Rahu and Ketu

Rahu and Ketu was a form or character in Hindu epic, an asura named Svarbhanu. He is depicted in art as a serpent with no body riding a chariot drawn by eight black horses.

Svarbhanu's head and body joined with a snake to form 'Ketu', representing the body without a head, and Rahu, representing the head without a body. Svarbhanu is also the student of Shukra, an ancient Sage that counseled Asuras in vedic mythology, where he learn some tricks.

In the ancient world, immortality is not yet exist, from the day of creation, human has many of it's for and obviously divided in to a few clans or race, like our modern world. 

The deity, sage and god are highly praise due to their supernatural, peace and sacred while devas forms a moderate race which is always in conflict with the less fortunate demons, asuras and half-human form, which normally bound with jealousy, hatred and violence. 

 

The story begin about Svarbhanu can be found somewhere in The Churning of the Ocean of Milk.

Devas and Asuras were wage at war, Devas being defeated badly as Shukra, being granted a boon by Lord Shiva, to have the power to awake the death asuras back to life after being killed by devas.  

The Churning of the Ocean of Milk was planned by Lord Vishnu to save the devas, however it needs both the devas and asuras each holding a side of Vasuki, The Serpent King, wrapping on a pole made of Mount Mandara and placed on top of a giant Tortoise Kurma, ( also an avatar of Vishnu) in order to churn for the immortality nectar of Amrita.

However, once the amrita is emerged, Asuras obtained it and brought back to their state. Lord Vishnu, turn himself to appeared as Mohini, a beautiful land and tricked the asuras to invite devas to their palace as a gesture of respect and to offer the amrita to Devas, before asuras consume amrita.

Svarbahnu, recognised the trick played by Mohini and turned himself into a look-a-like devas seated between Surya (The Sun's God) and Chandra (The Moon's God). When Surya passed the amrita Svarbhanu (The fake Deva), Chandra realised and report to Mohini. Mohini then appeared as her real form as Lord Vishnu and managed to deceptively stop and decapitated him. The head now known as Rahu, while the body part is known as Ketu. As a form of revenge, Rahu often swallowed the Moon and the Sun, it is believes that the eclipses is the phenomenon that we see today. As Rahu is without a body, each time he swallow moon or sun, it will exit in a very short while from the neck.

This is an epic story from Hindu Mythology, as of modern term is the eclipse.

So next time when you visit temple in Angkor Archaeological Park, you will see the depicted if you learn more about Hinduism especially the characters. Rahu can be seen at Banteay Srei. Here's how Rahu looks like. Familiar to you?

Hanuman is a revered heroic figure in Khmer history

Hanuman is a revered heroic figure in Khmer history in southeast Asia. He features predominantly in the Reamker, a Cambodian epic poem, based on the Sanskrit's Ramayana epic.Intricate carvings on the walls of Angkor Wat depict scenes from the Ramayana including those of Hanuman. 

In Cambodia and many other parts of southeast Asia, mask dance and shadow theatre arts celebrate Hanuman with Ream (same as Rama of India). Hanuman is represented by a white mask. 

Hanuman also known as Pawan Putra, the son of the Lord of Winds. He symbolizes the human excellences of inner self-control, faith and service to a cause, hidden behind the first impressions of a being who looks like a monkey. 

In Ramayana, Hanuman was devoted to lord Rama.The Sundara Kanda, the fifth book in the Ramayana, focuses on Hanuman.

While in Mahabharata, he is the son of Kesari & Anjana, in other text available mention that Hanuman has a spiritual father, the god of winds - Vaju, along with many names like Maruti, Pawan Suta, Bajrangbali, Mangalmurti but these names are rarely used. Hanuman is the common name of the monkey god.

Thai Ramakien, mention that Hanuman had relationships with multiple women, including Svayamprabha, Benjakaya (Vibhisana's daughter), Suvannamaccha and even Ravana's wife Mandodari.

https://youtu.be/ZudiHGExn-s

Diwali Festival - The Day Celebrates with Sweets and Lights

This year, Diwali Festival is on 19 October, 2017. 

Diwali or Deepavali is the Hindu festival of lights celebrated every year in autumn in the northern hemisphere (spring in southern hemisphere).

