Deaf Internet

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This month I got one of the most beautiful evidences of the importance of the internet in our time and how it is about inclusion. New technologies are changing the human history and it is not created for the power and enjoyment of minoritarian groups, but information and communication technologies are a human patrimony we must promote to reduce the global digital gap. 

The huge NR3 hole at Prektong village was repaired

Kampot. The huge ‘canyon’ at the NR3, in Prektong Village, Tick Ta Commune, Prey Nub District (ភូមិព្រែកទង សង្កាតើទឺកថា) has been repaired, according to our observation at 5PM of today 3 August, less than 18 hours after we did this post. I wonder if it would be repaired at the same speed if it were in the Kampot territory.

 

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Spectacular canyon at the middle of National Headway 3

2 August 2012. The name National Headway 3 seems an ideal to reach than a fact. Evidently, it has improved along the last decade, but it is a very poor road. The contrast is the stunning hill headway built to reach the Bokor new casino.

Sihanoukville Beaches

The beaches of Cambodia are enlisted among the most beautiful ones of the world by the Bays of the World’s club, according an official statement of the Ministry of Tourism.

The club is an international association dedicated to promote the protection of coastlines of the planet. Cambodia presented its beaches as candidates to the list on May 2010.

Lonely… ‘Khmer’

Hua Hin. Visiting ‘Amazing Thailand‘ from the ‘Kingdom of Wonders.’ I got the 2010′s edition of Lonely Planet about Thailand (13th edition, January 2010) to read in my 12 hours bus travel from Sihanoukville to Bangkok. I have to recognize that I admire the work of Lonely Planet. It is real original and well documented. Then it is made upon the research of writers living or working in the country. The history of Thailand, according with this 2010 edition (p. 29-40), is a complete resume. I noticed only a great absent: Cambodia. Actually, it is a pity that the use of references is poor in the article. It is  said, for example, that a ‘modern linguistic theory and archaeological evidence‘  - which ones? – ‘suggest that the first true agriculturists in the world, perhaps also the first metal workers, spoke an early form of Thai and lived in what we know today as Thailand (p. 29).’ How can Lonely Planet say it? From where this conclusion came? 

Learning the culture of discussion

Kep City. Creating a school of communication does not mean only to get rooms, cameras, computers and microphones. Tools are evidently important, but great reporters and communicators can manage even without a laptop. Schools need especially masters of the skill. Some weeks ago – February 15 – the students of social communication of the Don Bosco Vocational Center got a real special visit: Photojournalist Arjay R.J. Stevens, a German national based in Cambodia since 1996.

Soccer at the sea side

Kep City. A soccer game between the teams of Sihanoukville and Kep was one f the ways to celebrate Christmas at the Don Bosco Vocational Center on December 25 afternoon. The game ended in a draw and went to penalties that gave the victory to Kep. The technical school invites groups of Kep and Kompot to challenge its soccer and volleyball teams, trained currently by Italian-Belgian coach Cassale. Contact the administration for any possible schedule. In January there is a program of rhythmic gymnastics for the afternoon.

Cambodian Christmas boom

One of my friends wrote to me an email from Phnom Penh:

‘This is great stuff BUT it’s strange to me why so much emphasis is placed on a Christian holiday in a supposedly Buddhist country.  When did this surge of celebrating Christmas (the birth of Christ) become popular in Sihanoukville? Was there an effort from the tourism ministry to promote the westerners holiday in Sihanoukville and Siem Reap? In the past there was no interest.’

It is true that this year the preparations for Christmas has been especially published in Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. Christmas concerts and festivals, Christmas gatherings in hotels and Christmas neon lights everywhere as it were the most Western country. The reply to this question is: all those stuff are not Christmas as the birth of Christ of course. All those stuff are far from the real Christmas Spirit. The goal is, evidently, to attract Western tourism and it means dollars and euros… It is therefore a business. By sure, most of those Cambodians preparing Christmas parties, do not have the most single idea of what they are celebrating or saying when they say ‘Merry Christmas’ or, as some students of mine write ‘Happy Merry Christmas.’

Sihanoukville 2-1 Kep: Don Bosco soccer friendly match

Kep (red) did keep the pressure on Sihanoukville the first 45 minutes, starting the game brightly.

Sihanoukville. Kep City as a visitor was convincing in the first time with a goal of Ty Tho, 22, a leading from Kompong Thom in the Don Bosco Oupram playground this evening. But the victory was for Sihanoukville with two goals connected by Huo, 19, a Takeo man, who is already a figure in the Sihanoukville local team. Kep did keep the pressure on Sihanoukville the first 45 minutes, starting the game brightly and was a goal only for 10 minutes by Ty Tho. Sihanoukville became disparate running to protect their camp from the Kep insistingly attacks. To the second time Huo was invited by the coach and the game changed with a more confident Sihanoukville that controlled the ball to put in twice to the bottom of the net by this local soccer figure.

