WUPP Mag #18 February by Pierre Rabotin

#18 02/14

“The eclectic atmosphere will encompass the highest quality of events and DJ’s centered on the concept of intelligent clubbing” Reservations 017800642 Opposite Naga World, next to Ko Pich Bridge Open Wednesday-Sunday from 10.00pm

Ur Co-Founder & Managing Director Antony Hamon Ur Editor In Chief Pierre Rabotin Ur Editor Eve Watling Ur Designer Tommy Ur Designer assistant Sok Sochetra Ur Sales Manager Sarah Belli 0888 197 202 sarah@wuppmag.com Ur Photographer Rakz Montana Ur Journalists Celine Gail Wong C.M. Griffin DJ Sequence Ismail Vora jee Ur Project Managers Clémence Trémol Klicia Schubert Louise Couchaux Thomas Ferrandi Ur Distribution Manager Sorn Vanny Special Thanks Ampha Nakeo Cover Portrait of Hoeurn Vanntin by Nick Sells @ So Shoot Me Studio ..... WHAT’S UP MAGAZINE contact@wuppmag.com facebook/wupp.magazine www.wuppmag.com 097 958 7338

Dear readers Happy Chinese New Year! As we enter the year of the horse we wish you the best in the changes you’ve been seeking out. The horse stands for speedy success, but it’s also a symbol for the pursuit of freedom... For us, things are indeed moving at a higher speed. This month’s issue is about the changes we can see or hear all around the country. Part of this push forward comes from the underground scene, which is ready to explode in Cambodia. Don’t miss our new feature “In Conversation” where some of the main actors of the Cambodian alternative music scene gathered to fill us in on latest developments. Also discover Sliten6ix, a Cambodian hardcore band about to release the first ever Cambodian produced and recorded EP thanks to the work of YabMoung Record label. We couldn’t look away from this underground scene about to burst out in a scream that will shake Cambodia for the years to come. On a gentler note, February will blow in the wind of love on Valentine’s day. Pathetic losers that we are, we tried to set up with WUPP a Valentines date with our readers to raise money for an NGO. Yes, we are THAT desperate. Fortunately for you guys, here is what the NGO answered to our proposal: “Although it’s all hearts and flowers for foreigners (if they’re lucky!) here’s been a pretty serious take on Valentine’s Day in the development field in the last few years, for example through the impact it has on young Cambodians who feel pressured into sex on that day, so any communication we will have for Valentine’s will have a serious undertow that wouldn’t sit well with this concept.” Food for your thoughts as they say, this is one debate we’d be happy to have in the magazine in the future. Looks like for the moment we’ll be remaining single… Best wishes, The WUPP team

Nº 18-February 2014 08 UR photo of the month 10 UR new discoveries 12

UR reportage on the road with mu sochua

UR interview apichatpong weerasethakul

20 UR music sliten6ix shredding phnom penh 22 UR culture going underground 27 UR fashion sleek silks 34 UR HYPEMAKER 36 Ur food of beer & burger

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40 UR wine & food match of the month 44 UR PLAYLIST strange fruit

Ur Cover: Sliten6ix

45 UR cocktail of the month 46 UR geek streaming services

P12

50 UR 5 reasons Meditation

U On th r Reporta e ro ge: Mu So ad with chua

52 UR khmer games 53 UR DAY IN THE LIFE 54 UR how to… recycled art 55 UR street style 56 UR must haves for valentines day

P22 In Conversation: Going Underground

P16

58 UR reviews 60 UR comics gurus 62 UR agenda

h atiew: Apic Ur Interv eraseth akul e pong W

66 UR SOS PAGE

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Ur Food: ers Of Beer & Burg

ek Silks

: Sle P27 Ur Fashion

photo of the month

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;illuminationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by Stella anastasia We wanted to have a typical night out, young Cambodian style, so we went to Diamond Island for a concert and then to the fair. Want to be the next Photo of the Month? Send your best shot that was taken in Cambodia in the last month to contact@wuppmag.com

UR discoveries

new discoveries Our Latest Favourite Things La Librairie

Billing themselves as ‘a place for book lovers looking for a place unaffected by the slight madness of Phnom Penh’, this beautiful new boutique hotel’s appeal goes beyond its fresh decor and yummy food. The library at the hotel’s centre means that once guests have exhausted the Russian Market and the Royal Palace, they can kick back by the pool with a good read. No 22, St 184, Phnom Penh - la-librairiephnom-penh.com

Hahahoho Board Game Cafe At least they didn’t call it ‘LOL’. This quirky cafe allows customers to enjoy their coffees over a game of Monopoly, bingo or Cluedo, which are amongst the plethora of games stacked on the shelves. The cafe also serves up Korean fare, and boasts some marvellously odd murals on the walls. It’s a sweetly bizarre cafe experience that you feel could only be found in Cambodia. No. 74, St. 456, Tuol Tumpong, Phnom Penh - facebook.com/hahahoho.cafe

Christine’s

This airy former loft is now Siem Reap’s most exciting new boutique, collecting clothes, accessories and interior decoration from all over the globe (as well as from here in Cambodia). With prices starting at $9, it looks like Christine’s is bringing affordable chic to Temple Town. No. 29, St. 9, Siem Reap

Happy Patch

Cambodian Creations

This shop sells the produce of local disadvantaged women, who knit up creations with a through-the-roof cute factor. They stock a menagerie of woollen animals, from elephant finger puppets to magnetic-pawed monkeys, but the gawky, jaggedy-toothed monsters are especially guaranteed to melt the heart of anyone, no matter what their age. No 116, St 113, Phnom Penh (opposite Toul Sleng) - cambodiaknits.com

The Rollin’ Crepe

This Singaporean restaurant serves up MSG-free dishes, such as traditional Malay fragrant rice infused with coconut milk, pandan leaves and spicy sambal sauce... yummy! Go for the happy hour between 3-5pm, when their gorgeous fresh coffee is a steal at $1 a pop. No 176, St 288, Phnom Penh - facebook. com/HappyPatchPhnomPenh

Holy crepe! See if you can spot these two new French-Cambodian crepe carts as they trundle on their rounds across the city centre – and if you do, be sure to stop for a delicious homemade caramel beurre crepe or a ham and cheese galette. The team makes sure to stop on st 51 between 8pm and midnight – how handy! – and will also deliver their fresh, quality snacks to your house. facebook.com/therollincrepe

UR reportage

On the Road with

Mu Sochua Taking on microloans and monopolies in Battambang

photo by Pen Puthsaphea

By Eve Watling hen Mu Sochua invites me on a three day trip around rural Battambang, I have no idea what to expect. The CNRP politician, women’s rights advocate and Nobel Peace Prize nominee is a force to be reckoned with in the current opposition party. She has been labelled a ‘troublemaker’ by Prime Minister Hun Sen before campaigning with Sam Rainsy to challenge the July 2013 general election irregularities. Whatever happens, I’m pretty sure a leisurely wander through the countryside isn’t likely to be on the cards.

In Battambang, I’m whisked from my hotel and squashed into a dilapidated 4x4 between a man updating Sam Rainsy’s Facebook page and a high ranking CNRP member. Sochua sits in the front, and making calls and writing emails with unfailing energetic focus, even when the road disintegrates into ruts as we leave Battambang city centre. We reach a stunningly lovely riverside village, dense jungle meshing seamlessly with rice paddies, and haystacks cutting soft, melted silhouettes against

the afternoon sky. Yet even this simple and remote way of life has apparently been deemed grossly unsustainable to the banking system, which has half the village in its grip of debt. A testament to the village’s troubles, this year’s flood water still stands stagnant in their fields, submerging their hope of a profitable crop.

