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: Staff Writer. |
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Phnom Penh
now has its first wine bar, with the opening of
Rubies, at the corner of streets 19 and 240, near
the southwest corner of the Royal Palace.
The idea was the brainchild of Australian graphic
designer Tahli Shepherd and is even more extraordinary
for Cambodia as it specializes in quality Australian
wines by the glass or bottle and currently stocks
about 40 labels.
"The historical background of Cambodia means
that wines available here are predominantly French
but Australia produces some of the best wines in
the world," Ms Shepherd said.
"I wanted a bar where I could sit and have
a glass of really good Aussie wine at a reasonable
price in a chilled, laid back atmosphere.
"We have had tremendous support for Australian
vineyards in setting up. They've seen the potential
market here, too. They've been great."
Rubies, which occupies the ground floor of a French
colonial building, will also stock cigars and serve
beer, spirits, soft drinks, tea, coffee and nibbles.
Opening hours are 5pm until late, Wednesdays to
Sundays. |
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ART
EXHIBITION A HUGE SUCCESS
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An exhibition of the work of
Royal University of Fine Arts students held at
Java Cafe on Sihanouk Boulevard has proved an
outstanding success, with more than 50 of almost
100 pieces already sold.
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An exhibition of work
created by Cambodian art students during a five-week
workshop has proved an outstanding success, with
more than 50 of the young artists' pieces sold and
universal acclaim for the high standard reached.
The Open Window exhibition, held at Java Cafe on
Sihanouk Boulevard from early last month, showcased
about 100 works by 35 Level I, II and III students
from the Royal University of Fine Arts (RUFA). The
works were predominantly prints and styles ranged
from abstract to sharp outlines of black and white
statues. The work was created during a workshop
with English artist Sasha Constable.
"I'm obviously very proud of all of them and
very happy that they received such great support
from the people who came to see the exhibit,"
Ms Constable said.
"We wanted Khmer people as well as expatriates
and tourists to come and view the work and that
happened so I think this is a very positive sign
for art in this country on all counts."
All proceeds from work sold was split between the
artists and RUFA.
Ms Constable's own work is currently on display
at the Visitor’s Center at Preah Khan.
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Cambodia's premier retailer
of new books and periodicals, Monument Books, has
moved their Phnom Penh office. The company opened
its doors for business at the new 111 Norodom Boulevard
address, near the corner of Street 240, at the end
of January this year.
The opening of the new office was a gala affair,
attended by guests that included respected authors,
leading business figures and dignitaries including
Phnom Penh Governor Chea Sophara. Monument Books
is the leading distributor of new books and magazines
in the Kingdom. Outlets include Pochentong and Siem
Reap airports, as well as the Foreign Correspondent's
Club, Cambodia (FCC) and many of the leading hotels
in the capital and Siem Reap. However, this new
office will serve as the company's main retail outlet
nationally.
Bookworms now have plenty to choose from and browse
through in the area.
Leading secondhand bookseller, London Books, also
moved recently to a new location within a few doors
of its old address and is within walking distance
of Monument's custom-built store.
London Books is located at House 51, Street 240
and stocks as many as 10,000 books. Leisure is sold
at both outlets. Monument Books may be contacted
on 023 217 617. London Books is on 023 214 258.
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Phnom Penh’s hip and trendy
can now enjoy roller-skating near Naga Casino.
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A craze that has swept
Cambodian streets over the last couple of years
has now gone up market with the opening of a new
roller skating rink in the heart of Phnom Penh.
Club Thida, near Naga Casino and opposite Samdech
Hun Sen Garden opened on January 7 this year and
has quickly become a popular meeting place for young
Khmers.
"We open at 8am and go through until 10pm,
seven days a week," said club owner, Ms Yu
Sokunthea, 20.
"I think we are doing something important.
We give people a place to exercise. About 100 people
a day visit the rink mostly men. They range in age
from seven years old to 20 and sometimes even older.
"We don't limit the numbers who can skate at
one time."
Costs are low. The rink charges 2000 riel for roller
blade rental and 3000 riel for roller skates. Those
lucky enough to have their own skates can skate
to their heart's content for just 2000 riel (50
cents) per hour. |
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Along the
road southeast of Phnom Penh heading towards Kandal
and Takeo provinces, a strange fruit packs roadside
stalls, hanging in white or purple clusters.
These are plai teuk-doh koh, or milk fruit.
These unusual fruits come into season in November
and are usually gone by mid-March. Their sweet white
flesh, said by some Khmers to taste a little like
congealed milk, is probably what gives them their
name, although the skins of the young fruit oozes
a milky sap when cut.
A cluster of a dozen costs between 4500 and 6000
riel, or around a dollar to $1.50. Vendor Mao Chann
Bophal, of Takdol commune near Takhmao town, Kandal
province, said some clients had told her they believed
the fruit was unique to Cambodia, although others
said they had seen it in neighboring countries,
if only rarely. Mr Chieng Ratanak, Vice Director
of Kandal Provincial Tourism Service, said there
were good reasons why milk fruit was much rarer
than other fruits such as mango or jack fruit.
"Despite it being a great favorite with locals
and most of the foreigners who buy it, growers don't
plant this tree widely as it takes one tree seven
to eight years to mature and bear fruit and the
surface root system takes up a lot of land, preventing
any other crops from growing beside it or near it,"
he said.
"However, some families in certain districts
of Kandal like Kien Svay, Kandal Steung and Koh
Thom like planting a couple of milk fruit trees
in their village because they grow up to seven meters
tall and provide a lot of shade. Even with a good
yield, though, growers can only make 80,000-120,000
riel ($25-$35) from one tree annually. The size
and shape of an orange, milk fruit is either purple
or white. The skin of the white fruit turns gradually
brown as it ripens. The white is the most popular
with locals.
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Chinese and
Sino-Khmers welcomed the Year of the Horse last
month with dragon and lion dances and a week-long
volley of firecrackers, widely ignoring a longstanding
ban on bangers. The Chinese are major players in
Cambodia's commercial economy. A Chinese envoy to
Cambodia in 1292, Chou Ta-Kuon, reported that Chinese
had lived in the area since the time of Chenla,
the dynasty that preceded Angkor. The Chhiv Ith,
or first day of the New Year, was celebrated on
February 12. Traditional Chinese and Sino-Khmers
are prohibited from doing anything on this day,
including washing clothes or sweeping floors for
fear of bringing bad luck upon themselves for the
coming year and most sit at home with family.
The Chhiv Yee (second day) and Chhiv Sa (third day)
are days for having fun, going to the temple or,
for some, resuming work. Many believed ignoring
the firecracker ban was worth the risk to please
the incoming horse gods of the New Year, or at least
understood why others would.
"To set fire crackers off covers the ground
in red paper, and red is the color of celebration
and luck in Chinese culture," one Chinese teacher
at a temple in Takhmao, Kandal province, said.
"Setting off fire crackers is a way of congratulating
the new god," said Mr Chan Bun Thorn, owner
of Apsara Bakery on Kampuchea Krom Boulevard.
"Dragon dances outside businesses bring good
luck and happiness. Putting flowers such as plum
or ankear sil in front of a house or shop will make
business grow like its flowers, and without flowers
there can be no fruit.
"And tangerines keep families and businesses
together as strongly as the shape of tangerine.
Sugar cane makes business grow like cane and kantim
(pomegranate) scares ghosts and bad spirits from
people's lives," he said. Chinese New Year
coincided |
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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 |
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