More on Christmas - Popular Beliefs and Superstitions

Welcoming Christmas
Opening the doors of the house at midnight, Christmas Eve is supposed to be good as it lets out the evil spirits. 'First Foots' are those that enter the house first, a darker haired man entering the house first on Christmas Day is a good sign, and if the first guest is a woman it is said to bring in bad fortune. A first foot bringing in an evergreen is considered a blessing. The first person to open the door on the morning of Christmas should shout and welcome 'Father Christmas'. Some people also believe that sweeping your threshold on Christmas sweeps away all the troubles.

Christmas Carols and Songs
It is considered unlucky to sing Christmas carols at any occasion other than Christmas. It is also considered unlucky to send carolers away empty-handed. There is a wrong notion regarding a custom known as Wassailing. This custom is originally related to honoring one's livestock and crop yield and even the sea(in some parts of Scotland) during Christmastime. Drinking toasts, lighting celebratory fires, firing in the air and playing games are all symbolic to this custom. Though, in recent times it has come to be recognised with getting drunk and singing carols at people's homes.

Christmas Food
It is believed that if you make a wish while stirring a Christmas pudding, it will come true. If you tell anyone about what you have wished for, it will not come true. If everyone in the family takes turns while stirring, it will bring good fortune to the family. Young girls, who are hoping to get married soon should also give a stir when the Christmas pudding is being cooked. It is also considered unlucky to cut into a Christmas cake before Christmas Eve and some portion of the cake should be kept till Christmas Day. Also, eating an apple on Christmas Eve is supposed to bring good health throughout the next year. Mince pies bring in good luck, so it should not be cut during Christmastime. The number of pies eaten at different households during Christmas equals the number of lucky months in the coming year.

Yule Log, Christmas Candle - Light and Fire
The Yule Log must be kept burning all night, and it should be lit by the log used the previous year to keep evil spirits at bay. The log should not be bought but arranged otherwise. Even the remains of the log are considered lucky and are a protection against fire and lightning. Christmas candles are to be left undisturbed and burning till Christmas morning. And, if there is difficulty in lighting the fire on Christmas Day, it is an indication of a bad year ahead.

Christmas Table
The table set for Christmas Dinner should be set for an even number of people because odd numbered dinner table brings in bad luck. A pot of honey on the Christmas table keeps evil away from your home and fish scales under the dinner plates bring in good luck. Everyone should leave the dinner table at the same time as any one leaving early is supposed to bring in bad luck. Sitting with your back to the door at Christmas dinner is unlucky. Also, it is believed that a Christmas Dinner should have nine courses and no one should be left hungry on Christmas Eve.

Shoes, Presents and Work
Gifting new shoes and wearing new shoes on Christmas brings good fortune, though the English believe in gifting new shoes on Christmas. In Greece it is believed that burning old shoes prevents misfortune the next year. Hanging stockings near the chimney is said to to be good as it brings in luck and children believe that Santa Claus will fill them with loads of goodies. Work should be avoided on this day, only the unavoidable tasks should be completed on this day.

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Does 'Avatar' Contain Hidden Messages?

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Since it opened last week, James Cameron's much-anticipated film "Avatar" has won praise from movie critics and been a juggernaut at the box office. But some who have seen the film say that it contains hidden messages that are anti-war, pro-environment, and perhaps even racist.

For the benefit of those who haven't seen the film, a little nonspoiler background might be useful. The story is set in the year 2154 when Earth's inhabitants, having used up most of their natural resources through decades of living in excess, plan to use military force to conquer Pandora, a moon roughly the same size as Earth. Pandora, inhabited by a wise, peaceful, and nature-respecting people with blue skin called the Na'vi, is rich in a resource that the people of Earth desperately need.

The earthlings send in a crew of special-forces mercenaries armed with guns, bombs, and other sophisticated weaponry to attack and conquer the Na'vi (who some think resemble American Indians and Africans), despite the fact that they represent no direct threat to the inhabitants of Earth. Since humans can't breathe in Pandora's atmosphere, the military employs mind-controlled avatars that resemble the Na'vi in every way to venture out from their landing craft and explore the landscape. Sympathizing with the Na'vi after becoming acquainted with them and their customs, one of the human-controlled avatars becomes a turncoat and helps lead the people of Pandora in the defense of their homeland.

