Clothing:
The common traditional dress of Cambodia is the sarong, an
embroidered or patterned wrap worn by men and women when at
home or working in the fields. Also worn by women is a simple
cotton or silk skirt with a pleat in the front, called the
sampot, and a type of shirt known as a hol. However, today
most Cambodians prefer outfits in the Western style. The krama,
a long, cotton, checked cloth, usually black and white, blue
and white or red and white, worn as a turban or shawl, is
used by most Khmers. When dressing up, men wear a light coloured
shirt and coloured trousers, while women wear a silk sampot
with matching hol. In the evenings, the phamuong, a silk dress
with a complex pattern at the hem, is often worn. The phamuong
or sampot is chosen to match the traditional colour for the
day of the week when the event it held.
| Day |
Colour |
| Sunday |
Red |
| Monday |
Orange |
| Tuesday |
Violet |
| Wednesday |
Greenish
yellow |
| Thursday |
Green |
| Friday |
Dark
Blue |
| Saturday |
Dark
Purple |
Food:
Cambodian
food is closely related to Thai, Chinese, and Vietnamese foods.
Particularly popular in Cambodia are rice and fish, which
are eaten every day. People eat the rice, fried, steamed,
or as rice noodles. They eat the fish fresh, dried or salted.
Also, many dishes are prepared with beef, pork or chicken.
Sea food and crab are favourites from the wide seafood selection,
along with local specialties such as Amok (fish cooked in
coconut milk), Chong Roet (roasted cicadas), Khao Phoun (rice
noodles in coconut sauce), Somla Chapek (ginger flavoured
pork soup,) Pan Chaiv (pancakes filled with meat, bean sprouts
and spices,) and mild soups and curries. These are usually
eaten with green vegetables and peanut sauce. Another popular
food is “prohoc,” which is made from rotten fish, left to
ferment into a fish paste, then eaten with rice. Cambodian
food is usually seasoned with hot peppers, lemon grass, ginger
and mint.
Older
Cambodians often chew betel nuts, for their digestive and
mildly stimulating effects. These also turn the teeth and
gums a dark shade of red. Dark teeth are considered beautiful
because white teeth are like the teeth of a skull. Even Cambodians
who do not chew betel nuts sometimes darken their teeth with
paste.
Desserts
are made from fruit or rice. Very sweet desserts are most
popular in Cambodia. Ice cream is prevalent in the cities,
through in the countryside there is no way of keeping it refrigerated.
For drinking, Cambodians enjoy tea, or very sweet coffee.
Visitors
to Cambodia can enjoy a wide variety of foods at low prices
by visiting the food stalls in the markets and along the roadside.
You can usually taste the dish before deciding what to eat.
Recipe:
Banana Rice Pudding
1
1/2 cups brown rice -- cooked
1 cup non-fat milk
1 medium banana -- cut in slices
1 can fruit (15-ounce can) -- cut in slices
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Directions:
In a medium-size saucepan, combine the banana and fruit slices,
water, honey, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Bring to a boil,
reduce the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes, or until quite
tender but not mushy. Add the rice and milk and mix thoroughly.
Bring to a boil and simmer 10 more minutes. Serve warm.
Religion
Since ancient times, the Khmer had accepted the two great
religions from India - Hinduism and Buddhism, Hinduism being
the more popular. Hinduism had played an important role in
Khmer civilization as the Angkor monarchs adopted its concept
of deva-raja, or "god-king", by which the
king was worshipped as an incarnation of the god Shiva, a
supreme Hindu deity who was regarded as a protector.
Most
temples in the Angkor Empire were dedicated to either god
Shiva or god Vishnu. Believed to be the holy house of the
supreme gods, the temples were carefully built, usually from
stone or other enduring materials. Many impressive sculptures
of great craftsmanship were enshrined.
The
second religion being revered by the Khmers was Buddhism of
Mahayana sect which came into the region quite at same time
as Hinduism, however, Buddhism was less prominent.
Both
Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism played an important role as
the political, religious and philosophical pillars of Khmer
Civilization by which the king was revered. This ideology
enabled the king to rule over the country as an absolute monarch
with sovereign spirituality over his people, and thus enhanced
the unity of the kingdom.
