วันจันทร์ที่ 24 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2557
วันศุกร์ที่ 22 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2557
Angkor Wat
There are two great
complexes of ancient temples in Southeast Asia, one at Bagan in Burma, the
other at Angkor in Cambodia. The temples of Angkor, built by the Khmer
civilization between 802 and 1220 AD, represent one of humankind's most
astonishing and enduring architectural achievements. From Angkor the Khmer
kings ruled over a vast domain that reached from Vietnam to China to the Bay of
Bengal. The structures one sees at Angkor today, more than 100 stone temples in
all, are the surviving remains of a grand religious, social and administrative
metropolis whose other buildings - palaces, public buildings, and houses - were
built of wood and have long since decayed and disappeared.
Conventional
theories presume the lands where Angkor stands were chosen as a settlement site
because of their strategic military position and agricultural potential.
Alternative scholars, however, believe the geographical location of the Angkor
complex and the arrangement of its temples was based on a planet-spanning
sacred geography from archaic times. Using computer simulations, it has been
shown that the ground plan of the Angkor complex – the terrestrial placement of its principal temples -
mirrors the stars in the constellation of Draco at the time of spring equinox
in 10,500 BC. While the date of this astronomical alignment is far earlier than
any known construction at Angkor, it appears that its purpose was to
architecturally mirror the heavens in order to assist in the harmonization of
the earth and the stars. Both the layout of the Angkor temples and the
iconographic nature of much its sculpture, particularly the asuras (‘demons’) and devas (‘deities’) are also intended to indicate the
celestial phenomenon of the precession of the equinoxes and the slow transition
from one astrological age to another.
At
the temple of Phnom Bakheng there are 108 surrounding towers. The number 108,
considered sacred in both Hindu and Buddhist cosmologies, is the sum of 72 plus
36 (36 being ½
of 72). The number 72 is a primary number in the sequence of numbers linked to
the earth’s
axial precession, which causes the apparent alteration in the position of the
constellations over the period of 25,920 years, or one degree every 72 years.
Another mysterious fact about the Angkor complex is its location 72 degrees of
longitude east of the Pyramids of Giza. The temples of Bakong, Prah Ko and Prei
Monli at Roluos, south of the main Angkor complex, are situated in relation to
each other in such a way that they mirror the three stars in the Corona
Borealis as they appeared at dawn on the spring equinox in 10,500 BC. It is
interesting to note that the Corona Borealis would not have been visible from
these temples during the 10th and 11th centuries when they were constructed.
Angkor
Wat, built during the early years of the 12th century by Suryavaram II, honors
the Hindu god Vishnu and is a symbolic representation of Hindu cosmology.
Consisting of an enormous temple symbolizing the mythic Mt. Meru, its five
inter-nested rectangular walls and moats represent chains of mountains and the
cosmic ocean. The short dimensions of the vast compound are precisely aligned
along a north-south axis, while the east-west axis has been deliberately
diverted 0.75 degrees south of east and north of west, seemingly in order to
give observers a three day anticipation of the spring equinox.
Unlike
other temples at Angkor, Ta Prohm has been left as it was found, preserved as
an example of what a tropical forest will do to an architectural monument when
the protective hands of humans are withdrawn. Ta Prohm's walls, roofs, chambers
and courtyards have been sufficiently repaired to stop further deterioration,
and the inner sanctuary has been cleared of bushes and thick undergrowth, but
the temple has been left in the stranglehold of trees. Having planted
themselves centuries ago, the tree's serpentine roots pry apart the ancient
stones and their immense trunks straddle the once bustling Buddhist temple.
Built in the later part of the 12th century by Jayavarman VII, Ta Prohm is the
terrestrial counterpart of the star Eta Draconis the Draco constellation.
During
half-millennia of Khmer occupation, the city of Angkor became a pilgrimage
destination of importance throughout Southeastern Asia. Sacked by the Thais in
1431 and abandoned in 1432, Angkor was forgotten for a few centuries. Wandering
Buddhist monks, passing through the dense jungles, occasionally came upon the
awesome ruins. Recognizing the sacred nature of the temples but ignorant of
their origins, they invented fables about the mysterious sanctuaries, saying
they had been built by the gods in a far ancient time. Centuries passed, these
fables became legends, and pilgrims from the distant reaches of Asia sought out
the mystic city of the gods. A few adventurous European travelers knew of the
ruins and stories circulated in antiquarian circles of a strange city lost in
the jungles. Most people believed the stories to be nothing more than legend,
however, until the French explorer Henri Mouhot brought Angkor to the world's
attention in 1860. The French people were enchanted with the ancient city and
beginning in 1908 funded and superbly managed an extensive restoration project.
