7/22/09

Koh Kong Information Guide

BANGKOK TO TRAT: Buses depart from Ekamai bus station regularly from 6am to 11pm, stopping in Chonburi and Chantaburi. About a 4 1/2 to 5 hour trip, fare ~147 Baht.
PATTAYA TO TRAT BUS
Bus from Bangkok will pick-up in Pattaya at 6am and 11am at any bus stand in the south bound lane on the Sukhumvit Hwy. The Thai border closes at 5pm so you must get the first bus to make it unless you are spending the night along the way. Photo shown is the 11am bus. The Pattaya bus stand on Sukhumvit Highway across from Pattaya Klang Road is shown at the right in the photo. This bus stops at all major cities along the eastern seaboard. NOTE: this bus stand is now under construction. Just stand.

BUS INTERIOR
Bus is clean and air conditioned. When you get on it might be standing room only. Hopefully the bus is full of students that are going to the Thai-Australian Tech College which is 15 minutes down the road. If it is a holiday or special event you might have to stand a while. Fare is 120 Baht from Pattaya, 147 Baht from Bangkok. 6am bus you got in Pattaya should arrive in Trat at 10:30 am.

MINIBUS TO HAT LEK
As soon as you get off in Trat someone will show you the way to this minibus which is only a few steps from the bus. One way fare is 100 Baht to the border. Ride takes about 1 hour or so. Be forewarned that the Trat to Pattaya bus leaves only at 5:00, 9:30, 12:00 & 15:00. Trat to Bangkok bus at 6:30, 8:30, 10:30, 13:30, 16:00, 17:30 & 23:30.

HAT LEK TAXI STAND
You get off here. Minibus back to Trat leaves on time every 45 min. Thai border closes at 5pm so relax, you have time. Notice that a major resort is being built around you called the "Koh Kong International Resort Club". Look it over as it is beautiful. You may enter the Casino to play or just have a look. Their cheapest room is 900 Baht if you wish to stay the night.

THAI IMMIGRATION BORDER POST
A few steps from the taxi stand is the Thai Immigration post. Get stamped out of Thailand and then walk a few more steps to the Cambodian side. As always I was treated very well with few problems and they are quick and efficient. You will be given a free 30 day visa on your return. NOTE: ask them nicely NOT to place their small 30 day entry stamp on an empty passport page. You will need them for Visa's.

CAMBODIAN IMMIGRATION POST
Get your Cambodian visa at the border for 1000 Baht or $20 usd. Bring one photo and fill out the forms BUT there have been many complaints of Cambodian Officials extorting money from tourists. The new scam is the "Sticker Visa Scam". They want 1100 baht for it. PLEASE make a written formal complaint at the Ministry of Tourism in PP if they refuse the $20 usd. Try your best to stop this.

NEW ROAD TO KOH KONG
There is a lot of development going on in this area and this new road is part of it. About 2 minutes down this road and your passport will be checked again. Then another 8 minutes to the river crossing. Motorbike taxi fee is 40 to 50 Baht and 30 to 50 Baht per person for a car. Bargain hard.

NEW BRIDGE
The bridge to cross the river and the road to Phnom Penh are now open. Taxi's found in the morning at the market will go to Phnom Penh and charge 400 baht per person but better to pay double and get the whole seat. Depending on weather it will take 6 to 12 hours. 3 ferry crossings are required. Some taxi's will go to Sihanoukville.

LARGE SPEEDBOATS
Speed boat to Sihanoukville leaves at 8am. From Sihanoukville to Koh Kong at 12:30pm. To Sre Amble at 7:15am and back at 11am. Either trip takes 3-1/2 to 4 hours. One way fare is ~600 Baht (500 for locals). From there an air-con bus or shared taxi that will take you to Phnom Penh. Don't be in a rush to leave Koh Kong. It is a great place and worth a few days stay here.

WARNING !!!
Tickets now come in two colors, one for locals and one for tourists. If you get a local to buy one for you make sure it is a tourist ticket with the higher fare written on it. Some reports from tourists warned of having their tickets ripped up and being forced to buy the right one. Cambodia needs to do something about the way tourists are being treated !

