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Cambodia Reopens Tourism for 2022

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A new initiative designed to revive Cambodia’s tourism industry, was officially launched virtually by the Ministry of Tourism on January 27. The “Cambodia: Safe and Green Tourism Destination” campaign came after much of the country’s tourism was suppressed due to Covid-19 restrictions and safety concerns. During the virtual launch, Minister of Tourism, Thong Khon, encouraged municipal and provincial administrations for creative ideas in attracting international visitors, including through ASEAN channels. Promoting that the country is open to fully-vaccinated visitors without being subjected to quarantine, he also advised that every business that caters to visitors in implementing safety measures and standard operating procedures on COVID-19 prevention. According to the Tourism Ministry, Cambodia attracted up to 6.61 million in international tourism in 2019 and generated a gross revenue of 4.92 billion USD. During the pandemic, the number of foreign visitors dropped down to 87 percent during the Jan.-Nov period in 2021, from the same period in 2020. The Ministry of Tourism reported that a total of 344,547 tourists — of which included 334,859 domestic visitors and 9,688 foreigners, travelled to the tourist destinations of Phnom Penh, Preah Sihanouk, Battambang, Kampot, Koh Kong, Pursat, Mondulkiri and Siem Reap during the first weekend of February. Currently, Cambodia has administered at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to 14.35 million people, or 89.7 percent of its 16 million population, of which, 87 percent are fully vaccinated with two shots. The rate of vaccination will continue to increase as vaccinations become more available in the outer provinces. Siem Reap’s Rejuvenation and Demand for Green Space Already, several airlines have been increasing international flights. After a 11 month hiatus, the Siem Reap airport welcomed its first international travellers from Singapore Airlines on December 17, 2021. Craig Dodge, an advocate and director of sales and marketing of the popular Phare Cambodian Circus in Siem Reap and Steve Lidgey, who runs a small boutique travel agency called Travel Asia A La Carte, have been anticipating the return of international tourism. Both men were there to greet the first international travellers at their arrival at the airport. “It was a very emotional moment for both Siem Reap residents and also the visiting travellers when Singapore Airlines resumed their flights to Temple Town,” Lidgey explained. “A few tears of joy were shed at the thought of businesses resuming their livelihoods.” Lidgey noted with a bittersweet smile on how many tourists enjoyed seeing Angkor Wat without the heavy crowds that usually were there in previous years. “Prior to the pandemic, we saw healthy tourist numbers increasing year on year,” Lidgey noted. “However, just prior to covid, there was a drop in passengers from the western markets. This was due to a focus on the Chinese market — and photos of busy temples were a little off-putting for western travellers who wanted to avoid mass tourism.” Although the covid pandemic has been ravaging the tourism industry worldwide, Lidgey felt that Siem Reap has been hit especially hard due to the city’s heavy dependency on tourism. He added that Siem Reap businesses will still have difficulties resuming commerce after receiving little to no income for two years even after Cambodia has reopened itself to tourism. As Lidgey prepares himself to say goodbye to some wonderful businesses closing, he is still hopeful towards the new opportunities and revitalisation of Siem Reap. “Siem Reap does need to change from being so heavily focused on tourism — the pandemic has made that very clear,” Lidgey explained. “Phnom Penh has kept going, but time has stood still in Siem Reap. The government has plans to make Siem Reap into a ‘Smart City’ so that would be beneficial to all.” Over the past two years, Siem Reap has gone under major road construction in efforts to modernize the city and make travelling more convenient. Many local visitors from Phnom Penh or other regions in Cambodia, have enjoyed the changes to the city, especially the walking and bicycle paths that have been highlighted during events like the Angkor Marathon. “From personal experience of running a marathon(around the Angkor Temple Complex), I can really say the location is like no other — and a spectacular setting for a race,” Lidgey stated. Already there is a demand for pavement, cycle lanes, and greenery as the city grows. “It’s a great place for biking — there are bike guides and (more) infrastructure,” Dodge noted. Adding that he has noticed more cyclists and biking trails have been increasing around the temple complex as well as camping sites around Banteay Srey and Kulen Mountain. Lidgey himself stumbled across new developments on the foothills of Kulen Mountain as he rode his bike through cassava, rubber, and cashew plantations. This is why Lidgey would like to encourage the local government to promote the local traditions and the exploration of the natural beauty of the rural areas in other parts of the province. In addition to the Cambodian New Year, which has garnered many visitors to Siem Reap in the past, other events such as the kite festival in the Banteay Srei district and a local fair in Preah Dak, as well as the much anticipated The Angkor Wildlife & Aquarium, are what Lidgey would like to see become part the attractions for domestic and international tourists. Written by Sotheavy Nou

