Pixels of Phnom Penh
NOT a city with a reputation of romance as Paris, not a city of a hundred spires as Prague, bustling Phnom Penh, once known as the Pearl of Asia, is home to one million people, the largest, most populous and capital city of Cambodia. Today the city is a significant global and domestic tourist destination of this Southeast Asian nation. And this heartland is also renowned for its traditional Khmer and French influenced architecture, along with its amazingly friendly and peaceful people. For a furturist, term like ‘a Phnom Penher’ might be introduced at some point in time when there is a growing sense of identity and popularity. It is the place where I grew up and went to schools. The period of time is long, long enough to make me love the places, people, and its prestige. Phnom Penh is not the most beautiful, wealthiest, or greatest city in the world, but it is where I grow my own perspective and proudness.
Recently I have launched an online photo community, titled the “Perfect Phnom Penh” in an effort to build Phnom Penh in pictures or pixels. Using Flickr, one of the best online photo managements and sharing applications, everyone from every corner of the planet, traveler, tourist, expat and local with love and memory of the Cambodian capital city can take part in this development. Once joined the group, there is a pool where you can contribute your photo, which is also open to public for viewing: pictures of the city nightlife, a day in the life of people from every walk of life, French-style building, the mighty Mekong River, et cetera.
My informal opening remark to the group members:
Thanks everyone for your participation. I am delighted to have you all joined in this very first photo group I organized.
I like one thing about this group: diversity. Phnom Penh is always Phnom Penh. It will not become another city. But, the different views of Phnom Penh is somewhat interesting, for locals and for internationals.
Once again, thanks indeed for some of you who have contributed your beautiful pictures of Phnom Penh to the pool. I hope that this will be a nice, though not the best, place to get an idea of what Phnom Penh is like in this 21st century.
Background information: And Who’s Behind the City Architecture?
The Road Ahead (by Michelle Vachon, The Cambodia Daily): Visionary Architect Urges Action to Prevent Urban Chaos
Born in Ream, which was then a part of Kampot province, on Nov 23, 1926, Vann Molyvann first studied law in Cambodia, and then obtained one of five scholarships provided by wealthy Cambodians to pursue his studies in Paris. After one year of law, he switched to architecture at the School of Fine Arts in Paris, and returned to Cambodia in 1955.
July 16th, 2006 at 21:10 pm
I was impressed by the precis I read of Van Molyvann’s recent talk. He recommends that we preserve the urban core of Phnom Penh and think in terms of generations, not years.
Will have some skyline pictures for the pool soon.
July 16th, 2006 at 22:14 pm
Where can I find the Perfect Phnom Penh?
By the way, I used to meet Vann Molyvan in a morning exercise along Basak river. He’s always a giant in my mind on Khmer architect.
July 16th, 2006 at 23:11 pm
Yeah.. where is it?
Anyway it’s a very good initiative!
We’ll have more photos from different corners of Phnom Penh… This would help outside people to get to know even more about our hidden capital yet full of amazing people/things to discover…
July 18th, 2006 at 12:43 pm
ThaRum,
You reluctantly say, “Phnom Penh is not the most beautiful, wealthiest, or greatest city in the world,” but if you were to visit prestigious and enviable international destinations you would re-discover your hometown. Your country’s isolated beaches actually rival the most exclusive worldwide vacation sites in greatness; there’s nothing more warm and beautiful on the planet than a genuine Khmer smile (young or old). And of course, there are no greater riches for a country than such cultural and spiritual ancestry as Cambodia’s ancients.
But, this is just the opinion of a tourist— and a virtual, Asia-traveler, at that.
July 20th, 2006 at 19:35 pm
>> John, I have also noticed that you have a few photo of flooding. That would be awesome.
>> Wanna, link fixed. Well, he should be someone amazing, not giant.
>> Mungkol, let alone good initiative does not work. Yeah, that’s always part of my thought.
>> Lindsey, I will, some time in the future, revise this as long as I find that the difference.
October 14th, 2006 at 14:44 pm
I didn’t find phnom penh to be the pearl of the orient,but I loved the cambodian people.
I will be back soon.