New Photo Club to launch in Siem Reap.

Local photographers will soon benefit from the formation of a new camera and photo society, located in Siem Reap.

The brainchild of Siem Reap-based British Photographer Dave Perkes, Angkor Photo Club has been formed to provide local and international photo enthusiasts an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas and technique.

Angkor Photo Club members will enjoy a club that is free from joining fees and in addition to regular club meetings and social activities; they will also have free access to website, forum and online photo galleries in which to showcase their work.

Mr Perkes said today: “Photography is all around us with millions of people who carry cameras and take photos in this special place of Angkor.  We want to encourage photography to be an enjoyable positive experience and non elitist.”

He added “We will give support to those who want to learn more and give impartial advice on equipment where needed.”

There are no restrictions on membership. The Angkor Photo Club is open for amateurs who want to know more and professionals who have a commitment to helping others enjoy this creative activity. Local Khmer photographers are positively encouraged to join.

Mr Perkes went on to say: “We aim to meet here in Siem Reap on regular schedule each month. The meetings will be informal and a social occasion. The members decide the content and theme of each meeting in advance there will be opportunities for slideshows and guest presenters. Support and encouragement to Khmer photographers is a core activity and the interaction between Khmer and Foreign amateur photographers is an important part of this”.

The inaugural meeting for the club is scheduled for Tuesday 18 January 2011 at a location to be advised, in Siem Reap. Further details of the meeting and club membership is available on their website www.angkorphotoclub.com

Ends.

PR Contact: Warren Garber admin@angkorphotoclub.com

As I write this during a national day of mourning here, the death toll has risen to over 450 and is likely to rise further.

What has made this tragedy so much more difficult to accept, is the knowledge that so many people from the villages and provinces, look forward to this event as the highlight of their year. They save a little money each month, so that they can travel to the cities of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, and take in the sights and sounds of this wonderful festival. For many, it’s their only visit of the year.

For some, it was their first – and only visit to Phnom Penh. I read an article of a 53 years-old mother who lost both daughters – aged 15 and 23 along with her son-in-law. It was their first time in the capital. I’m sure there are many more heart-rending similarities. As a parent with children of similar ages, I can and yet at the same time, can’t imagine what that lady is going through.

I did intend to write an article and post photo’s of the festival here in Siem Reap, but today doesn’t feel the right time.

So, I’ll finish by expressing on behalf of Peace of Angkor Tours and our staff and friends, our sincere condolences to families affected, wherever they are in Cambodia.

Warren

I’d been hearing rumours that Cambodia’s famed and unique Bamboo Railway at Battambang had ceased operating at the end of September. This was to make way for the new and upgraded railway line being laid between Phnom Penh and the Thai border near Poipet in N W Cambodia.

Well, Battambang is a favourite place of mine and I hadn’t been there in almost a year – so decided on a weekend away with some friends – purely in the interests of research, of course!

Cambodia’s railway network is a broken shambles. Years of war, neglect and indifference have resulted in no passenger trains operating at all. The last weekly service between Phnom Penh and Battambang finished almost two years ago.

Of course Cambodia’s immensely resourceful people are undeterred. Over the years they have developed their own transport system on the disused railway. Frequently termed the ‘Bamboo Railway’ or Bamboo Train’, they have created a simple, but effective and speedy way to transport locals, goods and now an increasing number of tourists.

So, take two axles, weld on some small flanged wheels – fashion a raft made from bamboo, ‘acquire’ a small petrol engine from UN supplied generators and water-pumps, attach a simple drive belt – and you’re good to go!

And ‘go’ they certainly do! They’ll whizz along at around 40kph (25mph), and certainly clatter along the warped, twisted and often broken tracks.

The wonderful part of the journey is when meeting another train (nori or norry) coming in the opposite direction. The nori with the least people or goods is dismantled, the other goes past and then the dismantled one is re-assembled on the tracks. This whole procedure takes less than two minutes!
It’s an absolutely exhilarating ride of around 14km round-trip.  It’ll cost tourists around US10 for ride – that’s per nori, not per person – and it has to be up there with the other Great Railway Journeys of The World.
Oh, and I did check with some locals about the state of affairs regarding when it’ll stop running. They tell me ‘one year more’. Given that a Cambodian ‘please wait five minute more’ can be any length of time – it’s difficult to say exactly how long ‘one year’ is.

But I would advise visiting it sooner rather than later. Once it’s gone – it’s gone!

Safe travels!

Warren

Ps. here’s a link to the world famous magazine ‘Railway Gazette International’ which has more on developments.

I’ll admit I read the mag – go on, click the link, you know you want to…

Me - ready to ride

The snake that tried to eat my camera!

This we have been running a tour for photojournalist Karl Grobl of Jim Cline Photo tours. Its always a pleasure to meet  Karl,  he is a humanitarian photographer we have be  working with on tours for 5 seasons now . We took his group out on the Tonle  sap lake to Kompong Khleang.  It was good opportunity to try out a new lens, which I bought a few days before, to replace my Nikon 17-55 F2.8 which a managed to break  in Bangkok.

I thought Nikon pro lenses were pretty well indestructible; but due to a total carelessness on my behalf I smashed it against a post in Bangkok  while walking on a narrow path. If I  had the lens shade it on it  would have broken, but would have taken the impact. Anyway I now have a Sigma 17-70 F2.8  which was less than half the price of a replacement Nikon and under the $600 to repair my 5 year old heavily used 17-55 .

We approached a fishing boat and could see  the boatman had just caught a 2 metre long  python. He held it up for us for photos.  I have no fear of snakes but will not mess with any venomous species. Pythons have no venom, but kill their victims by giving them a nasty hug!  I climbed aboard the boat and took a few close up shots. It suddenly lashed out at my camera striking the lens. Maybe it saw it reflection in the glass?

Anyway I have discovered my new Sigma lens has an ANTI SNAKE FILTER!!

Dave and Colleen Allen

For a few days we had another Colleen at Peace of Angkor Colleen Allan the Namesake of Colleen Allan-Burns who is looking forward to her return in October .

Colleen from Australia had a great time here. She really liked the countryside tour. Like most of our guests she wished she had more time here. We do hope she can return with her husband in the not too distant future.

Colleen Allen and Mong

She is pictured with me and Mong our night  security man

(For those who do not know, the first Colleen Allen-Burns started up Peace of Angkor Villa with me in 2003. Coll  has been actively helping us  us in UK  with finance since leaving at the end of 2009.  Coll is really looking forward to having a party with the Peace Of Angkor Crew when she returns.

I will be off to Bangkok and Laos on Sunday researching more tour ideas for other places in SE Asia . (its not a holiday honestly!). We have had one tour to Laos already and are planning more.  Some will be starting from Bangkok taking in Cambodia and Laos in a circular route. As many of our guests have been to Bangkok;  I will be looking  at unusual places in the City that will be of interest to photographers.

Den monkeying around at Cambodia Culture Village

Den (Doun Raden)  is going to be celebrating 5 years working for us at the end of September so party time when I return.