Microloans and bankruptcy Many of these farmers took out loans to set up these now sunken crops from microfinance banks. The microfinance system originally started as a way to provide small community-based loans to fund poor entrepreneurs, but many have been co-opted into larger banks who often charge exorbitant interest rates of around 2.8% per month (equivalent of 33% a year). The last rainy season’s heavy floods caused many crops to fail, and the farmers have no means of paying back the interest on the loans. Many farms here are now under imminent threat of repossession. Despite literally feeding the country, the average loan in this village stands at around $2000 per household. However, the situation shouldn’t be this desperate. This year’s mass crop failure meant that the current government passed a law allowing farmers a 6 months reprieve to gather together the owed interest money. However, outside the reach of the internet and far from the world of politics, the villagers are unaware of the new law, and the banks are coming knocking regardless. Enter Mu Sochua. On this campaignmeets-public information trail, she is travelling around her constituency of Battambang letting debtors know that the current collection of interest is illegal. At the meeting, Mu jumps straight from the car and into the spotlight. Over

Many farms here are now under imminent threat of repossession. Despite literally feeding the country, the average loan in this village stands at around $2000 per household.

UR reportage

a sometimes malfunctioning loudspeaker, she reads out and explains the new law, before handing out printed copies to the crowd. After the applause dies down, she walks amongst the villagers, handing them the microphone as they ask questions and share their personal testimonies of financial struggle. ‘It’s good to talk about it together as a community’ says Mu afterwards, ‘Many people are unaware that their neighbours are going through the same thing as they are. They have to form a united front to take up the matter with the village chiefs and the banks as one community – they are so much more powerful together than as individuals’.

s p r e a d i n g t h e w or d

For the next two days, we visit many villages to talk about how to mobilise as a community to stand up to the banks. After one meeting in a brightly painted wat, we are told that a bank representative is actually in the village at the moment, claiming a 2.7% monthly interest debt from the owners of a small hardware shop. These bank visits are so frequent that villagers don’t seem surprised at the coincidence. As we reach the shanty wooden hardware store, the bank representative looks uncomfortable, seeming to shrink

The farmers are outraged to find that they are selling their rice for less than a third of the international asking price. into her severe suit. Mu and a group of villagers gather around her, calm but determined. Mu holds a copy of the law, calmly explaining the legal situation. The bank worker claims to have heard of the law, but hasn’t been given any instructions regarding it. She agrees to take the copy of the law to her bosses at the bank for them to decide what to do next. Even it’s just a stalling tactic on behalf of the bank that may plan to return later, the owners of the hardware store are safe for the moment, and the assembled crowd is filled with confidence. Both stern and compassionate, Mu is unbelievably driven, working through the daylight hours and beyond with only a hurried lunch break. However, she is also fond of breaking unexpectedly into song. Once, as we bowl through the Battambang countryside, she bursts into ‘All You Need is Love’, down the phone, rounding off the call with a shout of ‘power to the people!’. ‘That was my

husband’, she cackles as she hangs up the phone, ‘he has to put up with a lot of my crap!’.

f i g h t i n g mo n o p o l i e s

She will need this bottomless pit of energy: it’s not just microcredit lending which is wreaking havoc with the lives of rural Khmer. Although banned in the Cambodian constitution, business monopolies are alive and well and causing local farmers to struggle to make a wage – leading to even more dependence on microcredit loans. On the third day, we meet a farmer who tells us that each of his crops makes a loss of 3-4 million riels ($750-$1000) due to these monopolies. In response, Mu shows them thecropsite.com, which tells them the standard international value of crops. The farmers are outraged to find that they are selling their rice for less than a third of the international asking price. The villagers may be out of the loop when it comes to information, but in Battambang city centre it’s a very different story. On hearing that Mu Sochua is in the car that picks me up every morning, I’m swamped by the tour guides and tuk tuk drivers gathered round the outside of my hotel, all telling me how much they admire her and reeling off political statistics, asking me to confirm obscure facts regarding a potential budget deficit. I ask one tour guide how he became so well informed and he gets out his smartphone, saying he learns it all on Facebook: before the internet nobody really knew what was going on. Perhaps when the internet finally expands to include the remote and rural parts of Cambodia, Mu’s tours will no longer be necessary. Yet for now, politicians like her are sorely needed to inform and organise the vulnerable rural poor, kickstarting their confidence to stand up as a united community to challenge exploitative power structures. ‘This is advocacy’, Mu explains as she holds a practice session where villagers act out confronting the banks with each other, ‘They are learning how to speak out in these difficult situations.’

Mu Sochua: The Facts 1954 – Born in Phnom Penh 1972 – Leaves Cambodia for Paris to escape the Khmer Rouge soon after completing high school. Her parents stay and are killed during the regime. 1974 – Moves to San Francisco and studies Psychology at San Francisco State University before taking a masters at UC Berkeley. 1989 – Returns to Cambodia. 1991 – Forms Khemara, the very first NGO in Cambodia, which is still running programs promoting women’s rights today. 1998 – Wins a national assembly seat representing Battambang for the political party FUNCIPEC, and then becomes Minister of Women and Veteran’s Affairs – the first women to ever hold the role. 2004 – Steps down from role as Minister for Women’s Affairs citing corruption, and switches allegiance to the Sam Rainsy Party. 2005 – Nominated for the Nobel Prize as one of the 1000 women working against sex trafficking in Cambodia and Thailand. 2006 – Became Secretary General of the Sam Rainsy Party 2009 – Awarded the Roosevelt Award from the Roosevelt Project at The Washington University for ship in human rights.

Eleanor Eleanor George leader-

2014 – “This year, I will concentrate on strengthening the women’s networks at grassroots level and on mentoring young women to stand as candidates in future elections at local and national levels. Representing the rights of migrant workers is also my work for the year.” says Mu.

UR interview

Apichatpong Weerasethakul Discussing phantoms and phone apps with the

king of Thai cinema By Eve Watling There is nobody quite like Apichatpong Weerasethakul. His time-bending movies expand and float across the screen in a slow continuous flux. People morph into animals, migrants drift across the country and the dying are visited by ghosts of their past as they slip slowly outside of their bodies. Son of two doctors, the director grew up in the rural northern Thai province of Isaan. His films are a mesh of these early influences of Thai folk tales, Buddhist philosophy, as well as popular, cheaply made Thai TV ghost dramas. His rural upbringing saturates his work – the jungle seems to possess a consciousness of its own, hiding magical beasts, time machines and ancient soldiers in its dark recesses. The jungle’s breath often scores his films a low buzz of crickets.

Apichatpong (who is simply known as ‘Joe’ to his heavy-tongued Western followers) trained as an architect before moving on to multichannel film installations, and his unique take on space and time are clear in the loosened structural foundations of his work. The seamless leaping from past to present to future to fantasy - along with his early habit of putting the title credit sequence halfway through the film – scrambles our sense of time in a way that is both entrancing and fascinating. His most recent feature length, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2010. His next eagerly awaited feature is due in 2015, and is currently in pre-production. An excited WUPP caught up with him to talk about the project.

Cambodian I love old movies . fantasy meticulously They were made , with effects beautiful 17

UR interview

during I meditate period. the writinggoing I t beats movies to the

Your upcoming film, Cemetery of Kings, ‘tells of a lonesome middle aged housewife who tends a soldier with sleeping sickness and falls into a hallucination that triggers strange dreams, phantoms and romance’. What triggered this idea? Growing up in a hospital environment, I’ve always been interested in sickness. Living in Thailand for the past decade has been like one continuous sickness, not only for me. Often times we dream of a reset button and just wake up to a new reality. But we are only dreaming. The film is about this trap. What are the links between dreams, hallucinations, phantoms, waking life and film? How have you found ways to express their relationship through cinema?