The restoration has continued to the present day, excepting periods in the 70's
and 80's when military fighting prevented archaeologists from living near the
ruins.
Orthodox
archaeologists sometimes interpret the temples of the Angkor complex as tombs
of megalomaniacal kings yet in reality those kings designed and constructed the
temples as a form of service to both god and their own subjects. The temples
were places not for the worship of the kings but rather for the worship of god.
Precisely aligned with the stars, constructed as vast three dimensional yantras
and adorned with stunningly beautiful religious art, the Angkor temples were
instruments for assisting humans in their realization of the divine.
Jayavaram
VII, spoke of his intentions in erecting temples as being:
“full of deep sympathy for the good
of the world, so as to bestow on men the ambrosia of remedies to win them
immortality….By
virtue of these good works would that I might rescue all those who are
struggling in the ocean of existence.”
What
You Can Expect
After
hotel pickup by private air-conditioned vehicle, transfer to Wat Svaylamiet for
a picnic breakfast. Then start your full-day private tour of the Angkor complex
at the South Gate of Angkor Thom, where 54 stone gods and demons line the road.
Next,
view the centerpiece of this walled citadel, the mysterious Bayon temple, which
holds 54 towers decorated with more than 200 smiling stone figures. You’ll
spend approximately two hours discovering the many temples within Angkor Thom,
with your private guide offering a flexible itinerary, depending on your
interests.
Your
morning tour also visits the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of
Elephants and Terrace of Leper Kings, as well as the picturesque Ta Prohm
Temple, made famous by the movie Tomb
Raider. Only partially restored, the
otherworldly ruins of Ta Prohm offer insight on how the Angkor complex looked
before French explorers rediscovered it. Marvel at the 39 towers of this
12th-century Buddhist temple overrun by tree roots large enough to split the
stone.
After
about one hour exploring Ta Prohm, enjoy a relaxed lunch at a local restaurant
in Siem Reap before heading to the famous Angkor Wat, considered the most
visually, architecturally and artistically impressive temple of the entire
complex. Best preserved of all the Angkor temples, it’s also located within the
UNESCO World Heritage-listed Angkor Archaeological Park.
You’ll
have time for a thorough exploration of this vast ceremonial structure
including a glimpse of its enormous moat and reflection pools. Wander through
the galleries where a dazzling array of beautiful bas-reliefs and ornate
carvings depict scenes from the Hindu epic, the Ramayana.
In
the afternoon, enjoy a helicopter ride over the Angkor temple complex and Tonle
Sap Lake. During your 20-minute flight, take in the true scale and splendor of
this world-renowned site. After visiting Angkor on the ground, this rare aerial
experience offers a fresh, bird’s-eye view! Departing
from the Siem Reap airport, your pilot provides onboard commentary and points
out places of interest so you won’t miss a thing. Have your camera at the ready
as you hover above Angkor Wat, which appears smaller from your helicopter
window despite its enormous size.
In
the evening, enjoy a taste of classical Khmer culture with a traditional dinner
and Aspara dance performance! Afterward, you’ll be transported by private
vehicle back to your hotel.
Outstanding Universal Value
Angkor is one of the most important
archaeological sites in South-East Asia. Stretching over some 400 km2,
including forested area, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent
remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th
century. They include the famous Temple of Angkor Wat and, at Angkor Thom, the
Bayon Temple with its countless sculptural decorations. UNESCO has set up a
wide-ranging programme to safeguard this symbolic site and its surroundings.
Outstanding Universal Value
Brief synthesis
Angkor, in Cambodia’s northern province of Siem
Reap, is one of the most important archaeological sites of Southeast Asia. It
extends over approximately 400 square kilometres and consists of scores of
temples, hydraulic structures (basins, dykes, reservoirs, canals) as well as
communication routes. For several centuries Angkor, was the centre of the Khmer
Kingdom. With impressive monuments, several different ancient urban plans and
large water reservoirs, the site is a unique concentration of features testifying
to an exceptional civilization. Temples such as Angkor Wat, the Bayon, Preah
Khan and Ta Prohm, exemplars of Khmer architecture, are closely linked to their
geographical context as well as being imbued with symbolic significance. The
architecture and layout of the successive capitals bear witness to a high level
of social order and ranking within the Khmer Empire. Angkor is therefore a
major site exemplifying cultural, religious and symbolic values, as well as
containing high architectural, archaeological and artistic significance.