Are you beginning to get a sense of why some viewers noticed what they believe are underlying messages in the film?

Some prominent members of the media who screened the film certainly took note. In a glowing review for the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert noted that "Avatar" "has a flat-out Green and anti-war message" that is "predestined to launch a cult." Meanwhile Ben Hoyle, writing in the Times of London, noted that the film "contains heavy implicit criticism of America's conduct in the War on Terror." Further, Will Heaven of the Daily Telegraph said that the plot line involving people of color who wear "tribal" jewelry while sporting dreadlocked hair, being saved by a noble white man gave the film a "racist subtext" that he found "nauseatingly patronising."

But are these hidden messages really all that hidden? James Cameron himself hasn't been shy in publicly proclaiming the fact that he's an environmental activist who believes that humans and "industrial society" are "causing a global climate change" and "destroying species faster than we can classify them." In a recent interview with PBS' Tavis Smiley, Cameron admitted that he made "obvious" references in the film to Iraq, Vietnam and the American colonial period to emphasize the fact that humans have a "terrible history" of "entitlement" in which we "take what we need" from nature and indigenous peoples "and don't give back."

Further, one of the film's stars Stephen Lang told CNN that he is "not surprised at all" that some people have taken note of the film's political messages, mainly because the central theme of humans "destroying" a "pristine world" out of "blindness and greed" is so "overt."

Despite the obvious political undertones in "Avatar," at least one right-leaning critic doesn't think people who disagree with the film's ideology should totally dismiss it. In his review on the website Hot Air, Ed Morrissey writes, "Conservatives have more or less primed themselves to hate this film because of the presumed anti-war politics of the movie. It's there -- in fact, it's unmistakable -- but it's not as bad as one might presume." He goes on to note that "Avatar" is "entertaining" though "hardly a deep intellectual exercise."

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Suicide Bomber Kills 3 at Pakistan Press Club

Pakistani volunteers rush an injured person to a local hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan, 22 Dec 2009

Pakistani officials say a suicide bomber has blown himself up outside a press club in the northwestern city of Peshawar, killing three people.

Officials say a policeman stopped the bomber at the gate of the press club Tuesday and tried to search him, at which point the bomber detonated his explosives. The blast killed the officer, a press club accountant and a woman. It also blew out the windows of the building.

The attack wounded 17 people, including passengers on a bus that was passing by the press club at the time.

The attack was the first against a media target in Peshawar, which has experienced frequent bombings in recent months. Militants have been intensifying attacks across Pakistan in revenge for a Pakistani army offensive against Taliban strongholds in the country's northwest.

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Summer Camp

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Music Recording Studio Camp We will be concentrating on studio techniques including use of microphones, mixing consoles, effects processors, and digital recording. We will also cover some of the ways the computer is used in today’s modern studio. The main activity of the camp will be to give each student as much hands-on recording experience as possible. This will include the recording of a number of songs and videos using the students. Drama Theater Camp The Drama Theater camp provides our students with experiences in comedy, creative dramatics and musical theatre. The students will create a performance skit for a music video that involves the students from the Dance and Music Recording camp. Dance Camp The Dance Camp is a Jazz and Hip Hop intensive that also features specialty classes in Break dancing, House, Wacking, Lyrical, and African. Classes are geared towards learning cutting-edge choreography at a professional pace and preparing routines to be featured in a music video shot by the students in the Studio and Theater camps. This provides students with a video portfolio featuring a number of their performances in a variety of projects. Basketball Camp Basketball Camp is well known for energy, enthusiasm, quality instruction, and exciting variety of programs. Through superior athletic and life skills training, Our Camp encourages you to develop skill mastery, push beyond your limitations and set goals to reach your dreams. We takes pride in providing one of the best summer experiences you'll ever have. Technology Camp Regardless of your age, education, or experience, you can easily learn how to build a computer that is powerful and cost less, and you can build it from scratch. Students will learn the basics of building there own computer in a fun, safe and professional computer lab from a pro computer designer and tech. Also part of our program day Poetry (Stress Away Write Away) Technology (Learn to build a computer) Video Editing & Website Design Forex Foreign Exchange Trading Stock Market Breakfast & Lunch will be provided Before & After Care available. Experience summer camp with Celebrities and Industry Professionals Learn Hands-on from Professionals!

