Blake is coming

Further to last week’s news item that renowned international sculptor Blake is en route to Siem Reap to launch his Fragments exhibition at Hotel de La Paix’s Arts Lounge on September 23, comes news that Blake is no recent stranger to Cambodia.

A new confrontational exhibition of Blake’s work has just finished in Canada.

This was a video installation titled “The Burning Buddha”, designed to pressure international leaders who refuse to ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Blake sculpted a bronze statue of a naked girl seated in the lotus position, poured gasoline over the figure, and lit her on fire.

It now transpires that this fiery video was filmed earlier this year in Phnom Penh, beside the swimming pool at the house of a wealthy art collector who keeps a low profile.

It will be interesting to see what Blake gets up to during his visit to Siem Reap.

Feel-good night

Chilli Si Dang restaurant and Bodia Nature are teaming up tonight to give everyone the opportunity to look and feel good. Friday nights are Ladies Night at Chilli’s, and Bodia Nature is extending the idea with a charity night in support of a local NGO, ABCs & Rice.

Bodia Nature is providing free neck and shoulder massages, foot and body scrubs, and a silent auction of Bodia hampers. The full range of Bodia Nature products will also be on sale.

Bodia Nature has been developing beauty and health products for three years, based mainly on essential oils that are distilled here in Siem Reap.

Proceedings start at 8pm, with a $1 cover charge.

Cycle Cambodia

PEPY (Protect the Earth, Protect Yourself), an NGO, is once again holding its Cycle Cambodia trek, and this year will certainly test the international adventure tourists who sign on to learn the value of “Adventurous Living, Responsible Giving”.

This year’s marathon trek kicks off in Siem Reap on December 19 for a 22-day, 1000-kilometre tour to Phnom Penh, Kep “and everywhere in between”.

But it won’t just be all riding. Participants will also be able to visit NGOs along the route.

Funds raised by Cycle Cambodia, and by participants along the way, will go to PEPY’s educational and teaching programs in rural Cambodia.