The park is inhabited, and many villages, some
of whom the ancestors are dating back to the Angkor period are scattered
throughout the park. The population practices agriculture and more specifically
rice cultivation.
Criterion (i): The Angkor complex
represents the entire range of Khmer art from the 9th to the 14th centuries,
and includes a number of indisputable artistic masterpieces (e.g. Angkor Wat,
the Bayon, Banteay Srei).
Criterion (ii): The influence of Khmer art
as developed at Angkor was a profound one over much of South-east Asia and
played a fundamental role in its distinctive evolution.
Criterion (iii): The Khmer Empire of the
9th-14th centuries encompassed much of South-east Asia and played a formative
role in the political and cultural development of the region. All that remains
of that civilization is its rich heritage of cult structures in brick and
stone.
Criterion (iv): Khmer architecture evolved
largely from that of the Indian sub-continent, from which it soon became
clearly distinct as it developed its own special characteristics, some
independently evolved and others acquired from neighboring cultural traditions.
The result was a new artistic horizon in oriental art and architecture.
Integrity
The Angkor complex encompasses all major
architectural buildings and hydrological engineering systems from the Khmer
period and most of these “barays” and canals still exist today. All the
individual aspects illustrate the intactness of the site very much reflecting
the splendor of the cities that once were. The site integrity however, is
put under dual pressures:
endogenous: exerted by more than 100,000
inhabitants distributed over 112 historic settlements scattered over the site,
who constantly try to expand their dwelling areas;
exogenous: related to the proximity of the town
of Siem Reap, the seat of the province and a tourism hub.
Authenticity
Previous conservation and restoration works at
Angkor between 1907 and 1992, especially by the École Française
d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO), the Archaeological Survey of India, the Polish
conservation body PKZ, and the World Monuments Fund have had no significant
impact on the overall authenticity of the monuments that make up the Angkor
complex and do not obtrude upon the overall impression gained from individual
monuments.
Protection and management requirements
The property is legally protected by the Royal
Decree on the Zoning of the Region of Siem Reap/Angkor adopted on 28 May 1994
and the Law on the protection of the natural and cultural heritage promulgated
on 25 January 1996, the Royal Decree on the creation of the APSARA National
Authority (Authority for the protection of the site and the management of the
Angkor Region) adopted on 19 February 1995, the No. 70 SSR government Decision,
dated 16 September 2004 providing for land‐use in the Angkor Park: “All lands
located in zone 1 and 2 of the Angkor site are State properties”, and the
sub-decree No. 50 ANK/BK on the organisation and functioning of the APSARA
National Authority adopted on 9 May 2008, specifically provided for the
establishment of a Department of Land‐use and Habitat Management in the Angkor
Park.
In order to strengthen and to clarify the
ownership and building codes in the protected zones 1 and 2, boundary posts
have been put in 2004 and 2009 and the action was completed in 2012.
As off 1993, the ICC-Angkor (International
Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the historic
site of Angkor) created on 13 October 1993, ensures the coordination of the
successive scientific, restoration and conservation related projects, executed
by the Royal Cambodian Government and its international partners. It ensures
the consistency of the various projects, and defines, when necessary, technical
and financial standards and calls the attention of all the concerned parties
when required. It also contributes to the overall management of the property
and its sustainable development.
The successful conservation of the property by the
APSARA National Authority, monitored by the ICC-Angkor, was crowned by the
removal of the property from the World Heritage List in danger in 2004.