Not
until the 13th century, Theravada Buddhism was introduced
to the Khmer from Sri Lanka and became more prominent in the
royal court as well as in the local people. The teaching of
Theravada Buddhism directly clashed with the original belief
of the Khmer people as it taught the people to seek self enlightenment
and abandoned the worldly things. With this teaching, the
attitudes of the people towards its Hindu gods as well as
the god-king changed, and thus led to the gradual weakening
of the empire which eventually collapsed in the first half
of 15th century.
The
Khmer people seem to be the obedient students, as they did
not raise doubts about the religious teaching of the original
doctrines. We can see in Khmer history that the religions
such as Hinduism and Buddhism were not divided into the different
sub-sects in the land of Khmer, as they were so in some other
civilizations.
In
addition to Hinduism and Buddhism, the Khmer people also had
their own indigenous beliefs such as the local deities, ancestral
spirits, as well as the evil spirits. There are no inscriptions
or manuscripts to describe these beliefs, however, it can
be found to be prevalent in modern Cambodia, especially in
the remote villages. These beliefs are passed on from one
generation to another through the words of mouth.
Theravada
Buddhism - Basic Beliefs
Belief
in Deity
The concept of a supreme Creator God is rejected or at least
considered irrelevant to Theravada Buddhism. Buddha, "the
Awakened One," is revered above all--not
as "God" but as supreme sage, model of a fully enlightened
person.
• Incarnations
Buddha was a human, a fully enlightened spiritual teacher
and inspiration. As there is no belief in or relevant God,
there are no incarnations of God worshipped.
• Origin of Universe and Life
Buddhists consider it the job of scientists to explain origins
of the universe and life. There is no contradiction with scientific
discovery, however many maintain that the world creates and
recreates itself millions of times every fraction of a second.
• After Death
There is no transmigration of individual souls, but through
the law of karma, one's wholesome or unwholesome intentions
become imprinted in the mind. Negative mental states persist
through continual rebirth until one's intentions become wholesome.
Once fully enlightened, one is liberated from rebirths, reaching
a state of absolute selflessness resulting in ultimate bliss
called Nirvana--the "Deathless State." One becomes
Buddha (or one with Buddha). Some Buddhists, especially modern
Western, don't emphasize or believe in literal rebirth.
• Why Evil?
People have free will to commit wrongs or rights. Evil doings
may result when egoism, cravings, attachments, and ignorance
are expressed as greed, hatred, and violence, which, if unmitigated,
is perpetuated through rebirth.
• Salvation
Enlightenment is an individual journey to Nirvana (complete
bliss)--liberation from suffering and cycles of rebirth--acheived
by following the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path. To
eliminate karma, which causes rebirth, one must extinguish
the belief in a separate self that give rise to cravings,
desires, and attachments. The path to enlightenment includes
loving-kindness and compassion, moral conduct, charity, wisdom,
and meditation.
• Undeserved Suffering
Unenlightened life is suffering, and the cessation of this
suffering is the primary goal of Buddhism--to reach Nirvana,
to end cycles of rebirth. Suffering is a result of past-life
greed, hatred, and ignorance, which return as suffering (karma),
while compassion toward others who suffer reduces the effects
of karma.
• Contemporary Issues
Abortion is considered murder, and all violent acts cause
horrific karmic consequence. Homosexuality in itself is not
specifically condemned by scripture, but opinions vary, especially
among various Buddhist cultures--e.g., Buddhists in the United
States are generally very accepting, while some Asian Buddhists
are generally strongly opposed to homosexuality. It is believed
that divorce wouldn't occur if one follows Buddhist precepts,
but a couple is not condemned if they separate due to vast
personal differences. In Theravada countries, gender roles
are generally traditional (e.g. woman as child caretakers
and men as providers), but less rigid as contemporary demands
are made on women (e.g. working women).
Values
The
Cambodian value system was influenced by several cultural
traditions: Khmer, Indian and French, and originated from
two distinct religions: Brahmanism and Theravada Buddhism.