Sosoro Museum

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Sosoro Museum Introduces Cambodia’s Monetary History Through Oldest Coin Nestled in the heart of the city, near the night market and the heritage block, is the SOSORO Museum. A historic building which housed the former town hall residence in 1908 and the Phnom Penh municipality in 1920, and has been the museum of Economy and Money PREAH SREY IÇANAVARMAN since 2012. “The Museum is unlike any other in Cambodia,” Blaise Kilian stated. As the Co-Director of the Sosoro Museum, Kilian is excited to finally see the venue open and it has already been attracting attention from many local students and families. Although the museum was officially open in April 2019, the venue hasn’t been fully available until November 2021 due to restrictions placed from the pandemic. “We receive a lot of young Cambodians, mostly students and young professionals who walk in spontaneously,” Kilian stated. “We have also started to organize school trips – although not all schools are ready yet after the long months of Covid induced restrictions – and corporate tours whereby companies bring their employees to visit. We are also looking forward to welcoming international tourists as Cambodia reopens to international travel and we have already started to work with international tours in this regard.” Kilian explained how there was a huge effort to contextualise the exhibited artifacts so that the visitors can rely on a narrative throughout the 12 modules of the exhibition that span over two floors. ”The Museum offers an overview of 2,000 years of Cambodia’s history through the economic and monetary angle”, Kilian stated. “It is therefore a useful addition to existing museums that are usually focused on archaeology or on specific aspects of Cambodia’s history (mostly Angkor and the Khmer Rouge period). It also plays a major role in raising awareness about the close interaction between society, politics and economics throughout history. Everyone who is interested in Cambodia will enjoy visiting the Museum as it allows one to travel through the various periods of its history. The Museum is very modern and interactive with state-of-the-art museography.” Some of the museum’s most alluring attractions are the oldest medal coin issued by a Khmer King in the 7th century and a giant digital screen where visitors can inspect and discover the detailed markings of security displayed on modern banknotes. An interesting fact that Kilian discovered through the exhibitions, is the evidence of no monetary system used during the Angkor empire. The oldest evidence of currency used in Cambodia, is the silver coin with an etching of a rising sun. Although the coin originated from ancient Myanmar, this coin was widely circulated in the 5th-8th centuries in parts of Southeast-Asia, including in the pre-angkorian kingdom of Funan that was a popular pitstop on trade routes between China and India. The “Rising Sun Coin” is also the inspiration for the museum’s logo of SOSORO. Part of the museum’s namesake came from King Içanavarman, who ruled in the early 7th century over Chenla, the sovereignty that succeeded Funan. Although credited for creating the first gold coin, it was most likely that the coin was used as tokens of honor, rather than currency. The illustrations etched on the coin had Hindu religious references and the names of the King and of his capital city, Içanapura, the city of modern day Sambor Prei Kuk, which became part of UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014. The museum is divided into twelve different modules in which visitors can discover the country’s economic and monetary development focusing on the strong interaction between money, credit, growth, and inflation, over the 2,000 years of Cambodia’s monetary history. What makes the museum unique is the role it plays for Cambodia’s future, Kilian noted. “The Museum was established by the National Bank of Cambodia and is directly attached to the Cabinet of the National Bank. There is a vision from the National Bank to promote awareness and education about the role of the economy and money ー generally to share aspects of the country’s history that are often overlooked with the general public. Many exhibited artifacts come from the archaeological excavations, while others have been acquired or donated. Most of the contents have been put together by economist and National Bank Advisor Jean-Daniel Gardère who has worked closely with historians and numerous national and international experts.” The Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday and closed only on Mondays and public holidays. There is a new library, a mini souvenir shop, a lovely garden, and a little cafe decorated with artwork of currency. Ticket prices are 4,000 riels for Cambodian nationals, 20,000 riels for foreigners and 2,000 riels for kids and students of any nationality. Visitors can walk in or book for groups with options for guides. Audio guides can be rented for an additional 12,000 riels. Written by Sotheavy Nou

