Climatic Catastrophe

Can Cambodia Adapt to a Changing World?

By Sam Campbell, Economics Today

Impoverished, low-lying and at the mercies of flood and drought, few places are more susceptible to the devastating effects of climate change than Cambodia.

The dangers are difficult to overstate: the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that a 40cm change in sea level rise will displace as many as 55 million people by 2080 in South Asia. In the short-term, the UNDP Human Development report estimates that developing countries will need around US$86 billion each year for climate change adaptation by 2015.

The Cambodian government is apparently aware of the danger, noting that, “As an essentially agrarian country, the Kingdom of Cambodia is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change” in their National Adaptation Program for Action (NAPA), a plan to help mitigate the effects of climate change.

Source: Water and Climate Change in the Lower Mekong Basin: Diagnosis & Recommendations for Adaptation (Interim Report) by Water and Development Research Group, Helsinki University of Technology and Southeast Asia START Regional Center, Chulalongkorn University

Considering that UN Framework Convention on Climate change stated that adaptation had hardly even been considered in Cambodia as recently as two or three years ago, even this acknowledgement is an achievement. But with floods, droughts, windstorms, high tides, salt water intrusions and malaria outbreaks set to increase in both frequency and duration, and the additional threats of underground water salinization and seawater intrusion in coastal areas, doubts over the kingdom’s ability to adapt linger.

Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia Ngurah Swajaya told the 5th Asia Economic Forum Apr 7 about the increasingly destructive effects of climate change for Indonesia. “A study undertaken by Indonesia’s Meteorological bureau indicates that in 16 cities in Indonesia … had experienced more than one degree temperature increase in the past 10 years. The increase of one degree in the period of 10 years is disturbing. This changes the weather pattern. It shortened the rain season to only 5 months and lengthened the dry season and drought. The rainy season usually … [now causes] severe floods.” Even as cities flood, Ngurah Swajaya said, only 80 percent of the total demand for fresh water can be met during the rainy season, and a mere 20 percent during the dry season.

Sub-Standard Issue

Cambodia’s Woeful Product Standards Put Consumers in Danger

By Phen Raksmey, Economics Today

Meat vendor

China’s melamine milk scandal, which saw at least six infants die from kidney damage and over 800 more babies hospitalized, brought product standards to the forefront of international consumer concerns. Like China, Cambodia is now waging war on counterfeit and unsafe products, though the battle here is just beginning.

The prevailence of imports in the Cambodian market, poor consumer knowledge of safety standards and a lack of robust legislation make product standards a critical issue. The Institute of Standards in Cambodia (ISC) stipulates that all food products and electronic products must apply for a Cambodian standard but this rule is only currently enforced for pure drinking water, vinegar and chili sauce. Most consumer products are thus not covered under Cambodian law, so are not subject to compulsory quality testing.

Poor education and scant information are reasons why producers, suppliers and consumers have been slow to address the issue, opined Han Sam Att, as she browsed for milk powder for her 8-month-old son. She cared little whether products meet Cambodian standards, confessing she would be unsure how to tell whether a product meets standards or not. Han Sam Att chooses milk powder according to the advice of her friends or relatives, who learn the better products through trial and error.

Seeds of Progress

All Hopes Pinned on Rice Exports

By An Sithav, Economics Today

Hig Hopes for Cambodian's White Gold

Rice-one of the world’s major food staples-has for years been called the white gold of Cambodia, and with the kingdom’s garment industry seemingly in its death throes and tourism growth slackening, there are ambitious plans to turn Cambodia into the world’s biggest rice exporter within a decade.

The prime minister, who has said Cambodia could become the number one rice exporter in six years, and Minister of Agriculture Chan Sarun, who expects Cambodia to export 8 million tons of rice annually by 2015, are two of the most vocal advocates of rice cultivation. But government officials, development partners, agriculture experts and industry operators are also united in their belief that Cambodia can become one a leading exporter of white rice.

“A fertile agricultural sector produces white gold to set Cambodia apart and propel its economic growth,” Douglas Broderick, UN resident representative, told an economic forum in early February.

A source reliable of revenue and economic growth would be invaluable at a time when two former major export earners and growth engines-garments and tourism-are crumbling. Raising the profile of the kingdom as a major agricultural hub and reopening the door to foreign direct investment (FDI) would be another key benefit.