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs and Newar Buddhists to mark different historical events and stories, eventually all symbolise the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, hope over despair.

The mythical stories told for Diwali vary regionally and within the traditions of Hinduism.Yet, they all point to joy and the celebration of Diwali with lights to be a reminder of the importance of knowledge, self inquiry, self-improvement, knowing and seeking the good and the right path. It is a metaphor for resisting evil, for dispelling darkness and for compassion to others. 

Diwali is the celebration of this inner light over spiritual darkness, of knowledge over ignorance and right over wrong. It is a festive restatement of the Hindu belief that the good ultimately triumphs over evil.The name of festive days as well as the rituals of Diwali vary among Hindus by region of India. In many parts of India, the festivities start with 

• 1st Day  - Dhanteras (in Northern and Western part of India), 
• 2nd Day - Naraka Chaturdasi 
• 3rd Day - Deepavali,  
• 4th Day - Diwali Padva dedicated to husband & wife relationship
• 5th Day - Bhai Dooj dedicated to sister–brother bond on the fifth day. 
• 8th Day - Dhanteras usually falls on the 8th day after Dussehra.

One of my favorite legendary story is about Krishna & Satyabhama

In Hindu traditions, Krishna is considered the 8th avatar of Vishnu. Krishna marries the Ashtabharyas or the 8 principle queens:

• Rukmini 
• Satyabhama 
• Jambavati
• Kalindi 
• Mitravinda 
• Nagnajiti 
• Bhadra
• Lakshmana

Satyabhama is the second most important wife of the God Krishna. As the second wife of Krishna, Satyabhama is believed to be an avatar of Lakshmi, the Goddess of power. She aided Krishna defeat the demon Narakasura.

Narakasura was a Danava tyrant, who captured and governed the city of Pragjothishya, the present day of Assam. He gained a boon from Brahma that he would die only in the hands of his mother. Armed with the boon, he ruled like a despot. Narakasura was infamous for his wicked ruling and high disregard for demigods and women. His mother was the earth goddess, Bhoomi Devi, also had obtained a boon from Vishnu that her Son should die only when she wishes for. Addicted to power, he defeated Lord Indra and abducted 16,000 women and imprisoned them in his palace. He stole the earrings of Aditi, the heavenly mother goddess and usurped some of her territory. Upon this the king of the gods Indra requested Sri Krishna to conquer and kill the demon and free Devlok from his atrocities. On his request Krishna sieged the city of Narakasura with the assistance of his mount, Garuda along with his beloved wife Satyabhama.

A terrible battle ensued between Krishna and Narakasura. The demon on several occasions proved a match for Krishna and nullified several of the missiles which Krishna hurled at him. On one instance, the demon hurled a shakti towards Krishna, which hurt Krishna mildly and fell, pretending unconsciously by the arms of Garuda. This enraged Sathyabhama who in turn shot arrows at Narakasura and killed him finally. Narakasura, on his last breath murmuring "Krishna, forgive me .. I have ill-treated women, and harassed children, I want the whole world to celebrate my day of death with sweets and lights, and Mother, please forgive me, bless me that I shall not be reborn again."

Krishna saids " This day will called Deepavali, The festival of Lights."
Satyabhama added " Your wish will be fulfilled."   

Satyabhama is the incarnation of Bhoomi Devi, as when Krishna avatar of Lord Vishnu.

Therefore the boon granted to Bhoomi Devi was fulfilled. Thereafter, Krishna obtained the stolen ear-rings of the mother of the gods, Aditi. Aditi was pleased by Satyabhama's dedication towards her husband and gave her a boon of staying young and beautiful forever. This great day is celebrated as Narak-Chaturdashi which falls in the festival of Diwali (the second important day of Diwali).

Lord Krishna's victory on Narakasura translated into freedom for all his prisoners and honouring of Aditi. He also marries about 16,000 women known as his junior queens, or non-principal wives as he accepted them upon their insistence to save their dignity and honor because society who saw them as slaves of the demon king Narakasura. The chief wife among these junior wives is Rohini.

His lover, who he is most commonly seen with in images and idols is Radha. Radha and of his wives are considered in the Hindu tradition to be the avatars of the goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu. Gopis are considered as Radha's many forms and manifestations.

