DOUBLE THE USUAL HASH MADNESS

Siem Reap’s intrepid hash hound harriers have gone more barking mad than usual this month, electing to undertake not one but two hash runs, both with an international flavour.

The first run kicks of tomorrow afternoon, with the local Angkor mob hosting the “Lagos Away Hash.” Runners from this group are apparently Nigerians or people who have run on a Nigerian hash or perhaps people who simply know Nigerians or know where Nigeria is, which is somewhere in Africa.

The important news for that run is that it starts at 2pm instead of the usual 3pm, because some of the Lagos hashers will be jetting out of town that evening. The usual $5 fee applies and the run starts as usual at the Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa car park.

The following Saturday, July 20, will see another bigg’un in the annals of local hash history – this will be a joint away hash with the Angkor Hash House Harriers running with colleagues from the ranks of Phnom Penh hashers plus a busload of participants from Bangkok’s Siam Sunday Hash. The Sunday hash is so-called because its members are unable to run on Saturdays – yet here they are in Siem Reap running on a Saturday. Go figure.

But fear not, some of them will also run again on Sunday as part of the hangover run, another dubious hasher institution.

The joint hash run on July 20 starts at 3pm at the Victoria hotel car park and the run will be free for Angkor hashers.

Also kindly note: a “joint hash run” has nothing to with the consumption of hashish joints. Most hashers swear that beer is their drug of choice. Although apparently there has been a whiff of scandal regarding cannabis consumption amongst the ranks of the Nigerian runners, but that is not to say that any Nigerians here for the joint hash run are weed-heads.

BIG NAME FOR ANGKOR AMATEUR OPEN

Angkor Golf Resort’s general manager David Baron confirmed this week that Aussie golfer Scott Hend will participate in this year’s forthcoming Angkor Amateur Open.

Big-hitter Hend, originally from Brisbane is a successful player on the Asian Tour – and a past winner. Last year he tee’d up his second Asia Tour title with a one shot win at the ISPS Handa Singapore Classic.

David Baron says, “I think this is good news that such a player is willing to come to Cambodia and take part in our event.”

Baron also notes that while Hend will play in the tournament , he cannot win as he is a professional. During his stay in Siem Reap he will also conduct a clinic for players.

ANGKOR WAT TOPS ATTRACTIONS LISTING

For what it’s worth, TripAdvisor announced its inaugural Asia’s Top 25 attractions and coming in at Number One was…wait for it – Angkor Wat. But as usual the listings caused a hiccup of controversy, with Thai tourism nabobs apparently not happy.

Thailand’s first entry on the list was Wat Pho at Number 8 and the Grand Palace at Number 10.

TTR Weekly was even moved to bitch about the rankings reporting, “Considering the attractiveness of the Chao Phraya River and the important landmarks in the Rattanakosin district, Bangkok’s attractions should have scored much higher rankings than was reflected in the TripAdvisor survey.”

ANGKOR SUNSET VIEWING WEBSITE

A press release issued last week by the Australian Embassy in Phnom Penh went gangbusters, garnering coverage throughout the world and spreading the message that the internet would be used to help preserve the “fabled” Angkor Wat temple complex.

Because a handful of much-publicised sunset-watching spots has led to unseemly overcrowding, the website, angkorsunsets.com, features 34 newly-publicised different vantage points.