Krynica Morska Things To Do

Fishing port on the Vistula Bay at Piaski by evaanna The fishing port on the Vistula Bay at Piaski is much more elaborate than the one on the open sea, which is probably due to the fact that fishing in the bay is safer. What looks in the picture like wigwams are poles used for stretching the fishing nets, drying in the sun. Looking across the water, you can see Frombork with its characteristic towers in the distance. The port is a nice place to visit as it offers access to the bay, otherwise... [read more]

Macquarie Island Off the Beaten Path

If only you could visit Hurd Point by tiabunna If you could, you would see the huge Royal Penguin colony (about a million birds) around the coastline. It is impressive, but must remain 'off the beaten track' because, unfortunately, tourists are not permitted to visit Hurd Point. The accompanying photo was taken looking down on the beach from about 300 metres, high on the slope of the plateau, in 1968 (at a time when the penguins were not nesting, but elephant seals can be seen). [read more]

Dubai Sports Travel

Desert Adventure by Rinjani Going to the desert is a great experience. And while you are visiting Dubai, don’t miss this chance. The perfect time to explore the desert is from December to March, where the temperature is cool and the weather is perfect. Early in the morning is great to see the early live on the desert. Or, you can also go later in the midday and stay in the desert to watch the sunset. You can book a desert safari trip organized by travel agents, or if you... [read more]

Chott El Jerid Things To Do

Chott El Jerid Things To Do
Chott El Jerid: Water on the Lake Water on the Lake by barryg23
As we went further into the Chott, the mirages got better and the amount of plantlife and greenery we could see decreased.We had the road to ourselves for long stretches and it felt like we were in another world almost. Then suddenly we saw a few cars parked on the side of the road and five people out on the Chott. We had finally reached water. And it looked spectacular. From the road it was a beautiful mix of reds and white. It didn't diminish... [read more]

Krokowa Local Customs

Krokowa Local Customs
Krokowa: Do you speak Kashubian? Do you speak Kashubian? by evaanna
Many of the local people in the area of Krokowa are the descendants of the Kashubians, the autochthonous population of Pomerania. As I have already shown on my Hel and Jastarnia pages, streets are given dual names in those places, Polish and Kashubian. But the inhabitants of Krokowa have gone one step further. The words under the colourful picture that is located on a house in the centre of the village are in Kashubian only. I can more or less... [read more]

Siem Reap Scene: 2 Oct 2009

WATER WOES RETURN
Over the weekend, downtown Siem Reap residents and businesses received a nasty reminder of the bad times earlier this year when water supply was almost permanently curtailed for close on three months.

Late on Friday afternoon the water supply was again cut off without warning in a large swathe of Siem Reap’s central business district, including the Pub Street.

The water supply was not reconnected until 7.30pm on Sunday.

A spokesman for the Office of Water told Scene the culprit this time was “the China company.”

Apparently an unnamed Chinese company undertaking messy road works along Sivutha Boulevard accidentally cut the water pipe and thereby cut off the water supply along the length of Sivutha and in the Pub Street and old market areas.

Many of the affected restaurants had to cart in water supplies, but a waiter at the chic Aha restaurant simply shrugged and said it was no big deal, “We’re used to it,” he said.

Dean Williams, the owner of Miss Wong bar, was certainly an unhappy chappie. He told Scene, “When the water is off continuously, we have to bring in 200-300 litres per day.

“We manage, but it’s just a real inconvenience, and it’s not a good look for tourists when there’s no water and they have to flush the toilet with water from a bucket. You know, that’s ok at a bus stop in Poipet, but I’m trying to run a cocktail bar here.”

TRADE FAIR PLANNED
The Siem Reap Chamber of Commerce will hold a ‘Buy Cambodian Products’ trade fair during the water festival starting at the end of this month.

The trade fair, to run from October 31 to November 2, aims to improve and disseminate trade information for producers and traders, and to create a “trade and investment environment.”

A further aim is to promote and support the usage of Khmer products.

At this stage, organisers say that at least 70 booths will display local precuts at the fair.

Details about the venue for the trade fair will be announced shortly.

For further information, contact Nheb Sina on 092 975 214.

PHOTO EXHIBITION AT RAFFLES
Siem Reap-based photographer and 4Faces café owner Eric de Vries has embarked on a profile-raising exercise.

On September 22 his exhibition of recent Preah Vihear photos launched at the Chinese House in Phnom Penh. This work was the result of a speedy trip from Siem Reap to Preah Vihear on a small Honda moto on August 13-15.