រថយន្តហោះ ហោះហើរជាលើកដំបូង

ព្រោះ​​តែ​​​ការ​​​​កក​ស្ទះ​ចរាចរ​ណ៍ ​មនុស្ស​​​លោក​ជា​​ច្រើន​​​រមែង​​សុបិន​​ស្វែង​រក​មធ្យោបាយ​មួយ ដើម្បី​​​គេច​​ផុត​​ពីកំណក​ចរាចរណ៍​នេះ។

រថយន្តដែលអាចហោះហើរបាន ឈ្មោះ Terrafugia Transition

ចូរ​ឈប់​សុបិន​ទៀត​ទៅ ព្រោះ​រថយន្ត​ដែល​អាច​ហោះ​​បាន​ជា​លើក​ដំបូង​របស់​ពិភព​លោក​បាន​​ធ្វើ​ការ​ហោះ​ហើរ​របស់​ខ្លួន​ជា​លើក​ដំបូង ដោយ​សំកាំង​នៅ​លើ​លំហ​មេឃ​នៃ​​សហរដ្ឋ​អាមេរិក។ ​មុន​ពេល​ចុះ​ចត​នោះ​ គេ​គ្រាន់​តែ​ចុច​ប៊ូតុង​​ នោះស្លាប​វា​នឹង​បត់​ចូល ហើយ​អាច​រត់​នៅ​លើ​ផ្លូវ​ធំ​បាន។

រថ​យន្ត​ដែល​អាច​ហោះ​ហើរ​បាន​ ឈ្មោះ Terrafugia Transition អាច​បើក​ក្នុង​ល្បឿន​មធ្យម ១៨៥ គ.ម ក្នុង​មួយ​ម៉ោង។

លោក​​ខាល ឌីទ្រិច (Carl Dietrich) អ្នក​បង្កើត​រថ​យន្ត Terrafugia បាន​និយាយ​ថា ការ​រក​ឃើញ​នេះ ​នឹង​​កែ​ប្រែ​ចល័ត​ភាព​នៃ​ពិភព​លោក។ វា​ជា​អ្វី​ដែល​​ពួក​អ្នក​ចូល​ចិត្ត​ផ្នែក​អាកាស​ចរណ៍ បាន​ខិត​ខំ​ស្វែង​រក​តាំង​ពី​ឆ្នាំ ១៩៩៨ មក​ម៉េ្លះ។

ក្រុមហ៊ុន​អះ​អាង​ថា រថ​យន្ត​ដែល​អាច​ហោះ​បាន​នេះ អាច​សំកាំង​ក្នុង​អាកាស​ចម្ងាយ ៦៤៣.៧៣ គ.ម ដោយ​ប្រើ​ធុង​សាំង​តែ​មួយ​ធុង​ទេ។ ទន្ទឹម​គ្នា​នេះ​ដែរ​​ ការ​ចាក់​សាំង​បន្ថែម​មិន​តម្រូវ​ឲ្យ​ធ្វើ​អ្វី​ច្រើន​ទេ ដោយ​គ្រាន់​តែ​បើក​បរ​ទៅ​រក​ទីធ្លា​ស្ថានីយ​ប្រេង​ក្បែរ​នោះ ហើយ​ចាក់​​សាំង​​ដែល​គ្មាន​ជាតិ​សំណ​បាហាំង​​ចូល។

មាន​​រថយន្ត​ដែល​អាច​ហោះ​បាន​ដទៃ​ទៀត ត្រូវ​បាន​បង្ហាញ​​ពី​មុន​មក ប៉ុន្តែ នេះ​គឺ​ជា​ការ​ធ្វើ​ដំណើរ​លើ​អាកាស មក​រត់​នៅ​លើ​ផ្លូវ​បាន​ដោយ​រលូន។

ទោះ​បី​ជា​យ៉ាង​ណា​ក៏ដោយ ក៏​នៅ​មាន​ឧបសគ្គ​បន្តិច​​បន្តួច។ រថ​យន្ត​ដែល​អាច​ហោះ​បាន​នេះ នឹង​មាន​តម្លៃ​ប្រហែល $១៩៨, ៥៧៥ នៅ​ពេល​ចាប់​ផ្តើម​ដាក់​ឲ្យ​ប្រើ​ប្រាស់ តែ​ទោះ​យ៉ាង​ណា ថ្លៃ​នេះ​មិន​ថ្លៃ​ជាង​រថយន្ត​ទំនើប​ម៉ាក Bentley ទេ។