Love is in the air!

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While we acknowledge that cooking for your loved one can be a most romantic and wholesome event, we at Thalias also realise that there is a real appeal to leaving your cares behind and spending a Valentine’s Dinner catered to and pampered this February 14. Don’t worry about the overcooked steak or the wine pairing, we have that all covered for you! Discover below the delicious menus we have crafted to help you and your significant other celebrate your adoration. Spend an elegant evening with your beloved at Topaz. Intimately lit by candlelight, let our staff cater to your needs while you focus on letting the love flow. Our lavish seven-course set is made to delight your senses with delicate flavours from the land and sea. For a heightened sensory experience, the Topaz team has also spent time selecting a range of wines that we feel perfectly match the flavours of each course. Our Valentine’s Day menu will be available on the evening of Monday 14 February. Your chance to savour this refined 7-course menu is $240 net per couple or $160 net with wine pairing per person. See our full menu here and make sure to book your table now. Please call: 015 821 888, or book via https://topaz-restaurant.com/reservation Spoil your loved one this Valentine’s day with a romantic dinner for two at Khéma. With your hearts in mind, Khéma’s chefs have created a sensuous menu of smooth, rich, sweet, and creamy flavours that will leave you swooning this Valentine’s Day. Getting off to an electrifying start with a Lobster salad, the menu then lowers the volume with a Beef broth with foie gras Royale, followed by sweet, luscious Slow-Cooked Lamb Chops and rounded off with a magnificent Chocolate mousse with raspberry coulis centre. Discover our full menu and book your table now for Monday 14 February on https://www.khema-restaurant.com/reservations This Valentine’s Day, we’ve created a vibrant, luxurious menu full of colour and zest and featuring some of Cambodia’s most delicious flavours. If beautiful food is the key to gaining and holding a lover’s heart, then it’s time to book your enchanting Valentine’s Day dinner at Malis right now. Reservations strongly recommended https://malis-restaurant.com/reservation Details and menu here.

