#war museum cambodia

[anonymousaccountuser]

Okay. I watched Lupin Zero a while back and I’m losing my goddamn MIND over the metaphor of Lupin, a thief, stealing Jigen’s heart. It has been MONTHS and it plagues my mind still. I’m practically tearing my hair out.

Like… Imagine you are a boy. A lonely boy, a boy who’s been hurt his entire life, a boy who was given a gun at the age of five and taught to kill mercilessly without hesitation. You’re constantly told you’re not good enough, that nobody will ever want you for you, that you’ll only ever be a weapon; you’re worth nothing more than that, nothing less. The more skill you have, the more value you hold; if you do a job well you’ll be worth something, if you fail you’ll probably get beat or tossed out, considered less than dirt by your own shitty father. You’re not a boy, not really. You’re a gun, and the minute you miss a shot you’re worthless. You learn that no, you can’t be a kid—being a kid is not for you. You don’t have time for stupid birthday parties or immature little kid games when you’re too busy fighting in war zones or getting shot at in Cambodia. You teach yourself not to feel; remorse and regret are pointless when you’re a hitman, and so is love—you never have childhood crushes or fancy any of the pretty girls at your school. You think it’s stupid. You’ve never been interested in girls anyway, and your father once threatened to shoot you if you ever tried the alternative, so you lock your heart away, stuff it into a box and cram it into a safe and set fifty different code-combination locks and wrap chains around it so that you can’t feel.

And then one day, some skinny rich kid with sticky fingers shows up, and just won’t leave you alone. Okay, you think to yourself. No biggie. He’s just some spoiled brat with too much time on his hands who doesn’t know what he’s getting into. But then this kid starts treating you like you’re worth something, like you’re some sort of treasure he values, something he wants to chase; and not for your quick draw, either. This monkey-faced little brat seems to only want to know more about you, and play stupid kid games with you. He’s annoying, but the trouble he gets into is fun enough, even if you always end up having to bail him out. You find out that this kid is a thrill-seeker, and much to your surprise, he considers you thrilling. You’ve never had friends before, but this feels like something else. The way he looks at you makes your stomach fuzzy with a feeling you’re not entirely sure what to think of, and no matter how many times you walk away you always find yourself drawn to him. You’re reminded of what your father threatened to do at that, so you tuck that feeling away with all the others.

But then, this bastard “friend” of yours does something you never expected; he chips away at the walls you’ve built, carefully picks the locks holding chains around your heart with nimble, practiced fingers. He pries at that safe of yours like it’s fun, like it’s some sort of challenge for him (he likes challenges, you’ve come to find) and finds out those combinations of yours with thieving expertise. And then, as if none of your past matters, as if all those thousands of walls of defence you built and security lasers you set and safety precautions you took are absolutely nothing to him, he reaches forward and places a skinny hand over your chest and takes what he wants, like he’s always done. He holds you in the palm of his hand like you’re something precious, a valued piece of artwork in a renowned museum that he’s taken the liberty of nabbing, and you let him. You let him steal you like some pretty piece of jewelry. You let him pull you from the shitty life you live with that shitty dad of yours and steal you away, even though you’re scared out of your mind of intimacy. You’re alone in the dark of that cramped little safe that you’ve locked yourself away in your entire life, and he picks the lock with a bobby pin and reaches for you and grabs your hand; and then suddenly, you’re not so alone anymore. Suddenly you’re more than a gun, you’re Jigen Daisuke, and Lupin the Third wants you like he would a priceless ruby on display in the hall of a rich man’s mansion.

DO YOU SEE MY VISION, PEOPLE??!? DO YOU SEE IT!!?!1!?

[panicinthestudio]

Fourteen looted statues return to Cambodia from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, July 4, 2024

The return to Cambodia this week of 14 sculptures that had been looted from the country during a period of war and unrest is like welcoming home the souls of ancestors, Cambodia’s culture minister said Thursday. Associated Press

[canmom]

the especially crazy-making thing about this 'witnessing a genocide' situation is like...

ok, so there's lots of catastrophes that are genuinely kinda intractable. economics shit, climate change. the problems may be evident but there's lots of room for reasonable disagreement about how to solve them and it's easy to get stuck in a bad equilibrium where the only way out is coordinating an enormous collective action problem and nobody is making any headway. that's one kind of bleak, but at least it's a comprehensibly difficult form of bleak.

i know full well that 'genocide' is a geopolitical football where everyone wants to position what the other guy is doing is a genocide but what you're doing is merely anti-terrorism, assimilation, whatever. this is because the post-wwii consensus is pretty clear cut that genocide is one of the worst things imaginable and one of the only things that really merit going to war.

thus WWII, the official Good War, is retroactively cast as a war to end the Holocaust, even if in practice the Allies were pretty indifferent to what was happening and would turn away refugees, and their solution to the problem of millions of displaced people was to jump on board an ethnonationalist colonialist project that would send them all off to a newly defined 'Jewish state' in a spare country the British happened to have lying around in the Middle East... and well, we're seeing how well that's working out for everyone. subsequent stories of genocide, such as Rwanda, Cambodia, or Bosnia, tend to end with 'and then xyz country invaded and put an end to things and the genocidaires went to court and we put up museums at the mass graves and shot documentary films'. even though the nigh-universal hypocrisy about the subject is rancid, you can at least kind of imagine that there is some pretense that the objective of this whole affair is to stop these kind of mass deaths from happening.

at this point there is no ambiguity that what the Israeli army is doing in Gaza is genocide. they've cut off two million people without food, water, and electricity, shut off their communications, and rained the most sophisticated modern weapons on them indiscriminately for going on three weeks. they've blown up most of their completely overwhelmed medical infrastructure and done everything possible to disrupt it. this war is so one-sided it's not funny, it's just a massacre. Hamas can annoy Israel with rockets but can't do a damn thing to protect the population they're ruling. and there is nowhere for people in Gaza to run to. the border with Egypt is closed. an insultingly tiny trickle of aid has made it in, which will instantly disappear to the orders of magnitude more hungry people.

in short there is no option left besides wait to die.

but, ok. in contrast to all those intractable problems... this one is very simple to solve. Israel could stop dropping bombs whenever they feel like it, and negotiate for whatever they fucking want, e.g. prisoner exchanges. they could let the Palestinians out of the ghetto and dissolve the situation that creates Hamas. they could easily continue to maintain Palestinians as second-class citizens. (look at how lopsided South Africa remains.)

and if they won't, because the country is ruled by fascist maniacs with broad support across the settler population, the US - which has all the leverage in the world - could threaten to hang them out to dry until they call a ceasefire. Israel has so thoroughly made enemies of all its neighbours that they would not last long without that US backing. it needn't even get to that point, if the US said 'stop' and made it clear there was any sort of line... Israel might feel it has to do a little damage control and try to look good on camera. maybe hold off on the white phosphorous. leave a few houses standing.

but none of that is happening. none of it.

it seems like the ground invasion will be starting. it might be well underway when i wake up.

despite the 'simplicity', it's still not at all clear what one little human can do about it. if i go to a protest tomorrow, for the symbolic gesture of "having done something" if nothing else, maybe it will make me feel better, but the most likely immediate outcome is that the government (currently going through a rape scandal, i love the uk) is going to step up its internal repression of Muslims. somehow, the idea that the people are displeased with their democratically elected agents won't factor into it. the protestors become 'other' by virtue of protesting, another problem to control.

it's common to ask 'what would you have done if you lived in Germany (or Poland) during the Holocaust?' a lot of people imagine they'd be heroes, hiding Jewish people in their attic or becoming partisans in the woods or whatever. in practice, history suggests that most people would have gone along with it without much complaint, or even taken the opportunity to steal from the victims, moving into vacant houses, taking over companies, even helping the Nazis round people up.

i must not become an inner emigré. doing nothing when i could have done something is unacceptable. but what i feel, faced with this situation, is pathetically impotent.

i feel so sick.