អ្នក​បើក​បរ ចាំ​បាច់​នឹង​ត្រូវ​ផ្តល់​ប័ណ្ណ​បើក​បរ​រថយន្ត ឬ​ប័ណ្ណ​បើក​បរ​យន្ត​ហោះ​ពេញ​លេញ​ផង​ដែរ ប្រសិន​បើ​ត្រូវ​បាន​គេ​បញ្ឈប់​នៅ​ពាក់​កណ្ដាល​ការ​ហោះ​ហើរ។

ដោយ​សារ​វា​ជា​ប្រភេទ​យន្ត​ហោះ​ដ៏​ស្រាល យន្ត​ហោះ​នេះ នឹង​ជម្នះ​នឹង​ការ​ហោះ​ហើរ​ក្នុង​អាកាស​ធាតុ​មិន​ល្អ, គំហើញ​មិន​សូវ​ច្បាស់​ ឬ​លំហ​អាកាស​ដែល​ត្រូវ​បាន​កំណត់ ប៉ុន្តែ​វា​មាន​អត្ថ​ប្រយោជន៍​បន្ថែម​ទៀត ក្នុង​ការ​បន្ត​ការ​ធ្វើ​ដំណើរ​តាម​ផ្លូវ​ថ្នល់ ប្រសិន​បើ​លក្ខ​ខណ្ឌ​អាកាស​ធាតុ​ប្រែ​ជា​អាក្រក់។

ក្រុមហ៊ុន​បាន​ធ្វើ​ការ​សាក​ល្បង​ដោយ​ឲ្យ​លោក ហ្វីល មេទៀ (Phil Meteer) អតីត​វរ​សេនីយ៍​ឯក​ទ័ព​អាកាស​បើក​បរ​ជើង​ហោះ​ហើរ​ដំបូង កាល​ពី​ដើម​ខែ​នេះ។

លោ​ក​បាន​ប្រាប់​វិបសាយ AV ថា “ការ​ហោះ​ហើរ​ដំបូង​មិន​គួរ​ឲ្យ​កត់​សម្គាល់​ទេ។ ខ្ញុំ​បាន​ធ្វើ​ការ​ហោះ​ហើរ​រាប់​ពាន់​ម៉ោង ដែល​មាន​យន្ត​ហោះ​គ្រប់​ប្រភេទ​ចាប់​ពី Pipercubs រហូត​ដល់ F-16s ហើយ​យន្ត​ហោះ Transitions នេះ​ហោះ​ហើរ​ដូច​ជា​យន្ត​ហោះ​ល្អ​ពិត​ប្រាកដ​ដែរ”។ យន្ត​ហោះ Transitions ត្រូវ​បាន​ចាត់​ទុក​ថា​ជា​យន្ត​ហោះ​ដ៏​ស្រាល​មួយ ដែល​ស័ក្តិ​សម​ទៅ​នឹង​ប្រភេទ “Light Sport” របស់​អាមេរិក ហើយ​វា​ងាយ​ស្រួល​ទទួល​បាន​អាជ្ញា​ប័ណ្ណ។

ក្រុមហ៊ុន​កំពុង​តែ​រង់​ចាំ​វិញ្ញា​បនបត្រ​ពី​រដ្ឋ​បាល​សុវត្ថិ​ភាព​ដឹក​ជញ្ជូន​ជាតិ។ យន្ត​ហោះ Light Sport នឹង​ត្រូវ​បាន​យក​ទៅ​ប្រើ​ប្រាស់​នៅ​លើ​ផ្លូវ​ថ្នល់ និង​លើ​មេឃ​ក្នុង​ពេល​ឆាប់​ៗ​នេះ។៚

ការបំបៅដោះដល់ទារកអាចការពារម្តាយពីជម្ងឺ

ការសិក្សាស្រាវជ្រាវបានបង្ហាញថាស្ត្រីដែលបំបៅដោះដល់ទារកអាចកាត់បន្ថយគ្រោះថ្នាក់បណ្ដាលមកពីរោគគាំងបេះដូង, ជម្ងឺបេះដូង ឬក៏ជម្ងឺដាច់សរសៃឈាមក្នុងខួរក្បាលបាន។