Angkor is one of the largest archaeological
sites in operation in the world. Tourism represents an enormous economic
potential but it can also generate irreparable destructions of the tangible as
well as intangible cultural heritage. Many research projects have been
undertaken, since the international safeguarding program was first launched in
1993.The scientific objectives of the research (e.g. anthropological studies on
socio-economic conditions) result in a better knowledge and understanding of
the history of the site, and its inhabitants that constitute a rich exceptional
legacy of the intangible heritage. The purpose is to associate the “intangible
culture” to the enhancement of the monuments in order to sensitize the local
population to the importance and necessity of its protection and preservation
and assist in the development of the site as Angkor is a living heritage site
where Khmer people in general, but especially the local population, are known
to be particularly conservative with respect to ancestral traditions and where
they adhere to a great number of archaic cultural practices that have disappeared
elsewhere. The inhabitants venerate the temple deities and organize ceremonies
and rituals in their honor, involving prayers, traditional music and dance.
Moreover, the Angkor Archaeological Park is very rich in medicinal plants, used
by the local population for treatment of diseases. The plants are prepared and
then brought to different temple sites for blessing by the gods. The Preah Khan
temple is considered to have been a university of medicine and the NeakPoan an
ancient hospital. These aspects of intangible heritage are further enriched by
the traditional textile and basket weaving practices and palm sugar production,
which all result in products that are being sold on local markets and to the
tourists, thus contributing to the sustainable development and livelihood of
the population living in and around the World Heritage site.
A Public Investigation Unit was created as
« measure instrument » for identifying the needs, expectations and
behaviors of visitors in order to set policies, monitor its evolution, prepare
a flux management policy and promote the unknown sites.
The management of the Angkor Site, which is
inhabited, also takes into consideration the population living in the property
by associating them to the tourist economic growth in order to strive for
sustainable development and poverty reduction.
Two major contributions supporting the APSARA
National Authority in this matter are:
The Angkor Management Plan (AMP) and Community
Development Participation Project (CDPP), a bilateral cooperation with the
Government of New Zealand. The AMP helps the APSARA National Authority to
reorganize and strengthen the institutional aspects, and the CDPP prepares the
land use map with an experimental participation of the communities and supports
small projects related to tourist development in order to improve the income of
villagers living in the protected zones;
The Heritage Management Framework composed of a
Tourism Management Plan and a Risk map on monuments and natural resources; a
multilateral cooperation with the Government of Australia and UNESCO.
Preliminary analytical and planning work for the management strategy will take
into account the necessity to preserve the special atmosphere of Angkor. All
decisions must guarantee physical, spiritual, and emotional accessibility to
the site for the visitors.
Long Description
Angkor is one of the most important
archaeological sites in South-East Asia. It contains the magnificent remains of
the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th centuries.
The influence of Khmer art, as developed at Angkor, was a profound one over
much of South-East Asia and played a fundamental role in its distinctive
evolution. Khmer architecture evolved largely from that of the Indian
subcontinent, from which it soon became clearly distinct as it developed its
own special characteristics, some independently evolved and others acquired
from neighbouring cultural traditions. The result was a new artistic horizon in
oriental art and architecture.
At the beginning of the 9th century the two
states that covered the territory of modern Cambodia were united by Jayavarman
II, who laid the foundations of the Khmer Empire, the major power in south-east
Asia for some five centuries. One of the sites was in central Cambodia, to the
north of Tonle Sap (Great Lake), where half a century later Jayavarman's son,
Yashovarman, was to establish Yashodapura (later called Angkor), the permanent
capital of the Khmer Empire until the 15th century.
The first city conformed with the classic form
of Khmer capital with certain fundamental elements: a defensive bank and ditch
with a state temple at its centre, built from brick or stone, and a wooden
palace. There would also have been many secular buildings, constructed almost
entirely of wood, in and around the enceinte. The state temple at Roluos, the
Bakong, and the temple built in memory of the royal ancestors, Preah Ko, were
erected around 880. Another essential feature of a Khmer capital, a large
reservoir, was added a decade later, with in its centre a third temple built to
the north-west of Roluos, around the hill of Phnom Bakeng, now known as the
Eastern Baray.
The second capital at Angkor was built by
Rajendravarman in the 960s, the state temple being situated at Pre Rup. He also
constructed a temple, the Eastern Mebon, on an artificial island in the centre of
the Eastern Baray. During his reign he built the exquisite temple of Banteay
Srei. Rajendravarman's son, Jayavarman V, abandoned the Pre Rup site in favour
of a new location with its state temple at Ta Kev, which was consecrated around
1000. Shortly afterwards he was overthrown by Suryavarman I, who was
responsible for erecting the formidable fortifications around his Royal Palace
and state temple, the Phimeanakas, and also for the construction of the great
Western Baray.