On the Sihanoukville to Koh Kong speedboat you will make a stop at Bah Klong Island. Locals will get off and on and you might have your passport checked. DO NOT listen to the touts that want to give you a short cut ride to the Thai border. You will be placed on small boats with old equipment on open ocean. It is not safe ! Stay on the speed boat and get off in Koh Kong. The boat to get to the Thai border will cross a river, not open ocean.


SPEEDBOAT TO SRE AMBEL
Cheaper and faster if you are going to or coming from Phnom Penh but I do not recommend it. They will stuff 40 people in this small boat and you will hit every wave. Departure times: Sre Ambel to Koh Kong at 11:00 am and Koh Kong to Sre Ambel at 7:15am. Fare is 450 Baht. 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Shared taxi for road portion is ~100 Baht.

TICKET BOOTH IN SRE AMBEL
On the way back you can buy your speedboat tickets here cheaper than in Koh Kong. Taxi's near here will take you to Phnom Penh for ~2.50 usd or get the whole front seat for ~$5.

TAXI STAND IN PP
You will be dropped off here in Phnom Penh at the Central Market or you can get your taxi here to get back to Sre Ambel. Trip is about 2 1/2 hours from Sre Ambel to PP.

THE BUS FROM HELL
For those who have been on it will never take it again. The service run by the Capital Guest House is for Hard Core Masochists. You have been warned. Read this story: Click Here.

BETTER BUS SERVICE
The Van pictured is from a Vietnamese company that sells tickets for $16 usd and they are 2 to 3 hours faster than the "Bus From Hell" ! Although the ride was rough at times it was completely survivable. They travel only 3 times a week. PP to HCMC Tues, Thurs & Sat, HCMC to PP Tues, Thurs & Sat at ~ 6am.
For their biz card Click Here

CAMBODIAN BORDER
You stamp out of Cambodia here. There has been many reports of corrupt officials extorting money from tourists. There is no charge for the quarantine forms and you only need the health book if you have traveled through some African and other questionable countries. It's a 5 minute walk to the Vietnam side.

ENTER VIETNAM
You will stamp in to Vietnam here and there is a small fee for the quarantine form. Expect about 1 to 2 hours to get through all the paperwork to cross these borders (Mostly just waiting). Good news, the roads are better from now on and HCMC (Saigon) is less than 2 hours away.

NORTH TO NHA TRANG
For $8 usd you can get a day or overnight air-con bus (9 hours). The bus from Sinh Cafe Tour is considered the best but it would of been a better trip if they would repair the seats ! Mine would not go back, notice the space between my seat and the one in front. They will also drive very slow on the return trip just so they can sell you breakfast at 6am (Oh those backpacker scams). Aircraft, train & state bus are also available to get here from HCMC.

To be honest it was a good trip. Smooth sailing to Koh Kong but rougher from PP to HCMC. All along the way I saw many great things. Do not travel during holidays or you will have a problem getting a seat in the buses (from Pattaya). Also had problems with Cambodian officials extorting money from me. I know how to bargain so the boat and taxi drivers didn't bother me but I did see a family having problems being overcharged. The road is very bad from PP to HCMC but from HCMC to Nha Trang the road is good, also Nha Trang is worth a visit as it is a beautiful resort.

Koh Kong was great. I have never been to a town (village) that could be walked around and yet had so much to see'n do and they have nightlife as well. Make Koh Kong a stop on your travels through S.E. Asia and you won't be disappointed. To date it is the easiest "Visa Run" for expats who live in eastern Thailand.

Tourism Statistic Report of 2008 31 January 2009






7/21/09

Alcohol as Cambodia Social Problem

Abstract Paper Presentation East Asian Medical Student Conference
Bangkok-Pataya-Thailand 07-12 January 2008
Alcohol as Cambodia Social Problem

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are about 2 billion people
worldwide who consume alcoholic beverages and 76.3 million with diagnosable alcohol use
disorders. From a public health perspective, the global burden related to alcohol consumption,
both in terms of morbidity and mortality, is considerable in most parts of the world. Alcohol
consumption has health and social consequences via intoxication (drunkenness), alcohol
dependence, and other biochemical effects of alcohol. In addition to chronic diseases that may
affect drinkers after many years of heavy use, alcohol contributes to traumatic outcomes that
kill or disable at a relatively young age, resulting in the loss of many years of life due to death
or disability. There is increasing evidence that besides volume of alcohol, the pattern of the
drinking is relevant for the health outcomes. Overall there is a causal relationship between
alcohol consumption and more than 60 types of disease and injury. Alcohol is estimated to
cause about 20–30% of oesophageal cancer, liver cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, homicide,
epileptic seizures, and motor vehicle accidents worldwide (WHO, 2002).