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Talk Now Khmer

IF you’re new to Khmer, there are some basics you will have to learn, whether you’re eight years old or 80, on business abroad or a tourist on holiday. Talk Now! Khmer offers a simple-to-use method for you to start learning the language, whoever you are.

Will it work for me?

Lots of people have difficulty learning languages. Why? Most have been put off at school, don’t have time to learn, or think they are too lazy to do it.

Talk Now! Khmer answers these problems:

• It lifts the language off the page. There are no dull exercises; just encouraging games that award you points for progress.
• It fits easily into short ten-minute sessions. But if you want to push yourself you can learn the basics in a weekend.
• if you think you’re lazy, think again! You’ll be amazed how motivated you can be when you enjoy the experience of learning!

What will I learn?

To speak and understand enough to “get by”.

You’re just starting, so we won’t drop you in at the deep end. There are some things you’ll want to say in any language: you’ll want to say ‘hello’, order a drink, ask for directions and so on.

This beginners program gets straight to the point. It covers food, colors, shopping, parts of the body, numbers, telling the time, countries, greetings and essential phrases.

How does it work?

Talk Now! Khmer gives you easy-to-achieve goals. Learning a new language is far too big a task to tackle all at once, so we have broken it down into a series of rewarding challenges.

Play interactive language games. Talk Now! feeds you new words, along with pictures to reinforce your memory. It then tests your knowledge with fun quizzes. As soon as you start playing you start learning.

Earn points for every game you play. High scorers can go on to win bronze, silver and gold awards, which you can print out as a record of achievement.

You will hear Khmer all of the time and, using the recording games, you can start speaking straight away, then compare your voice to a native speaker.

You can learn on the move. Carry on learning in the airport lounge or the ferry without a computer. Just print out the phrasebook sheets included in the program and take them with you, or upload the program’s sound files onto an iPod.

If English isn’t your first language, don’t worry! You can learn Khmer from any of over 120 languages – in a single program! Look at the list to see if your language is covered.see more detail

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Cambodian reportedly develops 'telepathic' new car

Cambodia is known for a few things – such as the amazing ancient ruins in Angkor Wat and an over-abundance of scooters and three-wheeled Tuk Tuks – but a real-life automobile industry is most definitely not one of them. Not yet, at least. While current transportation choices are mostly imported from Vietnam and Thailand, there's apparently a growing desire in Cambodia for a homegrown automobile.

In fact, a number of individual Cambodians have taken it upon themselves to jump start the nascent auto industry by creating their very own DIY cars... even ones that supposedly respond to telepathic commands. According to Nhean Phaloek, a 51-year-old Cambodian who just built his Angkor 333-2010 (at right), "I just snap my fingers and the car's door will open. Or I just think of opening the car's door, and the door opens immediately."

While we're not quite ready to buy the thought-control bit, building your very own two-seat convertible for $5,000 that can hit speeds of about 62 miles per hour is itself an accomplishment to be proud of. Thanks for the tip, Adrián!

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Posted in: What is new in Cambodia ?

Ream National Park

Ream National Park is 18 kilometers from downtown Sihanoukville, towards Phnom Penh to the park entrance. Probably another 10 kilometers to get inside the park down to the beach. Just inside the park entrance, you can find the ranger station on the left, after you pass the entrance to the airport.

Tour to Ream

All hotels and guesthouses have $15 or $20 tickets for a day tour to Ream. This includes pickup at your hotel, breakfast, transport to the park, a boat ride, lunch and more touring, and transport back. Usually, pick up between 7 and 8 am, and back by 4pm or so.

Ream National Park give you a feel for the trip ,which was a boat trip with a Ranger guide, an hour-plus of relaxation on a remote beach (bring your own lunch as the facilities are zero), a jungle walk and visit to a fishing village and then back to the Ranger station at Prek Toeuk Sap. Certainly a pleasant diversion from Sihanouk Ville though the cost of the boat hire was quite high, so make sure there’s a group of you to share the costs.

