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After a brief lull in postings - due to a weekend away - I have a few snippets of news to pass on. Some of it's confirmed, others bits are rumour but worth mentioning. I'll kick off with Bokor Mountain, the home of the ghostly casino and beautiful views over the South China Sea and the plans by Sokha to turn the plateau into a resort - the latest word is that the only road to the summit of the mountain will be closed soon for about two years as they construct a 'proper' road to the top, leaving anyone who wants to visit Bokor with two options, take a Sokha-owned helicopter flight, or walk. More as I hear it.
Next, Boeung Kak lake, home of the backpacker fraternity in Phnom Penh, could disappear next month if plans to pump out the water and fill it with sand are to be believed. This raises massive concerns about the potential for flooding in other areas of the city as the lake acts as a buffer against an already fragile drainage system that is under severe pressure. It also poses the question of where do the travellers looking for cheap and cheerful accommodation hang-out. And it will certainly spoil the lovely sunsets to be seen across the lake. I will believe it when it happens.
Feeling energetic? If you fancy running or cycling around the Angkor complex of temples, the International Angkor Wat Half Marathon will take place on 2 December, with the cycle event a day earlier. Find out more here.
The delapidated Cambodian railway system is to get a much-needed overhaul with the aid of grants of up to $73 million. The Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville as well as Phnom Penh-Poipet railway lines will get the benefit as part of the massive Trans-Asian Railway, which aims to create an integrated freight railroad network across Asia. The focus is on transporting commercial goods but passengers should get the benefit too, though the general view is that passenger services invariably lose money.
The 2008 CamboFest for filmmakers is now open for submissions. A mirror-event of the recent inaugural Phnom Penh event will take place in Siem Reap at the end of November. Find out all the details here. In addition, the same team have just launched CamboTube.com - Cambodia's only video sharing portal.
Finally, Mondulkiri is looking forward to a new airport at a cost of $6 million, to be built at the provincial capital Sen Monorom from December. However, already the local chunchiet (ethnic minority) group, the Phnong, are complaining the proposed site takes away some of their sacred forest. Land grab is a major issue throughout Cambodia nowadays so this news doesn't come as a surprise to anyone.
Next, Boeung Kak lake, home of the backpacker fraternity in Phnom Penh, could disappear next month if plans to pump out the water and fill it with sand are to be believed. This raises massive concerns about the potential for flooding in other areas of the city as the lake acts as a buffer against an already fragile drainage system that is under severe pressure. It also poses the question of where do the travellers looking for cheap and cheerful accommodation hang-out. And it will certainly spoil the lovely sunsets to be seen across the lake. I will believe it when it happens.
Feeling energetic? If you fancy running or cycling around the Angkor complex of temples, the International Angkor Wat Half Marathon will take place on 2 December, with the cycle event a day earlier. Find out more here.
The delapidated Cambodian railway system is to get a much-needed overhaul with the aid of grants of up to $73 million. The Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville as well as Phnom Penh-Poipet railway lines will get the benefit as part of the massive Trans-Asian Railway, which aims to create an integrated freight railroad network across Asia. The focus is on transporting commercial goods but passengers should get the benefit too, though the general view is that passenger services invariably lose money.
The 2008 CamboFest for filmmakers is now open for submissions. A mirror-event of the recent inaugural Phnom Penh event will take place in Siem Reap at the end of November. Find out all the details here. In addition, the same team have just launched CamboTube.com - Cambodia's only video sharing portal.
Finally, Mondulkiri is looking forward to a new airport at a cost of $6 million, to be built at the provincial capital Sen Monorom from December. However, already the local chunchiet (ethnic minority) group, the Phnong, are complaining the proposed site takes away some of their sacred forest. Land grab is a major issue throughout Cambodia nowadays so this news doesn't come as a surprise to anyone.
posted by Andy Brouwer at
11:00 AM
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