Cambodia4Kids.Org

Dengue Fever in Cambodia

I love the band Dengue Fever.  They are based in LA and do a sort of Khmer fusion.  The lead singer, Chhnom Nimol, is Cambodian.  We discovered them because they did the sound track for Matt Dillion's City of Ghosts.   PR from Forever in Transit has written about one of my favorite songs, I'm Sixteen.   And, Jinja, has also referenced the band in his comprehensive post about Cambodian music.

Apparently, they are touring and have performed in Cambodia, although they had to cancel their first appearance because of some issues around equipment.   

Anth, an expat and blogger who is in Cambodia now caught their performance, complete with photos (including the one above.)

There is an informal update from the band on their web site about what they've been doing in Cambodia the last couple of weeks, including this tibit:

"today was not stop. we recorded with a blind master musician named kong nai 8am. he is like a Cambodian Ray Charles who plays the chapai..we had a connection, he was super sweet."

Wow, Kong Nai! We learned about him from the Flute Player on PBS.   Later, I got a DVD of one of his performances when I was in Cambodia.   Here's the description from the flute player site:

Kong Nai plays the chapei dang veng, a two-string long-necked guitar. He also practices the Khmer tradition of improvisational singing while he plays. Improvised lyrics were traditionally satirical or humorous, but this was forbidden by the Khmer Rouge, and he was forced to sing songs of praise for the government. He now performs less controversial songs, mostly stories and fables. Kong Nai has been a teacher at the Cambodian Master Performers Program since 2002.

Here's a clip of what he sounds like via the Flute Player site.

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Ben Pchum Ben - Cambodian Hungry Ghost Fest

Rice balls (Bay Ben) with other offerings photograph from Ly Daravuth

Tharum comes back from a brief fishing holiday during the Pchum Ben Festival.   I've been curious to learn more about this holiday and recently Lux Mean  described in more detail about Pchum Ben, or as translated into English "Spirit Festival or Hungry Ghost Festival."  It is a Buddhist holiday which lasts 15 days based on lunar calendar During this time dead Ancestors walk the earth seeking food.  Many of the people throw sticky rice, which, apparently is easier for the spirits to consume.  The last three days are a national holiday in Cambodia where people take off from work.

I'm hoping to do a lesson on it in Harry's classroom and tie to Halloween, given the ghosts.  (The class also learns about the Day of Dead in Mexico, so this is a great way to present a more global take on Halloween).  Fritz's blog the dutch owner of Fritz's Restaurant, has some photos and so does another expat living in Southeast Asia, Mythicaldude.

Here's a list of links to articles and older blog posts found on the web:

Feeding the Ancesters

CamWeb Posts on Pchum Ben

Tales of Asia

Sweet Cucumber's Rant about Pchum Ben - 2004

Cambodia's Festival of the Dead

Leisure Cambodia: Pchum Ben

Notes on Pchum Ben

Parish Without Borders: Article about Pchum Ben, 2000

I'm hoping my Cambodian blogger friends will share some more personal annecdotes,  or maybe an audio file with the correct way to say it ...

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Collaboration between US and Cambodian Puppet Theatre

The Sandglass Puppet Theatre will be collaborating in Phonm Penh with Sovanna Phum.  The piece is called The Story of the Dog.  It got started in 2003, when the artistic director of Sandglass traveled to Cambodia to give some puppetry workshops. While he was there, he met Mann Kosal, artistic director of Sovanna Phum. Bass said he was impressed by how Kosal was using traditional shadow puppets with Cambodian dance and music to create a new art form. The two men forged an artistic relationship that they promised to try and encourage.

Water Festival in Lowell, MA

While the kids were napping and has access to the Internet, he's a montage of the opening ceremony of the Water Festival in Lowell, MA.  The film is two minutes long.  My fastest editing job ever .... I got a lot more footage, but no time to edit yet ...

Download Movie.wmv

 

Boun Om Touk in Lowell, MA

Southeast Asian Water Festival is celebrated in the US by Cambodians and other Southeast Asians in August in Lowell, MA.   It takes place along the Merrimack River, there are food vendors, dance performances, and lots of fun!  Every year we take our children to the Festival as well as the "Rath Family Reunion."  The reunion is a gathering of families who have adopted Khmer children.   We have a big dinner at a local Cambodian restaurant and organize some culture classes/activities for the kids.

This year, Somaly Hay, will lead a dance and culture class in the morning.  JJ Thou, our culture teacher, will be doing activitites with the kids in the afternoon.   

I'm hoping to practice my podcasting skills and take my digital camera for some vlog posts as well.  I don't know how much I'll be able to get with two little kids running around, but will try!  However, Andy Carvin will be there podcasting and vlogging.

With that said, I was wondering if Cambodian bloggers could write about their experiences at the Water Festival or leave a comment below!  Any special foods, dances, customs, etc.?

 

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