A CENTURY ago, Cambodia’s rice fields were filled with majestic, elevated wooden houses. Today, few noteworthy examples remain, largely because of the cost of maintaining them and the near-universal desire for air-conditioned Western-style homes.

So when Darryl Collins, an Australian art historian who has lived in the country since 1994, had the opportunity to buy one four years ago, he couldn’t pass it up.

Built in 1915 by a wealthy Chinese-K ... Read More

Granted, the article below is old.

I am just pleased to see its focus is on reviving Khmer cinema -- an area which I am a big fan. With that in mind, I like many other Khmer film makers would love to return to our motherland and offer a helping hand in reviving the film industry. I know our Khmer people are genetically gifted in the creative field as seen on Angkor Wat walls and ancient sculptures and statues our ancestors left behind to remind us of who we are and who we wil ... Read More

MARIAM ARTHUR wrote an informative letter to the editor of Phnom Penh Post on the issues of Khmer film making industry. I have always been impressed by many working actors in Hollywood, especially with their ability to completely immerse themselves in the characters they portray without allowing a trace of themselves to emerge onto the screen. I know Khmer actors are honing their craft and one day their craft will put them on par with the acting abilities of living legends working in Hollywoo ... Read More

POLLUTION

Troubled water, near and far

Silverdocs

The annual Silverdocs documentary film festival runs through June 27 in Silver Spring. This year's lineup of 102 films from 54 countries includes a few films with science themes, such as "Born Sweet," a heartbreaker about Vinh, a Cambodian boy with arsenic poisoning. In his rural village, tainted drinking water has given someone in almost every family arsenic poisonin ... Read More

My thought: I had my fair share of tarantulas during the so-called Year Zero when food was scarce; Khmers were dying in large number due to malnutrition, disease and execution. I can recall certain aspects of what occurred during those years. One of them was munching on crunchy, deep-fried tarantulas. They may not be a desirable edible on a lunch menu but they sure kept plenty of Khmers alive, yours truly included. Now, it has become a part of our culture and I won't be the first to igno ... Read More