It represents a set of values based on system of classes and
hierarchy where respect and deference between people of superior
and inferior ranks must be observed. The influence from Theravada
Buddhism includes religious detachment from worldly affairs
and individual responsibility for status in life. It also
emphasizes the avoidance of causing suffering, self-discipline,
humility and harmonious relations with others. Cambodians
believe that individuals should adhere to the Buddhist code
of personal conduct. The group or community (seen as extended
families) is more important then the individual, as are ancestors
and rulers. The individual's good conduct and services to
the community will gain him respect from others and in turn,
he may be awarded with a high position within the religious,
governmental or community organizations.
The
central values include the privileging of order and harmony
over personal freedom, refusal to compartmentalize religion
away from other spheres of life, a particular emphasis on
saving and thriftiness, an insistence on hard work, a respect
for political leadership, a belief that government and business
need not necessarily be natural adversaries, and an emphasis
on family loyalty. Cambodians believe in self-discipline,
harmony, and peace. The central beliefs of the Cambodian people
are that one should not take a life, not harm another person,
respect personal property and so on. Harmony, both between
different people, and between humans and the environment,
is a crucial cultural value. Cambodians believe in respecting
their elders and following tradition. Adherence to religion
is promoted, however, other religions are generally accepted
and respected.
While
the Buddhist religion stresses that it is the duty of the
individual to seek enlightenment, the Cambodian culture is
a collective one, with the importance of the people placed
above the wishes of the individual.
Government
Constitution
of Cambodia - Preamble
WE,
THE PEOPLE OF CAMBODIA
Having
known a grand civilization of a prosperous, powerful, and
glorious nation whose prestige radiates like a diamond,
Having
endured sufferings and destructions and having experienced
a tragic decline in the course of the two decades,
Having
awakened, stood up with a resolute determination to strengthen
the national unity, to preserve and defend Cambodia’s
territory and its precious sovereignty and the prestige of
Angkor civilization, and to restore Cambodia into an "Island
of Peace" based on a multi-party liberal democratic regime
guaranteeing human rights and the respect of law, and responsible
for the destiny of the nation always evolving toward progress,
development, prosperity, and glory,
WITH
THIS RESOLUTE WILL
We
inscribe the following as the Constitution of the Kingdom
of Cambodia:
Cambodia
is a constitutional monarchy. The King is the Head of State,
but does not exercise executive power over the Kingdom. During
his absence or illness, the President of the Senate performs
the duties of Acting Head of State. The Prime Minister is
appointed by the King from the representatives of the party
winning the elections. Cambodia has a bicameral parliament.
The lower house - the National Assembly - is made up of 120
members elected from 24 provinces and municipalities. The
Senate is made up of 61 appointed members. At the next national
elections due to be held in 2003, senators will be elected
for the first time. The Council of Ministers (Cabinet) is
formed by members of the Royal Government.
Two
further layers of government exist at the provincial and communal
levels. The provinces are administered by governors who are
assisted by three deputy governors. Provincial governors and
chiefs of districts are appointed by the Prime Minister. Chiefs
of communes and village headmen were elected for the first
time since the early 1970s in February 2002. These elections
established a new democratically-elected tier of Government
termed commune councils, replacing the twenty year old communist
model of Interior Ministry appointment of ruling party commune
chiefs. This has the potential to bring about a significant
change in Cambodia's political system by decentralising powers
from the national to the communal level.
Cambodia
has a three tier judicial system: the trial court, the appeals
court and the supreme court. Each province and Phnom Penh
city has its own court. Judges and magistrates are appointed,
promoted and dismissed by the Supreme Council of the Magistracy,
which is chaired by the King. The Supreme Council of the Magistracy
consists of a representative of the Minister of Justice, the
President of the Supreme Court, the President of the Appeals
Court and three elected judges, each with a five year mandate.
The authority to interpret the Constitution and the laws passed
by the National Assembly is granted to the Constitutional
Council which comprises nine members with a nine year mandate.
Three members of the Council are appointed by the King, three
by the National Assembly and another three by the Supreme
Council of the Magistracy.
