Cambodia Insight Issue 12

Digital Magazine Oct. - Dec., 2012

Tourism News 2012

Pchum Ben “Ancestors’ Day” Love Huts for Teenage Girls

Tradition of Kreung Tribes in Cambodia

V I C T O R

I A

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE Dear Readers, It’s hard to imagine anything that’s harder, more fun, and ultimately more satisfying, than completing the first 2.5 years of a new venture still standing.

This issue of Cambodia Insight is our eleventh quarterly publication. It’s been, as the Navy promises, not a job but an adventure.

Heartfelt thanks to our many readers. You’ve proven again and again that you’ll visit an online publication. We appreciate your attention, as well as your comments and suggestions. Every one of them was read, and many adopted. We’re grateful.

Heartfelt thanks, too, to our advertisers. We don’t charge our many readers, and your generous support has made this possible. We hope that your business has benefited from the attention your ads garnered both locally and internationally. We’re grateful.

Heartfelt thanks, as well, to our contributors.

You’ve supplied us with interesting – indeed fascinating – insights into this Land of Wonder and its warm, welcoming people. The quality of your work shone brightly. We’re grateful.

Heartfelt thanks, finally, to our staff. You’ve worked tirelessly and without complaint under the pressures of deadlines.

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You’ve brought creativity to Cambodia Insight, along with a full measure of talent, hard work and good spirits. We’re grateful.

As we look ahead to 2013, we’re encouraged that we’ve weathered the initial growing pains and can focus now even more on producing the leading publication about Cambodian life, business, culture, and especially responsible tourism.

What will future issues bring? We’ll continue to spotlight the growing numbers of visitors and investors, the important role of investment and relations with our neighbors. And most of all we’ll continue to bring to our readers the wonders of the Land of Wonders, our adopted home.

As always, your readership, your advertising support, and your comments will help us make this the leading publication of its kind on the internet. We’re truly grateful.

Sincerely,

Charles R. Evans, Publisher Tel: +855 (0) 63.969.200 Fax: 63.969.201 H/P: 017.906.721 Charles@CorporateMarketingIntl.com

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CONTENTS Tourism News 2012

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Pchum Ben “Ancestors’ Day”

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Air Hanuman Flights Siem Reap To Pattaya

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Cambodian Water Festival Bon Om Touk

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One vegetarian meal to surviving a global life partner

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Love Huts for Teenage Girls

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Map

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Victoria Angkor Hotel

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Ta Som Guesthouse Room Amenities • A/c rooms available • Fan Rooms Available • Cable/Satellite TV in room • Refrigerator in room • Hot/Cold Water

info@tasomguesthouse.com www.tasom-guesthouse.com

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#268 Nat. Route 6, (Airport Road,) Taphul Village, Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Hotel Facilities • Restaurant • Room Service • 24-hour room service • Laundry Services

• Tour/Travel Services • Travel/Tour Information • Free airport/ferry shuttle • Internet access in hotel

Tel: +(855)(0)63-964970, +(855)(0)12-830170, +(855)(0)12-772660 Fax: +(855)(0)63-967268

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A Quarterly Magazine on Business, Economy, Tourism, Culture and Society in English for Cambodia. Founded in Siem Reap City in January, 2010 by Evans Marketing

Charles R. Evans Don Finck Don Finck Kanyapat Evans Jeroen Mylho Savuth Sao Atchariya Priabnan Seriya Chan Bunleab Hong Mookda Jamsai Eric Larbouillat Peter Richards

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Publisher and Managing Director Editor - in - Chief Senior Creative Director Creative Director Art Director Manager, Graphic Design & Print Production Graphic & Web Design Sr. Webmaster & Programmer Jr. Webmaster & Programmer Production Assistant Sales Executive Thailand Bureau Chief

Evans Marketing Business Adviser Co. Ltd., Wat Damnak Village, 0453 Sala Kam Reuk Commune, Group 4, Siem Reap - Angkor, 17000, Kingdom of Cambodia Tel: +855 (0) 63.969.200/201 Fax: +855 (0) 63.969.201.