Alcohol consumption is linked to many harmful consequences for the individual drinker, the
drinker’s immediate environment and society as a whole. Such social consequences as traffic
accidents, workplace-related problems, family and domestic problems, and interpersonal
violence have been receiving more public or research attention in recent years, indicating a
growing interest in a broader concept of alcohol-related consequences (Klingemann & Gmel,
2001). On the other hand, however, social consequences affect individuals other than the
drinker e.g. passengers involved in traffic casualties, or family members affected by failure to
fulfill social role obligations, or incidences of violence in the family. Ultimately, however,
these events have an impact on society as a whole insofar as they affect economic
productivity or require the attention and resources of the criminal justice or health care
system, or of other social institutions (Gmel & Rehm, 2003).Alcohol consumption lead to social problems: alcohol consumption and workplace problems, alcohol consumption and family problems, poverty, and domestic violence.

For decades, Cambodia had experienced a "double burden" of morbidity and mortality
from a high prevalence of communicable diseases and high rate of disability and
death due to landmine injuries. Recently however, data has shown that an increasing
importance of road traffic injuries as a major cause of accidental death and injury.Most
road injuries are among motorcycle riders - nearly 90% in Cambodia. The recent survey in may 07 shows that percentage of casualties injured
in road accidents due to human error result from alcohol abuse is 17% of all the traffic accident in Cambodia (Cambodia Road Traffic Accident and Victim information system-monthly report, May 2007). And the record of alcohol consumption (litres of pure alcohol) among adults over fifteen years old is 1.5/capital (WHO, 2007).Drink-driving and domestic violence related to alcohol consumption is a growing problem in Asia pacific and Cambodia.
Drink-driving is one of other several major causes of injuries and fatality among road users in Cambodia, this is according to WHO. On the social aspect, alcohol impairs many social functions, especially in family life. Drinking costs money and can impact upon resources particularly of a poor family, leaving other family members destitute. Also, it is worth noting that specific intoxicated events can also have lasting consequences, through home accidents and family violence (Room, 1998; Room et al., 2002).
The majority of victims of Domestic violent resulted from alcohol abuse in Cambodia are women and children, this is according to the statistics Alcohol has been shown to be a significant risk factor for husband-to-wife violence.

Alcohol is not an ordinary commodity. While it carries connotations of pleasure and
sociability in the minds of many, harmful consequences of its use are diverse and widespread.
To effectively reduce the level of harmful social and health consequences from alcohol use
requires much preparation and planning. It is now the responsibility of governments
worldwide and concerned citizens to encourage healthy debate and formulate effective public
health-oriented countermeasures in order to minimize the harm caused by alcohol use.

Miliya Thyl

7/20/09

Closing Workshop

Closing Workshop



His Excellency, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

Good afternoon trainers and all participants. On behalf of Cambodian Federation of Employers and Business Associations (CAMFEBBA), first of all I would like to thank for your presents with two- day workshop. And I would like to take this opportunity to express thanks to the trainers who have done the best job to conduct this workshop. Furthermore, I really appreciated to show our trust gratitude to ILO who sponsors this program.

After participating two-day training, I really believe that all participants have gained a lot of benefits from this workshop in term of knowledge and local and international experiences from our experts. As a result, I hope all participants will take knowledge and experiences that you have learnt from this workshop to apply in order to develop your own businesses as well the SMEs in Cambodia. CAMFEBA will take cares to follow up after fishing this workshop and confirm you the improvement of SMEs in Cambodia.

Moreover I actually believe that ILO will keep doing such kind of workshop and training with CAMFEBA to spread the value and fresh knowledge and experiences to improve the SMEs in Cambodia. And we are looking forward to continue the cooperation in this endeavor and trust that our effort will produce results beneficial to economy and society in this country.

Finally I appreciate with a successful workshop and would like to thank all of you here for your work hard to teach, learn, share and discuss to make this workshop more active and successful. I hope that I will see you in other workshop soon.