Cambodia
has introduced a Human Rights Committee. While steps have
been taken to allow prosecutions of the police and security
forces for criminal activity, much remains to be done to address
the continuing culture of impunity and lack of consistency
in implementing the rule of law. Australia encourages the
Cambodian Government to increase its efforts to address extra-judicial
killings. Politically motivated violence and the treatment
of ethnic minorities is also a concern. A number of potential
opposition candidates in the lead up to the commune elections
in February 2002 were killed. The Australian Government will
continue to monitor closely developments in Cambodia in the
lead-up to the July 2003 national elections and encourage
the Cambodian Government, where appropriate, to take measures
to ensure that the elections are free and fair. Australia
also urges the Cambodian Government to sustain its commitment
to working with the international community to ensure that
former Khmer Rouge leaders are brought swiftly to trial for
the crimes they have committed.
Australia’s
Links With Cambodia
At
the moment Australia has very few links with Cambodia. There
are not very many migrants or refugees who have come to Australia,
Australia neither exports nor imports goods from Cambodia
and Cambodia is not really seen as a potential holiday destination
even though Thailand, its neighbour, is. Most people know
it only through the Tomb Raider game. However, Cambodia is
a country filled with gorgeous, picturesque scenery, shrouded
with history and ancient temples, and over-flowing with a
beautiful and intricate culture and it deserves our attention
and efforts in trying to improve the intercultural communication
and understanding that should exist between Australia and
Cambodia. Recently, some promising improvements have been
made. Australia has accepted a part in an organization called
Doctors Without Boundaries, which has seen several of Australia’s
leading health physicians make journeys around Southern and
Eastern Asia (including Cambodia) treating those patients
who do not have access to or cannot afford the treatment they
need. Following the example of some Americans and Hollywood
actors, several adoption agencies have been set up to allow
people living in Australia, America and the UK to adopt Cambodian
children who have no-one else to turn to. People are beginning
to recognise the beauty that Cambodia has to offer and it
has appeared an increasing number of times on travel shows
such as Getaway, particularly in the last year or two. While
there are few links between Australia and Cambodia at the
moment, there is great potential for strong intercultural
bonds in the future, as long as we all work towards it.
Customs
There
are several customs that are adhered to strictly in Cambodia
and should, in respect of this culture, be followed whenever
you are in visiting.
Greetings:
Cambodians traditionally greet each other by joining their
hands together in front of their chest and bowing often (Chum
Reap Suor) followed by the western practice of shaking hands.
Although men tend to shake hands with each other, women usually
use the traditional greeting with both men and other women.
It is considered acceptable for foreigners to shake hands
with Cambodians of both sexes.
You should respond to greetings from others. It is considered
disrespectful not to return greetings by other people.
In temples:
When you enter pagodas (wats) sit with your feet to the side
rather than in lotus position, then you join both hands together
under chin and bow three times to the floor.
Always be seated when the monks are seated.
During festivals, flowers, clothes, food and other gifts are
given as offerings to the monks. Religion is seen as a crucial
aspect of society and it is very disrespectful to refuse to
give an offering when asked. If you wish to visit a temple
such days or are just passing, an offering of money will usually
suffice and no conflict will arise.
Shoes, sandals and a hat should be removed when entering a
mosque or a pagoda (wat) where Buddhist images are kept.
You should never photograph a Buddah without permission
Addressing people:
People of your age or younger should be called by their name
People older than youself should be addressed as Bang (for
men) and Bang Srey(for women)
People who are “old” and are considerably older
that yourself should be addressed as Ta (for men) and Yeay
(for women)
Addressing acquaintances, such as the owner of a restaurant,
you should use Lok (Mr) and Lok Srey (Mrs)
Extras:
It is considered a grave insult to touch another person's
head, even if is meant as a friendly gesture.
Use the right hand to accept things or shake hands
It is considered rude to point your foot at a person or object
Public displays of affection between men and women are frowned
upon
In private homes, it is polite to remove your shoes when entering
the house.
Language
The
main language spoken in Cambodia is Khmer although the second
most widely spoken language is French, which is followed by
English. Knowing how to communicate properly is the basis
for improving the intercultural communication and understanding
that exists between our countries. Without any knowledge of
the languages of different cultures, a barrier will form and
no progress can be made. We decided we to focus on the official
and most widely spoken language in Cambodia – Khmer.
It is very important to know that this language reflects some
of the values that society holds. In Khmer, there is a different
word for ‘yes’ and ‘no’ depending on whether
you are female or not and there are different greetings that
should be used that reflect the authority of the person you
are talking to. For example, an equivalent of ‘Hi’
or ‘Hello’ is used in casual situations where you
are talking to a friend or people you know of a similar age.