[drops-of-universe]

Remember: the destruction of a community's cultural heritage is a hallmark of genocide. henry kissinger was an architect of genocide in cambodia and the mass looting of cultural heritage to western museums is a byproduct of his war crimes

[biarritzzz]

Are there any non-European countries that you like (have visited and enjoyed or would like to visit)

Vietnam I liked a lot. Would love to go back as there are parts of the country I didn’t get to see. Hué, Hoi Han, Da Nang. I also barely saw anything of Hanoi. Food is amazing and everything runs somewhat smoothly.

I want to go to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat before the country gets completely colonized by China so I should hurry.

Japan doesn’t interest me as much but I’d like to see it before it changes completely. And not for the best. Amazing food, on par with French food when it comes to sophistication imo. Country is safe (for now) and everything works perfectly well.

Countries that I would love to go to but won’t at the moment because of geopolitics: Russia and Israel.

Russia has so much culture, history and museums in Saint Petersburg and Moscow are worth the trip alone. I should have gone ten years ago, I really regret it. Now obviously it’s impossible. Who knows how long the horrible war in Ukraine will last.

Israel: I was supposed to go last September, just imagine. Then the friend I was supposed to go with had an issue with her nanny + health problems so we decided to postpone. I still want to go as I want to see the place for myself, it’s full of fascinating history. One day 🤞🏻

I want to go to Peru and Bolivia. Love ceviche. A colleague of mine went two years ago and the pictures he showed me of Machu Picchu were incredible. Both countries are somewhat safe but you still have to be careful.

I’ll add Guatemala and Belize. Belize is super safe and Guatemala is ok. I speak Spanish so that’s a plus. I’m mostly interested in Inca, Maya and Aztec ruins/temples but the more recent history is interesting as well.

Argentina maybe? I’d like to visit as I’ve heard it described as the most European SA country so that peaked my curiosity. Plus I knew a guy from Paraguay who was crazy insecure about Argentina and told me they were like the French of South America. Translation: the country is amazing so of course its neighbors are very insecure about it.

[xtruss]

An ancient Angkorian crown that was returned to Cambodia from Britain last Friday. Seventy-seven pieces of lost Angkorian crown jewellery have been returned. Photograph: Wu Changwei/Xinhua News Agency/eyevine

Stolen Trove of Angkor Crown Jewels Returned to Cambodia After Resurfacing in London

Family of British antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford, who died in 2020 while awaiting trial for art trafficking, returns 77 Khmer artefacts

— Agence France-Presse | Monday 20 February 2023

Dozens of pieces of Angkorian crown jewellery stolen from Cambodia, many never seen by the public, have been returned after resurfacing in London, the Cambodian culture ministry said on Monday.

The trove includes crowns, necklaces, amulets and other treasures from the Angkor period, which ran from the ninth to the 14th century AD, when the Khmer empire was a dominant force in south-east Asia.

The ministry said officials in Cambodia received the 77 pieces from the family of British antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford.

Latchford died in 2020 while awaiting trial in the United States for art trafficking, and his family reached an agreement with Cambodia the same year to return his collection of Khmer antiquities.

The collection, which arrived discreetly in Cambodia on Friday, features “gold and other precious metal pieces from the pre-Angkorian and Angkorian period including crowns, necklaces, bracelets, belts, earrings and amulets”, the ministry said.

The trove includes crowns and other treasures from the Angkor period, which ran from the ninth to the 14th century AD. Photograph: Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts/Handout via Xinhua

As Cambodia was ravaged by civil wars and a genocide by the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s, thousands of antiques were looted and sold through dealers in Thailand and Hong Kong to wealthy buyers and museums in Europe and the US.

US prosecutors have been pushing to return many of the works in recent years.

In 2021, Cambodia received five lost stone and bronze artefacts from the Latchford family.

Last year, the US also returned to Cambodia 30 looted antiquities, including bronze and stone statues of Buddhist and Hindu deities that were carved more than 1,000 years ago.

Cambodia’s culture minister, Phoeurng Sackona, appealed to individuals and museums around the world to return stolen artefacts to the country to contribute to the “reconciliation and healing of Cambodians who went through decades of civil war”.

[gbemiwrites]

14 Countries You Never Knew Existed

Over one hundred and ninety countries have been recognised all over the world. Some, like a neon light shining upon them have continued to remain visible while others, as if covered by a fog have less people being aware about them.

1. Seychelle

One of the world's smallest countries. Seychelles is an island on the West Indian Ocean, off East Africa. Its capital - Victoria is located on the island of Mahé. Seychelle has no official language but English, French and Creole languages are more prominent. Although Seychelle is known as one of the least populous countries in the world, it boasts of the finest beaches in the world. The presence of its beautiful climate all year round makes it a place of attraction every time. If you would like to visit Seychelle, the Mahé island, Saint Anne National Park and Anse Georgette, which is a very great tourist centre for couples, are places you must visit.

2. Cyprus

Cyprus, officially called The Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The citizens mainly speak Greek and Turkish although other minor languages like Cypriot Arabic exist.

Cyprus, which is a highly religious country is famous all over the world for its beauty, littered along its streets are sanctuaries, cathedrals, monasteries and old fortresses. One of the "must-visit" places in Cyprus is the Argos village. 

As a tourist, you do not need to worry about the hospitality of the Cypriots as they are known worldwide as approachable, friendly, loyal to friends and traditions and also, lovers of entertainment.

3. The Principality of Monaco

Monaco which is situated at the north of the Mediterranean Sea surrounded on land by France and Italy being about 16 km away. The country which is the second smallest country in the world has been tagged as "the playground of the rich and famous" because of the presence of beautiful man-made beaches, clubs, designer malls and casinos. French is the official language in Monaco but other languages like English and Italian are spoken by the minority. 

As one of the safest countries in the world, visiting Monaco as a tourist will be incomplete without your visit to the Oceanographic museum, Larvotto beach and Prince's Palace of Monaco where the rulers of Monaco live.

4. Armenia

One of the most beautiful and unique countries in the Middle East is Armenia. Being the first country to adopt Christianity, some of the world's oldest churches and monasteries grace the scenic view in Armenia. As one of the oldest countries in the world, the people boast of their unique alphabet, cuisine and rich history. Armenia is also recognised worldwide as one of the safest places to be and everyone who has not been there should ensure they do so.

5. Cambodia

Cambodia is a Southeastern Asian nation on the Indochinese mainland and is largely home to a lot of plains and rivers. Dubbed one of the poorest and most unsafe countries in the world, Cambodia has witnessed the incidence of wars in its recent history. Although Khmer is the official language in the country, English is also widely spoken. Tourists have been advised to remain security conscious in their visit to the country because Cambodia boasts of beautiful sceneries in the world. Places like Angkor-Wat are a must-see because the sunrise looks exceptionally beautiful there.

6. Serbia

Serbia is a landlocked country in South East Europe and also, one of the developing countries of the world. Loaded with diverse religions, fortresses, palaces, traditions and folklore, Serbians have been recognised as being lively and laid-back people.

Interesting places to visit in Serbia include the Church of Saint Sava which is the largest Orthodox church in the world so far and has not yet been fully finished.

7. Kosovo

Officially recognised as the Republic of Kosovo, Kosovo is a relatively new country which declared its independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008. Although the country is small, it was beautifully formed by the creator and has the youngest populations in Europe with its official languages as Albanian and Serbian. If you are visiting Kosovo, remember to enjoy the panoramic view of Prizren, the exciting exhibits of the Ethnological Museum and the monasteries which seem to become more beautiful as the years go by.