Thank you very much.

Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony

His Excellency, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen


Good morning and thank you very much for attending our workshop this morning. On behalf of Cambodian Federation of Employers and Business Associations (CAMFEBBA), I would like to welcome the members of Cambodia Association of Travel Agency (CATA) and Artisans' Association of Cambodia (AAC), who are the participants, and our special guests from Embassies, UNDP, ILOs and trainers.

All participants are here this morning to learn and share the experiences from our trainers improve the SMEs environment in Cambodia. As we know that the SMEs is improving in this country; however, we still be challenged with several obstacles. Today, the experts from several countries will share the experiences and some how to deal with the problem or challenge.


Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) are an important part of any national economy. They contribute to significant to employment and output, are a key suppliers of goods and services to large enterprise and can be a vital contributor to export. Those enterprise or companies might be small but together they have role to play in the private sector.

SMEs dominate economic activity in Cambodia and account for a substantial part of employment. Increasingly the key to the development of Cambodia, SMEs make up approximately 99 percent of all enterprises and almost half of all employment. Because of their importance in economic growth and poverty reduction, the Royal Government of Cambodia has emphasized the important role SMEs play through various policy documents including the Second Socio-Economic Development Plan and National Poverty Reduction Strategy. The Government’s ‘Rectangular Strategy’ also emphasizes the importance of the SMEs and sets out 13 SME development policies for strengthening the SME sector. Through these strategies the Government has made it clear that SMEs will be a major emphasis of economic development polices for many years to come.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Tourism and Handicraft are the two to major industries which are leading in the market in Cambodia today. From year to year the market is increasing rapidly because of supporting from the Royal Government of Cambodia with cooperation with the NGOs such as ADB, JICA and especially with ILO. The Royal Government of Cambodia, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Mines and Energy have developed new policies and projects to improve the climate of SME as mentioned above. Meanwhile other NGOs have tried to build the capacity for private sectors in tourism and handicraft industries by providing workshop, training, study-tour and so on.

Finally I would to express my deep gratitude to ILO sub-regional who supports to conduct this workshop. I wish this workshop will be conducted successfully and wish you all here have good luck to participate this workshop.


Thank you very much.

Brief History of “Langka Preah Kossumaram Monastery”

Brief History of “Langka Preah Kossumaram Monastery”

