Tuesday, November 10, 2015

CAMBODIA TRADITIONAL DANCING – APSARA KHMER

Dancing is one of the major forms of art practiced well in Cambodia. There are three different classification of dance in Cambodia. Classical dance is the main of the three different dancing styles and the other two Cambodian dances are folk dance and vernacular dance. Classical dance has been practiced only in the courts of the royals. Cambodian people’s day to day life is portrayed in the folk dance and finally vernacular dance are done at any social gatherings or functions. Let us have a brief look into each dancing styles.
Cambodian classical dance:
Classical dance of Khmer or Khmer royal ballet dance or court dance of Khmer is the general form of Cambodian classical dance performed only in the royal courts in order to express royalty. In their Khmer language this dance is called as the “Dances of Royal Wealth”. Thai classical dance and Khmer classical dance have a number of common parts or elements. Some classical dances are Apsara Dance, Tep Monorom, Robam Thvay Preah Por, Robam Moni Mekhala, Robam Makar, Robam Sovann Maccha, etc.
Folk dance in Cambodia:
Folk dance in Cambodia is generally performed in front of audience for their entertainment. These folk dances are performed to portray the common and day to day life activities of Cambodian people. The dancers dress them up like farmers, tribal people, Chams, peasants, etc. while performing folk dance. Some names of folk dances are Trot Dance, Sneak Toseay Dance, Baboo Pole Dance, Pailin Peacock Dance, Yike Dance, Chhayam dance, etc.
Vernacular dance of Cambodia:
During any social gatherings and social functions vernacular dance will be performed in Cambodia. Vernacular dances include Ram Vong, Ram Kbach, Ram Saravan, Iam Leav, etc. Traditional dance of Laos have more influence on these vernacular dances of Cambodia.
- See more at: http://www.gono.net/cambodia-traditional-dancing-apsara-khmer/#sthash.A824tuos.dpuf

8 MOST AMAZING CAMBODIA MAGNIFICENT ANGKOR WAT TEMPLES YOU DIDN’T KNOW EXISTED

ang1Source: Unknown
ang6Source: Vanessa Kade
ang7Source:mls
ang8Source: Andy H. Tan
- See more at: http://www.gono.net/8-most-amazing-cambodia-magnificent-angkor-wat-temples-you-didnt-know-existed/#sthash.IL7aaFR2.dpuf

CAMBODIA RELIGION, WEDDING, CULTURE, AND ART

When speaking about religion in Cambodia you can easily find Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Animism. Among this Buddhism is considered to be the major religion in Cambodia since almost 95% of people in Cambodia are following Buddhism, especially Theravada Buddhist being the most of them. But the first religion to be followed in Cambodia is Hinduism which was followed by the people of the Funan Empire, considered to be the first empire in Cambodian history. Let us have a brief look at their religions and their impact on Cambodian culture.
Buddhism in Cambodia:
It is believed that Buddhism has been followed by the people of Cambodia since 5th century C.E. There are some sources that reveal that Theravada Buddhism prevails in Cambodia even in the 3rd century B.C.E. Buddhism became the main and the Cambodian state religion right from 13th century C.E. excluding the period of Khmer Rouge.
Hinduism in Cambodia:
Being the very oldest and the first religion to be followed in Cambodia, Hinduism was made the main religion of the Khmer Empire. There are only two temples of Brahma available in world and Cambodia is very proud to have one of them in their country. Angkor Wat Hindu temple is the biggest Hindu temple in the world and it is located in Cambodia.
Islam and Christianity:
Majority of people of the Cham follow the religion of Islam in Cambodia and it is otherwise called as Khmer Islam and also the minorities of Malay follow Islam. The strength of Christians in Cambodia is around 20,000 during 1972. Christianity in Cambodia started from 1660 by the Roman Catholics.
Local tribal religions:
Apart from these major religions there are some local tribal religions available in Cambodia. They entirely constitute about 100,000 persons and they are generally known as the animists.
Cambodia Wedding
Wedding in any country has a lot of special ceremonies and other events, which will be very interesting for both the couples and others viewing it. Cambodian wedding is very traditional and special in all aspect and for one wedding a lot of procedures or ceremonies with songs take place. Here in this article I will brief about a Khmer wedding ceremony with all the wedding events that took place. The following ceremony will give you an outlined view of all Cambodian Khmer weddings. The actual wedding ceremony of Cambodians will take place continuously for three days and three nights. This is because of the reason that the Cambodians made three as their auspicious number as the number three is associated with the “Three Jewels” of Buddhism. Since there are a lot of factors to be considered at present like time, money, etc. Cambodian weddings are completed in one single day instead of three.
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Events in Cambodian wedding:
1. Dowry presentation event: The first event of Cambodian wedding starts with the presentation of dowry to the bride’s family by the groom family members. This event will be accompanied with three traditional Cambodian songs.
2. Tea ceremony: In this event both the groom and the bride are requested to provide tea to their ancestor’s spirits. This is followed by the Chinese descent Cambodians.
3. Hair cutting ceremony: Hair cutting ceremony is conducted in order to symbolically insist that both the bride and the groom are going to start their fresh married life together.
4. The pairing ceremony: This is the final event that occurs in Cambodian wedding. In this ceremony the left and right wrist of the bride and groom are tied with strings of blessing by their close relatives. This ceremony is accompanied by four traditional songs.
Cambodia Culture and Art
All countries or cities having historic importance know about the value of their historical arts along with their culture. The country of Cambodia is known to exist from B.C.E period and is one of the very oldest countries in this world. It has a good stretch of arts and master pieces in arts right from their earlier periods. The oldest sculpture and crafts reveal the richness of arts and people interest in arts before several centuries. It was during the period of Angkor where Khmer art became very famous. Interest of artists was in their peak level to develop and improve the arts and crafts of the Cambodians. Cambodians traditional arts and crafts were developed to a greater extent in all fields like dance, music, literature, visual arts and film making. Later in the 20th century there happened a decline in the arts and crafts development when Khmer Rouge started killing artists in the country.
Culture of Cambodians:
Cambodian culture has rich and splendid growth and development because of its varied history, as several kingdoms ruled over Cambodia. During each era a new culture was developed and practiced. It has been found that throughout the life history of Cambodian people, the culture of China and India have influenced very much. Indian religion Buddhism and Hinduism were followed by Cambodians. Also Khmer belief was developed by them involving a lot of animistic beliefs. The culture of Cambodia is very unique and they are preserving and following their ancient culture even now.
- See more at: http://www.gono.net/cambodia-religion-wedding-culture-and-art/#sthash.7AMLq4Je.dpuf