Like them, cinema is an illusion. I’m interested in the expression of illusion. Cinema is always evolving. My phantom is different from a phantom of my nephew, for example. So it is a tool to share the impossible. All your films have tenuous links to each other - often through using recurring characters and actors. Does Cemetery of Kings link in too? I think so. While I was writing it, I realized that this film could be a dream of a character of my 2004 film, Tropical Malady. It is played by the same guy in the same role. Am I right in thinking that meditation is an increasing influence on your work? I’m not an expert in meditation but I

do meditate, especially during the writing period. It beats going to the movies. And it’s not so much different from making a movie. You are orchestrating time when you meditate. Here in Cambodia, there are many cinematic ghosts - most films made before the Khmer Rouge got destroyed, any only survive in people’s memory - their recollection of the lost movies. Davy Chou’s film Golden Slumbers is a really interesting take on this. It’s sad that not long from now the people will take those movies with them. Davy sent me some Youtube links of old Cambodian fantasy movies. I love them so much. They were meticulously made, with beautiful optical effects. Your films confront past traumas and the traces that war and conflict can leave in an area. Do you feel inspired to talk about the current political turmoil in Thailand and the protests against Yingluck Shinawatra’s government? I see it as the Clash of the Titans. People are led to believe that they belong to various ‘classes’ with certain principles. But in fact we are just pawns to a few players. It doesn’t help also that we Thais are intolerant by nature. We were raised as spoilt and clueless ba-

bies, and we still are like that. In a way thanks to the recent situation, many of us start to look at ourselves, and our history. Are you excited about the Thai cinema scene at the moment? Can you recommend some good Thai movies? I feel energized from time to time by independent films. But honestly, no, it’s not that exciting. I wish there were more challenging films from the young. We need some kind of manipulation like in politics, to make the filmmakers feel personal. That being said, I recommend Concrete Clouds by Lee Chatametikool, which I happen to co-produce. Also I like all the short films of Taiki Saiprasit. There’s an exciting new video on your website of some feet walking into the sea overlayed with mobile phone app symbols. I like these phone apps. Subsequent generations will have a different concept of time. These apps are training us to express varied emotions in seconds. At the same time they make us conscious about the preciousness of time. photos courtesy of Kick the Machine Films

first Sliten6ix releases the

Cambodian made hardcore

By Celine Gail Wong

l. Their goal is to first alternative music labe YM Records is Cambodiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s KHMER music. help develop alternative

of tinee Show for the launch Sliten 6ixâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hard-Core Ma ruFeb of h l be held on the 15t their spanking new EP wil h. 11, Street 330, Phnom Pen use ary, 3pm at Showbox, Ho

ted with the past got it music scene is dead or fixa hoever said Cambodia’s first band to have a The . g proof of its new vitality livin a is ix en6 Slit ng: wro bodia by the one and ssed and released in Cam hard-core EP recorded, pre story of Sliten6ix is the s, el Yab Moung Record lab sic mu tive rna alte y onl king. definitely history in the ma Tin at their tle, and lead singer littl e label founders, Myl ey Rat the sic scene, of mu one h and l wit ura up cult ght I cau uenced by the western Infl h. Pen the in e. Though t alik spo t favorite hangou er young musicians ative outlet for Tin and oth cre a ve, like a w losi allo to exp is ms t see tha ox ce ShowB n 5ft tall, he has a voi tha ger big no ld sion, he bui pas a his this young lad has ent as we speak of city. Trembling with excitem the ulf eng to dy rea o volcan city wh at the y’ve got. is on a mission to show the and process like? How was the production om Penh as a Phn in d Myl es: We recorde Moung (Showcollaboration between Yab school. It is all Box) and Thea Hen musical by myself, ten writ all DIY, the lyrics were wrote their own s ber mem d ban the and pieces. ether to discuss Tin: We then came tog parts and riffs. It the of ts the arrangemen This one time we sounds pretty awesome. wBox standing recorded the vocals at Sho it was pretty s, tres mat in front of a giant archive was exto aim we nd sou The l. coo hard-core. perimental and alternative lt and tracks? Are you happy with the resu e we did it on aus bec first Tin: So far yeah, tty awesome. We our own and it sounds pre there is no alterare also pretty excited as are all CamWe . here native music scene it’s the first time so d, ban the in ians bod e recorded, proever that Cambodians hav dently for the pen duced and released inde re. gen ic mus tive alterna

Sliten6ix to first How would you describe listener? and outlandTin: Brutal, angry, bashful Cambodians to for le whi a take will It ish. since the y are adapt to our music genre music.The five of not familiar with heavy res, but we are us listens to metal sub gen sense of our in r othe h different from eac come together just We res. gen rite favo and mix our stuff. available? Where will the music be a launch party ing hav be Myl es: We will wBox, a hard Sho on the 15th of Feb at w. We are sho ) oon ern (aft inee core mat EP, and it the of ies cop giving awa y free ne on Facebook onli le ilab ava be also will ruary, Sliten6ix and Bandcamp. From Feb ws for over two sho will be performing free ks. wee

in this emerging Wh at’s YabMoung’s part scene? label catering to Myl es: YabMoung is a DIY g creativity and agin our enc , ians bod Cam young Cambocreating opportunities for ally means actu ng dian musicians. YabMou er! Khm in ass the pain in

What’s behind the name Sliten6ix?

ian peoiration came from Cambod es to Slit and Sewn. The insp slat Khmer tran The ally up. liter es ix selv en6 Tin says that ‘Slit try to sew and mend them n through hardships, they build it again.’ to g tryin are We n. ple. Even if they have bee dow ed d before, and now it has slow music scene was pretty goo

UR culture

IN CONVERSATION:

GOING UNDERGROUND

By dj sequence | Photos by Nick Sells / Kampuchea Party Republic We got together 5 of the leading figures on the Phnom Penh music scene to discuss the past, present and future of the city’s rapidly growing music culture. How do you see the current scene in Phnom Penh – both for dance music and live music? How has it changed from the past? Jan : When I first came here 11 years ago there was basically nothing – just a few expats playing cover bands. Now it’s developing, more acts are coming and I really like the diversity of bands – ska, dub, punk. But I think there is still a lack of originality. Myles : For us, the alternative rock scene has really grown recently. When we started the label, we did it for a simple reason – none of the bands had been getting paid and we wanted to change that. But now places like Slur are paying Khmer and Western performers the same, so it’s a good change. Simon : When I first arrived here, it was big change from London – where there are countless nights to choose from to here, where there were one or two at most. In the last couple of years it’s really changed – there are a lot of good events to go to and people can afford to be picky. We’ve all put on events – and we’ve 2 venue owners here (Myles and Illest). Is it difficult to put on events in this city? Illest : The challenge is to keep people happy - to evolve but not too quickly. My original style is hip hop but I have to adapt to what people want. For a club gig, I won’t play what is required to play though, but what I feel is required to play to rock the party. Jan : But when I go to Pontoon (Illest’s club) I can’t stay! It’s too commercial. I feel like I

hear the same song all the time and that you’re trying to please the commercial mass. Illest: That’s not our policy – you might hear the same song played by different DJs six hours apart but that will be the same everywhere. Obviously there are some peak times where you have a mass, so you go for the mass. Simon : Even though Phnom Penh is a city, it feels like a small town. So it’s horses for courses – you need a place for the more accessible music. Sequence : There are also issues with noise that I’ve encountered at MetaHouse and ShowBox, but I know they are being worked on. So, is there a distinction between underground and overground music? Myles : It’s just whatever kind of music that people enjoy – I don’t think that there’s a big enough scene in Phnom Penh to justify the distinction. Sequence : For me, underground music is music played for love, not money What kind of crowds do you see at your events? Is it Khmer people, expats, travellers or a mix of the three? Myles : For events like Cambodian Bass Project, it’s some Khmer but mainly expats. For events that we do with the alternative Khmer bands, its pretty much 90% Khmer. Illest : At Pontoon, there’s obviously a lot of tourists, combined with Khmers – both expat and local. Jan : Obviously you’re going to get the

11 years ្្្្ ្Wh en I first cam e្here nothing lly basica ្was there ago ្្្្ cover – just a few exp ats pla ying but ing, lop deve it’s bands . Now y ្្there្is still a lack of creativit

is a veteran of the London DnB /Jungle scene, now relocated to Phnom Penh where he promotes and spins at parties across the city. As overlord of Phnom Penh Underground website (phnom-penh-underground.com), his aim is to push underground dance music.