8. Romania

Another location where travellers never seem to get tired of visiting. Romania is a beautiful Eastern European country which is recognised everywhere as a place where the cost of living is low, good and healthy life is spinal, a top destination for music and art and a fast-growing international hub.

The official language of the country is Romanian and the main religion practised is Christianity. Although "Romance" could be culled from the name of the country, romance seems to be a far-fetched idea as Romanians have been discovered to be formal, suspicious and reserved with a strong need for privacy. However, Romanians admire modesty, humility, discipline and loyalty.

Read the others at:

https://www.gbemiwrites.com.ng/2022/12/14-countries-you-never-knew-existed.html

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 11.10 (after 1950)

1951 – With the rollout of the North American Numbering Plan, direct-dial coast-to-coast telephone service begins in the United States. 1954 – U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower dedicates the USMC War Memorial (Iwo Jima memorial) in Arlington Ridge Park in Arlington County, Virginia. 1958 – The Hope Diamond is donated to the Smithsonian Institution by New York diamond merchant Harry Winston. 1969 – National Educational Television (the predecessor to the Public Broadcasting Service) in the United States debuts Sesame Street. 1970 – Vietnam War: Vietnamization: For the first time in five years, an entire week ends with no reports of American combat fatalities in Southeast Asia. 1970 – Luna 17: uncrewed space mission launched by the Soviet Union. 1971 – In Cambodia, Khmer Rouge forces attack the city of Phnom Penh and its airport, killing 44, wounding at least 30 and damaging nine aircraft. 1971 – A Merpati Nusantara Airlines Vickers Viscount crashes into the Indian Ocean near Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, killing all 69 people on board. 1972 – Southern Airways Flight 49 from Birmingham, Alabama is hijacked and, at one point, is threatened with crashing into the nuclear installation at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. After two days, the plane lands in Havana, Cuba, where the hijackers are jailed by Fidel Castro. 1975 – The 729-foot-long freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald sinks during a storm on Lake Superior, killing all 29 crew on board. 1975 – Israeli-Palestinian conflict: the United Nations General Assembly passes Resolution 3379, determining that Zionism is a form of racism. 1979 – A 106-car Canadian Pacific freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals from Windsor, Ontario, Canada derails in Mississauga, Ontario. 1983 – Bill Gates introduces Windows 1.0. 1985 – A Dassault Falcon 50 and a Piper PA-28 Cherokee collide in mid-air over Fairview, New Jersey, killing six people and injuring eight. 1989 – Longtime Bulgarian leader Todor Zhivkov is removed from office and replaced by Petar Mladenov. 1989 – Germans begin to tear down the Berlin Wall. 1995 – In Nigeria, playwright and environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, along with eight others from the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (Mosop), are hanged by government forces. 1997 – WorldCom and MCI Communications announce a $37 billion merger (the largest merger in US history at the time). 1999 – World Anti-Doping Agency is formed in Lausanne. 2002 – Veteran's Day Weekend Tornado Outbreak: A tornado outbreak stretching from Northern Ohio to the Gulf Coast, one of the largest outbreaks recorded in November. 2006 – Sri Lankan Tamil politician Nadarajah Raviraj is assassinated in Colombo. 2006 – The National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia is opened and dedicated by U.S. President George W. Bush, who announces that Marine Corporal Jason Dunham will posthumously receive the Medal of Honor. 2008 – Over five months after landing on Mars, NASA declares the Phoenix mission concluded after communications with the lander were lost. 2009 – Ships of the South and North Korean navies skirmish off Daecheong Island in the Yellow Sea. 2019 – President of Bolivia Evo Morales and several of his government resign after 19 days of civil protests and a recommendation from the military. 2020 – Armenia and Azerbaijan sign a ceasefire agreement, ending the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, and prompting protests in Armenia.

[ivankahasbeentreatedsounfairly]

By M.H. Miller

Sept. 16, 2024

IN THE SUMMER of 1970, as part of the group exhibition “Information,” one of the first major surveys of conceptual art, the artist Hans Haacke presented a work at the Museum of Modern Art in New York called “Poll of MoMA Visitors.” Museumgoers were given slips of paper to deposit into one of two plexiglass boxes. On the wall was a sign about Nelson Rockefeller, then in his third term as governor of New York and running for a fourth. “Question,” it read, “Would the fact that Governor Rockefeller has not denounced President Nixon’s Indochina policy be a reason for you not to vote for him in November? Answer: If ‘yes,’ please cast your ballot into the left box; if ‘no,’ into the right box.”

The Rockefeller family helped found MoMA in 1929. In 1963, Nelson’s brother David was elected the chair of the museum’s board of trustees. As governor, Nelson Rockefeller had begun calling for a broadening of the war in Vietnam and a South Vietnamese-led invasion of Cambodia and Laos as early as 1964. That wasn’t the family’s only connection to the conflict. Henry Kissinger, who worked for the Rockefellers in the 1950s and advised Nelson on his presidential campaigns beginning in 1960, was also Nixon’s national security adviser and the chief architect of the secret carpet bombing campaign of Cambodia that began in 1969 and is estimated to have killed more than 150,000 civilians. It led to the U.S. invasion of Cambodia, which Nixon announced on TV on April 30, 1970. The following day, students began demonstrating across the country in numbers that would soon reach the millions and, on May 4, the National Guard opened fire on protesters at Kent State University in Ohio, killing four.

Tensions were high at MoMA as well, where “Information” opened that July. Haacke kept the exact content of his work secret until he had finished installing it. Unlike a lot of conceptual art, it was simple but, in looking critically at a figure of great behind-the-scenes power at MoMA from the vantage point of an artist exhibiting at the museum, Haacke had created an entirely new art form. David Rockefeller was furious about the exhibition; Nelson Rockefeller’s office called John Hightower, the museum’s director, to ask for Haacke’s poll to be removed, but the work remained. It was among the factors that eventually led to Hightower’s forced resignation. Haacke would quickly become an art-world pariah. For a Guggenheim Museum show scheduled for the following year, he had created a new work called “Shapolsky et al.,” for which he used public records to chart the real estate holdings and shell corporations of the New York City landlord Harry Shapolsky, whom the district attorney had accused of being “a front for high officials of the Department of Buildings” and who had been found guilty of rent gouging. Because of the Shapolsky work, as well as another similar piece about a pair of real estate developers, the Guggenheim’s then-director, Thomas Messer, canceled the exhibition, describing Haacke’s work as “an alien substance” that he would not allow to “[enter] the art museum organism.” The curator Massimiliano Gioni, who co-organized a 2019 solo show of Haacke at the New Museum — the only major American museum ever to give him one — compared the Guggenheim’s censoring of “Shapolsky et al.” to the “legendary refusal of ‘Nude Descending a Staircase,’” referring to Marcel Duchamp’s 1912 Cubo-Futurist painting that was rejected from a Paris exhibition for being, as Duchamp would later describe it, too disrespectful of the nude form. “It’s such a defining moment,” Gioni said of Haacke’s canceled show. “It must have shocked him, but it also proclaimed his integrity, which is at a level that is still uncomfortable for some institutions.”

Before Haacke, museums were considered, in the words of the New York Times critic Holland Cotter, “genteel and politically marginal.” Robber barons might have donated to them to enhance their social clout, but such cultural largess was seldom questioned. Today, though, when phrases like “artwashing” and “toxic philanthropy” have entered the lexicon to describe the role that museums and other cultural organizations play in boosting the images of corporations and billionaires, Haacke’s work is more than just relevant — it’s prophetic. With persistent clarity, he seemed to understand, half a century before anyone else, the stakes of the uncomfortable relationship between art and politics.