Advertising & Subscriptions E-Mail: Advertising@CambodiaInsight.com E-Mail: Subscription@CambodiaInsight.com @ Copyright Evans Marketing Business Adviser Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. The name Cambodia Insight.com, in either English or Khmer languages, its associated logos or devices and the contents of this publication and website may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in print or

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electronically, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without written permission of Evans Marketing Business Adviser Co., Ltd.

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Cambodia Insight.com is a wholly owned publication and website of Evans Marketing Business Adviser Co., Ltd. Licensed by the Ministry of Information.

Although every care has been taken in the production of this magazine and website, no responsibility for errors or liability is assumed through the use of the information contained herein.

Cambodia Insight.com is an independent publication dedicated to providing our readers with informative content presented in a positive light helping to boost business investment, tourism, cultural awareness and the image of the country.

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Siem Reap Riverside Hotel • Comfortable room with Fan & A/C • Cable TV with Satellite programs • Hot & Cold Shower, Clean Water • Full Internet Access, High speed in the room E-mail

• Roof top balcony for relaxing • Currency Exchange and Laundry • Helpful Service • Helpful Food Service • Sun bathing on the roof top

: booking@siemreapriverside.net sales@siemreapriverside.net Facebook: Siem Reap Riverside Website : www.siemreapriverside.net Address : #481, Sivatha Blvd, Svay Dangkom District, SiemReap Cambodia

Mobile: Tel: Fax:

+855 (0) 12 517 000 +855 (0) 63 760 177 +855 (0) 63 760 277

Old Market area, Alongside of the river.

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Tourism News 2012 W

e are less than four weeks away from the tourist high season in Southeast Asia, and Cambodia is optimistic that it will continue its growing boom as an international destination.

The government expects an increase of 15 percent in foreign visitors – about 3 million persons entering the “Kingdom of Wonder,“ as it is called in the official tourist promotional materials.

Gone is the time when A group of Japanese tourists see Angkor Wat in early August 2012.

Cambodia was viewed as a black stain on the Indochina peninsula, avoided by tourists flying over The best part of Cambodia is its people. the mysterious country on flights between Many foreigners started to settle in the country, not those of NGOs or workers of Bangkok and Saigon. international agencies, but the most diverse The tourist development has been a progressive kind of persons from the five continents, who process. In the beginning, foreign visitors became especially keen to live in the main came only to Siem Reap Province to see Cambodian urban areas. One wonders why a the temples in a quiet town that was then European would want to settle in a country like without nightlife. Phnom Penh soon also Cambodia and many would answer that they began to draw crowds, and the city developed its fall in love with the country, its people, their culture, their way of being. infrastructure and now has many attractions.

Cambodia became in the span of a few years a country for either backpackers or more exclusive visitors. Some of its small main towns began to resemble authentic cities: Battambang, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville; casinos were built at its borders as guardians, becoming a direct form of foreign investment and job generators.

The natural but largely unexplored Cambodian beaches and islands got the attention of national and foreign investors to create luxury resorts and nightlife venues.

Every year, between November and April, the number of visitors seems to increase and it becomes the spring time of hotels, restaurants, tuk-tuks, casinos, archaeological sites, tourist agencies and business in general.

During the tourist high season (THS) 2011 2012, the Ministry of Tourism reported the entrance of 2.88 million foreigners, first to Siem Reap Province and second to the Cambodian capital. It produced earnings of 1.9 billion US dollars, meaning the 12 % of the GDP.

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Just to compare how tourism became one of the leading sectors of the Cambodian economy, 118,183 persons arrived to Cambodia in 1993 - it was the year when a new Cambodian constitution was being written and there was a stagnant economy.

The number of entrances doubled in 1995 with 219,680 and it is easy to guess that most of them were humanitarian volunteers and workers.

In 2000 we saw the second big increase with 466,365 and we are already at the start of an economic rehabilitation: 2004 with 1,055,202, then 2007 with 2,015,128 and last year with 2,881,862, so we expect more than 3 million this time time around.

During the first quarter of 2012, the Ministry of Tourism reported that most visitors – 51.6% (905,773 persons) - to Cambodia arrived by land and water ways and it is thanks to the improvement of land transport connections with Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. The second

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way was by plane to the Phnom Penh and Siem Reap international airports (850,879 persons, 48.4 %).