In the lights of celebration, I'm sharing this thought to all our family, relatives and friends, Happy Deepavali Festival (that's how we say it in Malaysia.) Although I'm born Chinese Malaysian, my bonding with Indian friends was since our childhood, we lived together in a multi racial community with Malay and Indian, my neighbours are Indian.Because I had travel to many places and adopted multi culture, and most of the time iI spend in South Asia, where Theravada Buddhism and Hinduism co-exist centuries ago, my love on history is getting deeper each and every day, while reading and tracing values in religious like Hinduism, Buddhism etc.. I learnt that all of us, stands a unique human being, there is no barrier in religion, by the name of its Creator.

I found a short video clips, hope you like it too.

Le Ballet Royal du Cambodge in Hong Kong

The Tale of Khmerican - Force Back to Cambodia

Since 1977, the US Congress arranged for Cambodians, who were fleeing from the Khmer Rouge, to become permanent residents of the country through the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act, eventually making them eligible for citizenship. Most were placed in ghettos in Lowell, Massachusetts, Lynn, Massachusetts and Long Beach, California with little support from the government

Most were born in refugee camps in Thailand after their parents escaped the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime and the wars of the 1970s. After moving to the United States as young children, they were deported decades later. Having grown up in the United States, they are fully ensconced in American culture. Upon arrival in Cambodia, they were given “naturalization certificates,” which grant them Cambodian citizenship.

After deportation, they were forbidden from ever returning to the United States.

Cambodian officials, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, have claimed they are motivated by human rights concerns because deported Cambodians were being unjustly separated from their families in the U.S.

“When they send back to Cambodia, the wives and children continue living in the United States,” Mr. Hun Sen said in April. “This is a sad separation.”

However, the government may also have more pragmatic goals in mind, seeking political gain or concessions from the U.S. in delaying repatriations. In particular, there are indications that the government may be seeking more U.S. support for deportees after they arrive in the country.

According to an updated program description from RISC, which details the U.S.funded NGO’s objectives in providing initial orientation and assistance with finding jobs and housing, acquiring legal documents and accessing medical care, among other support, the organisation is preparing for 16 more repatriated Cambodians by October 2017 and 94 on top of that by September 2019.

The project anticipated the target population to be at 582 individuals by the start of this proposed project in October 2017, and at 676 individuals by the end of this proposed project in September 2019.

Bill Herod, a long-time resident of Cambodia, established the Returnee Assistance Program, a non-governmental organisation, to assist deportees in transitioning to life in Cambodia. However, deportees receive no official support, and Cambodian government officials have expressed their consternation that the United States is dumping "American gang members" on the streets of Cambodia.

The fact is, do they have a choice to be in the U.S in the first place, and they are facing another life turning point for a mistake that made which caused them return to Cambodia, a land they never step on before, separated from their family.  

A typical convenient store in Siem Reap province

It seems impossible, but they’ve managed to fit almost all of the products found there in this even smaller shop, but the focus seems to be more on items that local or those snacking in for kids and cigarettes for guys might want. They have a decent selection but if you’re planning on cooking a five course meal, it probably makes sense to hit up mini market in the  main street like Angkor Market, which is not far away anyway.

Sam, Co-Founder of SR Group Cambodia, is just an ordinary person love to travel and a dedicated destination tour planner under the flag SRG Holidays Cambodia offering excursions tour packages, hotel accommodation, tour guide services and transfer. Sam spent 4 years living in Angkor-Siem Reap since 2014; and many more years to come.

What is Super Malaria?

Where Super Malaria emerging from?The answer is Cambodia.

It is quite normal to get a mosquito bite in Siem Reap, what we did not expect from the bite is the super malaria parasite, now you should read about the fact. While it emerged in Cambodia but has since spread through parts of Thailand, Laos and southern Vietnam, taking serious precaution may save lives.

The Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) located in Bangkok aims to fight the infectious tropical diseases affecting rural communities in Asia and elsewhere in the developing world. MORU was established in 1979 as a research collaboration between Mahidol University, Oxford University and the Wellcome Trust, and is supported with significant funding from the Wellcome Trust, though it also receives funding from other trusts and foundations, governments, and multi-lateral donors. 