Chocolates and Macarons

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The Confectionaries of Love As Valentine’s Day approaches, all one can think of is the chocolates and heart shaped treats for loved ones. Alongside flowers and jewellery, chocolate has become a standard gift to show love, but how did this semi-sweet treat achieve its iconic role? The history of chocolate can be traced back to the ancient Mayans and even earlier to the early Olmecs of southern Mexico. Although the original versions of brewed chocolate drinks were concoated from cocoa beans around 500 BCE — many centuries before the first Valentine’s day; this drink played an important role in Mayan rituals, such as weddings, in which the bride and groom would exchange sips of the beverage during the ceremony. The Aztecs also revered chocolate, associating cacao to their gods. Like the Mayans, they enjoyed drinking chocolate, but they also used cacao beans as currency and can be considered to be more valuable than gold. One of the most notorious Aztec names associated with chocolate was an Aztec ruler, Montezuma II. He was rumoured to have drunk gallons of chocolate each day because he believed it gave him energy and can act as an aphrodisiac. Natural chemicals like tryptophan and phenylethylamine, which can release endorphins triggering feelings of love and desire, are found in chocolate. Although scientists say there isn’t enough of either substance to make chocolate a strong aphrodisiac, the act of giving and eating chocolate can also release Endorphins and Oxytocin in your brain, a chemical which gives pleasure. The Rise of the Macaron One treat that is gunning for chocolate’s symbolic role in the language of love, is the chewy, delicate, and versatile — macarons. The popularity of macarons have increased over the years as it becomes more readily available across the world. Macarons today can be found in many flavours and fillings, appealing to a wider audience outside of Europe. Macarons are considered to be of Italian origin, dating back to the 8th Century. The delicacy was thought to be introduced to France in 1533 by Queen Catherine de’ Medici of Italy. Legend has it that her pastry chefs brought the early forms of the macaron recipe with them when she married King Henry II of France. However, it was the French who made the macaroon truly distinguished as a culinary delight. In spite of the simple ingredients in the recipe, macarons are very hard to perfect, challenging even the most reputable bakers in their skills and technique. Not to be confused with the coconut cousin with a similar namesake of ‘macaroon’, the French macaron is a sweet meringue-based treat made with egg white, icing sugar, granulated sugar, almond meal, and food coloring. Good macarons have a light, airy bite to them that can really bring a feeling of romance to the moment. When you give you significant other macarons for Valentine’s Day, this automatically sends a message that lets them know that you care Romancing the Chef Pastry Chef, Panha Rith Hak has perfected his culinary skills in making beautiful delicacies for the French café-restaurant and gourmet delicatessen, Khema, since 2013. Clad in a pristine white chef’s uniform, Hak beamed with pride as he gazed over an array of heart shaped chocolates and macarons he was preparing for the Valentine’s Day holiday. In his 30 years of life in Phnom Penh, Hak has garnered a reputation as a reliable leader and a technical confectionary chef in Cambodia. He started his career in the food and beverage business in 2013 as a baker’s assistant at the fine dining restaurant, Topaz. Cultivating a name as a chef, he was promoted to a Chef de partie (CDP), also known as a “station chef” or “line cook”, and managed the whole bakery and pastry division at Khema Siem Reap. After 2 years in Siem Reap, he returned to Phnom Penh to further expand his role under the same position over the flagship venue at Khema Pasteur. After 8 years under Khema, Hak is now their main sous chef in desserts. Hak explained how much of the cocoa beans he uses originated from South America. “Now, for cocoa, we have around 50 countries including from southern Asia,” Hak stated. Adding that this year, the Valentine’s Day menu will include chocolate tablets alongside many other bonbon chocolates. ‘Bon’, meaning ‘good’ in the French language, is a round shaped piece of chocolate filled with fruit, ganache, caramel, nuts or nougat in the center. Each piece is decorated with stencilled art or dusted with cocoa powder for a polished look. “The white chocolate ones have 30% cocoa,” Hak explained as he gently tapped a frozen mould, revealing small white bonbons with tiny hearts. “There are around 10 types(of chocolate bonbons). We do 3 to 4 types every 2 days, about 100 to 150 pieces.” The process he uses makes the chocolate shiny and is popular with customers who want to decorate on top of other desserts. Hak expects the newest addition of chocolate tablets to become a popular item for the romantic holiday. The tablets he made are slabs of pre-cut chocolate bars mixed with nuts, in the rich colors of blue, pink, and dark brown. Macarons are also a fun symbol of love, Hak noted. “Macarons are made from egg whites and sugar or a meringue base, and mixed with almond powder,” he explained. “What makes a macaron special is the crispy surface and soft filling inside.” When ordering a macaron, Hak recommends his favorite flavor, vanilla because of the excellent quality of vanilla beans they use in their kitchens. So, keep an eye out for these delicate and rich edible treats of love. Written by Sotheavy Nou