However, if you were to address an elder, you would use an
alternative greeting which still means ‘Hello’ but
it shows respect for your elders and is the polite and appropriate
method of address. There is no clear definition as to what
is considered polite and acceptable conversation, it is just
like the manners we are taught – there is no written
rule but rather an understood one. However, a good hint is
not to be too personal. It is considered rude to ask the age
of an older person though it’s slightly more acceptable
to do so to a person younger than yourself. You shouldn’t
ask whether someone is married or single, how many children
they have or if any of their family are monks. Cambodians
place a great deal of importance on their family, their elders
and their religion. As long as you don’t ask too may
questions on these topics you should be fine.
Language and body language come hand-in-hand and there are
also a few things to remember about how to act. Most of these
are just common manners but the ones that most important are
as follows: Do not interrupt before someone is finished what
they are saying, try to acknowledge what is being said but
small nods of the head, it is alright to make eye-contact
but it is very important not to stare, the safest thing to
do would be never to touch someone as there are certain situations
were touching is against their religion and remember a friendly
smile is always a warm gesture.
Gender
Roles
Cambodia
has what we would see as very strict and ‘traditional’
gender roles as well as family structure, but on this they
place a very great deal of importance and it is crucial that
we respect this if we wish to improve the intercultural communication.
The gender roles and family structure are intertwined and
are mostly uniform across the country although some variation
exists particularly in smaller, isolated villages, when compared
to the larger cities that receive greater influence from the
rest of the world. Generally speaking though, they are organised
as follows:
Family
Structure
The Cambodians maintain a very ‘traditional’ family
structure. Families will stay together even after daughters
and sons are married. It is not uncommon to find several generations
living together, especially in rural areas where the standards
of living are slightly lower due to a lower income. For example,
a family will include usually 4-6 children, a mother and father,
and a grandmother and grandfather. One common element, however,
is the respect that is given to the elders.
Gender
Roles
Within the family, gender roles are very strict. It is the
women’s job to raise the children, prepare the food and
organize the household. There is a well known phrase that
is often passed through generations that women give the love
to the children and the men give them skills and discipline.
This principle is still practiced. It is up to the men to
provide for the family and make sure that there is a consistent
income. However, outside the home, rules are beginning to
change. In larger cities like Phnom Penh, women are beginning
to enter the workforce mainly through the running of stores
and markets but there is a steady increase of working women.
Women working in this country in specialized or professional
jobs where the number of women is still low, you should be
prepared to receive some disrespect from male colleagues.
Whether inside the house or not, it can be said that women
have very little rights and still very much dominated by men.
There is a Cambodian proverb that gives a good idea of the
status of women even now in Cambodia: ‘If you're timid
with your teacher, you won't learn; if you're timid with your
wife, you won't have children’
Warnings
Despite
the easing of political tensions in Cambodia, sporadic outbreaks
of violence still occur. Visitors are advised to avoid demonstrations
and political gatherings, and to generally exercise caution.
Cambodia remains one of the world's most heavily land mined
countries, with an estimated four to six million UXOs dotted
around the countryside waiting to be detonated. The most heavily
mined part of the country is the Battambang, Banteay Meanchey,
Pursat, Siem Reap and Kampong Thom provinces, but landmines
are a problem nationwide. It's advisable to travel with a
local guide in rural areas, and never venture off the path
into forest or dry paddy fields - even when you're at Angkor.
Avoid solo travel during the day outside provincial towns,
and in all parts of the country at night. Street crime remains
a problem in the capital - take particular care at night,
and travel by taxi, rather than moto or cyclo.
Recommended
Reading
Cambodia
4th
Edition by Nick Ray
Published October 2002
352 pages with 18 full-colour pictures and 57 maps
Cost: Around $AUS30
Available from Lonely Planet
A valuable book for travellers in Cambodia, it contains detailed
maps and advice for enjoying time spent in the kingdom and
staying safe. The new addition contains extended information
about the more remote provinces. Includes suggestions for
food and accomodation, as well as a chapter on language and
the Khmer script and advice about culture and customs.