Although many Cambodians prepare for European visitors, in reality it is Vietnam that is the number one provider of tourists for the Kingdom with a share of 21.5 % during the first quarter of this year. The second tourist provider was South Korea (12.9%), followed by China (8.6 %), Laos (5.9%) and Thailand (5.2%), which fluctuates according to the political tensions among the countries.

In conclusion, Asians are the first tourists and US citizens made the 6th group of visitors during the first six months of the year (5.2 %), followed by another Japan (4.9%), France (3.4%), Australia (3.3%) and the U.K. (3.3%).

Tourism stimulates the economy, of course, creating hundreds of job positions for the growing young Cambodian population.

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It includes the development of infrastructures and a more universal mentality as soon as Cambodians meet with people from very far cultures. But we see the construction of hotels and resorts to prepare for foreign visitors, though there is still a lack of development in other conditions in the country.

There is still much to do in education – there is a very reduced number of public universities and most of them centered in the capital.

Public health attention continues to be poor in a general view and poverty stays out of the look of tourists passing through the wonderful tourism path.

By: http://asiancorrespondent.com

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Pchum Ben “Ancestors’ Day”

This year 2012 Prachum Ben is on 14-15-16/10/2012, One of big holiday for Cambodians Cambodians believe that although most living creatures are reincarnated at death, due to bad karma, some souls are not reincarnated but rather remain trapped in the spirit world.

Each year, for fifteen days, these souls are released from the spirit world to search for their living relatives, meditate and repent.

The fifteen - day observance of Prachum Benda, or Ancestors’ Day, is a time for living relatives to remember their ancestors and offer food to those unfortunate enough to have become trapped in the spirit world.

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Furthermore, it is an important opportunity for living relatives to meditate and pray to help reduce the bad karma of their ancestors, thus enabling the ancestors to become reincarnated and leave the torment and misery of the spirit world.

Prachum Benda, better known colloquially as Pchum Ben, may be translated as “gathering together to make offerings” (prachum meaning “gathering together” and benda meaning “offering”). The observance usually begins in mid - September and lasts an entire lunar cycle, constituting the fifteen days that ancestral spirits are given to visit their living relatives.

In the year 2003, the specific dates for its commencement and conclusion are September 11th and September 25th, respectively.

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Pchum Ben is the fifteenth and final day of the observance and consists of a large gathering of laity for festivities at the local Buddhist temple.

Each day leading up to the fifteenth, however, is also important and special. Different families host services at the temple on each of the fourteen days prior to the final celebration.

The days leading up to Pchum Ben are known as Kann Ben (kann meaning “hosting or holding”) and are numbered one through fourteen accordingly.

Prior to the day a family or families are scheduled to host a Kann Ben, relatives and close family friends will go to the temple to make preparations. During the preparations, urns of ancestors, traditionally kept on temple grounds, are polished and brought to the viheara (the main chanting room).

Also, the names of ancestors are recorded onto an invitation list. This is important because spirits cannot receive offerings unless they are first invited to do so by living relatives. In the evening, the host family and other participants will join the monks in the viheara for meditation and chanting. The monks will then pass on the Buddha’s teachings, as well as offer blessings and guidance to those present.

Before sunrise on the morning of the Kann Ben, special food is prepared for the ancestral spirits to enjoy. Favorite dishes of various flavors and colors are offered.

They range from the simple and traditional nom ansom (sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves with assorted fillings) to the more elaborate and rich amok (steamed fish fillet marinated in a complex mix of spices and herbs).

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As a gesture of kindness, the hosts also prepare bai ben (steamed sticky rice mixed with sesame seeds and then formed into balls) to be thrown into shaded areas about the temple grounds.

This mixture is an offering to the hungry souls who have been forgotten or no longer have living relatives to make them offerings.

life. After consuming the proffered meal, the monks continue to chant blessings, sprinkling (or showering) holy water onto the families and their visiting ancestral spirits. The Kann Ben is a time of remembrance and an opportunity to accumulate good karma on behalf of one’s ancestors.

