CBT members attend English class

July was a month of goodbyes for us here in Banteay Chhmar. Our English-language teacher, Andrew Marino, completed his teaching contract with Heritage Watch. Andrew spent the last year teaching English to the CBT members and tour guides. He also helped tremendously with CBT operations and capacity-building. Andrew built the CBT website, did fundraising, budgeting and reporting. He also helped the CBT members understand hospitality-related issues and ways to improve the facilities and comfort level for visitors. Fortunately, Andrew will continue to help the CBT as much as possible with website administration, monthly reporting, planning, fundraising and trying to improve the facilities and visitors’ experience. He is also interested in helping with sustainable community development and livelihoods projects.

Peace Corps volunteer Kenny Halloran (center)

Also, Peace Corps volunteer, Kenny Halloran, completed his assignment. Kenny taught mostly in the high school.  He also helped teach students at the pagoda and the CBT members, as well.  Good luck, Kenny!

CBT members visit Mebon Temple

On July 11th, a few CBT members took a trip to another one of the satellite temples. They went to see the Mebon Temple. This 800 year-old temple is located on a man-made island in the middle of the Mebon Baray (reservoir). This huge baray was the main water reservoir during the Angkorian period.  There was an intricate pattern of inflow and outflow canals connected to this baray. The baray was dug by hand during the construction period of Banteay Chhmar Temple and the laterite stone was used as building material throughout the temple complex. The baray is still used today as a water source, for growing rice, catching fish and is a good place for birdwatching and watching a sunset.

Mebon Temple

The temple, itself, is mostly collapsed and heavily covered by vines, trees and thickets.  It is only accessible during the dry season and requires sure footing and care to reach. It is definitely worth a trip for the more adventurous-minded.

Another Donation!

The CBT received another donation this month. Paul Marino, brother of our English teacher, and his wife Joyce donated a camera to the CBT. The camera will help us with marketing, reporting and help to document our activities and progress. Thank you Paul and Joyce!

Finally, we have added a Support Us page to our website to thank and honor our supporters and donors. We are very grateful to the individuals and organizations that have and continue to support us.  Thank you everyone!

Ahn and Savy (from left) with the bride’s parents and bride’s sister

May was a very special month for one of our CBT members.  Soeung Savy celebrated her wedding with her new husband, Ahn.  The wedding celebration took place May 14-15.

Everyone from the Banteay Chhmar CBT would like to wish Savy and Ahn a long, happy marriage and life together.

The wedding ceremony included the Hai Goan Gomloh (Groom’s Processional). At the beginning of the day, the bride customarily waits at her parent’s house while the groom gathers a procession of his family and friends. The procession symbolizes the journey of the prince Preah Thong to meet his bride the princess Neang Neak. The groom’s procession approaches the bride’s home bearing wrapped platters of gifts, usually fruits and Khmer desserts, and is led by a band of musicians and singers.

Hair Cutting Ceremony

The cermony also included the Gaat Sah (Hair Cutting ceremony). To prepare the bride and groom for their life as a married couple, their hair is symbolically cut, representing a fresh start to their new relationship together as husband and wife. The master of ceremony performs the first symbolic hair cut and wishes the couple happiness, prosperity, and longevity. The bride and groom’s parents, relatives, and friends then take turn to symbolically cut the bride and groom’s hair and give them blessings and well-wishes. In the old days, the bride and groom’s hair were really cut during this ceremony, but in modern times it is only done symbolically.

Please see our Gallery and YouTube Channel for a video of some of the wedding festivities.  To learn more about traditional and modern Khmer wedding ceremonies please visit: Khmer Wedding

Homestay Owners receive loans from GHF

May was also an important month for our Banteay Chhmar CBT homestay owners.  On May 12th, John Sanday, Field Director from Global Heritage Fund, presented each homestay owner with a $300 no-interest loan to upgrade their homestays.  The money will be used to upgrade the bathroom facilities with western-style toilets, showerheads and a water storage tank.  The homestay owners will do the labor themselves and pay for miscellenous building materials.  Each homestay owner has agreed to repay the loan based on their ability – about 2 years.  We hope to have some photos of the improvements next month!

Cutural Heritage Protection Workshop

Finally, on May 26th, Sok Pagna Keo, from Heritage Watch conducted a workshop on Cultural Heritage Protection at Banteay Torp.  More than 100 villagers attended the workshop.  Speakers from local and national government departments spoke about the importance of protecting ancient sites, temples and artifacts.

Temple moat

March was a very unusual month here in Banteay Chhmar. The weather was unseasonably cool and windy.  We had several cloudy and windy days late in the month.  The wind chill averaged in the mid 50s (about 13C) during the day and much cooler at night.  Despite the cold weather, the moat continues to fill with beautiful lotus flowers and the cassava continues to be harvested, cut and dried by the villagers.

Village elders receive presents

The highlight of the month was the celebration of Khmer Cultural Day on March 13th.  In Banteay Chhmar, we celebrated with speeches, music, dance and the giving of gifts to village elders. Excellency Sam Rang Kom San (Secretary of State of Cambodia) and Excellency Oung Uon (Banteay Meanchey Provincial Governor) were among the speakers and presenters.

Two especially beautiful dances were performed by Apsara dancers from the Kroo-a-saa T’may (New Family) organization in Sisophon. One dance is called Poung Maree (Flower Women).  A complete slideshow can be seen on the Poung Maree Gallery page.

Poung Maree (Flower Women) Dance

Poung Maree (Flower Women) Dance