Tonight, he launches his Retrospective Cambodia 2009 exhibition at Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor Siem Reap. This features a collection of the best photos he has taken over the last nine years while living in Cambodia, from landscape to portrait and from Angkor Wat to the standoff at Preah Vihear.

The photos in the exhibition form part of Eric’s next book, which will be published early next year and feature series and singe photos.

Meanwhile, advance copies of photographer John McDermott’s long-awaited book, Elegy: Reflections on Angkor, have arrived from the printer in Italy.

The official launch is slated for either November or December.

NEW CRAFT WORKSHOP
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Photo by: Lily Partland
A woman weaving a box at Senteurs d'Angkor's new workshop.
Senteurs d’Angkor opened its new $80,000 workshop to the public last weekend.

Managing director Stephane Bourcier said around one hundred guests, including many tourist agents attended the opening of the new workshop on National Road 6, which will employ about 80 people.

“The guests loved the garden and most of the agencies said they will try to send customers to us. It’s my business, my baby, I want to commit to running it well and if I can give work to more people, that is nice.”

Senteurs d’Angkor has another outlet in town near the old market but that is now too small.

Bourcier’s business has produced and sold items such as incense, candles, soaps, oils and spices for ten years, and he hopes the new workshop setup will reinforce the local heritage of his product range.

“Most people who come here want to buy Cambodian products, but they don’t know most of the stuff in the markets is not made here,” Bourcier said.

“Our main objective is to produce local products from local materials, by mostly Cambodian people. If we can show people how the products are made, that the workers are comfortable, that it is hygienic, they can then choose whether or not to buy from us.”

HALF-PIPE-DREAM
Siem Reap’s infamous on-again, off-again skateboarding half-pipe ramp is off-again, undergoing a makeover due to monsoon season effects that were not factored into the original model.

The rooftop ramp at X Bar first made a much-publicised appearance earlier in the year, but has been out of use since the start of the rainy season. X Bar co-owner Carlo Tarabini says it was all going great until a few months ago, when rain “became an issue.”

The materials used to build the ramp lost out in a battle against the rain, with wood warping causing distress. Tarabini, an Aussie, says the new plan is to resurface the ramp with more moisture-resistant materials.

Budding boarders should be able to ramp up again some time soon.

“It’s all taking shape and is probably going to soak up the next month or so, but it’s going to come through,” Tarabini said.

YOGA GURU WORKSHOPS
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Photo by: Photo Supplied
Diane Long.
Rome-based yoga guru Diane Long will host a workshop in Siem Reap at Wat Bo from January 11-15 next year. Bookings are now open, but class sizes will be limited.

Long is being brought to Siem Reap by resident yoga teacher Heidi Dewald, in association with The Singing Tree café.

Long is significant in yoga circles, having studied lyengar yoga for nearly 25 years under Vanda Scaravelli, author of the book Awaken the Spine.

Dewald told Scene, “I have had a couple of yoga teachers that have inspired me, but Diane Long completely changed my practice and I would like others to experience her teachings.

“Her explanation of how to use the intelligence of the body to bring the mind and body together is quite unique.”

Ketsana death toll rises to 14

Siem Reap town submerged as main river burst its banks following typhoon.

Siem Reap
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Photo by: AFP
A Cambodian boy stands on Thursday amid the wreckage of his house, damaged the day before by Typhoon Ketsana in Kampong Thom province.

SIEM Reap found itself underwater Thursday after the downpour from Ketsana caused the swollen Siem Reap River to burst its banks.
The entire downtown area was submerged in waist-high water, and the city’s social epicentre, Pub Street, was awash.

As of Thursday night, the local death toll had risen to three, with provincial Chief of Cabinet Ly Samreth saying, “The flooding is more serious than before”.

“A Khmer man died in Siem Reap town on Wednesday when he fell into an open pipe and drowned,” he said.

He added that business people were losing money.

“Cambodian people and businesses are losing money because they cannot work,” he said.

“Only 30 percent of the market stalls have remained open.”

National Road 6 was flooded in seven places and 241 schools were also flooded – 95 of which had to close.

Provincial officials reported 17 people injured and 60 homes destroyed, although some rural areas had yet to report.

Observers reported an almost festive feel as children capitalised on the crisis. Some were seen steering remote-controlled toy boats through waterlogged streets; others used polystyrene lids as makeshift surfboards. Several people dragged nets through town in the hope of catching fish.

Upstream, the situation was more serious, with reports of flash floods. In drier rural areas, people complained of being invaded by centipedes and other fauna seeking shelter.

Local authorities said they were preparing food and medicine to take to Sonikum district, which suffered the worst effects of the weather.