ONCE A WEEK for three weeks last May, I met Haacke, who’s 88, at the Bus Stop Cafe on Hudson Street, an almost monastic diner of the kind that doesn’t really exist in Lower Manhattan anymore, where there was never any trouble getting a seat, no one was on a laptop and the waiter didn’t care that we never ordered any food. Each time, Haacke had a glass of cranberry juice. He always brought his son Paul, 47, who’s an adjunct professor of humanities and media studies at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and who didn’t say much other than to delicately push back on a date or some other small detail. (Paul had once worked as a fact-checker at magazines and now assumed that role for his father.)

Haacke isn’t reclusive, but he has tried his best to let his work speak for itself. He’ll occasionally agree to interviews but, as a rule, he won’t show his face in photographs. (Being photographed “would be a problem for me,” he said, the only time he adopted a slightly severe tone.) He’s rail thin, with a neatly trimmed gray beard and perfectly circular glasses, and wore a loosefitting flannel shirt. It was difficult to square what I knew of his work, unforgiving in its critique of wealth and power, with the man himself, who was reserved, friendly and at times so mild-mannered that his voice was inaudible under the sound of buses screeching to a halt a few feet away. He’s one of the most censored artists of the past 100 years, and yet he seemed incapable of expressing anger or resentment. This is how he described “MoMA Poll,” as it is now commonly known: “People would answer yes or no to a question that I put up. And for about 16 years after that, I was not invited to participate in anything at the Museum of Modern Art.” The most animated I saw him was when one of his neighbors from the nearby Westbeth apartment complex — the subsidized artist housing where Haacke has lived since 1971 — zoomed around the corner in an electric wheelchair. “Look how fast she’s going!” said Haacke, who was also using a wheelchair after a recent surgery. He sounded concerned and vaguely envious.

Haacke had been preparing for a major exhibition in Frankfurt that will open at the Schirn Kunsthalle in November and travel to the Belvedere Museum in Vienna. He also currently has work on view in New York, in a group show dedicated to the American flag at Paula Cooper Gallery. The Frankfurt show, a career retrospective, includes many artworks about his native Germany, among them another influential, often suppressed piece, 1981’s “Der Pralinenmeister,” about Peter Ludwig, a chocolate manufacturer and one of Germany’s most famous art collectors. Across 14 framed panels that include photographs of Ludwig and his factory workers, Haacke wrote a text detailing the overlap between patronage and commerce: Ludwig received tax advantages from donating artworks and displaying his collection publicly and would loan artworks to cities where he produced or distributed his chocolate. “Der Pralinenmeister” also notes that Ludwig’s factories housed female foreign workers in on-site hostels that didn’t offer day care, so women who gave birth were forced to leave or find foster homes for their children — or give them up for adoption. According to Haacke’s text, the company’s personnel department stated that it was “a chocolate factory and not a kindergarten.” Ludwig, who died in 1996, was reportedly interested in buying the work, perhaps to remove it from circulation, but Haacke wouldn’t sell it to him.

In works like “Shapolsky” and “Der Pralinenmeister,” Haacke said, “I had to do research like a journalist does.” He’d scour documents, noticing details that other histories ignored, and present facts, often via text, in a detached, almost omniscient voice. Early on, he was influenced by the American art writer Jack Burnham, who developed what he called systems aesthetics in the late ’60s, which Haacke described as “everything is connected to everything else.” (The subtitle of “Shapolsky” identifies it as “A Real-Time Social System.”) Through art, people like Ludwig had managed to quite literally buy themselves good will. Or as David Rockefeller put it in a quote that Haacke engraved on a plaque that he hung at an earlier show at the New Museum in 1986, “Involvement in the arts … can provide a company with extensive publicity and advertising, a brighter public reputation and an improved corporate image.”

HAACKE WAS BORN in Cologne in 1936, the same year that the Nazis marched into the demilitarized Rhineland. His father, a member of the center-left Social Democratic Party, worked for the city; when the Nazis took over, they demanded that everyone in Cologne’s government join the party. Haacke’s father refused and went to work as an accountant.

One of Haacke’s first memories is from when he was 6. “There was an air raid alert during the night, and we were in the basement, trying to wait it out,” he said. “The next morning, when I walked to school on the street where we lived, one building had been hit by a bomb. It was burned out. Otherwise, no other building was hit. I will never forget that.” Why that building and not his? He’d spend the rest of his life trying to extract meaning from such seemingly random events.

In 1956 he moved to Kassel, an industrial town in West Germany within 30 miles of Soviet-occupied territory. He wanted to attend the Kunsthochschule Kassel because, he said, it was “the only art school at that time that was still somewhat in the tradition of the Bauhaus,” which had taken a multidisciplinary approach to teaching subjects as diverse as pottery and typography. His plan was to become a high school art teacher.

Kassel is best known today as the location of Documenta, one of the world’s most important contemporary art exhibitions, held every five years. In 1959, in Documenta’s second iteration, Kunsthochschule students were tasked with running its day-to-day operations, and Haacke, who worked as a security guard and helped with installation, also took pictures, producing his first major work, “Photographic Notes, Documenta 2, 1959.” In a deadpan style, he showed visitors interacting with the exhibition and, in doing so, created a snapshot of Cold War-era West Germany. In one image, a little boy has his back turned to an abstract canvas by Wassily Kandinsky, who had been featured in the Nazis’ 1937 exhibition of so-called degenerate art; the child’s face is buried in a Mickey Mouse comic book instead.

Though he mostly studied abstract painting, he spent much of the ’60s thinking about how to reinvent the medium of sculpture. He met Linda Snyder, a Brooklyn native who had just finished her bachelor’s degree in French, in 1962, while he was in the United States on a Fulbright to study art. They married in Germany in 1965 and returned to the States by ocean liner. (They have one other son, Carl, a tech entrepreneur.) Upon reaching New York Harbor, Haacke received a telegram inviting him to put on a solo exhibition at the Howard Wise Gallery; his friend Otto Piene, a German artist who showed there, had arranged it as a wedding present. (“It was like a fairy tale,” Haacke said of his arrival in Manhattan. “I really was very lucky.”) Initially working out of a one-room studio on the Bowery, he made sculptures that featured natural materials: filling a plexiglass container with water that gradually evaporated and condensed, placing a white sheet above fans so that the material rippled endlessly, planting grass on a mound of dirt. His sculptures foreshadowed his later career, showing an artist obsessed with cause and effect, with decisions and their repercussions.

The shift in his work from physical and ecological systems to overtly political ones dates roughly to 1968. Following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., he wrote a letter to Burnham: “Linda and I were gloomy for days and still have not quite recovered. The event pressed something into focus that I have known for long but never realized so bitterly and helplessly, namely that what we are doing, the production and the talk about sculpture, has no relation to the urgent problems of our society. … Not a single napalm bomb will not be dropped by all the shows of ‘Angry Arts.’ Art is utterly unsuited as a political tool. … I’ve known that for a number of years, and I was never really bothered by it. All of a sudden it bugs me.”