DJ Sequence

is resident DJ, manager and co-owner of Pontoon - Phnom Penh’s biggest club. In between managing the club and DJing, he finds time to indulge his first musical love – hip-hop through his membership of hip -hop collective The Ghetto Blasters.

DJ Illest

is the owner of ShowBox, and is also involved with promoters Plan C Projects and Yab Moung Records, the first independent record dedicated to developing alternative Khmer music.

Myley Rattle

will be better known to many as Professor Kinski, a leading light of Dub Addiction, described as ‘Cambodia’s first and only Khmer Raggamuffin Dub Band’.

Jan Mueller

DJs all over Phnom Penh and Cambodia, both for Drop Dead Disco as well as for the city’s other leading underground nights. With Drop Dead Disco, he recently toured Cambodia, bringing his music to Sihanoukville, Battanbang and beyond.

Simon C Vent

UR culture western audience for the reggae music that we’re playing. But, although it’s not been easy, I know that this music is in the Khmer heart as well and that’s why we are getting increasing numbers of local people at our gigs. Is there a reason why more Khmer people aren’t coming to the events you’ve listed? I think that there are some really strong cultural, economic and social factors in play here... Myles : I think it’s genre specific. I’m not really sure that electronic music captivates the Khmer people. I think it’s also venue based as well. There’s a lot of good venues in Phnom Penh, but there is nowhere that is really accessible for the Khmer youth to hang out. They can’t afford the drinks or there’s too many French people (laughter). Illest : At Pontoon, we find that the youth respond to HipHop – come to the club when I play and you’ll see spontaneous dance battles on the floor. The kids know the music and buy all the CDs and listen to the mixtapes. Sequence : You’ve got obvious social barriers of different cultures, as well as simple economic ones – to buy a beer in a club is $1.50 – that’s out of the reach of a lot of people. Why aren’t there more Khmer DJs outside of the commercial clubscene? Simon : I’ve played with Khmer DJs who, while they were playing commercial music, were really interested in what I was doing, in the more “underground” side of things. Sequence : We get loads of enquiries from the website from Khmer kids saying “will you teach me how to DJ?” – it’s just a question of finding a viable outlet for it, which is something we have planned for this year. We’ve got a new super-venue, Code Red, opening this week. Does it add or subtract to the scene and what is it trying to do? Myles : I’m really excited. Having a new space that will attract international DJs can only help the scene. Simon : I think it’s great – there are so many nights now we have a circuit – start off with drinks in one place, dance in a main club, and then finish off the night at somewhere smaller. People don’t want to hear the same music all night.

Jan : I’m not sure for a couple of reasons – I don’t like the idea of a dress code and I think the drinks will be very expensive. Illest : I see it as an addition to what we have. We’ve always wanted to have a situation where people can go from one club to another, so why not here, like they have in London or Paris? What’s the future of the Cambodian scene? Some people say that in five years time, Phnom Penh will be the biggest city for dance music in SE Asia… Jan : I think it can be the Berlin of SE Asia – in terms of living space, in terms of creative space. The city has already attracted a load of great people and I think it will attract many more. Simon : KL, Bangkok might be bigger but here it’s a lot more grimy, more underground...I find the other cities very sterile. Sequence: It’s growing…but I think there is a long way to go. But who knows what the future holds…

Extras: Pontoon is an international venue. Obviously there are some peak times when you have a mass, so you play commercial music. But weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not playing the top 40 all over again see the whole video conversation at wuppmag.com in association with

sleek silks

Photographer: Rakz Montana Model: Ampha Nakeo Clothes & accessories: Artisans dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Angkor

sand Princess combishort $129 aubergine Celest earrings $49 aubergine Saturn Cuff Bracelet $89

red Shirt $59 red Solar Skirt $129 ivory Galaxy Bracelet $69

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“A great sunset bar & restaurant”

A fishermans house on the beach serving Asian and international lunches and dinners.

Open: 7 days/week 10am-10pm Happy Hour: Mon-Thu 5pm-7pm Wednesdays: Live music 5pm-9pm Fridays: Happy hour all night long Saturdays: Beach BBQ 6pm-9pm Sundays: Brunch 11am-2pm

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RENTALS • Sailing • Bicycles • Motorbikes

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Chef Janine, our South-African 5-star Executive Chef, and her Cambodian team fuse international and local flavors to lift your senses and invoke a sense of adventure. Open 7 days, Noon-10pm. The Strand, at Knai Bang Chatt resort (next to Sailing Club, 300 meters from the crab market). Dress code: smart casual. Reservations: +855 (0)78 333 686, fbm@knaibangchatt.com

UR events

HYPEMAKER What we’re excited about this FEBRUARY

FESTIVAL >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Cambodia Fashion Illumination

Angkor Wat International Film Festival The third free film festival celebrating the preservation of environment and culture is once again due to set up shop a few kilometres from the lush forest and history-soaked ruins of Angkor Wat. The program includes both international and Cambodian film, as well as shorts, animation and documentary screenings. Filmmaker panels will also meet to discuss contemporary issues, relating both to the film industry and the struggle to preserve indigenous cultures and landscapes from the bulldozer of globalization. 28th Feb – 2nd March at the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort, Siem Reap angkorwatfilmfestival.com

Phnom Penh’s Diamond Island will sparkle extra brightly this month, as international brands and local designers take to the catwalk to show off their latest creations. Taking place over two evenings, the event hopes to push the Khmer fashion industry onto the international stage. Tickets are on sale now. 21st and 22nd February, Koh Pich City Hall, Koh Pich, Phnom Penh - fashionillumination. com

Our City Festival: Siem Reap & Battambang Having hit Phnom Penh last month, February sees the festival of ‘art, architecture and ideas’ bringing exhibitions, pop-up events, tours, screenings and workshops to Cambodia’s second cities. See the website for a full schedule. Siem Reap: 31st Jan – 2nd Feburary Battambang: 7th-9th Feburary - ourcity festival.org

POP-UP >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Giant Puppet Parade The Giant Puppet Parade returns to the Siem Reap’s streets, showing off the results of a community based art project, in which disadvantaged local children learn, gain confidence and have fun through puppet making. The giant, Chinese style puppets will be paraded by the kids themselves and is sure to draw a crowd – there was a whopping 600 kids participating last year, so make sure you go early to get a good spot! 7pm, 22nd February - starting next to the Old Market, Siem Reap giantpuppetproject.com

Waitangi Day Whether or not you’ve ever even been to New Zealand, it’s worth catching up with PP’s Kiwis for the nation’s most delicious national holiday, which celebrates a landmark treaty signed in the town of Waitangi. As well as promising a night of ‘Kiwi beats’ and plenty of nosh, Showbox says “for most people, Waitangi Day is a holiday; for many, it’s a day to get fucked up with the bros and eat mean food”. Sweet as, bro. 6th February, 8pm – Showbox, No. 11, St. 330, Phnom Penh

PARTY >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Dream Injection presents W.I.L.D Describing themselves as a collective of party enthusiasts, music lovers and freaks, the guys behind Dream Injection are launching the first of a long series of underground parties. Wake Initiated Lucid Dreaming (W.I.L.D) is expected to be the biggest party of the Chinese New Year weekend in Phnom Penh. This massive happening will be hosted in the ruins of Riverside Hotel, an abandoned venue that

will be destroyed right after the event. DJs, decadence and shifting atmospheres are the ingredients of this unique party. Sponsored by WUPP Mag Sat, February 1st @ Riverside Hotel, just besides Browns on Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh

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O f B eer

& B u r g er s  Searching for a slice of America in Phnom Penh

By C. M Griffin quick search of American country-music lyrics, tailgate parties, or Fourth of July celebrations will reveal one fundamental truth: Americans love beer and burgers. These dietary staples even rank higher than wearing American flag T-shirts, chanting “U.S.A.,” and blowing stuff up. Sure, other things unite us culturally, but few things hold more sway in our hearts and minds than beer and burgers. They whisper to us in the dark; they draw us on as if by invisible red, white, and blue puppet strings. That’s why Americans abroad - expats and tourists alike - longing for a bit of home in a foreign land search out these stalwarts of American cuisine.