Before noon on Kann Ben, candles and incense are lit and the various dishes are offered to the monks. The prepared list of names is then recited and burned. The reading and burning of the list is a ritual performed to alert and direct the wandering souls to the location of their families.

The rituals of Kann Ben continue for fourteen days. On the fifteenth day, the traditionally observed Pchum Ben, families in the local area gather to perform the same ritual of ancestral remembrance and offer an immense communal feast.

It is an invitation for the ancestral spirits to join their living relatives as they commemorate

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This day is especially important because if any ancestors are unfortunate enough to have become Priad spirits, it is the only day that

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they may receive offerings of food and benefit from the good karma earned by their relatives.

Priads are the most miserable of all souls due to their exceptional bad karma.

Unlike other spirits, Priads fear light and can only receive prayers, food and be reunited with their living relatives during the darkest day of this lunar cycle, the day of Pchum Ben. Participating in the Pchum Ben, whether as a host or participant, is a very important aspect of Cambodian culture. It is a time of reunion and commemoration. It is a time to express love and appreciation for one’s ancestors.

relatives help assuage their misery and guide them back into the cycle of reincarnation.

After the ancestors are reincarnated, they have the opportunity to accumulate good karma on their own and look forward to attaining a peaceful inner spirit, which is the best blessing a living relative can wish for their ancestors.

By: Vathany Say

By offering food and good karma to those possibly trapped in the spirit world, living

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Air Hanuman Flights Siem Reap To Pattaya (BCC)

“ We have over 100 hotels & other venues signed up as referral agents for the sale of tickets. Agents receive brochures with an area to stamp/write in their venue sponsorship & attractive A-3 posters as above. “

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generous commission of $ 10.00 is paid.

Please contact me if you’re interested in having one of our sales executives schedule a presentation appointment.

Our agency (Corporate Marketing) has been engaged under contract, by Mr. Chris Ho, Chief Executive of Air Hanuman Co., Ltd. a new company based in Siem Reap. www.AirHanuman.com . The company will operate Garuda Travel Services in Siem Reap & LP Tours in Pattaya. Personally, I am a business partner and the Air Hanuman Director of Publications (In Flight Magazine) & Merchandising.

Our agency team has been contracted for Brand building communications. To date; all creative design concepts have emanated from our company, Corporate Marketing. ( These

include the Air Hanuman Logo, Corporate Identity Materials & Web Site Development, Brochures, Posters and will include PR beginning next month once the company legal work & tourism license is approved/registered.

Flights to/from SR/Pattaya are scheduled to begin October 10th. The principal owner is Chou Liang Pao, a successful Taiwanese business man in Thailand ( Travel - Tour - Hotel business & Spa / Magic Shows… www.paradisespa-show.com) for the past 25 years, he is President of Tonle Sap airlines and reported to be a very well connected/ well known & successful person) Tonle Sap Airlines will operate the Air Hanuman flights as Charter Flights, three times a week.

Next, there are plans to fly SR to Macau (December, 2012 ?) & SR to HK next year.

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Cambodian Water Festival Bon Om Touk Cambodian Water Festival (also known as Bon Om Touk, Bon Om Thook, or Bonn Om Teuk) is a festival celebrated annually around November in Cambodia.

The festival marks the end of rainy season in Cambodia and the reversal of the flow between Tonle Sap River and Mekong River at Phnom Penh.

Generally, people in Cambodia celebrate Bon Om Touk by night and day for three days.

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When is Cambodian Water Festival 2012 / Bon Om Touk 2012?

Although Cambodian Water Festival is normally celebrated on November, the date of Cambodian Water Festival varies from year to year. Cambodian Water Festival 2012 or Bon Om Touk 2012 will be celebrated for three days on the dates below.

Tuesday, 27 November 2012 Wednesday, 28 November 2012 Thursday, 29 November 2012

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Three major ceremonies – Bandaet Pratip, Sampeah Preah Khae, Ak Ambok – are held during Cambodian Water Festival.

Bandaet Pratip is a fluvial festival in which many illuminated boats are floated to the water lighting the river. Each boat usually represents a government ministry or institution. Bandaet Pratip starts at about 7 in the evening.