ការ បំបៅកូន ដោយ ដោះ មាន ប្រយោជន៍ ច្រើន យ៉ាង

ការ​សិក្សា​មួយ​របស់​សហរដ្ឋ​អាមេរិក​បាន​រក​ឃើញ​ថា ស្ត្រីដែល​បំបៅ​កូនដោយ​ទឹក​ដោះ​ខ្លួន​អស់រយៈ​ពេល​ជាង​១ឆ្នាំ ទំនង​ជាមាន​ការវិវឌ្ឍ​ទៅ​រក​លក្ខខណ្ឌ​ជម្ងឺខាងលើ​តិច​ជាង​១០% បើ​ប្រៀប​ធៀប​ទៅ​នឹង​ស្ត្រីដែល​មិន​ធ្លា​ប់​បំបៅកូន​សោះ។

សូម្បី​តែ​ការបំបៅ​រយៈ​ពេល​យ៉ាង​ហោច​ណាស់​មួយខែ ក៏អាច​កាត់បន្ថយ​ការកើត​ជម្ងឺទឹក​នោម​ផ្អែម, សម្ពាធឈាម​ឡើង​ខ្ពស់ និង​កំរិត​ជាតិ​កូឡេស្តេរ៉ូល​ផង​ដែរ។ ការ​សិក្សា​នេះ​មាន​បង្ហាញ​នៅក្នុ​ង​ទស្សនាវដ្តី​វិទ្យាសាស្ត្រ​ផ្នែក​សម្ភព និង​ព្យាបាល​សរីរាង្គ​បង្ក​កំណើត​ស្ត្រី។

ការ​សិក្សា​នេះ​បាន​បន្ថែម​ទៅ​លើ​ភស្តុតាង​នៃ​ការ​រីក​លូតលាស់​របស់​រាង​កាយ​ដែល​បង្ហាញ​ថា ការ​បំបៅ​ដោះ​កូនមាន​ប្រយោជន៍​ដល់​សុខភាព​ទាំង​ម្តាយ​និង​ទារក។

ការ​សិក្សា​បាន​រក​ឃើញ​ថា ការ​បំបៅ​ដោះ​កូន​ កាត់​បន្ថយ​គ្រោះថ្នាក់​នៃ​មហារីក​អូវែ និង​មហារីក​ដោះ ហើយ​និង​ជម្ងឺ​ពុក​ឆ្អឹង​នៅ​ពេល អស់​រដូវ។ ហើយ​ចំពោះ​ផល​ប្រយោជន៍​សម្រាប់​ទារក​វិញ​មាន​រយៈ​ពេល​វែង ពី​ព្រោះ​ទឹក​ដោះម្តាយ​ត្រូវ​បាន​គេ​ជឿ​ថា​អាច​ការពារ​ប្រឆាំង​នឹង​ជម្ងី​លើស​ទម្ងន់, ទឹក​នោម​ផ្អែម, រោគ​ហឺត, និង​ផល​ប៉ះ​ពាល់​ដល់ត្រចៀក, ក្រពះ និងទ្រូង។

ការ​សិក្សា​ថ្មី​បំផុត​របស់​សហរដ្ឋ​អាមេរិក​ធ្វើ​ឡើង​ដោយ​សាកល​វិទ្យាល័យ Pittsburgh បាន​ផ្តោត​ទៅ​លើ​ស្ត្រីក្រោយ​ពេល​អស់​រដូវ​ចំនួន ១៤០,០០០ នាក់។ ជា​មធ្យម វា​មាន​រយៈ​ពេល ៣៥ ឆ្នាំ ចាប់​តាំង​ពី​ការ​បំបៅ​ដោះ​ជាចុង​ក្រោយ ដែល​ទទួល​បាន​ផល​ប្រយោជន៍​ក្នុង​រយៈ​ពេល​ជា​ច្រើន​ទសវត្សរ៍។

Still Waters

By Sam Campbell , Economics Today 

Water, that most fundamental of elements, is getting a second look at the Bophana Center, with 18 local artists exploring the concept ‘still water.’

Avoiding the obvious platitudes, Chum Noy, the cultural events man-ager, said that the exhibition is a step forward for the contemporary art scene in Phnom Penh.

An exhibit featuring live morning glory, a popular aqautic crop in Cambodia

Water has been central to the Khmer psyche for millennia, said Tith Veasna, the exhibition’s curators, pointing to the extensive hydrological infrastructure of the ancient Angkor empire and the pervasive wetlands that cover much of the country in wet season as examples of why.