In 1050 his successor created a new and more
impressive state temple, the Baphuon. The succeeding rulers left little traces
in the form of monumental buildings, and it was not until the accession of
Suryavarman II in 1113 that the next great phase of building began. He was
responsible for the greatest of all Khmer monuments, Angkor Vat, set within an
extensive enclosure and dedicated to Vishnu. The death of Suryavarman II,
around 1150, was followed by a period of internal strife and external pressure,
culminating in 1177 with the sack of Angkor by the Chams. The situation was
restored by Jayavarman VII, who celebrated his military success by creating yet
another capital at Angkor Thorn and launching an unprecedented building
campaign. His state temple was the towering Bayon, dedicated to Buddha.
Another significant element of the Angkor
complex is the irrigation system of the region based on the great reservoirs,
which provided the economic infrastructure for the successive Khmer capitals
and their rulers.
Source: UNESCO/CLT/WHC
Historical Description
At the beginning of the 9th century AD the two
states that covered the territory of modern Cambodia were united by Jayavarman
II. who laid the foundations of the Khmer Empire, which was the major power in
south-east Asia for nearly five centuries. One of the sites where his court
resided for some years was in central Cambodia, to the north of Tonle Sap (The
Great Lake), where half a century later Jayavarman's son, Yashovarman, was to
establish Yashodapura, the permanent capital of the Khmer Empire until the 15th
century. It was later given the name Angkor (from the Sanskrit
"nagara", meaning city or capital).
The first capital was at latter-day Roluos,
itself a pre-Angkorian capital, Hariharalaya. This conformed with the classic
form of Khmer capital. This comprised certain fundamental elements: a defensive
bank and ditch with a state temple at its centre built in brick or stone, and a
wooden palace. Leading dignitaries would also build temples, both inside and
outside the enceinte, which were dedicated, like the state temple, to Hindu
divinities, notably Shiva. There would also have been many secular buildings,
constructed almost entirely of wood, in and around the enceinte. The state
temple at Roluos, the Bakong, and the temple built in memory of the royal
ancestors, Preah Ko, were erected around 880. Another essential feature of a
Khmer capital, a large reservoir, was added a decade later, with in its centre
a third temple. Lolei.
Yashodapura was built to the north-west of
Roluos, around the hill of Phnom Bakeng. The enclosure was square, each side
measuring 4km, and it was equipped with a vast reservoir (baray) measuring 7km
by 1.8km, now known as the Eastern Baray. The state temple was built at the
summit of Phnom Bakeng around 900. Following a short period when the Khmer
capital was transferred to Koh Ker, some 60km north-east of Angkor, the second
capital at Angkor proper was built by Rajendravarman in the 960s. the state
temple being situated at Pre Rup. He alsoconstructed a temple, the Eastern
Mebon, on an artificial island in the centre of the Eastern Baray. During his
reign Rajendravarman's guru built the exquisite temple of Banteay Srei, some 25
km north-east of Angkor.
Rajendravarman's son. Jayavarman V, abandoned
the Pre Rup site in favour of a new location. with its state temple at Ta Kev.
which was consecrated around 1000. Shortly afterwards he was overthrown by
Suryavarman I, who was responsible for the formidable fortifications around his
Royal Palace and state temple, the Phimeanakas, and also for the construction
of the great Western Baray, extending over an area of 8x2.5km. In 1050 his
successor created a new and more impressive state temple, the Baphuon, to the
north of the temple.
The succeeding rulers left little traces in the
form of monumental buildings, and it was not until the accession of Suryavarman
II in 1113 that the next great phase of building began. It was he who was
responsible for the greatest of all Khmer monuments, Angkor Vat, set within an
extensive enclosure and dedicated to Vishnu. Among other important monuments
dating from this period are Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda.
The death of Suryavarman II around 1150 was
followed by a period of internal strife and external pressure, culminating in
1177 with the sack of Angkor by the Chams. The situation was restored by
Jayavarman VII, who celebrated his military success by creating yet another
capital at Angkor Thorn and launching an unprecedented building campaign. His
state temple was the towering Bayon (dedicated to Buddha): among the many other
monuments of Jayavarman VII's reign are Ta Prohm, Preah Khan, Ta Som, and
Banteay Prei.