Prof Arjen Dondorp, the head of the research unit quote on BBC News the rapid spread of "super malaria" in South East Asia is an alarming threat, scientists are warned, globally .

This particularly form of malaria parasite resisted with the main anti-malaria drugs.It is alarming that this strain is spreading rapidly through the Mekong sub-region and we fear it can spread further as far as to Africa.

( Life cycle of Malaria - Image from Klein 2013) 

Quick FACT

In a letter published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, the researchers pointed out the recent sinister development had shown a resistance to the drug artemisinin

Treatments containing an artemisinin derivative (artemisinin-combination therapies, ACTs) are now standard treatment worldwide for P. falciparummalaria. Artemisinin is isolated from the plant Artemisia annua, sweet wormwood, a herb employed in Chinese traditional medicine. A precursor compound can be produced using genetically engineered yeast. 

Chemically, artemisinin is a sesquiterpene lactone containing an unusual peroxide bridge. This peroxide is believed to be responsible for the drug's mechanism of action. Few other natural compounds with such a peroxide bridge are known. 

About 212 million people are infected with malaria each year caused by a parasite that is spread by blood-sucking mosquitoes, killed mostly children 

The first choice treatment for malaria is artemisinin in combination with piperaquine. 

But as artemisinin has become less effective, the parasite has now evolved to resist piperaquine too. 

Prof Dondorp said the treatment was failing around a third of the time in Vietnam while in some regions of Cambodia the failure rate was closer to 60%. Resistance to the drugs would be catastrophic in Africa, where 92% of all malaria cases happened.

Michael Chew, from the Wellcome Trust medical research charity, said: "The spread of this malaria 'superbug' strain, resistant to the most effective drug we have, is alarming and has major implications for public health globally.

"Around 700,000 people a year die from drug-resistant infections, including malaria.

If nothing is done, this could increase to millions of people every year by 2050."

Orphanage in Cambodia increased by 75%, while orphan decreasing.

Children who live in orphanage often unaware of why they have been sent away from their home. Across time they learn to kiss and hug the volunteers, and they may be encouraged to do so since that makes the experience better for the tourist, often being asked to perform cultural dances or sing for cheers and applause.They dance, they sing and they perform for tourists and the donation box comes out.

Tourism here is growing rapidly though, so while a captive audience with cash exists, it will perpetuate the trade. In the tourism hotspot of Siem Reap the business of “orphanage” can be a successful one.

The real situation

Many - and most - of the children living in these so-called ‘orphanage’ aren’t orphans either, it could be children from poor families, single parent or given over to such centres by their families or relatives. Some families said they had been offer to send their children to the centre, in pursue for better living condition and education, but in most cases, it is not true. 

This country was shattered by war and the genocide of the Khmer Rouge regime more than 30 years ago, which left hundreds of thousands of children orphaned, but in recent years the number of actual orphans has fallen, but according to UNICEF, the number of orphanage has gone up, by more than 75%. Innocence can be a saleable commodity.

Many institutions in Cambodia are legitimate but knowing which and where to support is difficult. It needs checking, re-check and double-checking.

We heard Australian tourists being taken to a rural part of Siem Reap, 45 minutes outside the town, to be shown a plot of land where one man said he wanted to build a school and needed large donations.The man may plan to do it, but he may not. There is no proof, but that same man was on busy “Pub Street” everyday, he was there touting for business, and he asked tourist to visit his orphanage, see the school site, and donate.

When walked away from one conversation, he then approached our local tour guide saying there’d be money in it for him if he could convince us to hand over cash.

Rethink Orphanages says the “voluntourism” industry — volunteer tourists — is worth about $170 billion a year globally and Australians, create much of the demand for an orphanage experi­ences. Estimated 14% of Australian schools have an association with an orphanage, and at least half of all Australian universities advertise orphanage placements as part of their international volunteering opportunities.

Some travel companies play up the positive benefits of the volunteer experience, but sometimes it’s just about making rich kids feel good.

The number of orphan­age in Cambodia will continue to go up as long as tourists are pouring into Cambodia, maybe there are people who think that is OK because the children are very poor and in the orphanage, they get well fed or they learn English.

