khmer sources

An Angkorian Extravaganza


The Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2006, has been years in the planning. With an estimated work-force of 10,000, government officials in Cambodia and South Korea have been busy working out the master program for the Expo.

There is excitement afoot at the Angkor temples in Siem Reap. From November 21 through January 9, 2007, thousands of performers will descend on the city in a joint event organized by the Cambodian and South Korean governments.

Secretary of State of the Ministry of Tourism and permanent vice-chairman of the Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2006 H.E. Dr. Thong Khon says the event will be a memorable one. The theme for the Expo: "Ancient Future – The Myths of the Orient."

"The Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2006 was organized by the two countries and we have also invited some 20 countries to take part in the festivities. It will take place over 50 days at Siem Reap’s Angkor Park," H.E. Thong Khon says.
"Of the international line-up we have already confirmed the Trio Jazz Band
from Chicago; the Gunma Symphony Orchestra from Japan; Ultimate Fighting from Mexico; and South Korean fashion designer André Kim will hold a fashion show on the Angkor Wat terrace," he says.

Director of Performing Arts and Dancing at the Ministry of Culture4 and Fine Arts and deputy chief of the Expo’s Events Program Committee H.E. Hang Soth, says South Korean fashion designer André Kim’s fashion show will be a highlight of the Expo. The show will take place on two nights at the Angkor Wat stage on December 12 and 13.

"André Kim says many famous people from around the world will attend, and that there will be heavy international media presence," H.E. Hang Soth says.

H.E. Thong Khon says there will also be 3D film and international film festivals, and an Angkor International Tourism Exchange—a trade exhibition.
"We anticipate over 400,000 visitors to attend besides the normal tourist numbers taking in the sights at Angkor," H.E. Thong Khon says.
Purpose built buildings on the more than10ha-site will include separate Cambodian and South Korean cultural pavilions and food courts, a convention center, two outdoor stages, a children’s playground, souvenir booths, a night market area and sports fields. For those who cannot afford accommodation in Siem Reap, camping facilities will also be available.

"A permanent stage at the eastern entrance to Angkor Wat has also been planned and is to be constructed for special performances," H.E. Thong Khon says. "We have also built a Cambodian cultural village to give visitors a taste of Khmer civilization."

"There will be over 100 different performances," H.E. Thong Khon says. "Besides Khmer acts, there will be South Korean shows, and various other participating countries will perform too. Everyday from 3pm to 11pm there will be hourly performances."
Under Secretary of State of the Ministry of Tourism and chairman of the Financial and Logistics Committee of the Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2006 H.E. So Mora says the Cambodian Government has invested $2 million in the event; South Korea, $4 million. Over and above this, more than $30 million has been spent on improving infrastructure into Siem Reap, and cleaning up the city’s water supply. But most of the $30 million sum will be spent creating a power grid to bring electricity from Thailand.

"Admission—and entrance—into the Expo grounds will be separate to that of the Angkor Park. Prices will be set in the following categories, Cambodians will pay $3 per adult and $2 for children under 12; Koreans will pay $15 per adult and $9 for children; and other foreigners will pay $20 per adult and $12 for children," H.E. So Mora says.

"For all the expense of an event like this, we don’t expect any profits, but what we will achieve is an image of a Cambodia that is peaceful, stable, and a special destination within the tourism market," he says.
Director of the APSARA Authority and vice-permanent chairman of the Marketing and Promotion Committee of the Expo H.E. Mey Marady says there will be extensive advertising to promote the event, most notably on CNN Asia

"Almost 200 spots have been paid for," H.E. Mey Marady says.
"Besides that, there will be advertisements broadcast on local television channels and radio stations, on billboards, on buses, and in newspapers and magazines. There will be a large poster and flyer drop too," he says.
Director of Performing Arts and Dancing at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and deputy chief of the Events Program Committee of the Expo Mav Keng, says the event will be the largest of its kind put on in Cambodia in decades.

"For months many artists have been training for this special event," Keng says. "In my experience, nothing in 40 years has ever compared with this. It is much bigger than the millennium celebrations."
"Over the 50 days, there will be many styles of traditional Khmer dancing and shows performed, including apsara and makor dance, shadow puppet shows, Khmer opera, renditions of the Churning of the Milk tale and of the marriage ceremonies of Preah Thong and Neang Neak. It is estimated that over 1,200 artists will perform at these events," he says.

"On the opening day, we will begin [the Expo] with a parade of all the artists, including the international guests, who will all walk to the main stage and perform 3-minute segments for each team or country. This will be followed by a troupe of Cambodians in traditional dress from Khmer history: from the Nokor Phnom (Funan) era through the Chenla era, Angkor era, post-Angkor era until today. There will also be a parade of elephants, horses and soldiers in ancient costume. The parade is planned to take around one hour."

"Another variety of our ancient traditional music from the Angkorian era called tek tak or tuam ming—music rarely heard nowadays—will also be performed," Keng adds.

Vice-permanent chairman of the Joint Executive Secretariat of the Expo H.E. Suos Yara says the reason the Cambodian Government is spending $2 million on the event is to uphold the culture and identity of the Kingdom.

"We want to tell the world that the Kingdom of Cambodia is not warring and that we are in harmony and peace," H.E. Suos Yara says.

"We are currently on schedule and working well to our timeframe ... The construction of the buildings is over half-way completed," he says. "We’re not worried."

H.E. Dr. Thong Khon says the Expo will enable the countries involved to promote the themes of the "Myth of the Orient" and "Humans and their Environment".

"This Expo will unite our current realities with scenes from ancient times," he says.

H.E. Thong Khon remembers the evening at Angkor with José Carreras. "[There were] a million visitors, who all saw the amazing beauty of Angkor Wat. The temple is particularly spectacular at night when it is lit with flaming torches. This is once-in-a-lifetime sort of stuff."

The inaugural Gyeongju World Culture Expo took place in 2000 in South Korea’s Gyeongsangbuk province, followed by a second in 2003. Gyeongju is in the southeast of the country and is considered the capital of the Buddhist Kingdom Silla, uniting the Kingdom some 1,300 years ago.