Such was the grandeur of this capital that none
of Jayavarman VII's successors saw fit to replace it. Nor were there any major
monumental additions between his death around 1200 and the end of the Khmer
Empire in the first half of the 15th century.
The Angkor group, including Roluos and Banteay
Srei, has to be treated as an ensemble which steadily grew over some three
centuries, Masterpieces such as the Bayon and Angkor Vat have to be seen in
their contexts and integrated with the temples and other constructions,
particularly the great reservoirs. It is also essential to take into
consideration that the areas of jungle between the brick and stone monuments
constitute a reserve of buried archaeological remains of immense importance in
the study and interpretation of Khmer culture. Another significant element of
the Angkor complex is the irrigation system of the region based on the great
reservoirs, which provided the economic infrastructure for the successive Khmer
capitals and their rulers. a Source: Advisory Body Evaluation
Intrigue and Mystery in Angkor
Intrigue and Mystery in Angkor
In his book “A Woman of Angkor,” American author John Burgess has managed to recreate a world about which little is known beside the spectacular monuments its people left behind.
Told by a woman named Sray, the story brings to life the Khmer of the early 12th century, no longer distant figures but individuals going through all the human emotions as they handle daily chores and duties in this stratified universe ruled by an absolute monarch.
Beautifully written by Mr. Burgess, a former Washington Post correspondent in Southeast Asia, the 500-page work is an enthralling novel filled with court intrigues and human dramas against a backdrop
Published this year by River Books in Bangkok, the novel is also a mystery that unfolds through one suspenseful episode after the next as Sray’s life turns in ways she had never expected; her beauty the cause of events that saddle her with a secret which will burden her all her life, and eventually change the fate of the empire.
Orphaned following an enemy attack that killed her family, Sray grows up in an orphanage for girls managed by a priest—a peaceful environment that she loves. Due to a series of incidents revealed throughout the book, she finds herself married to Nol, settled in a quiet existence that suits her in spite of their poverty.
However, this all changes when a Brahmin priest comes looking for Nol who, as it turns out, grew up in the household of a prince and fled when the prince was killed by a rival who then takes over his estate. Now, the prince’s kinsman Indra has decided to reassemble the prince’s former staff and requests that Nol joins him and takes on the role of parasol bearer, the position his father held under the prince.
Nol’s new patron seeks power. After regaining his family’s estate through assassination and building a reputation as a warrior, Indra kills the Khmer king during a public ceremony. The late king had spent all his time in his garden, leaving the administration of the empire to palace officials and Brahmin priests. So, faced with the formidable Indra, no one dares question his claim to the throne and he is soon crowned Suryavarman II with Nol beside him shading the new king from the sun.
While Nol moves within the king’s inner circle, Sray gets involved in the palace’s supply process. She negotiates with providers throughout the country, even joining the first Khmer delegation to China charged to discuss diplomatic relations and trade. Sray welcomes those absences from the palace as the king has noticed her beauty and she tries to avoid being in his presence. Profoundly religious, she also spends her time making charitable donations.
In the meantime, her son Sovan is assisting the architect commissioned to build a temple for the king. The monument, which would take decades to complete, will become known as Angkor Wat, the largest religious structure in the world.
The author has recreated a truly credible world complete with a scheming concubine and bitter rivalries in the king’s entourage. This is no small feat since there is virtually nothing known of the lives of people at the time. The only source of information on the era are the official stone inscriptions which give away hardly anything about everyday life and wall sculptures that occasionally feature scenes from the era and which Mr. Burgess spent a great deal of time studying.
“The inspiration for Sray, by the way, was a woman mentioned in an 11th century inscription” Mr. Burgess said in an email interview.
Identified as Tilaka, he said, “It describes how her learning impressed the court and how she was given honorary titles. She is described only in ideal terms (the tone of so many inscriptions), but I began thinking about how the ancient Khmers were real people…and had their share of secrets, weaknesses, foibles, etc. So the idea came for a character who was universally respected, who did her best to live up to the religious ideals of the time, but who was carrying a potentially fatal secret through no fault of her own.”
Another source of information the author used is the account of Chinese diplomat Zhou Daguan who visited Angkor in the 1290s. “I also drew on contemporary Cambodian life, which after all is the descendant of ancient Khmer society,” Mr. Burgess said. For example, considering the importance of rituals and traditions in Cambodia, it seems highly plausible that, as portrayed in the book, the role of parasol bearer was a trade with a strict code passed on from father to son: The honor of holding parasols over the heads of princes and kings would no doubt have been highly coveted.