As an artist, he knew he couldn’t stop a war or influence an election. (Most respondents of “MoMA Poll” seemed disinclined to vote for Rockefeller, but he won a fourth term as governor and served as vice president under Gerald Ford.) Yet “MoMA Poll” helped change how the public thought of the art they saw in a museum and its relationship to the world at large, and Haacke’s work ever since has been as unsparing and revelatory. In 1971, he began conducting demographic surveys of exhibition visitors at the Milwaukee Art Center, the John Weber Gallery in New York and other venues, creating one of the first empiric statements about the art business’s liberal insularity; in 1975, he charted the rise of art as an investment opportunity by tracing, across text panels, the provenance and sales history of Georges Seurat’s 1888 painting “Les Poseuses” (small version), which had passed through, among others, the hands of a Luxembourg-based holding company. And at the 1993 Venice Biennale, only a few years after German reunification, in an installation he titled “Germania,” he destroyed the marble floor of the German pavilion, which had been remodeled by the Nazis in 1938, and hung a picture of Adolf Hitler visiting the Biennale in 1934. At an optimistic moment for democracy and Germany, Haacke reminded people to consider the dark past alongside any brighter future. Paula Cooper, Haacke’s dealer, described waiting in line for the show behind Peter Ludwig. “He didn’t look happy,” she said.

TODAY, HAACKE OCCUPIES an unusual place in the contemporary canon: He has been illustrious and canceled, critically revered and commercially undervalued. He supported himself by teaching at Cooper Union for 35 years, and Gioni told me that he’s one of the only artists of his caliber who still owns much of his work. “Hans is extremely successful,” Gioni said, “but he lives his success in ways that are rarely celebrated by the art industry. He’s Franciscan in his modesty.” The art historian Benjamin Buchloh, who considers Haacke to be one of the most important postwar figures, said with disappointment that at this moment in time, “nothing could be further from the mind of the New York art world than Hans Haacke.” That his 2019 retrospective in New York was at the New Museum and not, say, MoMA “shows that institutions don’t feel comfortable with the challenge he poses, even now,” Buchloh said.

We often think of artists as being ahead of their time. Perhaps Haacke was so far ahead of his that it’s not fair to expect the world to catch up to him, this man who, out of what Gioni described as a “perverse form of love,” held museums to a higher moral standard than most religions require of their practitioners. One can, however, see his legacy in the rise of activist groups like the Guerrilla Girls in the 1980s, who’ve critiqued art institutions for their exclusion of female artists, and more recently Just Stop Oil, Occupy Museums and the photographer Nan Goldin’s P.A.I.N., which have forced museums to sever ties with collectors who came by their wealth through profiteering, like the Sackler family with their opioid fortune. Despite Haacke’s work being uncommercial, his influence has seeped into the wider culture, an uncommon feat for a conceptual artist. In reminding the public that museums, like universities, don’t exist on some higher plane above the scrum of politics and business but are in their own way corporations making decisions that can be as calculated as a bank’s, he created a subgenre of art that is now so widespread that we take its very existence for granted. His heirs include Darren Bader, Andrea Fraser, Walid Raad, Fred Wilson and any artist who has made the structural flaws of the art business into their subject. In the years since “MoMA Poll” went up, cultural institutions in general have been forced to look more closely at the sources of their funding. There was great outrage over the Koch brothers, for instance, who have long used their fortune to prevent federal climate change regulations, putting their names on the facades of venues like the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Often the uproar fizzles out. (The public space in front of the Met was renamed the David H. Koch Plaza in 2014.) But it was Haacke who helped show people where to direct their indignation.

Unlike some of his peers, though, Haacke has never been a spokesperson for the causes championed in his work. His art isn’t didactic. He’s blunt but measured, driven by inquiry rather than impulse. He didn’t have a lot to say about the current state of the art world, where censorship and fear among galleries and museums navigating political fault lines have increased of late. He had spent too much of the last year in a hospital bed, unequipped to perform his usual investigations. The conduct of the art business — and the possibility of art actually influencing politics — was now a younger generation’s responsibility.

But Haacke had certainly left them an interesting road map. In our last meeting, we discussed what is probably his most hopeful work, “Der Bevölkerung” (2000), whose title translates as “To the Population.” It’s an enormous trough of soil with that phrase spelled out in neon letters, permanently installed in the courtyard of the Reichstag, the German parliament in Berlin. The idea was that throughout the year, representatives would bring soil from their districts, and it would mix together, home to whatever sprouted in it, a metaphor for the democratic experiment. The phrase “Der Bevölkerung” is a play on the inscription on the facade of the Reichstag: “Dem Deutschen Volke,” which means “To the German People.” Haacke proposed the work in 1999, at a time of increased migration to Germany from Turkey and other predominately Muslim countries. “Rather than a dedication to the German people, I wanted a dedication to the people who live in the country,” Haacke said, not just “those who were native German, so to speak.” The center-right Christian Democratic Union, which then held a majority of seats in parliament, was “solidly against” Haacke’s idea, he said, and pushed for the 669-member body to debate whether to let him install his art at the Reichstag.

“There was furious resistance to my proposal,” said Haacke, who attended the proceedings in April 2000. “I didn’t believe that it would pass. In the end, it did [by] two votes.” Among those in favor of the work were two women who voted against their own party, and one of them, Haacke said, “was from Nuremberg, where the Nazis were prosecuted for crimes against humanity.”

Next year is the work’s 25th anniversary. Anti-immigrant sentiment is on the rise in Germany, as in many Western nations, and the far right has gained more power there. But, Haacke told me, “things have changed. After a while, a considerable number of people from the parties that had voted against ‘Der Bevölkerung’ have contributed soil.”

It’s not only soil. In it are seeds from plants, and their blooming has become an annual ritual. “I insisted it should not be a garden,” Haacke said. “It was a wild growth.” More important, he added, “it’s ongoing.” The work wasn’t complete. By design, it never would be.

[southeastasianarchaeology]

Construction Begins on Siem Reap’s Historical Museum

Siem Reap’s new museum will enhance cultural tourism and preserve historical treasures. #southeastasianarchaeology #Cambodia #SiemReap #culturaltourism #museumconstruction

via Khmer Times, 19 July 2024: The construction of the Samdech Preah Brahma Rattanamony Pin Sem Museum in Siem Reap aims to boost tourism and preserve Cambodia’s cultural and historical treasures. The Royal Government plans to preserve national, cultural and historical treasures, including the remains of tragedies from the wars in the country. While serving as a centre to remind everyone of the…

[huanyukang]

Major study of Concept art :

Blog 23: Scene design part: . Secene 1：The external environment and architecture of the altar  （Focus on the external 3D design of the altar）（Blender 3D design).

Summary of some concepts and sources of inspiration related to Scene 1

some inspirations source

The concept artist who has had the greatest impact on me in designing the exterior scene of the altar is Ryan Lang

Ryan Lang is known for Doctor Strange (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017).

I particularly like the animated movie "Raya and the Last Dragon" (2021), and the concept designer of this animated movie is Ryan Lang. He used magical realism style in designing the palace and Dragon Valley, which is impressive. Ryan Lang intentionally used exaggeration and distortion techniques in his designs to create a unique and imaginative visual effect. This technique breaks the conventions of traditional architectural design, endowing the building with a vivid and eerie vitality, making the audience feel as if they are in a magical world. The design of the palace is particularly eye-catching. Lang makes the palace look both spectacular and mysterious through exaggerated proportions and distorted structures. The towering spires and twisted corridors seem to be telling the extraordinary and mysterious nature of this world. This design not only enhances the visual impact, but also brings a dreamlike experience to the audience. In addition, the slender architectural design of the palace symbolizes the sanctity and authority of monarchy, which is awe inspiring. Every slender pillar, every towering spire, seems to proclaim the majesty and status of the ruler, making people feel awe towards them. Longgu's design is equally outstanding. Lang combines natural and magical elements, creating a primitive and mysterious atmosphere through exaggerated terrain and unique vegetation. Every rock and leaf here seems to contain an unknown power, making one feel both curious and awe inspiring. This design not only enriches the visual hierarchy of the film, but also provides an imaginative stage for the development of the plot.