The artists were asked, “How does water affect human life?” Tith Veasna added, resulting in sometimes complex considerations of the consequences of development, such as pollution and flooding. “To destroy the environment is not only to destroy ourselves, but also destroy the future,” she said.

Heim Ankanitha, 25, examines the disparity between traditional folk Cambodian traditions surrounding water and the actions of modern Cambodians. “People say water is life but they never think about water,” she said. Weddings were once held by the waters of Boeung Kak Lake in Phnom Penh, Heim Kannitha added, until steady encroachment and a growing population sent pollution levels soaring.

Her work, an intriguing trio of collages, questions the wisdom ignoring traditional attitudes, with a teeming wetland showing what’s at stake, and a giant question mark to underline the quandary.

Chicken Kebabs

I n g r e d i e n t s

• 6 chicken thigh fillets, cubed
• 300g / 10oz plain yoghurt
• 2 clove garlic, crushed
• 11/2 teaspoon paprika, ground
• 1 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 60ml / 2oz lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
• 2 teaspoons oregano, chopped
• Freshly ground pepper
• 24 satay sticks

M e t h o d :

• 1 Soak satay sticks in cold water for 30 minutes.
• 2 Place yoghurt, garlic, paprika, cumin seeds, lemon
• juice, parsley, oregano and pepper in a bowl, and
• mix until combined.
• 3 Place chicken on satay sticks and brush-over with
• half the mixture. Leave to marinate in refrigerator
• for 2-3 hours.
• 4 Heat oil on barbecue (or char grill pan), add chicken
• kebabs and cook 4-5 minutes each side.
• 5 Serve with remaining marinade mixture. 􀉶
• Source: chicken for all chicken

Google កាន់​ជើង​សៀម​ប្រឆាំងខ្មែរ

នៅក្នុង​កម្មវិធី Google Earth ប្រាសាទទាំងប៉ុន្មាន​ដែល​នៅ​ក្នុង​ដី​ខ្មែរ​ក្នុង​ខេត្ត​ព្រះវិហារ សុទ្ធ​តែ​ដាក់ឈ្មោះ​សៀម​ទាំងអស់។ មិន​ត្រឹម​តែ​ប៉ុណ្ណោះ ថែម​ទាំង​មាន​ការ​ឃោសនា​ជា​ភាសាអង់គ្លេសប្រឆាំង​ខ្មែរ​ថា “កាល​យូរ​លង់មក​ហើយ ដីម្តុំ​ឋិត​នៅក្រោម​ការ​គ្រប់​គ្រង​របស់​ថៃឡងដ៌។ កូន​ថៃ​ជំនាន់​ក្រោយនឹង​ទារ​ត្រឡប់យក​មក​វិញ ព្រោះ​វា​ជា​ដី​របស់​ថៃ”។ ក្រុមហ៊ន Google ជា​សាជីវកម្ម​ជំនួញ គួរ​តែ​ឋិតនៅ​អព្យាក្រិត មិនគួរ​ជួយ​ថៃ​បំភ័ន្ត​ភ្នែក​អន្តរជាតិឡើយ។ យ៉ាងណាមិញប្រសិន​បើ​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​នេះ​ជា​កម្មសិទ្ធ​របស់​ថៃ​នោះ គេ​សមនឹង​ធ្វើបែបនេះ​ដើម្បី​ផល​ប្រយោជន៍​របស់​គេ ប៉ុន្តែ​នរណា​ក៏ដឹងថា ក្រុមហ៊ុន Google មិន​មែន​ជា​កម្មសិទ្ធ​របស់​ថៃ​ឡើយ។ រឿង​នេះ​មិន​មែន​មិន​គួរ​ឲ្យ​ឈឺ​ឆ្អាល​នោះ​ទេ វា​ជា​រឿង​ទាក់​ទង​ដល់​កិត្យានុភាព និង បូរណភាព​ទឹកដី​នៃ​កម្ពុជា។ ខេមរជន​ទាំង​អស់​ ជា​ពិសេស​រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាលកម្ពុជា ត្រូវ​តែ​តវ៉ាប្រឆាំង​នឹង​ការ​ឃោសនា​អកុសល​បែប​នេះ​ទៅ​កាន់​ក្រុមហ៊ុន Google។

In Google Earth program, if you hover your cursor on these little dots you’ll see biased propaganda by Google against Cambodia.

