, and choose to express
their own story or movement
from that.
Has this been controversial?
People are still thinking about
the revival and preservation of
dance 34 years after the Khmer
Rouge. They fear that further
development of the form will
pose a kind of potential threat, or
destruction, to the classical form.
Keeping an art form stagnant
is not a good thing. The
classical form is actually the
inspirational base for younger
artists to have courage to create
new things. Without it, tapping
into the new thing would

not be possible. We have to
carefully nurture the process
so their dance development
is good — it’s Cambodian.
Maintaining that balance is like
walking on a tightrope.
What do contemporary
performances mean for
Cambodia?
Having this contemporary
dance that the artists choose
to express in their art, and
that corresponds to the social
and political context that
they’re in now, is very new.
Five years ago, if you were
doing something like this,
it was not received in the
way it is received now. The
economic and technological
developments mean
Cambodians have access to
the world. People’s minds are
broadened a bit more, and
that really contributes to the
change in their perspective. I
see that has happened and will
continue to happen.
How would you describe the
local arts scene?

I say the Cambodian arts scene
is like a garden. If it’s only one
particular ower, then that
garden, you know, it’s beautiful
but it’s not so interesting. I
like the fact that there are
artists who really work on
the classical form, artists who
really explore creativity in the
classical form, and artists who
are making the artistic choice
to do contemporary work. It is
a variety of things, and the co-
existence of the different things
is actually the beauty of this
country’s arts.
What is Amrita's proudest
achievement of the last 10
years?
To answer, I would be easily
attracted to the big shows
we have done — like Where
Elephants Weep, the rst Cam-
bodian rock opera. However,
recently in Singapore we had
one of our artists receiving
questions from the audience.
With amazing condence, he
grabbed the microphone and
explained the classical form

and how they moved into cre-
ating this work, with no sense
of fear, representing Cambo-
dia. And now I’ve decided that
that’s actually the remarkable
achievement we have made.
We have produced numerous
productions, but now we have
these young artists who will
be potential young leaders in
the cultural scene. And seeing
them ourishing is actually, I
believe, the biggest achieve-
ment of Amrita.
What is the signicance of a
decade completed and your
new leadership?
I would call it a new phase of
Amrita. I’ve been with this
organisation for 10 years. I am
part of the Amrita family. I
believe in what we are doing.
Now, after years of momentum
working with international
collaborators, we have the
courage to say that we are
building choreographers for
contemporary dance, and I am
nurturing this as the new leader
because I am a Cambodian. So I

have this advantage of having a
dialogue with my artists [and]
choreographers.
Our dancers and staff see
this as a remarkable moment
for them. The mission has
gone deeper into their blood.
They feel the responsibility
that they have as the young
generation of Cambodians, and
that includes myself. Together
we look forward with great
anticipation to the next 10 years
and beyond.
What’s the future for Amrita?
In the short term, Amrita
is going to further its artist
development in terms of their
choreographic and artistic de-
velopment. In the long term we
are becoming an internationally
or regionally recognised dance
company from Cambodia,
showcasing the work of Cam-
bodia, by Cambodians.
We are making this new
generation of leaders. And they
are contributing back to their
own art community and making
their rightful place locally and

in the international arena.
For more information, visit
amritaperformingarts.org.
24 AsiaLIFE Cambodia
AsiaLIFE Cambodia 25