Sampeah Preah Khae is a ceremony to salute

Background of Cambodian Water Festival / Bon Om Touk Background of the festival dates back to the 12th century when the navy of Angkorian King Jayavarman VII celebrated a festival which marked the start of Cambodian fishing season.

The purpose of the festival was to show gratitude to the river’s divinities and keep them happy in the hope that Cambodian people would also get a good harvest for the following year.

the moon in the hope that Cambodian people will get a good harvest for the following year.

For the Cambodians, full moon represents a good sign for their harvest throughout next year. After this ceremony, people flock to pagoda for Ak Ambok.

Ak Ambok is a tradition to eat ambok – rice fried in the husk, pounded with a giant hassle to remove the husks, and mixed with coconut and banana – at midnight in a pagoda.

Ambok becomes one of some popular dishes sold during Cambodian Water Festival.

People in Cambodia has been celebrating Cambodian Water Festival for centuries.

Up until now, Cambodian people celebrate the festival with the same purpose i.e. to thank the river for everything it has given to Cambodian people.

Cambodian Water Festival 2012 / Bon Om Touk 2012 Celebration Celebration of Cambodian Water Festival is held throughout the nation, yet the main celebration takes part near the banks of Tonle Sap and Mekong River. During Cambodian Water Festival, the roads near the banks of the rivers are blocked for vehicle while more than a million visitors jostle in these places to celebrate the festival.

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2010 Cambodian Water Festival Incident In 2010, millions of people gathered near the bank of the rivers in Phnom Penh to watch traditional boat races held during 3 days celebration of Cambodia Water Festival. The festivity of the festival turned out to be horror when people scrambled across a newly - built bridge spanning over Bassac river.

Prime Minister Hun Sen called the incident as the biggest tragedy since the Khmer rouge when more than 1.7 million Cambodians died.

He then showed his condolence and sympathy to the families of those who died on the incident, and ordered government ministries to fly a flag at a half mast.

Happy Cambodian Water Festival 2012 !

As a result, about 400 Cambodians died because of being trampled, falling into the river, or suering electric shock from the cables of the lamps decorating the bridge.

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One vegetarian meal to surviving a global life partner Phuket Vegetarian Festival October 14 – 23, 2012

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They decided to adhere to a strict vegetarian diet and pray to the Nine Emperor Gods to ensure purification of the mind and body.

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a colorful event held over a nine-day period in October, celebrating the Chinese community’s belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar will help them obtain good health and peace of mind.

To everyone’s amazement the opera group made a complete recovery.

Though the origins of the festival are unclear, it is commonly thought that the festival was bought to Phuket by a wandering Chinese opera group who fell ill with malaria while performing on the island.

Subsequently the festival has grown and developed into a spectacular yearly event that is attended by thousands with participants flying in from China and other Asian destinations.

The people celebrated by holding a festival that was meant to honour the gods as well as express the people’s happiness at surviving what was, in the 19th. Century, a fatal illness.

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What is the Vegetarian Festival all About?

Phuket Vegetarian Festival Ceremonies One of the most exciting aspects of the festival are the various, (and sometimes gruesome) ceremonies which are held to invoke the gods. Firewalking, body piercing and other acts of self - mortification undertaken by participants acting as mediums of the gods, have become more spectacular and daring as each year goes by.

Men and women puncture their cheeks with various items including knives, skewers and other household items. It is believed that the Chinese gods will protect such persons from harm, and little blood or scarring results from such mutilation acts. This is definitely not recommended for the faint hearted to witness.

In 2011 some 74 people were injured with one death reported. Injuries are usually sustained

from the indiscriminate use of firecrackers so beware of this pitfall and stay well away from this deafening and sometimes frightening aspect of the Vegetarian Festival.

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What is the Vegetarian Festival all About?

The ceremonies of the festival take place in the vicinity of the six Chinese temples scattered throughout Phuket. The main temple is Jui Tui Shrine not far from the Fresh Market in Phuket Town. The first event is the raising of the Lantern Pole, an act that notifies the nine Chinese gods that the festival is about to begin. The pole is at least ten metres tall and once erected, celebrants believe that the Hindu god, Shiva, descends bringing spiritual power to the event.