Raya and the Last Dragon | Lead The Way ，Youtube,(online)(2021). Available at:https://youtu.be/3UFWsEY8Hdc?si=O95Q4fDo7EExV7T3

Ryan Lang's magical realism concept design style not only fills the buildings and landscapes in "Raya and the Last Dragon" with fantasy colors, but also provides viewers with rich visual enjoyment and emotional experience. Studying his design style can help us understand how to cleverly combine reality and fantasy to create uniquely charming works of art. By using exaggeration and distortion elements, we can break conventions and create more diverse visual effects, stimulating the audience's imagination and resonance.

The Palace Museum（2021）Chinese ceremonial props. Available at：https://www.dpm.org.cn/collection/defenses.html

Ryan Lang's conceptual design incorporates many famous architectural concepts from Southeast Asian countries, which was very helpful to me when designing the Chinese style altar in Scene 1. For example, I also learned the styles of Buddhist architecture and altars from other Asian countries, such as Talang in Laos, Borobudur in Indonesia, and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Based on these styles, I combined the elements of ancient Chinese towers to design the altar in Scene 1：

Reference

Raya and the Last Dragon | Lead The Way ，Youtube,(online)(2021). Available at:https://youtu.be/3UFWsEY8Hdc?si=O95Q4fDo7EExV7T3（26 JUNE 2024)

Toby Rawal(2021）Easy Procedural Water Material - Blender 2.9 EEVEE，youtube. available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtlSIRh5r_EAccessed: （26 JUNE 2024)

Mandala(2021）available at:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandala（26 JUNE 2024)

The Palace Museum（2021）Chinese ceremonial props. Available at：https://www.dpm.org.cn/collection/defenses.html

[dreamstravel19]

Cheapest Countries to Visit from India: Your Ultimate Travel Guide

Traveling the world doesn't have to break the bank. For Indian travelers looking to explore new destinations without spending a fortune, there are numerous countries offering rich cultural experiences, stunning landscapes, and unique adventures at a fraction of the cost. Here's a guide to some of the cheapest countries to visit from India, where you can enjoy a memorable vacation on a budget.

1. Nepal

Why Visit:

Nepal is a haven for trekkers and adventure enthusiasts. Home to eight of the world's tallest mountains, including Mount Everest, Nepal offers breathtaking views, vibrant culture, and rich history.

Highlights:

Trekking in the Himalayas

Exploring the capital, Kathmandu, with its historic temples and bustling markets

Visiting the birthplace of Buddha in Lumbini

Budget Tips:

Use local transport like buses and shared taxis.

Stay in budget guesthouses or hostels.

Enjoy local Nepali cuisine, which is both delicious and affordable.

2. Sri Lanka

Why Visit:

Sri Lanka, often called the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean," boasts beautiful beaches, lush tea plantations, and ancient ruins. Its compact size makes it easy to explore multiple destinations on a single trip.

Highlights:

Relaxing on the pristine beaches of Mirissa and Unawatuna

Exploring the ancient city of Anuradhapura

Taking a scenic train ride through the tea plantations in Ella

Budget Tips:

Travel by train or bus for cheap and scenic transportation.

Eat at local eateries and street food stalls.

Opt for budget accommodation, like guesthouses or homestays.

3. Thailand

Why Visit:

Thailand is renowned for its stunning islands, vibrant nightlife, rich culture, and delicious street food. It's an ideal destination for both relaxation and adventure. One of the best cheapest countries to visit from India.

Highlights:

Exploring the bustling city of Bangkok

Relaxing on the islands of Koh Samui, Phuket, and Krabi

Visiting ancient temples in Chiang Mai

Budget Tips:

Use budget airlines or buses for internal travel.

Stay in hostels or budget hotels.

Enjoy affordable and delicious street food.

4. Vietnam

Why Visit:

Vietnam offers diverse landscapes, from bustling cities to serene countryside, and a fascinating history. It's a perfect destination for history buffs and nature lovers.

Highlights:

Cruising in Ha Long Bay

Exploring the historic city of Hoi An

Visiting the war museums and tunnels in Ho Chi Minh City

Budget Tips:

Travel by overnight buses or trains to save on accommodation.

Eat at local markets and street vendors.

Choose budget hotels or hostels for your stay.

5. Indonesia

Why Visit:

Indonesia, with its vast archipelago, offers a myriad of experiences from beach getaways to cultural explorations. Bali, in particular, is a favorite among travelers for its stunning landscapes and vibrant culture.

Highlights:

Relaxing on the beaches of Bali

Exploring the temples and rice terraces of Ubud

Diving in the pristine waters of the Gili Islands

Budget Tips:

Use local transport options like scooters or public buses.

Stay in budget-friendly guesthouses or hostels.

Enjoy meals at warungs (local eateries).

6. Cambodia

Why Visit:

On the list of cheapest countries to visit from India, Cambodia is home to the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and offers a deep insight into ancient civilizations. It's also known for its friendly locals and rich history.

Highlights:

Exploring the Angkor Wat temple complex

Visiting the Killing Fields and Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh

Relaxing on the beaches of Sihanoukville

Budget Tips:

Travel by bus between cities to save on transportation costs.

Eat at local markets and small restaurants.

Stay in budget hotels or guesthouses.

7. Malaysia

Why Visit:

Malaysia offers a mix of modernity and tradition, with bustling cities, beautiful beaches, and lush rainforests. It's a great destination for those looking for diverse experiences.

Highlights:

Exploring the vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur

Visiting the historic city of Malacca

Relaxing on the beaches of Langkawi

Budget Tips:

Use public transport like buses and trains.

Stay in budget accommodation options like hostels.

Enjoy meals at local hawker centers.

Conclusion

Traveling doesn't have to be expensive, and these cheapest countries to visit from India prove that you can have an incredible experience without spending a fortune. By planning wisely, choosing budget accommodations, and savoring local cuisines, you can explore these amazing destinations without straining your wallet. So pack your bags, grab your passport, and embark on a budget-friendly adventure from India to these beautiful countries. Safe travels!

[marketinsight1234]

Dark Tourism Market Worldwide Opportunities, Driving Forces, Future Potential 2032

Dark Tourism Market Size Was Valued at USD 31.09 Billion in 2023 and is Projected to Reach USD 39.00 Billion by 2032, Growing at a CAGR of 2.55% From 2024-2032.

The practice of traveling to destinations connected with death, tragedy, or gloomy events is known as "dark tourism," and it includes going to places like crime scenes, jails, war zones, haunted houses, and catastrophe sites. This can provide light on past occurrences, encourage reflection, pique interest, or, for some, even produce an exhilarating experience.

Historic sites and events are better preserved and communicated thanks to dark tourism. By traveling to these destinations, travelers help to maintain and conserve historically significant sites. A greater understanding of historical events and their effects on society is made possible by dark tourism, which gives visitors the chance to learn about the past, including the causes and effects of tragedies and conflicts. This promotes learning and knowledge-sharing.

Get Full PDF Sample Copy of Report: (Including Full TOC, List of Tables & Figures, Chart) @

Updated Version 2024 is available our Sample Report May Includes the:

Scope For 2024

Brief Introduction to the research report.