BEER 36

As far as beer in Phnom Penh goes, it’s actually pretty easy to find something that appeals to an American sensibility. The offerings cover everything from a backyardbarbeque enthusiast’s pale gut-wash to a beer snob’s micro-brewed pale ale.

he gut-wash is available at every street-side large red cooler. Inside, the goods are hiding with an assortment of sugary concoctions in a bath of tepid water. Go ahead, pull one of these skunky local-labels out, pop it open, stick a straw in it, close your eyes, take a sip, and be transported to my homeland. In America, this stuff is a recognized substitute for water. For more complex brews, Phnom Penh really only has two options. On the north end of town, Kingdom Brewery’s on-premises taproom serves up the label’s Europeanstyle Leopard Pilsener and Kouprey Dark Lager. The Pilsener is a huge step up from

the ubiquitous gut-wash, but the standout is the dark lager. This baby is a hazelnutcolored fleshy concoction with a chocolaty aftertaste that’s best enjoyed from one of the place’s overstuffed leather chairs. Down on the south end of town, the Himawari Microbrewery’s bar has the 5-star hotel vibe - and prices to match. It’s money well spent, though, when that ice-cold rush of a micro-brewed ridiculousness cascades down your gullet. And though all four of their signature brews are good, the hoppy, caramel-colored Americanstyle pale ale is hands down the best brew in town.

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BURGERS

On the “burger” end, Phnom Penh has tons of eateries that claim to serve them. But like pale gut-wash, these meat patties are sometimes just wasted belly space. Two places in town, however, hit the perfect American-style experience combo of killer burger and back-home vibe. The first, the Lone Star Saloon, is the quintessential “American bar,” a dark hole-in the wall straight out of a country-music video. The place is total Southern gothic with its longhorn skulls, Confederate flag, and old bordello advert. There’s even a wall dedicated to U.S. States’ license plates. Amidst all this Americana, you might uncontrollably, and perhaps inexplicably, chant U.S.A! U.S.A! between bites of a gut-churning portion of hand-formed ground beef, cheese, and a personalized tower of fixings. The second, Public House, serves up an equally audacious burger with a side of perfectly seasoned fries, but the vibe here is less Texarkana and more New-England chic. The space is warm, with soft light filtering in through four large windows to the front and the open kitchen at the back. The restaurant is sparsely decorated in old wooden tennis rackets and polo mallets, nautical charts, life rings, and large model sailing boats. Its maritime leisure feel is straight out of some foggy-bayfront establishment or hipster hideaway in a seaboard city like San Francisco, California, or Portland, Maine. These restaurants and bars, and the stuff they serve up, satisfy my American cravings in a way that street-side eateries, rice and pork plates, or pale gut-wash cannot. So when I’m missing my people or just jonesing for a bit of my homeland, I head to one of these bastions of American brew culture and burger artistry. They fend off the inevitable homesickness - or at least push it back until I need my next fix.

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Y ee - h a ! W h ere t o f i n d t h e s e A m er i c a n g oo d i e s . . . Kingdom Breweries (Cambodia) Ltd, No. 1748 National Road 5, Phnom Penh - 023 430 180 - www.kingdombreweries.com Himawari Microbrewery - No.313, Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh - 023 214 555 - www.himawarihotel.com/himawarimicrobrewery.html Lone Star Saloon – No. 30, St. 23, Phnom Penh – 012 577 860 - www.lonestarcambodia.com Public House - St. 240 1/2, Phnom Penh 017 770 754

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Wine & Food â&#x20AC;&#x153;Match of the Monthâ&#x20AC;?

Discover our monthly feature on how to pair wine and food. Two wines and two recipes by one chef from an exciting restaurant to make sure you become the best host in the city.

Coconut and red bean terrine dessert Ingredients 1000ml coconut milk, 2 pieces pandan leaf, 120g sugar, 5g salt, 6 leaf gelatin, 350g red bean paste, 800ml water, 40g sugar, 7 leaf gelatin

Preparation For the coconut layer, place fresh coconut milk, pandan leaf, sugar and salt into pot and slowly bring to simmer for five min. Pour mix through a fine sieve, blend then back to the pot. Add gelatin. Stir through, mix thoroughly over a low heat, and strain once more to remove clumps of gelatin. Leave to cool to room temp. Reserve for layering of the terrine. For the red bean layer, place red bean paste, water, sugar and spices into pot and bring to a slow simmer for five minutes Add softened gelatin and mix thoroughly, strain through a fine sieve. Strain and leave to cool to room temp. To assemble, line a rectangular container with plastic and pour in the first layer of coconut Place in fridge to set, then repeat the process with the red bean jelly, alternating layers until you have 3 coconut and 2 red bean. Leave in fridge until ready to serve. The Common Tiger serves with coconut fluid gel, cashew nut cake, sticky rice dumplings and red bean balls.

The Stump Jump Vintage 2010 Why they match perfectly An Asian style and not overly sweet dessert needs a wine that whist fruity and luscious, is not cloying or overly rich and retains some freshness and cleansing acidity. The Stump Jump Sticky fits the bill perfectly here.

Prawn soup Ingredients 300g prawn shells, 140g white onion finely diced, 70g carrot fine dice, 50g celery fine dice, 25g garlic chopped, 5cm ginger, 2 pieces lemongrass, 3 Thai cardamom, 2 star anise, 5g coriander seed, 3 lime leaf, 15g Khmer basil, 15g sawtooth coriander, 8g coriander, 6 tomatoes, 45g dried chilli, 3 lime, 5g smoked paprika, 1l coconut milk, 1l water, salt

Preparation Add 15ml vegetable oil in a big pot on a high heat. When the oil starts to smoke add the prawn shells and fry until the shells are bright and pink. Remove the prawns from the pot. Add the onion, carrot, celery, ginger, garlic and lemongrass and cook over a medium heat while stirring continuously for approx. 3min.

Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Semillon 2012 Why they match perfectly The Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Semillon has the requisite body to match the subtle richness of the dish whilst the abundant citrus notes compliment the Asian spices.

Cut the tomatoes in half and sprinkle with salt and roast in the oven. Boil water over dried chilli and leave for 30 min to soften. Add tomatoes with the chilli, remove them from the water and blend until smooth. Once the carrot onion mix is caramelized, add the cardamom, star anise, coriander and smoked paprika and stir through. Once you smell the spices add the tomato chilli paste mix and cook for 2 more min. Add cooked prawn shells, water and bring to the boil. After the mix has reduced by 1/3, put through a fine mesh sieve making sure to push with the back of a ladle. Put the liquid back in a pot and bring to the boil, add the coriander, basil, lime leaf and sawtooth coriander and cook for 5 min. Add the coconut milk and lower to a simmer for 5 min. Strain and add lime juice and salt to taste. The Common Tiger serves with smoked tomato puree, prawn mousse and khmer basil puree.

The Place: The Common Tiger Opened seven months ago, this relaxed yet top standard restaurant serves up progressive Asian dishes in a gorgeous airy setting. An emphasis on fresh, local ingredients means that everything from the wooden furniture to the coffee beans in the grinder are sourced locally.