Needless to say, Mr. Burgess, who is based in Washington, has made numerous trips to Cambodia. His first contact with the country dates from 1979 when he covered Cambodians fleeing to the Thai border as the Vietnamese forces were ridding the country of the Khmer Rouge. He was based in Japan during the 1980s and was deputy foreign editor for The Washington Post when he retired in 2008 after 28 years with the paper.
This book, which is Mr. Burgess’ first novel, took him 10 years to write as he was still a full-time journalist when he embarked on the project. “I wrote this book hoping that it would bring to life some of the people who built the place (and also be an entertaining read) and perhaps give the Angkor visitor an appreciation of the society of the time, as best as I could recreate it,” he said.
© 2013, The Cambodia Daily. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced in print, electronically, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without written permission.
Labor Ministry to Inspect Migrant Worker Recruitment Agencies
BY MATT BLOMBERG | MARCH 26, 2014
The government today will begin strict inspections of agencies that recruit workers to send overseas, Labor Minister Ith Sam Heng said Tuesday.
The labor minister has previously threatened to suspend or revoke the licenses of agencies that do not comply with labor laws.
Speaking at a workshop designed to school the nation’s 43 registered labor recruitment agencies on laws that govern their firms, Mr. Sam Heng warned the agencies to follow closely eight new prakas, or ministerial directives, which came into effect late last year.
“I recommend to each agency, you must be well prepared, you must make your house stable, you must be a real agency, a real entity. It is not a joke…the government and ministry will hold you responsible if you cheat the workers,” Mr. Sam Heng said.
He said that after two warnings, “if the problems are not fixed we will move to the cancellation of licenses.”
The legislation, called Sending Workers Abroad Through Private Recruitment Agencies, is designed to hold recruitment agencies accountable for the training and treatment of migrant workers and to introduce a complaint mechanism for workers to use while living overseas.
In the past, migrant workers have been seduced by dishonest brokers with false promises and then left at the mercy of employers once they arrive at their overseas destinations. In 2011, following a raft of reports of serious abuses by employers in Malaysia, Prime Minister Hun Sen banned the sending of domestic workers there.
“Previously, some agencies just rent two apartments and put 60 or 70 workers inside—it’s not a training center but a detention center,” Mr. Sam Heng said. “We will not let it happen again.”
Rim Khleang, national project coordinator for the International Labor Organization (ILO), which helped draft the new directives, said Tuesday that the ILO has no role in inspections.
“The checklist for the inspections is not clear to us, but I understand that they will be in line with exactly what is in the prakas,” Mr. Khleang said. He referred further questions to Max Tunon, the ILO’s senior project coordinator, who could not be reached.
The Labor Ministry also declined to give further insight into exactly what aspects of recruitment agencies will be scrutinized during government inspections.
Ravi Chandran, manager of Unicorn, a Malaysian-owned recruitment agency, said he hopes the current ban on sending Cambodian maids to Malaysia will be lifted. He expressed doubt that the directives will properly ensure workers’ rights.
“We are a legitimate company that takes the straight line and treats workers appropriately but we always end up the loser,” Mr. Chandran said.
“As we know, in Cambodia, everything can be bought. None of the local agencies will fail the inspection—they know how to do business.”
© 2014, The Cambodia Daily. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced in print, electronically, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without written permission.
Preap Sovath Kroy PiOunMinYork Propun
love this song so much he is best voice that can sing all kind of song pop Rnb classical madison kontrem rock hip hop sweet song can dance well as foreigner he have full ability of art khmer if law in cambodia copyright best cambodia will compete with another country around the worlds but now so bad law copyright incambodia
วันอังคารที่ 19 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2557
เพลง ไปถอนคำสาบาน
สามารถเจียระไนภาษาพื้นบ้านสื่อออกมาเป็นเพลงได้ไพเราะมาก ทั้งสื่อสารออกมาเป็นเสียงเพลงให้คนฟังฟังแล้วเข้าใจความหมายที่กินใจของเนื้อเพลง สุดยอดมากผู้ที่อยู่เบื้องหลังเพลงๆนี้
สมัครสมาชิก:
บทความ (Atom)
