|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By
: H.P. Raingsy, Picture by : Nathan Dexter. |
|
|
New Ferry
Across the Tonle Sap
A new free ferry service that helped thousands to
cross back and forth across the Tonle Sap during
Water Festival recently will continue and plans
are in place to expand it even further.
Run by the Phnom Penh Port Authority, the ferry
departs Phnom Penh just south of Wat Phnom.
Although free for passengers, no cars or motos are
allowed on the ferry. Instead parking is provided
at 500 riel (or just over 10 cents) per moto and
2000 riel (about 50 cents) per car.
As the service expands, more stops are planned for
Phnom Penh's river front at Wat Ounolom and Hun
Sen Park (near the Cambodiana Hotel).
A further stop will be added across the river in
Ksach Kandal District, Kandal Province.
The ferry service is part of extensive beautification
projects being undertaken by the Municipality of
Phnom Penh for both Phnom Penh and Chroy Changvar.
|
| |
 |
|
A new ferry service makes
it easy to cross back and forth to peaceful
Chroy Changvar Peninsula at will.
|
| |
|
|
|
The new park and
promenade area on the Chroy Changvar side is expected
to be fully completed around the end of the year.
The three days of boat races on the Tonle Sap marking
Water Festival held recently saw 30,000 rowers camping
on Chroy Changvar along with their families and supporters.
This influx tested the new service right out, but patrons
said it came through with flying colours.
A convention center is also planned for the peninsular,
scheduled for completion in time for an international
ASEAN tourism conference in 2003.
Lunar Festival Predicts Drought
Predictions concerning rainfall for the coming season
were made as usual at this year's festival of Full Moon
Salutation, which coincides with Water Festival, and the
results released by the astrologers of the Royal Palace
are a cause for concern for farmers in many parts of the
country.
On the night of the full moon, candles are lit at a special
ceremony held inside the palace, a total of 24 candles
representing each one of the 24 provinces and municipalities.
Rainfall is predicted by the amount of wax which drips
from each candle, and from the patterns it forms. |
|
But according
to the royal astrologers, the Year of the Horse
will be a tough one for many.
Kampong Cham, Kampong Speu, Koh Kong, Kratie, Mondulkiri,
Phnom Penh, Preah Vihear, Rattanakiri, Siem Reap,
Svay Rieng and Takeo will all receive very little
rain throughout the season, according to the interpretations
of the wax drippings made by the royal experts.
Only Kep and Kampong Thom are predicted to do well
in the rainfall stakes.
The predictions are taken very seriously by many
Cambodian farmers, and the full results are published
in local media and studied and discussed around
the country.
Venerable Ya Loeung, Second Assistant to the Chief
Monk at Samrong Andet Pagoda, Kandal Province, said
his pagoda had held a separate ceremony and had
come up with similar results.
"Perhaps it is not as scientific as modern
methods but it is part of our culture so it is important
that we keep practicing it," he said, and urged
farmers not to give up hope based solely on this
ancient method, but rather to incorporate it into
their calculations. |
|
| |
|
 |
|
Festival of Full Moon Salutation,
Samrong Andet Pagoda.
|
| |
|
|
Aviation Law
Passed
A draft law strengthening penalties and improving security
concerning civil aviation was passed by the Council of
Ministers recently.
The draft law, containing 65 articles, sets new penalties
for "crimes concerning civil aviation" and outlines
a minimum penalty of one year's imprisonment and a $513
fine for infringements and a new maximum of 20 years in
prison and a $5130 fine.
Ramadan Celebrated
Mid-November saw Cambodia's ethnic Muslim population,
the Chams, observe the international Islamic tradition
of Ramadan.
Muslims fast during daylight hours for the duration of
Ramadan, which commemorates the first revelation of the
Koran to Mohamad.
Cambodia has a population of about 200,000 ethnic Muslims.
The total population of Cambodia is approximately 12 million.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Previous
Article |
Next Article
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Suite
B8, Regency Square, InterContinental Hotel, 294 Mao Tse Toung
Boulevard,
Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia.
Tel: (855) 23 213 133 Fax: (855) 23 213 033
E-mail:
editor@leisurecambodia.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Read
Leisure By :