The Chef: Timothy Bruyns The South African chef spent 10 years kitchen-hopping everywhere from Tanzania to the Seychelles, before arriving in Cambodia two years ago. ‘Food is my creative outlet. It has all these variables – tastes, colours, textures, and temperatures. It’s even more complicated than painting.’ THE COMMON TIGER No. 20, St. 294, Phnom Penh - 023 212 917 / 092 963 920

These wines are exclusively distributed by celliers d’Asie and available everywhere in Cambodia Siem Reap Sihanouk, Kep & Kampot Phnom Penh Battambang (855) 63 964 409 (855) 34 934 155 (855) 23 986 350 (855) 53 953 855

PLAYLIST OF THE MONTH Listen to DJ Strangefruit‘s exclusive set only on: wuppmag.com

More info & music at : https://soundcloud.com/strangefruit3

Strange fruit

Having DJ’d at the birth of the UK’s house music scene, veteran mixer Strangefruit describes his sound as ‘Jazzanova meets Bruce Lee’. He is influenced by Giles Peterson, Kruder & Dorfmiester and Nightmares On Wax, and now regularly rips up Phnom Penh with his legendary 5 hour set at the Dusk till Dawn reggae bar.

Andre Lodemann - Where Are You Now This is a track in which Lodemann’s 90s housemusic knowledge is combined with the sounds of today. I first heard this track three years ago. I remember saying ‘oh f*ck! This guy’s changing the game!’ Fantastic night and memory.

Celeda - The Underground Celeda is an African-American dance music singer and drag performer from Chicago. I heard it at Vinyl Mania, New York. The DJ was blasting this on the decks and I sneaked a copy first as I knew there were only a handful available.

Dyed Soundorom - Naked Feat. Aaron Carl Soundorom is a French maestro on the decks and my favorite DJ. Given his deep roots in the electronic music scene, it is hardly surprising Dyed’s career is blooming. If anything his mischievous and irrepressible urge to be at the heart of the party is just as strong. For me this track sums up what he is about.

Ninetoes - Finder This was the biggest hit in Ibiza this year with its steel drums and a thumping bass. I was given a copy of this about six months ago. It felt fresh and new, and so I was first on the dance floor when the Kimchi boys dropped it at the WUPP party at The Governor’s House.

Omar - Lay it down (Andre Lodemann mix) Spiritual! Some tracks just don’t need words

Cajmere - Dream States (Feat. Derrick Carter) Sublime! Chicago’s Ca jmere is not to be underestimated. When I DJ’d in the Tunnel, Roger Sanchez played it during a 5 hour set. He was the best mixer on the planet before he became commercial. I was lucky enough to visit his apartment where he gave me this track and many others I still play.

Matthias Meyer - Infinity This Hamburg DJ is full of texture and plays on high energy levels which can be felt on this great track. I stumbled on this track when I had a residency at Mambos beach club every Saturday in Sri Lanka. This one rocked the season 3 years ago.

Kevin Yost - Persistence (Guy J Mix) For me Kevin is very underrated, although his work is on many chillout and club compilations.

COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

Ungava Sunrise As Cambodia’s thirst for cocktails grows, bars are popping up everywhere selling everything from buckets of e-numbers to crisply mouth-watering elixirs. WUPP lends a hand to help you serve up a slice of the latter, for a fun cocktail-slurping night that tastes great, but doesn’t break the bank.

Ungava Sunrise Zino wine bar and restaurant offers a great selection of cocktails, all professionally prepared and presented. As well as the standards, Zino also offers its own range of speciality cocktails such as the Ungava Sunrise, a visually appealing and beautifully balanced cocktail.

Ingredients : 50ml Ungava gin, 10ml Cointreau, 30ml lemon juice, 15ml sugar syrup, 20ml Crème de Cassis

Method:

1). Add large ice cubes to a standard cocktail shaker then shake vigoously until the shaker is cold 2). Pour everything but the Creme de Casis into a chilled martini glass using a super fine strainer 3). Add 20ml Creme de Casis into the centre of the glass to create the sunrise 4). Add a lemon peel twist as the garnish 5). A Ungava Sunrise is born!

Info: Zino Wine Bar No. 12, St. 294, Phnom Penh - 023 998 519

geek

by Ismail Vorajee The rapid growth of online music streaming services can be described as nothing less than a revelation, and has had a profound impact on how users consume music worldwide. Both the casual listener and impassioned audiophile have become increasingly dissatisfied with the high prices of online stores such as iTunes and Amazon, not to mention the compatibility issues frequently arising when users attempt to listen and share music between devices. Faced with sifting through a plethora of competing format standards, many of the discontented hordes have succumbed to the lure of wireless streaming options from services like Spotify, Google Music and Deezer. With music catalogues numbering in the tens of millions of songs, such services give the user total freedom in accessing their music. Whether on their phone, computer and in many cases even on their smart TVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, this multi-device accessibility is perhaps its greatest advantage over traditional formats and a real reason for its success. With music remaining synced between devices, a user can enjoy his tracks on an iPhone app in the knowledge that any songs he adds or playlists he creates is mirrored across his devices. Many prospective users often assume the main obstacle hindering online music streaming is of its apparent uselessness when an internet connection is unavailable, yet this impediment was one of the first issues to be ironed out by the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ma jor players. Most services now allow the user to sync their music library directly to their device to enable listening in the absence of an internet connection. In practice, a user can sync songs to a device through a home wi-fi connection and listen on his mobile phone when out and about.

The battle of streaming Deezer vs Spotify

the music services vs Beats Music

The industry’s most popular services, Spotify and Deezer, can boast a combined user base of 11 million paying subscribers. With a cumulative total of 50 million licensed songs from artists such as Katy Perry and Jay-Z, to genres as diverse as Thrash Metal and K-pop, users can be sure their musical tastes will be catered to. The French behemoth, Deezer, has achieved market penetration in an impressive 180 countries spanning the globe, whilst the Stockholm-born and Londonbased Spotify lags behind with 32. Despite this, as of December 2013, Spotify had 1 million more paying subscribers than Deezer and was valued at a conservative estimate of $4 billion. This duopoly of the streaming music scene has been described as being reminiscent of the epic battle between Apple and IBM in the early 80’s,or for those too young to remember; the more recent rivalry between Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. Nevertheless, both Spotify and Deezer are set to be challenged for their hegemony of the streaming music world with the release of ‘Beats Music’ last month. As the brainchild of music producer and entrepreneur Jimmy Lovine and Dr Dre of N.W.A and Gangster Rap fame, Beats Music will attempt to carve out its own chunk of the multibillion dollar music streaming pie. If the popularity of this new player on the scene reaches anything close to the levels achieved by Dre’s insanely popular Beats Headphones range, both Spotify and Deezer have good reason to be very worried. However, unlike Dre’s ubiquitous headphones, you’re not likely to see a poorly counterfeited version of his latest creation among your local market sellers’ wares anytime soon. Deezer is available in Cambodia, whilst Spotify and Beats will be expanding into Asia soon. They are accessible over VPN for now. VPN is an online service making your computer appear as if it is being used from abroad. It is a popular way to get around restrictions like with Spotify which is not yet available in Cambodia but is available in the US and Europe.

w w w. d e e z e r . c o m / w w w. s p o t i f y. c o m w w w. b e a t s m u s i c . c o m

Reasons... To Go On A By EVE WATLING After spending your New Year sunning, swimming and getting hammered on Koh Rong, you may have found that you had broken all your New Year’s resolutions before the dawn had risen on January 1st. Never mind though, you can make a fresh start all year round on a meditation retreat. Here is why we think it just may be time to don your white clothes and head off to a temple.

#1 you’ll get healthy Physically and mentally, that is. In Thailand, it is common to go on a yearly retreat, in order to spend time to reflect on and mentally cleanse away the past year, and prepare for the one ahead. Retreats are a great way to stop smoking, drinking, watching too much TV and overeating, as you removed from your usual routine which may rely on or encourage bad habits.