Table of Contents (Scope covered as a part of the study)

Top players in the market

Research framework (structure of the report)

Research methodology adopted by Worldwide Market Reports

Leading players involved in the Dark Tourism Market include:

"Lupine Travel Company (United Kingdom), Chernobyl Tour (Ukraine), Young Pioneer Tours (China), Aero Travels (India), Atlas Obscura (United States), Dark Rome Tours (Italy), Anne Frank House (Netherlands), Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum (Poland), Haunted History Tours (United States), Alcatraz Cruises (United States), Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (Cambodia), Robben Island Museum (South Africa), Gettysburg Battlefield Tours (United States), Salem Witch Museum (United States), Ground Zero Museum Workshop (United States), Titanic Belfast (United Kingdom), Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (Japan), Airbnb, Inc. (United States), Expedia Group (United States), Booking Holdings Inc. (United States), TripAdvisor, Inc. (United States), Thomas Cook Group (United Kingdom), TUI Group (Germany), DER Touristik Group (Germany), MSC Cruises (Switzerland), Carnival Corporation (United States), G Adventures (Canada) and Other Active Players." 

Moreover, the report includes significant chapters such as Patent Analysis, Regulatory Framework, Technology Roadmap, BCG Matrix, Heat Map Analysis, Price Trend Analysis, and Investment Analysis which help to understand the market direction and movement in the current and upcoming years. 

If You Have Any Query Dark Tourism Market Report, Visit:

Segmentation of Dark Tourism Market:

By Type

Holocaust Tourism

Genocide Tourism

Paranormal Tourism

Battlefield Tourism

Nuclear Tourism

Prison Tourism

By Tourist Type

Domestic Tourist

International Tourist

By Traveller Type

Solo

Group

By Purpose

Historical & Educational

Remembrance

Cultural & Social Understanding

Adventure & Thrill-Seeking

By Booking Type

Phone Booking

Online Booking

In Person Booking

By Regions: -

North America (US, Canada, Mexico)

Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Rest of Eastern Europe)

Western Europe (Germany, UK, France, Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Spain, Rest of Western Europe)

Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, The Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of APAC)

Middle East & Africa (Turkey, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Israel, South Africa)

South America (Brazil, Argentina, Rest of SA)

Key Benefits of Dark Tourism Market Research: 

Research Report covers the Industry drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges

Competitive landscape & strategies of leading key players

Potential & niche segments and regional analysis exhibiting promising growth covered in the study

Recent industry trends and market developments

Research provides historical, current, and projected market size & share, in terms of value

Market intelligence to enable effective decision making

Growth opportunities and trend analysis

Covid-19 Impact analysis and analysis to Dark Tourism market

If you require any specific information that is not covered currently within the scope of the report, we will provide the same as a part of the customization.

Acquire This Reports: -

About Us:

We are technocratic market research and consulting company that provides comprehensive and data-driven market insights. We hold the expertise in demand analysis and estimation of multidomain industries with encyclopedic competitive and landscape analysis. Also, our in-depth macro-economic analysis gives a bird's eye view of a market to our esteemed client. Our team at Pristine Intelligence focuses on result-oriented methodologies which are based on historic and present data to produce authentic foretelling about the industry. Pristine Intelligence's extensive studies help our clients to make righteous decisions that make a positive impact on their business. Our customer-oriented business model firmly follows satisfactory service through which our brand name is recognized in the market.

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[jaydeemedia]

[ad_1] The once small market town of Siem Reap has seen the fastest development in Southeast Asia thanks to the increasing popularity of Angkor Wat. Here’s what to do in Siem Reap when you’re not engrossed with incredible religious architecture. By: Paul Healy | Published: 9 Mar 2024 span box-shadow: none !important; filter: brightness(1) !important; ]]> As the base from where to explore the temples of Angkor Wat, Siem Reap appears to be growing at a pace that it can only just keep up with. Initially the domain of hardy backpackers, Siem Reap has over the years, morphed into a cosmopolitan hub. Trendy hotels, designer spas and high-end restaurants combine with local Asian markets and riverside food stalls to keep you occupied in between exploring the temples. A fascinating and confronting history fills museums with stark reminders of the past and community projects are a testament to the resilient nature of the Cambodian people. There are plenty of worthy things to do in Siem Reap between temple visits, here’s our guide to seeing the best of them. OLD MARKET MAP – THINGS TO DO IN SIEM REAP The centre of Siem Reap is compact and easy to get around most of the sites on foot, or by tuk-tuk. However, to make the most of your visit, you will want to travel out to the temples and Tonlé Sap. >> How to use this map / Click on the top left of the map to display the list of locations, then click on the locations to display further information. Click on the top right corner of the map to open a larger version in a new tab or the star to save to your Google Maps.   1. ANGKOR WAT TEMPLES The main reason to come to Siem Reap is undoubtedly to visit the Angkor Wat temples. Representing the height of the Cambodian Empire and their devotion to both Hinduism and Buddhism, the temples near Siem Reap are some of the most interesting historical landmarks in the world. We cover all the information you need including the most important temples not to miss, and some more remote ones that are worth seeing in our guide to visiting the Angkor Wat Temples. ANGKOR WAT ANGKOR THOM 2. ANGKOR NATIONAL MUSEUM The Angkor National Museum is the main museum in Siem Reap and a good starting point for understanding the Khmer Empire.   It covers all periods of Angkorian architecture with a helpful rundown of the Khmer kings and all the temples associated with their respective reins. The detailed descriptions of the Hindu and Buddhist iconography helps decipher the incredible bas-reliefs adorning many of the temples around Siem Reap. If possible, it would be well worth going to the Angkor National Museum before you see the temples. Entry is $12 and the museum has comprehensive information boards in English, so you don’t need to spend the extra $5 on the audio guide. Allow 2 to 3 hours to see everything. ANGKOR NATIONAL MUSEUM 3. CAMBODIAN LANDMINE MUSEUM Each year, dozens of people are killed or injured by landmines left behind from the civil war.  The Cambodian Landmine Museum was started by Aki Ra who was taken by his family at the age of 5 and recruited into the Khmer Rouge. After the war, he dedicated his life to ridding Cambodia of landmines and other unexploded ordinance that still litter the countryside. It’s a poignant exhibition to stories of Cambodian lives permanently affected by landmines, as well as technical information about the ongoing work to remove them. Entry is $5 and a free audio guide is provided by a QR code you scan on your phone. The museum is funded by visitor fees and part of the ticket price goes to several charitable causes related to helping people hurt by landmines. The Cambodian Landmine Museum is 25 kilometres north of Siem Reap but it’s easy to see on a day trip to Beng Melea and Banteay Sri. (See below) CAMBODIA LANDMINE MUSEUM 4. WAR MUSEUM CAMBODIA Unlike the Landmine Museum, the War Museum Cambodia has virtually no information and the exhibition consists of not much more than several rusted tanks dotted around a gr