For the next few days, the local Chinese/Thai community brings their household gods to the temple, along with oerings of food and drink.

It is assumed that the household gods will benefit from an annual injection of spiritual energy that fills the temple. Visitors can observe and even participate in the lighting of joss sticks and candles that are placed around the various gods.

Phuket Vegetarian Festival Usually street processions take place, where visitors can see participants walking in a trance. Other events include hundreds of local residents running across a bed of burning coals, or climbing an eight metre ladder of sharp blades while in trance. Apart from the visual spectacle of this festival, visitors can partake in specially prepared vegetarian cuisine made available at street stalls and markets around the island during this time.

The vegetarian dishes are not easily distinguished from regular dishes - soybean and protein substitute products are used to replace meat in standard Thai fare and look and taste uncannily like meat. Look for the yellow flags with red Chinese or Thai characters to find vegetarian food stalls - and keep your camera handy!! For more information on dates and events, please visit phuketvegetarian.com

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Chinese Shrines in Phuket Town There are more than 40 Chinese shrines scattered around the island. Many of them are just small buildings but all participate in the festival. Visitors who want to experience the most of this event should visit the major shrines including the five oldest shrines in Phuket; Put Jaw, Jui Tui, Bang Niew, Cherng Talay, and Kathu Shrine. Alternatively, see the list below.

- Baan Tha Rue Shrine, Thepkrasattri Road, not far from the Heroines’ Monument - Cherng Thalay Shrine, Sri Soonthorn Road, Thalang District - Sapam Shrine, Thepkrasattri Road, Koh Kaeo, Phuket Town - Yok Ke Keng Shrine, Soi Panieng, Samkong, Phuket Town - Samkong Shrine, Yaowarat Road, on the north side of Phuket Town - Kathu Shrine, Wichitsongkram Road, Kathu District - Put Jaw Shrine, On the corner of Soi Phuthorn, Ranong Road, Phuket Town - Jui Tui Shrine, Soi Phutorn, Ranong Road Soi 4, Phuket Town - Sui Boon Tong Shrine (aka Lorong Shrine), Pattana Road, Phuket Town - Bang Neow Shrine, Phuket Road, on the south side of Phuket Town - Thep Rasi Shrine, Phuket Road, near Robinson Department Store, Phuket town - Kiew Tien Keng Shrine, Sapanhin Park, Phuket Town

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The Commitments The festival always falls on the first days of the ninth Chinese lunar month, and for nine days participants observe the following commitments: - Cleanliness of the body during the festival - Clean kitchen utensils not to be used by others who do not participate in the festival - Wear white during the festival - Behave correctly, both physically and mentally - Avoid eating meat - Avoid sex - Avoid alcohol - People in mourning should not participate - Pregnant women and menstruating women should not attend ceremonies

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LET’S START OUR TRAVEL TO

CAMBODIA

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Love Huts for Teenage Girls

Tradition of Kreung Tribes in Cambodia

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n a small part of Cambodia there lives a culture that parents actually build their teenage daughters a small hut to have sex in.

Could giving our youth more freedom give them a better chance to make good decisions in later life.

In northeast Cambodia’s Ratanakiri province, dwell a people with a unique practice. At the age of 15, parents build their daughters tiny ‘love huts’ a short distance away from their home so that the girls can begin to experiment with sex with boys.

The Kreung people are very big on female empowerment; a trait which I admire. For them, having girls and women set the rules about sex instead of male religious/political/ social figures helps create independent young women and also, helps the girls make their own choices about their potential spouses.

At first I was concerned about many things, among them umplanned pregnangy, STDs, sexual violence and promiscuity. But the girls and their families seem to have it all under control. The girls choose which boys they want to have sex with.

“When a boy comes to stay the night, if I don’t want him to touch me, he won’t. We’ll just talk and sleep. But if I have a special boyfriend and we’re in love, then I’ll be intimate with him. If I stop loving him and find another boy I’m more attracted to, I will stop having sex with the first one.” - Nang Chan, 17

their children advice about sex but trust that they have instilled enough morals in their children so that they make the right choices.