DO YOU KNOW THE REASONS WHY YOU HAVE TO VISIT PHNOM PENH?



Phnom Penh is a beautiful city located in the south-central Cambodian region at the convergence of the rivers Tonle Sap, Mekong, and Bassac. It is the leading city and also the capital of Cambodia. It is a hub of economics, diplomacy, economics and intellectual heritage. The three rivers are which ecologies are home to Phnom Penh offer fresh water as well as significant wealth for sustainable surrounding circumstances. Phnom Penh is a cosmopolitan mixture of Asian exotica, Cambodian warmth and Indochinese attraction. It is better known as Chaktomuk or the four faces. It is the home to numerous friendly people. The moderately new travel destination is now increasingly developing with new sightseeing places, hotels museums and theatres along with a fast nightlife. It consists of a humid climate all through the year. The normal temperature approximately ranges from 18°C to 38 °C with two seasons- the dry and the rainy season.
Getting around
Penh is simple. Phnom Penh consists of the airports as well as Ferry Port. Majority of visitors utilize the air route to reach there. The traffic is usually high during the day. However, it takes very less time to travel from one part of the city to the other. There are a number of modes of transportation, which you can use to travel throughout the city. Phnom Penh comprises of auto rickshaws better known as Tuk-tuks, which offer a very enjoyable ride. Prices vary from auto to auto depending on the number of people riding in it. Motorcycles taxis are the fastest and cheapest modes of travel, however not very safe if you are not used to it. There are numerous taxi services on call, which are offered 24*7. They also shuttle you in the night. Travelling in taxis is reasonable as well as very safe. The best part is that they will take you anywhere and everywhere you like.
Things to do
Amusements in Phnom Penh comprise of activities like go carting at the Kambol F1 course as well as bowling at the Bowling Club of Phnom Penh. If you want a taste of adventure, you can opt for the river cruise ride, which is offered at the riverfront. The Le Deauville is the best option, if you want to go for river cruise. While you are at the river cruise make sure to stop and travel around the rustic villages of Phnom Penh and see the local people busy weaving dresses of various designs . If relaxation is what you are seeking for, you can relax at the restaurants and the theatres as well. Kids would love the activities like go carting and the amusement parks. Pamper yourself at the spas.
Foods
Phnom Penh offers excellent dining when it comes to food. They consist of some exquisite restaurants with quality food ranging from French cuisine to American and Cambodian cuisine. Excellent Cambodian food can be tasted in the restaurants. The Cambodian food is similar in taste to the South East Asian foods. They serve dishes like the curries, barbecues, and a lot of fish and meat based meals. The Khmer cookery is very famous and ought to be tasted once, if you visit Phnom Penh. It is light spiced and easy on the taste buds. Another must try dish is the Amok- a coconut based curry cooked in exotic coconut. The Chinese food is also very popular in Phnom Penh. Other cuisines like Italian, German, French and American are also well sought after. However, French cuisine dominates in Phnom Penh. It is worth mentioning that most famous dining places are French.
Accommodation
There are numerous wide varieties of hotels and guesthouses, which are offered by Phnom Penh. They vary according to price and size. There are hotels which are very cheap affordable to all for one night stays, as well as luxurious hotels which are little expensive. Lot of hotels is located by the riverfront with an exquisite view. Rooms range from mid range AC rooms to Luxurious AC rooms with Fridge, Cable TVs and heaters, hot water, room service and other services. Some hotels consist of their own dining, community centers and spas, where you can pamper yourself and hang out for recreation. Guesthouses are spread all over the city so you will never face a problem in finding good accommodation in Phnom Penh. Try staying in a guesthouse in Phnom Penh. You will love it!
Shopping
There are excellent things to shop for in Phnom Penh. It consists of things like silk, furniture, books and Souvenirs, which can be taken back as mementos. The bookshops contain CDs, DVDs; different kinds of books as well as music and software. Lady’s silk clothing is a good buy in Phnom Penh. Monument book store is the largest distributor of books in the country. There are a number of places, where you can visit for varieties of goods. A Range of Electrical items can be found which might not be so cheap, however they are worth spending on. The international supermarkets offer ranges of products ranging from fruits, vegetable, meat, food and dairy products.
Entertainment
Entertainment in Phnom Penh ranges from nightclubs to pubs to different sightseeing places, shopping around various malls, and fine dining. You can enjoy an ideal blend of entertainment consisting of sporting to cultural events. Avid theatre lovers can visit the famous theatres in Phnom Penh. The Khmer shadow puppet performance is one of the loveliest and superb shows one can watch with family. Sport lovers can book tickets for the national soccer league. Engulf yourself into fine dining and exquisite pleasures. There are various music clubs and theatres in Phnom Penh including the Sovanna Phum Theatre and exquisite Art Gallery in Phnom Penh. With so many entertainment options in Phnom Penh, it is very rare that one will get bored.
Nightlife
Phnom Penh is a great place to party in during the night. It offers a selection of places where you can choose from including fine dining, bars and karaoke as well as neighborhood pubs, where you can drink and make merry. It is a great place to be with friends. It is very easy to commute from one place to the other since the places are all clustered side by side is worth saying that the city is actually busier after twelve in the night with numerous bars and pubs. Some very famous bars where you can be during your stay are, Zeppelin Howies and Walkabout. Some bars remain open till 4 Am at dawn. There are also large numbers of fine dining by the riverside, which serve awesome food at night.
Attractions
There are large numbers of attraction in Phnom Penh ranging from exotic dining to unique shopping and a great nightlife. Along with that Phnom Penh showcases some excellent pieces of cultural heritage which cannot be avoided on the tour. The Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda are places worth Visiting. Phnom Penh also consists of a large number of museums, which offer the history of the city. The Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, the central museum and the Russian markets are also places you should take time out and be to for a while. Phnom Penh is also noted for its well-maintained sprawling green gardens, 17th century Emerald Buddha and the Sisowath Bay. So visit Phnom Penh and indulge yourself in its beauty. It is simply a paradise on Earth, not to be missed.
- See more at: http://www.gono.net/do-you-know-the-reasons-why-you-have-to-visit-phnom-penh/#sthash.rJXFJZIL.dpuf