assy garden. Occasionally, it’s possible to get a guided tour from an ex-army combatant who provides a fascinating and harrowing account of the war from his personal perspective. If a guided tour is available, the War Museum is an excellent experience in Siem Reap. If a tour is not possible, we wouldn’t recommend going. We suggest getting a Tuk Tuk out to the museum and asking if a guide is available before you purchase your tickets.  Entry is $5 per person. Guided tours, if available, are no extra charge. The museum is a 10-minute Tuk Tuk ride from the centre of Siem Reap. Expect to pay around $5 for the Tuk Tuk driver to take you out, wait for you, then take you back. CAMBODIAN WAR MUSEUM 5. SIEM REAP WATS If you’re not templed-out from visiting the sights of Angkor Wat, there are 2 more temples in the centre of Siem Reap that are worth popping in to. Wat Bo is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Siem Reap. It has several well-preserved paintings depicting famous Hindu and Buddhist stories. Entry is free and you’ll only need a short time to stroll around. Wat Preah Prom Rath is one of the most beautiful temples in Siem Reap town. It’s decorated with colourful wall paintings and statues. It’s located just near the Old Market. Wat Dam Nak is an old royal palace that today promotes a better understanding of Khmer culture with an on-site library. WAT BO 6. PUB STREET You’ll hear Pub Street before you get to it. With pumping music competing across often empty bars, the vibe is hopeful, teetering towards desperate. It’s hard to tell whether it’s a vision of what Cambodians think western tourists want on their travels, or the result of years of backpacker demand. Whatever the cause, Pub Street (Street 8) is the centre of Siem Reap’s nightlife. Many of the joints are open 24/7 and you’ll be able to find all types of food and plenty of bars. A few places on Pub Street are still offering fish massage, where Red Garra fish chew dead skin off your feet. Apart from the fact that the fish only eat dead skin because they’re so hungry, the tubs contain fish waste and are a breeding ground for bacteria. Most countries have banned the practice and it’s an experience to avoid in Siem Reap. PUB STREET 7. STREET 26 For a calmer experience, we highly recommend heading to Street 26, on the west side of the river. It’s a quiet street with a few excellent bars and restaurants.  Banlle Vegetarian Restaurant // Banlle has a nice outdoor terrace with a small menu of Khmer cuisine and efficient professional service. For dessert, try the ice cream shop at the entrance. Laundry // Just across the road from Banlle, Laundry is a smart bar with occasional live music. Miss Wong // Miss Wong is a cocktail bar and Dim Sum Restaurant inspired by 1920s Shanghai. The décor is beautiful, and the cocktails are decent value. Tevy’s Place // Tevy’s Place is an excellent value Cambodian restaurant run by an almost all-female staff. LAUNDRY MISS WONG BANLLE 8. PHARE, THE CAMBODIAN CIRCUS Phare is a fun night out in Siem Reap and a great way to support the local community. The 1-hour performance is a mix of interpretive dance and aerobic skill, set to a local cultural story. Witness impressive performances under the intimate big top with an added dose of Cambodian humour. The venue opens at 6 pm where you can have dinner from vendors selling curries, noodles, grilled dishes and burgers. There’s also a bar so you can have a beer or a cocktail while watching a performance from the local school children on a stage in the outdoor food court. You need to buy coupons to make purchases from the food vendors and the bar. Ticket prices are $18, $28, $38, which you can buy online in advance. It’s not a very big venue so there’s not much benefit in getting the more expensive tickets. The show starts at 8 pm. PHARE, THE CAMBODIAN CIRCUS 9. APOPO HERO RATS Apopo is a Belgian NGO that trains rats to sniff out landmines, dramatically increasing detection rates in the

countryside. Their highly sensitive sense of smell and the fact that they are too small to trigger the explosives makes them the ideal candidate for detecting landmines. At the visitor centre you can learn about how much the rats have achieved and meet them in person. 10. OLD MARKET On the eastern side of the river, the Old Market is a warren of stalls providing a great opportunity to do some shopping or just soak up the atmosphere of an Asian market. The stalls on the east side cater to tourists selling trinkets, souvenirs, t-shirts and scarfs. The western edge is the fresh food market with locals stocking up on fruit and veg. Seamstress and hairdressers are busy working away alongside a couple of street food vendors. It’s a great photo opportunity even if you’re not looking to buy anything. OLD MARKET 11. NIGHTLY STREET FOOD MARKET The night market straddles both sides of the river between the 2 bridges, both called Art Market Bridge. On the eastern side of the river, you’ll find a plethora of stalls selling local food which you eat on little tables by the banks of the river. The crowd and the food, gets progressively more local as you head towards the Fountain Dragon’s roundabout. The western side is more subdued with around 4 or 5 stalls along the river. This is the section of the market we recommend trying. It was the best and cheapest food we found in Siem Reap. WHERE TO EAT IN SIEM REAP NIGHT MARKET – The best food in Siem Reap is from the street food stalls on the western side of the river. WILD – Spring rolls only in a lovely garden setting with a great cocktail list. MISS WONG – Chinese Dim Sum in a Shanghai-inspired townhouse. BANLLE – Thai and Khmer classic vegetarian dishes in this stylish restaurant. TEVY’S PLACE – Traditional Cambodian cooking from a renowned chef. THE SUGAR PALM – The fanciest food in Siem Reap, perfect if you have a special occasion to celebrate. SAMBOO – Great Thai and Cambodia cooking with disorganised service. WILD 12. TONLÉ SAP Tonlé Sap is a large lake that starts around 15 kilometres southwest of Siem Reap. It’s the lifeblood of the area with more than 3 million people living on or around the lake. There are several excursions to Tonlé Sap where you can experience this unique culture. We recommend the Kompong Pluk tour which was a fantastic experience without being overly touristy. KOMPONG PLUK – OUR PICK Kompong Pluck is a village of bamboo skyscrapers, towering on high stilts on the banks of Tonlé Sap. The tour includes a stroll through the village where you can witness daily life in this friendly village, followed by an optional canoe ride through the floating forest ($10 per boat for 2 people). The trips finish watching sunset on a floating deck in the middle of the lake, where you can order dinner and drinks.  CHONG KNEAS Chong Kneas is the closest floating village to Siem Reap but it has become overrun with tourist groups and tainted by tour guide scams. But it’s only 11 kilometres from town so you can hire a tuk tuk or rent a bike to cycle out without taking up too much time. There’s a set entrance fee and boat prices to take you out to the village. KOMPONG KHLEANG Komgpong Khleang is the largest community on Tonlé Sap, with stilted houses set high above the lake to combat the vast changes in water level. At 50 kilometres from Siem Reap it’s much quieter than the other communities on the lake, making it a good reason to visit. Homestays are available for an overnight experience. PREK TOAL Prek Toal is a bird sanctuary with a significant variety of rare breeds. From December to February when the water dries up in other parts of the lake, birds flock to Prek Toal making it a birder’s paradise. It’s difficult to get to by yourself with several modes of transport involved, but tours include a stop at the village of Prek Toal which is a far more rewarding experience than the villages closer to Siem Reap. However, to

urs are very expensive (around $200) therefore, it’s probably only something to consider for very keen bird enthusiasts. WHERE TO STAY Siem Reap has embraced tourism with plenty of accommodation options from budget backpacker lodges to luxurious hotels. Here are a few recommendations from us. RATEPROPERTYPRICES$ONEDERZ SIEM REAP Located beside the Old Market, this excellent hostel has private rooms and dormitories with free Wifi and two swimming pools.booking.comhotels.com$$JAYA HOUSE RIVER PARK Located outside the busy area in a tropical garden, this beautiful property has excellent Wifi, air-conditioning, and a very enticing pool.booking.comhotels.com$$$BOPHA WAT BO RESIDENCE A smart clean hotel with a pool in a lovely garden setting. The breakfast is superb and it’s just a short stroll into the centre of town.  booking.comhotels.com GETTING THERE Siem Reap has a shiny new airport thanks to Chinese investment. To protect the temples of Angkor, it’s located 45 kilometres east of the town centre. The best way to get from the airport is to organise a pick-up from your hotel which should cost around $30. Taxis are few and far between and the airport bus ($8) currently only has 6 services per day, making it a fairly ineffective option. It takes around 50 minutes to drive into Siem Reap. TONLÉ SAP ANYWHERE WE ROAM ISREADER-SUPPORTED When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. You can also shout us a coffee. Thanks for your support – Paul & Mark. INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK [ad_2] Source link

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Galen Beery Photography, National Coast Guard Museum, AI, More: Wednesday Afternoon ResearchBuzz, December 6, 2023

NEW RESOURCES Fresno Bee: Hmong culture in 1960s war-torn Laos documented by California man. Fresno State has archive . “[Galen] Beery, a Southern California native, spent over a decade working in Southeast Asia, taking photographs to document history, as the region was at war: secret bombing missions happened across Laos and Cambodia while the United States fought in Vietnam. … Now, Fresno State…