Nongovernmental organizations have begun to spread the news about condoms and the girls say that the boys are usually responsible about wearing them.

New concerns have been raised however, about the effect that American media is having on the boys. The once-shy lads have become arrogant and sometimes violent, copying the things they have learned from watching pornography and the way sex is portrayed between American men and women on tv.

Many wonder if this unique tradition will survive the ‘onslaught of modern culture’ but are content with the current state of things. The focus seems to be on female empowerment.

Perhaps American parents should take a leaf from the book of the Kreung but still keep in mind that both societies are different and that there are boundaries that must be set. Talking about sex might not be the easiest thing to do, but it prevents situations where teens have to hide their sexual activity.

Taking birth control pills from your daughter does not guarantee that she will not have sex.

Talking on the other hand, fosters trust and mutual understanding.

Luckily, Kreung society is such that the elders have have taught the boys to respect the opposite sex. Parents do not generally give

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Kreung Parents : Galung (45 F) and Puang (56 M) of Nang Chan on their Farm at Ratanakiri, Cambodia

Nang Chan is a 17 - year old teen girl now living in a love hut in the backyard of her parents house. Let’s see what Nang Chan has to say about this tradition : The huts provide us independence and are the best way through which we can explore our true lover. When boys come to spend night with me, if I don’t want them to touch me they won’t. We’ll just talk for sometime and sleep.

If I find some special boyfriend and we both love each other then I’ll get intimate with him and have sex with him in my hut. But if I stop loving him and find another boy that I see more attractive, then I’ll stop having sex with my previous boyfriend. I moved to my hut when I turned 15 and since then I’ve had four special intimate boyfriends.

I don’t keep on counting how many other boys come to stay at night with me. There are two or three at the moment. I feel no obligation to have sex with a boy just because he is sleeping beside me. We girls are very adamant to the boys to prove their true love before any close intimacy can happen.

I do worry about unwanted pregnancies but parents have clearly taught us how to avoid them and to have sex only with boys we truly love. If a girl gets pregnant by someone who doesn’t love her, but another boy loves her then he will marry the girl anyway and bring-up the baby as his own.

OUR OPINION This culture is an eye - opener for the western culture where divorces and rapes are common. We do advice Kreungs to adopt safe sex methods and contraceptives like condoms to avoid unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/ AIDS. While it may be a matter of discussion if this tradition is superior or not, we leave it on the readers to decide for themselves.

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sexual violence and promiscuity. But the girls and their families seem to have it all under control. The girls choose which boys they want to have sex with.

“When a boy comes to stay the night, if I don’t want him to touch me, he won’t. We’ll just talk and sleep. But if I have a special boyfriend and we’re in love, then I’ll be intimate with him. If I stop loving him and find another boy I’m more attracted to, I will stop having sex with the first one.” - Nang Chan, 17 Luckily, Kreung society is such that the elders have have taught the boys to respect the opposite sex. Parents do not generally give their children advice about sex but trust that they have instilled enough morals in their children so that they make the right choices.

Nongovernmental organizations have begun to spread the news about condoms and the girls say that the boys are usually responsible about wearing them.

New concerns have been raised however, about the effect that American media is having on the boys.

In northeast Cambodia’s Ratanakiri province, dwell a people with a unique practice. At the age of 15, parents build their daughters tiny ‘love huts’ a short distance away from their home so that the girls can begin to experiment with sex with boys.

The Kreung people are very big on female empowerment; a trait which I admire. For them, having girls and women set the rules about sex instead of male religious/political/ social figures helps create independent young women and also, helps the girls make their own choices about their potential spouses.

At first I was concerned about many things, among them umplanned pregnangy, STDs,

The once-shy lads have become arrogant and sometimes violent, copying the things they have learned from watching pornography and the way sex is portrayed between American men and women on tv. Many wonder if this unique tradition will survive the ‘onslaught of modern culture’ but are content with the current state of things. The focus seems to be on female empowerment.