5 Things You Never Knew Your Cell Phone Could Do

There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival. Check out the things that you can do with it:

FIRST

Emergency

The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find Yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an Emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to Establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly, this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it out.

SECOND

Have you locked your keys in the car?

Does your car have remote key less entry? This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone: If you lock your keys In the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot From your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive you r keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other ‘remote’ for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).

Editor’s Note: It works fine! We tried it out and it unlocked Our car over a cell ph one!’

THIRD

Hidden Battery Power

Imagine your cell battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370#. Your cell phone will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell phone next time

FOURTH

How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?

To check your Mobile phone’s serial number, key in the following Digits on your phone: *#06#. A 15-digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. When your phone get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset t so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won’t get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can’t use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.

And Finally….

FIFTH

Free Directory Service for Cells

Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1..75 or more for 411 information calls when they don’t have to. Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a problem. When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial: (800)FREE411, or (800) 373-3411 without incurring any charge at all. Program this into your cell phone now.

Across space and time

PREMA KASTURI AND S. SURESH

Centuries of cultural and commercial interaction between South Indian kingdoms and Cambodia led to a fascinating mutual enrichment that can be seen in the motifs and architectural styles of temples that flowed freely across the ocean.

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When Kulottunga I, the Chola king, was constructing or enlarging the famous Shiva Temple at Chidambaram (Tamil Nadu), Suryavarman II, the king of Cambodia and the builder of Angkor Wat, offered to send, all the way from Cambodia, a block of stone as a gift for the new construction.

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Photos: Prema Kasturi and S. Suresh

Cultural crossovers: The Angkor Wat shares many features with Pallava and Chola temples.

The very name “Cambodia”, brings forth visions of the magnificent temple of Angkor Wat with its huge pavilions, towering spires and larger-than-life sculptures. Angkor Wat and the scores of other spectacular temples surrounding it were bu ilt by the local Cambodian or Khmer kings between the ninth and the 14th centuries A.D. The UNESCO has now included these monuments in its “World Heritage” list. Each day, thousands of visitors enjoy these monuments, many of which are in picturesque ruins. Most of the visitors are, however, simply unaware that Cambodian art and culture have a lot of Indian, particularly South Indian, elements.

The remote origin of the intimate links between India and Cambodia forms the subject of innumerable legends. Many legends mention a young and handsome South Indian prince travelling to Cambodia, marrying a beautiful Cambodian princess and eventually becoming the ruler of that land. According to one popular legend, around the time of Christ or slightly earlier, Kaundinya, a Brahmin from India, sailed to the kingdom of Funan in Cambodia that was then ruled by a princess named Soma of the Naga dynasty. Using a divine weapon, Kaundinya defeated her in war, married her and became the king of Funan. Towards the beginning of the fifth century, another Brahmin, bearing the same name, inspired by a supernatural power, came to Cambodia where the local people welcomed him and elected him as the king of Funan. He and his successors introduced many Indian customs and laws in Cambodia. In the year 802, a powerful ruler named Jayavarman II founded the Khmer kingdom that had its capital in or around Angkor in Central Cambodia. The capture of Angkor by Thailand (Siam) in 1431 forced the Khmer rulers to shift their capital further south in the vicinity of Phnom Penh.

The cultural and commercial interaction between South India and Cambodia, in fact, dates back to a few centuries before Christ. South Indian merchants and artists regularly came to Cambodia through diverse land and sea routes. Located on the great maritime highway between India and China, Cambodia, from early times, emerged as a major commercial hub in the long distance trade network that linked China, South East Asia, Sri Lanka, India, Africa and Rome. Spices and gemstones from South East Asia reached the ports on the east coast of India (Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu), from where they were shipped to the Red Sea ports of Africa and from there sent to Rome through the North African port of Alexandria. Not surprisingly, archaeologists have discovered ancient Roman objects including intaglios, coins, ceramics and lamps in the Thailand-Cambodia region. These Roman materials should doubtless have reached South East Asia through Mahabalipuram, Arikamedu, Kaveripattinam or any of the other ancient ports of Southeastern India. Interestingly, similar Roman objects have been recurrently discovered in many of these port sites.