Koh Puos, the Snake Island of Sihanoukville, has a bridge to development

Where there are not ethical principles, it is hardly to expect an authentic development.

All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual.
Albert Einstein

Read more: RFA: ‘Russian Pedophile Pardoned On Government Request‘

Young people talk about the Case 002′s first hearing

Sihanoukville (06.27.2011). Students of the social communication & journalism department of the Don Bosco Technical School followed the first hearing of Case 002 for the prosecution of four surviving senior leaders of the Democratic Kampuchea regime (1975-1979).

Japanese Aikido’s master to open club in Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville. Japanese Aikido’s master Kaneko Shinichi, a volunteer based in Cambodia, will give a demonstration of this Japanese martial art at the Khmer University of Technology and Management, KUTM, of the city port. Aikido means the Way of Unifying Life Energy and it is developed as a practice to self-defense and protection of others from attackers. Pradal Srey, the Cambodian martial arts, is widely practiced in the country, although some foreigner martial arts like Taekwondo are present in the Cambodian post-Khmer Rouge era. In Sihanoukville, a city without an authentic sport vocation, there is already a Taekwondo club leaded by Korean Christian groups at the Leu Market. Kaneko Shinichi is going to do his opening Aikido demonstration this Sunday at 9 AM to promote the participation of young people at his lessons with a cheap fee: 20,000 riels for Cambodians, 60,000 riels for foreigners and free for persons coming from KUTM or NGO schools. Cambodians can attend Aikido lessons on Wednesdays at 16:00, 17:00, 18:00 and 19:00, foreigners on Fridays at 16:00, 17:00, 18:00 and 19:00 and KUTM students and NGOs on Sundays at 8:00 and 9:30. Number phone for more information 012.21.67.20 and 017.95.65.85.

Sihanoukville beaches among the most beautiful of the planet

Sihanoukville. The beaches of Cambodia are enlisted among the most beautiful ones of the world by the Bays of the World’s club, according an official statement of the Ministry of Tourism. The club is an international association dedicated to promote the protection of coastlines of the planet. Cambodia presented its beaches as candidates to the list on May 2010. The Cambodian sea cost extends from Thailand to Vietnam in 450 kilometers over the Gulf of Siam.

Pisak Bochear ceremony in Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville. More than 500 Buddhist monks joint the Pisak Bochear procession last Tuesday. The ceremony started at 13:00 at the Two Lions Square and went through the Eakereak Avenue to finish at the new Buddhist shrink on the Independence Park with the assistant of several faithfuls.

Cambodian way of greeting

How Cambodians greet? Mr. Sophat explains in Don Bosco Talk the five positions to greet in Cambodia. It is known as the ‘Sampheah,’ where you join your hands at the level of your chest, chin, nose, eyebrows or over the head. Each position is directed to a different kind of person. Cambodians do not shake hands, kiss or hug in public.

A Khmer painter in Sihanoukville

Meng Vuth is a young artist of the city port of Sihanoukville. He has done works in pagodas, schools, clubs and others. Spoken in Khmer with subtitles in English.

2nd Vietnam International Trade Fair 2011 in Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville. The Cambodian sea port is the headquarters of the 2^nd Vietnamese International Trade Fair 2011 that is taking place from March 24 to 28 at the old bus station. The Fair is sponsored by the SOPHIVI, a Vietnamese company of food products, processing & suppliers settled in Cambodia. According to the director, Hul Sophea, the program promotes Vietnamese products such as shoes, clothes, food, tools, motorbikes, drinks and many others. He mentioned to our media that there are 120 shops in the fair with discounts to visitors. The program is opened daily at 9:00 and closed at 23:00 hours. He added the 1^st Vietnam International Trade Fair was made in Kompot. There are also shows of music, one of the main attraction to visitors. See more photos here.

Thief could be responsible for the murder of Italian

Sihanoukville. A man, who was arrested by the police for burgling the house of Mr. Som Kakna, could be the responsible of the murder of Mr. Guido Ricciarini, the Italian that lost his life last February 8 when somebody entered his house and killed him. Yesterday morning, the police arrested the man at 11:00, but his name was not made public. Authorities said that it is possible a good connection of this man with the crime. In the interrogation, the man admitted that he uses to burgling in houses of foreigners. He mentioned that he entered the house of Ricciarini:

‘When I arrived at that house, I noticed that the door was open and so I went in and took a laptop and 200 dollars,’ the Police said that these were his declaration over the case.

The suspect also mentioned that, during the burglary, Mr. Ricciarini awoke and he admitted to hitting him in the face with the handle of an umbrella. The case is currently under investigation by the police as they try to uncover more information.

Mr. Ricciarini was a benefactor of the Don Bosco projects at Sihanoukville and the crime was rejected by numerous individuals and organizations.