Langka Nonastery, which was founded by the Monarec Preah Barom Reachea Ponhea Yat in the year 1981 of the Buddhist era (B.E.), or A.D. 1437, was originally located to the north-east of the Phnom Daun Penh Monastery. But in 2442 B.E. (A.D. 1892), the Phnom Penh municipal authorities in formed the Chau Adhicar (Head of the Monastic Community). The Venerable Preah Nhean Bavar Vichea Ok, that provisions contained in the plan for urvan development would entail the removal of the sanctuary and monastic buildings to their present site.
Shortly after the receipt of this information, the Venerable Chau Adhicar died with the result that the task of demolishing the monastic sanctuary devolved upon his successor, the Venerable Preah Nhean Bavar Vichea Khatt, who gave the necessary orders or the demolition of this building, which was constructed of perishable materials, in 2453 B.E. (A.D. 1910), and for the construction of a new sanctuary in brick on the site allocated for this purpose. He was to be greatly assisted in this task by the then Minister of Justice, Okhna Yomareach Men, his wife, Chumteav Preap, and by another distinguished lay patroness, Chaukun Prayouvong Patt. But both the Venerable Chau Adhicar and the Minister of Justice were to pass away before the edifice had been completed.
Following the death of these personages, the Royal Family assumed the task of providing the Langka Monastic Community with the required assistance: a task they are still discharging today:
-In the year 2454 B.E. (A.D. 1912). His Majesty Sisowath Monivong, who was invested at the time with the rank, title and dignity of Master of the Royal Household, invited the Venerable Preah Krou Vimolpanna Louis Em (name in religion vajirappanno) then Chau Adhicar at the Sithor monastery to become Head of the Langka monastic community, with the title of Preah Nhean Bavar Vichea. It fell to the lot of this religious dignitary, assisted in this task by Chaukhun Prayouvong Patt, to complete the construction of the new sanctuary. The contribution made by another lay patroness, madam Nay, who devoted part of her fortune to purchasing the brick tiles with the sanctuary was floored, is likewise deserving of mention.
The ritual consecration ceremony, known as the depositing of the “Seima” took place in 2459 B.E. (A.D. 1916), was performed in the presence of His Majesty King Sisowath (posthumous name Preah Reacheanukodh).
-Her Majesty Preah Moha Ksattriani Kossumak Nearireat Serei Waddhana, Queen of Cambodia, and August daughter of His Majesty King Sisowath Monivong, was in the habit of accompanying Her Grand-mother, Chaukkhun Prayouvong Patt, on the visits she was accustomed to pay on Buddhist Festival Days (“Tngai Sel”). On these occasions, Her Majesty used to carry into the monastery precincts sand, used in building of hillocks (“Phnom Ksach”), which feature in a ritual ceremony performed prior to the advent of the Cambodian New Year, while She never failed to make a financial contribution towards the upkeep of the sanctuary and adjacent buildings. Now and then Her Majesty passed the night, in company with her grandmother, in the Monastery’s ceremonial hall(“Sala Benn”) in order either to witness cermonies, such as those performed during the two week period of the year, which the Khmers devote to commemorating their dead, or to listen to the cycle of sermons “Mohacheat” based on the former live of the Lord Buddha. Her Majesty likewise stayed in the Monastery during the period when the mortal remains of her elder brother, H.R.H. Prince Sisowath Pinnareth, were being housed there prior to the cremation ceremony, which took place in 2461 B.E. (A.D. 1919).
H.R.H. Princess Norodom Kanchanaviman, Consort of His Majesty King Sisowath Monivong, and mother of our August Sovereign, was also a frequent worshipper of Langka Monastery. On her death, her ashes were interred in a stupa, which can still be seen in the grunds, by the Royal Family. In conformity with the example set by Her illustrious forbears, Her Majesty Queen Sisowath Kossumak has proved an unfailing source of invaluable aid and assistance both to the late Venerable PreahNhean Bavar Vichea Louis Em, and to his successor in equipping this Monastery, which is today one of the most beautiful, and renowned monastic establishment in the Capital.
-It was to Langka Monastery that H.R.H Prince Krom Preah Sisowath Monireth was sent when he first attended school. Here, he studied under the Venerable Preah Nhean Bavar Vichea Louis Em.
-In 2475 B.E (A.D 1932), His Majesty Sisowath Monivaong bestowed upon the Venerable Preah Nhean Bavar Vichea Louis Em, who was then Principal of the School of Higher Pali Studies, and Chairman of the Committee charged with translating the “Pali Tripitaka” into Cambodian, the dignity of Preah Serei Sammatevong, which automatically promotes the holder to the third rank in the Cambodian Buddhist hierarchy.
-In 2485 B.E (A.D. 1942), His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk Varman promoted, in his turn, the Venerable Preah Serei Sammatevong Louis Em to the first rank in this hierarchy by bestowing upon him the dignity of Preah Dhammalikhet. In the course of a religious retreat, this Monarch likewise distinguished Langka Monastery by delivering a sermon within the precincts. Finaly, His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk Varman saw fit to create the Venerable Preah Dhammalikhet Louis Em a Samdech, appointing him at the same time at the same time Supreme Counselor of the Mohanikay Order.
-In 2497 B.E. (A.D. 1954) His Eminence Samdech Preah Dhammalikhet Louis Em Decided that the sanctuary of Langka Monastery, which had been consecrated in 2359 B.E. (A.D. 1916), should be demolished, and replaced by a larger building better adapted to the purposes it was intended to serve. The implementation of this project, which was approved of, and actively supported by Their Majesties King Norodom Suramarit and Queen Sisowath Kossumak, was facititated by generous donations from Buddhist laymen throughout the Kingdom.
-The Work of re-building the sanctuary had only been halfcompleted, however, when his Eminence Louis Em was struck down by illness; and, although the most prominent members of the medical profession acting on the instructions of Their Majesties-were to make every effort to save their distinguished patient during anxious months. His Eminence Louis Em passed away, fortified by his Buddhist Faith, to Eternal Beatitude: a cruel loss deeply mourned by all members of Buddhist monastic communities.