Perhaps American parents should take a leaf from the book of the Kreung but still keep in mind that both societies are different and that there are boundaries that must be set.

Talking about sex might not be the easiest thing to do, but it prevents situations where teens have to hide their sexual activity. Taking birth control pills from your daughter does not guarantee that she will not have sex. Talking on the other hand, fosters trust and mutual understanding.

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Camb dia Insight

Digital Magazine

Siem Reap Map

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DAMNAK Camb dia Insight AREA OCTOBER - DECEMBER, 2012 Ta Phrom Hotel

Damnak

Digital Magazine

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Siem Reap City Map (Town Center)

CorporateMarketing Integrated Marketing Strategies

Restaurant & Bar

Shopping / Boutique

Tour/Travel Agent

Spa / Massage

Jayavarman VII Hospital Borei Speak Neak Inn (Performances by Beatocello) H

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Sofitel Royal Angkor (Couleurs d’Asie Located Inside)

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250m

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Lucky Mall (Lucky Supermarket lucky Department, Store, Monument Toys...)

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Prince d’Angkor

Kazna Hotel

Street 05

Cambodian Red Cross/ Angkor Panaorama

Helistar

Street 21

La Résidence of Angkor

Wat Bo Area Wat Bo Road

ACLEDA

Achar Sva Street

Curry Walla 1

14 Street

Nest Mekong Bank

Mekong Angkor Palace

European New Apsara Guesthouse Market Peace of MotherHome Guest House Angkor Tours Home Sweet Home GH Two Dragons

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Siem Reap River

hello point

Oum Chhay Street

Tany Khmer Family Kitchen

Paris Saigon Vong Street Samdach Tep

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Angkor Hospital Angkor Rivieara Hotel/Gingkgo Spa ANZ Royal Bank Charming Cambodia for Children Adidas Tours Common Grounds UCB Selantra Pich Reamker Asian Trails Central Boutique Frangipani Spa Street 22 Good Nah Hotel de la Paix Angkor ng Street Vo Tep Terre Cambodge Le Café The Villa Siem Reap Ivy Senhoa Nail Spa Samdach City River Hotel Phsar Guesthouse The Emerald Lotus Kandal Street 23 Boutique Hotel (Center Viroth’s Hotel MPA Naga Guesthouse Market) Bopha Angkor Soria Moria it Stands King AngkorVilla SBC Phnom Penh Fresh Fru Street 24 Sorya Transport Hong Kong Restaurant Canadia PROVINCIAL Shadow of Angkor II Happy 2 thHerb Pizza HOSPITAL Tany Family Lodge Wat Preah nou Street 25 Intra Co. Stre Prom Rath et Happy Special Pizza Relax Massage Khmer Butterflies Gardent Vattanac Bank Home Cocktail Happy Angkor Pizza Street 26 Blue 7 Massage Dead Fish Tower Bodia Spa Tell Restaurant U-Care Maharajah Singing Tree 7 Girls Khmer Massage Be VIP Khmer Massage Tourex Asia Café Brickhouse Bar Little Traditional Happy Angkor Pizza Pumpkin Banana Leaf India Kokoon/Blue Movie Mall Angkor Candles Angkor Trade Center Temple Club/Balcony Traditonal Curry CAB Bank Angkor Street 27 Island Massage Viva Khmer (Pizza Co., Swensens) Rajana Cambodian Walla 2 Night ViVa Khmer Family Champey Senteurs Shadow of Angkor BBG Market d’Angkor Le Grand Red Piano Rehab Craft Chamkar Amok Mekong Guilts Les Orientalistes Body Tune Massage McDermott Gallery Neak Garden Village Sao Mao Aha Krorhorm Kampuccino Guesthouse Molly Malone’s Cherry Blossom Boutique Baca Villa Sala Bai

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Wats Up Golden Banana Boutique Resort

Green Village Palace

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Royal Angkor Resort Empress Angkor

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Angkor Miracle Resort & Spa

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Preah Enteak Kosei

Prasat Prey Khan Kraol Romeas Angkor Thom Bayon

Angkor Wat

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Cambodia Angkor Air

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Prasat Kaoh Ho Western Baray Pralay

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