Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Teuk Khmean Charon or STILL WATER Art Exhibition at Bophanna Center, Phnom Penh, April 3-30, 2009



All artists and organizers participated in the opening day on Friday, April 3, 2009 at Bophanna center.



Memories of Boeung Kak Lake

I. Photos of the East part of Boeung Kak lake

(A) East shore of Boeung Kak lake. April 14, 1990. (1) Sambath Thida Naly (left) and Tong Soprach (right), were Grade 10 classmates at Bak Touk High School in Phnom Penh, and are standing south of the Mosque next to the lake. Soprach was 14 years old; it was Khmer New Year. (2) The two French Tamarind trees were in a small zoo. (3) Boeung Kak lake villagers’ houses behind the Ministry of Information. The photo was taken from the north looking to the south-east.
(B) From the Mosque (C) From the lake. (B) & (C) The photos are of the same part of Boeung Kak Lake area (A) taken on March 23, 2009. (1) Where Naly and Soprach stood. (2) The two French Tamarind trees are now within the Mosque grounds; behind the Phnom Penh hotel. (3) Beung Kak villagers’ houses and guest houses popular with backpackers; located behind the Ministry of Information.

II. My Impression Of Boeung Kak Lake

Tong Soprach was born in 1976. After 20 years spent going to Boeung Kak lake, I’m taking time to remember what I have seen and done there. The Boeung Kak lake tourist resort was very popular for Phnom Penhiens in late 1980s and early 1990s. The site included a big space for concerts to the North, a few big parks for relaxing, places for children to play, two roped bamboo bridges over streams for ease of walking. On the site where the mosque is now, there was a big restaurant and night club; also nearby was a small zoo, which was located directly behind the Phnom Penh hotel, has disappeared. There were many benches along the lakeshore and in the parks, and small pedal boats in the lake were available for rent. Many of the kids at my high school often went there on our bicycles when we had no classes and at weekends. We liked to drive the pedal boats around the lake, going out to a small island in the middle of the lake where we spent time swimming and relaxing.

After watching many public spaces and parks being sold in Phnom Penh, we hope that Boeung Kak lake will still be a great place to relax and have fun for the general population. Although the lake has already been sold and filling is well underway, I still would love to see Boeung Kak lake kept as a natural resort. It also prevents the city flooding.

Tong Soprach, MPH
Public Health Freelance Consultant
Phnom Penh, April 3, 2009
soprach76@gmail.com




Social artist Soprach and his friends at the opening day and my photographs at Beoung Kak lack in 1990 and in 2009 is behind.



A man was reading my memories of BKK lake text at the opening day.



The man lives at BKK lake nearly 20 years. He explained me the history of the lake.



Social artist Soprach and BKK lake villagers at the opening day.



The BKK lake villagers were looking my photos to remember their houses where located under the two French Tamarind trees. They told me that their tears would fall down after reading my last paragraph of my memories of Boeung Kak lake (in Khmer version) at the opening day.



This BKK lake villager shown in my photographs where she lives. Now she worried about her house which will be removed soon, with small compensation.



Audiences ware interested in my photographs and my memories of BKK lake at the opening day.



Naly and Social Artist Soprach missing 15 years ago. We tried to do the same postion of standing when we were at Boeung Kak Lake photo in April 1990, we were at Bak Touk High School.



Naly and Social Artist Soprach



Social Artist Soprach with missing 15-years friend Naly and his family



Artist Seckon explained his audiences



Artist Seckon's painting picures



Artist Vichet's sculpture



Artist Sothy's painting picture









Artist Veasna with her disign



Artist Kanitha explaine her audience at opening day, Friday, April 3, 2009

The Vigina Monologue performed in Cambodia on April 3-5, 2009 at Khmer Surin Restaurant



The Vigina Monologue performed, posted in The Camobodia Daily, April 4-5, 2009



The Vigina Monologues scene. The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler. The V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit production of Playwright/Founder Eve Ensler's award winning play The Vagina Monologues and other artistic works. (V-Day handbook)

I think that it is interesting to learn from different culture and society about this awareness. And Thanks to all casts and organizers for their great performances.



My sister Fleur and Soprach were audiences before V-Day performance



My friend Betsy (cast) and Soprach after V-Day performance



My former boss at CARE Sharon (cast) and Soprach after V-Day performance



Soprach and my former colleage at CARE Kanchan (cast) after performance



Monologues at Fly Lounge



Vday posters



Nora (cast) prepared the small cakes for the Vday party at Fly Lounge on Sunday April 5, 2009 at 7pm.



Nora (cast) introduced the awards for the casts and organizers of Vday at Fly Lounge



Nora (cast) offered an award to Martha (cast) at the Vday party at Fly Lounge



Nora (cast) offered an award to Kanchan (cast) at the Vday party at Fly Lounge



Nora (cast) offered an award to Lou (cast) at the Vday party at Fly Lounge



Nora (cast) offered an award to Betsy (cast) at the Vday party at Fly Lounge



Nora (cast) offered an award to Laine (organizer of documentations ) at the Vday party at Fly Lounge



Nora (cast) offered an award to Noel (photographer)at the Vday party at Fly Lounge



Nora (cast) offered an award to Isabelle (cast) at the Vday party at Fly Lounge

Vespa Rally To Celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, 2009 by Phnom Penh Vespa Club



Vespa rally meeting in the front of the Post office: Mel, Soprach and Eve



This photo (the Post) was posted in the front page of the Phnom Penh Post on March 9, 2009



Everyone get ready before starting



Everyone prepared before starting



Final point of the rally at Independence Monument



After the rally, we had lunch together at Nature and Sea restaurant

Let's see the video of the vespa rally by Bev;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qydqFlaEknQ

The University of Cambodia Almni Meeting on March 7, 2009



My MPH family Savy and Kimtheng



My MPH family, ..., Kheng, Savy and Kimtheng



Friends from Chemistry background, Nimol and Soprach



Legal Consultant Vicheaka and Public Health Consultant Soprach



My friend Rachael UC Bulletin writer and Soprach



UC Association committee ellected



UC Alumnus with president