You’ll learn a lot about yourself

Vipassana meditation encourages you to simply observe your body and mind, and to notice the mechanics of your thought processes – as well as what you usually distract yourself from thinking about. It’s not just addictions that retreats flush out of your system – negative thought patterns and blocked up emotions are also likely to arise, allowing you to let go of them. It’s by no means an easy or comfortable process, but the insights into yourself and the fresh, cleansed feeling afterwards will be unbelievably worth it.

M e d i t a ti o n

Re t r eat

You’ll understand Buddhism better

In the Theravada tradition, types of knowledge are only accessible through intuition, practice, and direct experience. No matter how much you may read about Buddhism in a book, your understanding will still be vastly incomplete without meditation practice.

#4 It’s for everyone However, you don’t have to be a devout Buddhist to go on a retreat, or to get the benefits of it. Learning to be mindful is a hugely enormous tool useful in any situation, and is known to combat depression and anxiety. You will see the results at work too, as concentration and productivity are far greater in people who are in control of their own mind.

huge sense of #5 The achievement Whether your retreat lasts a month or just a couple of days, finishing a retreat is an amazing feeling. Knowing that you can go that length of time without speaking, reading, listening to music or eating past noon means that you know you can go on to do almost anything at all... Where’s your nearest centre? Near Phnom Penh: Cambodia Vipassana Dhura Buddhist Mediation Centre, Phnom Udong: cambodiavipassana center.com Battambang: Dhamma Latthika (Cambodia Vipassana Centre) Address: Phnom Trungmoan, National Road No. 57, Battambang, Cambodia. Phone: +855 53 64 88 588 Kep: Krong Kep Vipassana Thurak Centre (Khmer instruction only) - Follow the signs from road 33A

KHMER GAMES

High Jump

you need: A rope made from rubber bands tied together - over 2m long. By Eve Watling & SOCHETRA SOK Divide into two equal teams by playing paper rock scissors, with the winners forming one team and the losers forming another. If there is an odd number of players, one of the players on the smaller team must jump twice. The winner’s team are the first to attempt to jump, while the other team hold each end of the rubber band rope and stretch it out straight at waist level. The first team take it in turns to jump over the rope. Once they are all across, the second team raise the rope up to armpit level. If the jumpers manage to jump over, they raise to shoulder level, then neck, ears and head level. If the jumpers are experts, the line can even be raised above head level!

If the jumpers complete all the levels, they have won a ‘round’ and have to start again from the bottom, twice – they need three rounds to win the game. If one jumper doesn’t manage to get across, they sit out and watch their other team members’ jump – but they can come back into the game when someone on the same team has completed a round and the rope moves back down to waist level. If all jumpers fail the teams swap places, and the second team who are holding the rubber band line take turns to jump.

Illustration by Eve Watling

Players: 4 or more people

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A Day in the Life of...

A monk

Every month, WUPP gets the lowdown on the daily life of people in Phnom Penh. This month, we speak to a monk at Preah Sihanouk Raja Buddhist University.

As told to Eve Watling, Illustration by eve watling I live in a monastery so I wake up between 4am and 6am and eat some porridge. Then I watch CNN or listen to the BBC on the radio – but only the political programs. Politics are very important to me – some say that monks shouldn’t get involved in politics but I think we have an important role in helping society and the Cambodian people. I don’t go to the protests though!្ At 9am I usually collect alms for a couple of hours. People usually give me noodles, water and money. Afterwards I have lunch then go to my school, where I study administration education. At 5pm I translate English newspapers into Khmer. After school I practice English some more, do some research or read English books. I

go to bed at around 10 or 11pm. Meditation is important, although I don’t do it every day – just 5 or 10 minutes whenever I feel stressed. It calms me down. I’ve been a monk for 15 years and I enjoy it. I have lots of chances to study, help society and educate children. I used to be a teacher at Wat Botum, and I lived in Kampong Thom province helping young street kids and orphans. One day, when I have enough education, I will leave the monkhood and become a teacher or a politician – I study law on the weekends at a private school. At the moment, I think it’s really important that the two opposing political parties can come together and find a compromise so that the Cambodian people are properly represented in parliament.”

How to... get your crush to notice you on valentine’s day Every month, WUPP teams up with local crafter Zoe Boyd, who shows you how to turn your household trash into recycled art pieces. This month, she shows you how to impress the man of your dreams... even if he doesn’t know you exist. • Spray paint • Acrylic paint • Old DVDs • An old frame • Cardboard • Scissors • Glue • Black marker pen • A selfie device (camera, phone etc) • A picture of your lover

1) Spray paint your CDs – preferably in the colour of love (red). Leave to dry. (1) 2) Spray paint your old frame – we went for different shades of red and white.(2) 3) Drizzle with paint. Ours got a little Halloween special when we splattered it with blood red paint – be careful! Remember: subtlety is the key here, guys. Leave to dry.(3) 4) Cut out a heart shape from one of the CDs. 5) Take the picture of your beloved. If his family is in the shot, specify that it is actually you he should be with using a black marker pen. (4) If necessary, cut out a picture of your face and stick it over his wife’s face. Stick the photo on the loveheart. (5)

6) Make yourself look hot. 7) Take a selfie of you and your love heart creation. 8) Cut out more love hearts from the red DVDs – the hole in the middle represents both your lovesickness and also what will happen to him if he doesn’t return your love (6). Stick them over the frame. 9) Print out the selfie picture and place it in the frame. 10) Leave the frame on his doorstep along with other tokens of your love – locks of your hair, old underwear etc to create the perfect homemade shrine to let him know how much you care.

Janine is a student from Germany I really love vintage and contrasting prints!

t e e r St style Ayesha

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Anni

design is a fashion Finland from student laxed clothes I like simple, re colour of sh la sp a with

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must haves...

for Valentines Day Bottle of Laurent Perrier Rose - $118, Red Apron and Wine Hall

Big Lotus loveseat, Display , $189

Asian Aphrodisiacs, $20, monument books

SECRET BRA MILA NAOMI Price: US$28.00, Promesses Lingerie

Romantic robot design, Bi Salon, $4-8 SECRET PANT SYLVA NAOMI - Price:

US$17.50, Promesses Lingerie

DINNER UNDER THE STARS Impress your loved one with an extensive dinner buffet and the enchanting ambiance of Rafflesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Poolside Garden this Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day. Executive Chef I Wayan Mawa and his culinary team will prepare dishes especially made for lovers celebrating the most romantic day of the year and complete with surprise delights served on your table. A live trio of classical music will complement the rhythm of the night in the midst of a 1000 floating candles. US$ 130 net per couple (Inclusive of a glass of Champagne) Raffles Poolside Garden 14 February 2014 7.00pm - 10:00pm (Bookings essential.) For reservations, please call: +855 23 981 888 or email us at, www.raffles.com/phnompenh

dining.leroyal@raffles.com

UR reviews

reviews new releases

cin e m a

‘Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock & Roll’  The documentary Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten follows the evolution of Khmer music during the 1960’s and early 70’s. Beginning with Cliff Richard-inspired crooning, musicians began blending cha-cha-cha and Cuban flavours into their songs. Soon, Khmer bands were rocking out to the American music being broadcasted in from Vietnam. But the blossoming music scene was cut violently short at the arrival of the Khmer Rouge, who silenced Phnom Penh, and killed most of its singers.

Davy Chou and Rithy Panh have also recently made acclaimed films about the destruction of culture in Khmer Rougeera Cambodia, but for them the lack of available footage became the film’s central turning point, a metaphor for loss itself. However, Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten tried to gloss over this shortage of footage with cheesy KTV video style reconstructions of 1960’s Cambodia, and definitely suffered for it. However, the sheer power and joy of the music carries this film through to the end with an energetic, rock’n’roll, and truly Khmer spirit.

