- CHEA PHAL -: May 2007

From S-21

I had been to the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, also know as S-21 (SecurityPrison 21) for several times but had never taken it a photo. On 20 May, I was there again with a freelance Japanese photojournalist to help him interpreting interviews with some Khmers visitors at the museum and getting some snapshots. Out of 17,000 people was imprisoned there were only 7 survivors and now only three of them are still alive. Actually before going to the museum, I had helped the journalist interpreting the interview with Mr. Van Nath, one of the three survivors and now running a restaurant in Phnom Penh. Frankly, it was less inspiring than I expected and I did not ask him to take a photograph as I planned. Read more about S-21

Rubbish Fashion Show

It is not hard to find littered plastic bags along streets or public areas in Cambodia. It is very normal to see tissue papers scattered around under tables in Cambodian restaurants, though there is sign of improvement recently. To encourage people to change the habits of throwing away recyclable rubbishes, in the night of 18 May, the rubbish fashion show was organised at my favourite Elsewhere Restaurant and Bar. 51 Cambodians and foreigners turned commonly found rubbishes such as plastic bags, beer cans, cardboard and excreta into very fashionable customs. A music bang from University of Fine Arts also made a very great performance by using bottles and barrels as their instruments.

Ironically I could secure the place just in front of the stage where most the persons there were photojournalists, that why I could have some nice close-up shots.

Build a School for Cambodian Children

One Japanese beautician wants to raise fund through charity haircut in Japan to support a school building in Cambodia. His name is Sugawara Shiro. He and his wife have visited Cambodia this May to see educational situation in Cambodian in remote areas where the need of school buildings is high and urgent. Trapaing Knoung primary school located in Brasat Balang district, Kampong Thom province is one of the most tattered school I have ever visited. Constructed in 2004, the school has only one building whose walls and roof made from palm-leafs full of holes. You may wonder what will happen when rain comes. Of course, there will be no class. Mr. Sugawara also cut hairs for few students there. It is their first time to meet foreigners, their first time to read picture books, and their first time to have their hairs cut by a professional.

Singer Wannabe

If you ask Cambodia countryside kids “what do you want to do when you grow up?” I am certain that about 90 percent of their answers would be “a teacher” or “a doctor”. It seems that these are the only occupations that come up to their minds, when you hit them the question. It is what I have learnt after visiting score of primary schools in remote areas. Yet, surprisingly one day a girl bravely raised her hand when the students in the class were asked this very same question and answered clearly with her loud pitched voice that “I want to be a signer.” I was moved just to hear that answer. She even sang us a beautiful pop song as our request. I was really impressed with her braveness and talents. I hope this little girl, who does not only get the most enchanted face but the best grade in the class, will live up to her dream and one day can make it come true.

Phnom Penh's Night

Last week, I hanged around Phnom Penh with my best friend as what we had done for countless of times. The difference was I was armed Pentax *istD L2 ready to capture some beautiful Phnom Penh night scenes. Here are some of the them.