That is what the parents of the children are often told: they will have a better life in the orphanage — but it’s just not true.

The ideal arrangement for any child is to be with their parents, not trying to get affection from a stranger.

There are, too, alternative forms of care for children beginning to surface. Daycare centres that feed and educate children, when they’re not at school, are being set up.

Solution

To untangle the complex web of social issues and enable families to escape the inter-generational cycle of poverty, it is necessary to address the root cause of the issues and provide holistic, systemic and sustainable solutions.

They are at significantly greater risk of becoming sex workers, ending up with a criminal record and of committing suicide than their peers. We know that the single most important resource children need to grow up well is the stable, emotional bond of family.

Day Care Center or Family-based Care Center - Child Protection

Cambodian Children's Trust (CCT) Holistic Family-Based Care (HFBC) ensures that children remain living with their biological family, or where that’s not possible, are cared for in family-based care such as kinship care, foster care or local adoption. CCT also assists institutionalised children to be safely reintegrated back into their families or into foster care.

In Siem Reap, organisations may provide free education to children but not shelter as orphanage. Parents can send their kids to spend couple of hours learning at the center on a regular schedule. Children are not allow to stay in the center after the service hours closed.

JWOC offers a wide range of Free Classes to the local community complementing what is taught at public schools and providing a safe environment where students can play and study. We provide high-quality learning opportunities free of charge to those who cannot afford extra lessons at school or at private language centers.

Each week, JWOC teaches over 40 classes to around 850 students at our Siem Reap Community Center. Classes are taught by JWOC staff and scholarship student volunteer teachers. Our classes are designed so that students develop communicative and collaborative skills which will help them succeed in school, university and the workplace.

Why Bhutan is well known as "The Land of Thunder Dragon"

A place of solace, rest and recuperation. 

Bhutan is well known as the land of thunder dragon, here's the story goes..

• In Dzongkha language, Bhutan is known as "Drukyul" literally means "The Land of Dragons" 
• While Kings of Bhutan are known as "Druk Gyalpo", The "Dragon King" 
• Bhutanese people call themselves the Drukpa, meaning "Dragon people"
• Because large thunderstorms that whip down through the valleys from the Himalayas, semantically regarded as .. ( you got the answer now.) 
• Located on the eastern Himalayas, it is geopolitical settled on South Asia, neighboring to Tibet Autonomous Region and states of India.

Where is Bhutan actually?

Bhutan is 1 of the 49 landlocked country in the world, the country's landscape ranges from lush subtropical plains in the south to the sub-alpine Himalayan mountains in the north, where there are peaks in excess of 7,000 metres high (approx.23,000 ft). it was second to Maldives as least populous nation. The largest city is the capital - Thimpu, meanwhile the financial city is Phuentsholing, which is adjoins the Indian town of Jaigaon, and cross-border trade has resulted in a thriving local economy. 

The highest mountain in Bhutan is the Gangkhar Puensum, which is also a strong candidate for the highest unclimbed mountain in the world. 

What is unique about Bhutan policy in the past?

The independence of Bhutan has endured for centuries, and the territory was never colonized in its history.

More recently, under the protection of the kingdom, in 1999, the government lifted a ban on television and the Internet, it sound strange, but that brings Bhutan one of the last countries to introduce television on the list.

The King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck (from 1972 until 2006) is credited with many modern reforms in the country. said He also stressed that any development undertaking should be a genuine collaboration between the people and the government. 

He saids "television was a critical step to the modernisation of Bhutan as well as a major contributor to the country's gross national happiness, but warned that the "misuse" of television could erode traditional Bhutanese values."

Read More about the Druk Gyalpo

In South Asia, Bhutan ranks first in economic freedom, ease of doing business, and peace; second in per capita income; and is the least corrupt country as of 2016. However, Bhutan continues to be a least developed country. Here's the good news, visiting almost an untouch sacred land is touristically exclusive and viable.

How to visit Bhutan and stay within the rules of good conduct?