The distinctive, twanging garage sounds of Khmer rock may be familiar, but for English speakers it’s a revelation to actually understand the lyrics of the songs that you’ve been hearing blasting out around town. The subtitles reveal such lyrical gems as ‘I thought she was knocked up / but she was just wearing a maternity dress / it’s the new fashion’. Discovering the wild electric yells of garage rebel Pen Ran - the Khmer Karen O? was also a treat.

Swinging Cambodia: WUPP’s Playlist

Sva Rom Monkee - Pen Ran A Go Go – Ros Sereysothea the playlist! Mou Pei Na – Sinn Sisamouth Go to wuppmag.com to hear Coining - Maes Samouen Yuva jon Kouge Jet - Yol Aularong Yol Aularong - Jeas Cyclo Rather Die Under The Woman’s Sword - Liev Tuk Wait Ten Months - Ros Soreysothea Verjah Nerk Seneha Cherth - Meas Hok Seng

The Wife Master Bora is the ultimate anti-hero: a 40 year old unemployed Cambodian-American misogynist living in his aunt’s house in California. His favorite hobby is secretly photographing hot shirtless men at the beach and obsessively collecting celebrity birthdays. Boorish and self-centered, even his own family hates his guts. Yet although the Wife Master is a fiction film, Bora is very much real. After meeting him by chance as he snapped unsuspecting surfers, director Mich Medvedoff made a documentary about his quirkily obnoxious ways. Now in her first feature length film, she has crafted a fantasy scenario for Bora, in which he overcomes his financial difficulties by bigamously marrying multiple Cambodian women in search of a green card. New technology means that filmmakers can make a film with a tiny budget look practically blockbuster standard. The Wife Master however makes no attempt to beautify itself. Yet the flat, lo-fi, filmedon-an-iPhone aesthetics are somehow fresh in a world of overproduced filmmaking. Dry, dark humour pervades: particularly hilarious is the moment Bora and sassy Wife #2 form an unholy allegiance, lazing in the park and bitching about the men walking past while Wife #1 slaves away at her job in the DVD store. The camp, oddball low-budget vibe makes it feel like something John Waters would make in the 21st century. The Wife Master reveals Mich Medvedoff as an original and fresh new voice in cinema.

The Guide to Being an Asshole: Bora’s Best Quotes On a woman’s accidental presence in one of his stalker photos: “This chick kept getting in the way. This mediocre chick, she was like, cockblocking me!” Five minutes into a first date: “Would you... maybe help me out with currency or anything?” On a prospective wife: “This one uses her face like a colouring book. She draws on her face.” On his second wife: “Can we send her back? Even the first wife, who I don’t like, doesn’t like her.” “Can you see me marrying a chick? That’s repugnant.”

TV Review: Girls 

The Girls are back for more self-doubt and debauchery in Lena Dunham’s series, which follows four 20-something New Yorkers as they navigate the perils and pitfalls of the credit crunch age. Some months have passed since the end of season 2: Hannah is blissfully in love with charming weirdo Adam, and her ill-advised DIY haircut has sleekly grown out. Meanwhile, Marnie is in a heartbroken rut after her breakup with Charlie, Shoshanna is enjoying her hymen-free life and Jessa is rehab’s newest rebel. After a patchy season 2 where everyone began despising each other, it’s a relief to return to the warm, sharp-witted form of the first series. However, the awkward moments still abound, making for hilariously relatable comedy.

Battambang-based artist Nicolas C. Grey has teamed up with frequent collaborator James Farley to tell the stories of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most (in)famous gurus. For the first in the series, meet Osho, the nitrous oxide-huffing, Rolls Royce-driving Indian commune leader...

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NOT TO MISS>>>>>>>>>>>>>> WILD by Dream Injection @ Riverside Hotel (POWERED BY WUPP) >> Unique event in an underground venue! 3 INTERNATIONAL DJ’S: Bart Ricardo • Dj Devin • Il Toro And 9 of Phnom Penh’s most respected Djs: Simon C Vent • Funkelastiks • Kimchi Collective Wes_T • Dj Flo Vs Dj Lefty • Alan Ritchie • Dr Wah Wah Special Belly Dance by Adilah @ Harem Shisha Lounge, Feb 1st, 9PM Dj Bree @ Code Red, Feb 1st Phnom Penh Punchliners Night @ Equinox, Feb 7th The Underdogs @ Equinox, Feb 8th Fun Festival @ MithSamlanh Center, Feb 8th, 2PM Afternoon Tea @ Tamasa, Feb 9th, 2PM The Cambodian Space Project @ Equinox, Friday, Feb 14th Special Valentine with DJ PER (Holland) @ Pontoon, Feb 14th DJ Woody @ Code Red, Feb 15th DJ Theory (USA) - Hip Hop Trap Moombathon/ Dub @ Pontoon, Feb 15th Box Poetry Slam @ Show Box, 18th Feb, 9PM Texas Hold’em Night @ Show Box, 20th Feb DJ Mocity (IRAK), General ZOOZ & Diggy Dang (India/UK) - Special Reggae Dancehall Dub @ Pontoon, Feb 21st Big Wig presents The Cuban Brothers, Gobshite, DSK & Tiny Toones @ Code Red, 21st + 22nd Feb Jahzad @ Equinox, Feb 22nd Cambodian Living Arts: 15th anniversary @ the National Museum, Feb 23 Launch of Model & Industry night @ Code Red, 25th Feb Tuk Tuk Sessions @ Equinox, Feb 27th The Fumes @ Equinox, Feb 28th EU – Electronic Union by Shox Box @ Secret Location, Feb 28th >>Polaak (HU), CAB (SCT), Warren Daly (IRE) (InvisibleAgent Recordings) and The Phat Controller (UK)

Best Brunches Sat & Sun Garden brunch @ Le Temps des Cerises 12PM – 03PM Saturday: Personality Brunch @ Raffles 12PM – 03PM Sunday Fun Day brunch @ Nagaworld 12PM – 05PM Sunday Brunch @ DOORS, 11AM Lazy Sunday Brunch @ New Leaf Book Café, 11AM

Hitchhiking in Cambodia Dust and Disappointment by Eve Watling

Even as a fan of free travel, I was sceptical of Cambodia’s hitchhiking potential from the get-go: the transport is cheap; the people are poor – why would people give a white girl a lift for free? With most long distance bus trips costing under $10, there comes a point when freewheelin’ becomes freeloading. However, intrigued by various hitching success stories I decided to push aside my qualms and take to the road to find out once and for all if hitching in Cambodia is all it’s cracked up to be. I set off armed with a wonky sign saying ‘Kep’ in both Khmer and English, a letter in Khmer explaining we were looking for a free ride, and a male friend to ward off sketchy truckers. We began our journey lurking uncertainly at the start of road 3, waving about our sign amongst the swirling dust clouds. Sadly, we garnered little attention aside from tuk tuk drivers and taxis asking for a fee, and a couple of ‘what are those crazy foreigners doing now’ stares from some elderly Khmer women. Eventually, due to the demoralising lack of interest combined with the increasingly scorching heat, we shame-facedly flagged down a Sorya tourist bus who took us along the remaining road to Kep for $4. Perhaps the more persistent travellers can experience the magic of Cambodian hitchhiking, but it’s probable they will arrive at their destination with a mouthful of dust and a severe case of sunburn.

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Caitlinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s real life story Me and three fr on our way iends were home from the beach in Sihanoukville. We drove pa st who had seem two men knocked off th ingl y been eir moto. We stopped our taxi and went to check they w seconds later ere OK, but the taxi driver got nervous an d asked us to leave beca use he didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be se scene of the ac en at the cident. All we could do was call the emergency numbe r at the back of we found our copy of WUPP magaz ine before we had to leave. About an hour later we had the driver call back the emer gency number to check if they were in good care an d he told us that they were fine...