It’s natural so please keep them a life ……….

Serendipity Beach

particularly at the northern end known as “serendipity beach” is Sihanouk Ville most active beach popular with travelers and weekenders alike thatch -roofed seafood shacks and beach bars line the sand for more a kilometer. It’d near Ochherteal beach. At this beach don’t have much cambodian tourist most of the tourist are foreigner.

The place for relax and get food at the beach

“serendipity beach” is especially popular with budget travelers and is the only beach in town to offer rooms right on the sand as well as hillside bungalow with spectacular views of the ocean.

View at serendipity beach

Bungalow and guest house at the beach

“serendipity beach” also have several restaurants and beachfront bars from the laid back to all night party bars. Because of most of tourist at here are foreigner so most of food at here are western food…………

The way to Bamboo Island

This is Bamboo island that we call in khmer “Koh Russei“. From the beach to Bamboo Island it take 1:40 minute. At there have many coconut and a lot of three.

beautiful landscap at Bamboo Island

sun set at Bamboo Island

you will see sun set at the evening time it’s very nice. you can swim and go for a walk along the beach the water and the sand are clean.

Bungalows at Bamboo island

There are many bungalows at Bamboo island or Koh Russei. Rate(bunggalow): 10$-12$/night bungalow with a fantastic beachfront view on Bamboo island have private bath romm with shower.

Tour to Bamboo Island : 15$/pp one day trip with 2 or 3 island visiting where u can do snokeling to see under water life(coral reef, many kind of fish) swimming relax , picnic lunch on the beautiful sendy beach. this tour inclould pick up from ur hotel, breakfast, lunch, water, soft drink, life jacket and snokeling gear. This tour star at 8:0 0am. if you want to stay at there u can keep your ticket than when you can come back with this tour. you can go with private boad if u don’t want to go with tour. The prise for rent big boad is 50$.

CIRCLE LION

This is the Circle Lion. We can consider it’s representation of Sihanouk Ville after the Sea Port. It’s far a way from the beach 200m. At night time it’s very beautiful most of the people always go there for relax after work with their family at the weekend. Near the circle Lion have a lot of hotel , guest house , beautiful bungalows , restaurant , sea food that good taste and delicious have many western food also…………….

KBAL CHHAY water fall

Kbal Chhay are a series of waterfalls (3-5 meters) and chutes on the Prek Tuk Sap river . During the dry season (November-june) , the wall can be alittle more than a trickle , but the wet season falls can be quite powerful. The area is slowly being developed and now there are drink stands , food stalls and covered picnic areas available. Lots of local picnickers on the weekend. It’s about a 30 minute ride from downtown Sihanouk Ville to the falls. Take Rour 4 north to kbal chhay sign near mile market 217, about 1km north the anchor and globe monumet

there are many people go there specially on holiday or public holiday. they are from Phnom Penh or another province and have many foreigners also. They like to go there cuz it’s natural water that so clean and beautiful with the forest near the falls. At there u can swim , buy a lot of beautiful jewell that made from seasell and have lunch at there it’s wonderful………..

Welcome

I am warmly welcome to my site which created to publish something about me and something special about this lovely town. Firstly I would like to introduce about my hometown, the town of the heart of tourists in our country.

Sihanoukville (Khmer: Krong Preah Sihanouk), also known as Kampong Som, is a port city in southern Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand and is a growing Cambodian urban center. It is 230 kilometers southwest of Phnom Penh and it is the administrative center of Sihanouk Province. The city is named after King Father Norrodom Sihanouk and grew up around the construction of Sihanoukville Port. Sihanoukville’s beaches have made it a popular tourist destination.

SihanoukVille is located on the coast of Cambodia, about halfway between Thailand and Vietnam, on the Bay of Thailand. A spread out tourist town for both foreigners and local people from all over the country. Three sides of the town are bordered by tropical beaches and islands. Filled with empty beaches, crowded beaches, seafood, restaurants, bars, Buddhist Temples, casinos, hotels, and more beaches. At several hundred places, English is spoken; and many French speakers are here as well. About 20 other languages are spoken at various guesthouses and restaurants.

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Posted in: Travelling to Cambodia