• Bhutan’s tourism sector is regarded as one of the most exclusive travel destinations in the world. 
• Bhutan enjoys a reputation for authenticity, remoteness and a well-protected cultural heritage and natural environment.
• The tourism industry in Bhutan is founded on the principle of sustainability, meaning that tourism must be environmentally and ecologically friendly, socially and culturally acceptable and economically viable. 
• The Royal Government of Bhutan recognizes that tourism is a world-wide phenomenon and an important means of achieving socioeconomic development particularly for a developing country like Bhutan. 
• It believes that tourism, in affording the opportunity to travel, can help to promote a deeper understanding among people and to strengthen ties of friendship based on a deeper appreciation and respect for different cultures and lifestyles.

5 Countries One Destination - ACMECS

ACMECS - Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy is a political, economic, and cultural organization among Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar.

 

Cambodia

The ministers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam spoke on Thursday (September 7) at the 3rd Meeting of Tourism Ministers of countries under Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) in Hochiminh City. 

 

Laos

ACMECS is intended to act as a catalyst to build upon existing regional cooperation programs and complement bilateral frameworks with a view to transforming the border areas of the five countries into zones of economic growth, social progress and prosperity, and to blending local, national and regional interests for common benefits, shared prosperity, enhanced solidarity, peace, stability and good neighborliness. 

Tourism ministers of the five countries mutually agreed to cooperate on fine tuning overall responsible tourism, tourism marketing activities, and creation of more diverse tourism products for this region. 

   

Myanmar

Nguyễn Ngọc Thiện, Vietnam’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, noted that last year, the number of international tourist arrivals in ACMECS countries reached 54.75 million, 

The number of intra-regional tourists was 8.95 million, 16.4% of the total number of international tourists, a year-on-year increase of 5% 

  

Thailand

In October last year in Hanoi, the tourism ministers adopted the Declaration of the 7th ACMECS Summit, while a Plan of Action on ACMECS Tourism Cooperation 2016-2018 was agreed in 2015. 

Joint tourism promotion and marketing activities among the five countries include participation in international tourism events, travel fairs and exhibitions; and support from each country for road shows to promote intra-

regional travel and organisation of familiarisation trips (FAM) with travel agencies, investors and media. 

    

                     Vietnam

Leaders of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Thailand met for the first time on 12 November 2003 in Bagan, Myanmar. 

The Leaders agreed to call this newly created economic cooperation framework the "Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy" or "ACMECS"

At the meeting, the ministers emphasized the significance of tourism product linkages promoted by ACMECS countries, particularly thematic multi-country tour program, including 

• Southern Coastal Corridor (Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam) 
• Northern Heritage Trail (Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam) 
• Mekong Discovery Trail (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam) 
• Cruising the Mekong Delta; The Middle Path (Myanmar and Thailand)
• Golden Triangle Mekong River Cruising (Laos and Thailand); 
• Route 8 (Laos, Thailand, and Việt Nam); 
• East–West Corridor (Laos, Thailand, and Việt Nam). 

Many activities have been held to develop specific tour program, including the first East-West Corridor Tourism Cooperation Meeting, and the first and second Meeting of the Southern Coastal Corridor, with technical tours in all provinces of Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam along the Corridor. 

The Plan of Action on tourism cooperation from 2016 to 2018 will continue to emphasize connections among routes and corridors, as well as marketing activities and sustainable tourism. 

The Plan also calls for promotion of major international forums and events in the region, particularly 

• Cambodia Travel Mart 2017 
• Visit Laos Year 2018
• ATF Thailand 2018
• ATF Vietnam 2019. 

The ministers said that ACMECS tourism cooperation in the “Five countries-One Destination” programme has been useful as it “brands the unique characteristics of the region”. 

They urged the private sector to become more deeply involved in tourism public-private partnerships, and said that new internet-based applications for information exchange and marketing should be used more frequently. 

22 million tourists 

On the same day, the 4th Meeting of Tourism Ministers of four countries, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam (CLMV), met and discussed travel facilitation, tourism-capacity building, involvement of the private sector and local communities, tourism product development, and tourism safety. 

Last year, the number of international tourist arrivals in CLMV countries with a total 22.16 million while the number of intra-regional tourists was 2.79 million, accounting for 12.6% of the total number of international tourists. 