BAYON TEMPLE ANGKOR WAT IN SIEM REAP- THE MOST AMAZING AND BREATHTAKING PLACES

Bayon temple in CambodiaCredit:Chi King
ang30Credit:Chi King
- See more at: http://www.gono.net/bayon-temple-angkor-wat-in-siem-reap-the-most-amazing-and-breathtaking-places/#sthash.bROH0Q46.dpuf

TAPROHM TEMPLE IN ANGKOR WAT SIEM REAP

- See more at: http://www.gono.net/taprohm-temple-in-angkor-wat-siem-reap-8-magnificent-cambodia-temples-pictures/#sthash.Wl4q6BYl.dpuf

OBTAINING A CAMBODIA VISA

To get a visa to Cambodia is simple and definitely not hard at all. You don’t need to go to any Cambodia embassy in your local area. You can always go straight to Cambodia and get it done at the Phnom Penh International Airport and more.
Obtaining Cambodia Visa By Air:
1. Siem Reap International Airport
2. Phnom Penh International Airport
Obtaining Cambodia Visa By Land:
1. Bavet in Svay Rieng Province – Vietnam border
2. Cham Yeam in Koh Kong Provine – Thailand border
3. Poi Pet in Banteay Meanchey Province – Thailand border
*20 dollars US are for tourist visa (30-day valid from the issued date) and 25 dollars US for business visa (90-day valid from the issued date). If you wish to stay in Cambodia more than a month, I would suggest you to get a Business Visa- otherwise, if you get a regular tourist visa and want to stay longer, you have to pay penalty fee for 5 dollars US a day after the 30 days are expired.
Requirement:
1. A Passport-Size Photo
Guidelines: Must be taken in white background with eye open wide, lips must be touch with each other, make sure your face is natural expression, and make sure there is no blur or shadow on the picture.
2. Your passport must be at least 6 months to expire.
***You can also obtain Cambodia Visa with E-Visa too. There will be a small processing 5 dollars fee added. For further in formation please click on Cambodia E-visa. (Warning:) There are some troubles with E-visa lately- if you can avoid, getting a visa on arrival is recommended!
***There will be no need of Cambodia Visa if you are from Singapore, Philippine, Malaysia, and Lao.
- See more at: http://www.gono.net/obtaining-a-cambodia-visa/#sthash.zEgK50ca.dpuf

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