Visa procedures have been increasingly simplified, more direct flights connecting regional destinations have opened, and travel by land among regional destinations has become more convenient, according to the ministers from the four countries. 

The CLMV promotes the East-West Corridor, Northeastern Corridor, Southern Coastal Corridor, and Southern Corridor as joint tourism products. 

The ministers stressed that CLMV tourism cooperation should be more outcome and action-oriented, and agreed that it was necessary to enhance coordination with relevant sub-regional cooperation frameworks. 

Thailand will host the 4th Meeting of ACMECS Tourism Ministers in 2019 and provide a venue and facilitation for the 5th Meeting of CLMV Tourism Ministers. 

"For more than a decade, tourism cooperation among Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam within the framework of ACMECS, including the ACMECS Tourism Cooperation Plan, has achieved significant economic results," said Nguyễn Thành Phong, chairman of HCMC’s People’s Committee. 

In the spirit of the “Five Countries - One Destination,” Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam have developed tourism products, inter-connected tourism spots and regions, and invested in and upgraded tourism technical infrastructure, while preserving traditional cultural values and protecting the environment. 

About SRG Holidays Cambodia

SRG Holidays Cambodia is a destination travel planner that actively promoting Cambodia as a travel destination for GIT, Group & MICE, since 2015 we had been engaging our local & regional services through local partnership.

Another important role is to create awareness of travel experience which help to support the community through our service-learning program.

SRG Holidays Cambodia

Pchum Ben Holiday this year, 19 - 21 September 2017

Pchum Ben is a time to remember, venerated & offering to our ancestor and a part of vital ritual in Khmer Culture. This year Pchum Ben falls on 19 September 2017, culminating in celebrations on the 15th day of the 10th month in Khmer calendar, at the end of the Buddhist lent, Vassa.

Pchum Ben Festival is a public holiday in Cambodia, starting on 6 September, Cambodia will begin its 15 days long ceremony, the last day will fall on 21 September 2017. The highlight of the event will be from 19-21 September 2017, which will be the official public holidays in Cambodia.

In Pagoda, monks chanting continuously, it is believe that during this time, the gate of hell open the portal to allowed those imprisoned to travel back to the land of living, to received food and other offering for ancestor as far as 7 generations by their descendant, offering also goes to those without lineage in descendant, or in place of those could not attend the ceremony. some soul and spirit were released for temporarily but some may gained permanent released to next incarnation. 

Monks chant Buddhist Suttas in Pali overnight without resting until the ceremony. Food, Flowers, Rice and Gifts are given to the monks to convey to the afterlife, so the dead do not haunt the living, but blessing the live, while others leave it at pagodas for their deceased relatives,an act of cast it into a field for them to find often seen during the ceremony. The first 14 days see many offerings made, but it is the final, on the 15th day, that is the grand culmination of the whole period. 

Cambodian all over the country will travel to their homeland in provinces for Pchum Ben, and there are services in many towns and villages. Most ceremonies involve processions around temples and crowds that wait outside with lit incense in hand as the monks perform rituals. There are also symbolic events where five mounds of sand or rice are formed and decorated in resembled to Mount Meru, where various Buddhist gods are thought to reside.

There will be no shortage of things to do. The challenge will be to select the best events and to fit it all into your schedule. For this, you may wish to consult an expert travel insider tips. Do as the local do,rise early to cathc the best of the day. Free your senses and slow down your schedule as you don't want to miss out the details for the scenery to unfold.

During Pchum Ben holiday, most of the hotel will offer special promotional rates as this event witness the domestic movement throughout all provinces and cities in Cambodia. Advance booking is recommended from 15 September 2017 onwards. If you happen to visit Cambodia at this time, do join many of the local to witness the ceremony all over temples and pagodas, it should be one near to each town and villages, the traditional music will guide you there.

SRG Holidays Cambodia offer exclusive tour packages and excursion planning tips for better touring. As holiday times is precious, a well planned and time invested in doing some research guaranteed a considerable cost saving plus get the most out of it, this leave a better and beautiful memories of Angkor.

Quick Reference

• 4D3N Exclusive Tour Angkor - Tonle Sap - Kulen 
• 6D5N Exclusive Tour Siem Reap - Battambang
• Angkor Archaeological Park