LEG UP FOR DISABLED

The Angkor Association of the Disabled (AAD) held a colourful ceremony at the Alson Angkor Paradise Hotel in Siem Reap on Wednesday morning to give thanks for a sizeable donation of $100,000.

Thik Kaliyann reports that the money was donated by a Japanese humanitarian monk, Chyuei Gotou, who raised the funds from sales in Japan of a book he has written.

AAD’s administration manager Chan Sovorn said the venerable monk had been in Cambodia and learnt about the association’s work through Foundation Flying Chair-Wheel. The group is based at Phnom Penh’s Ounalom Pagoda, and makes pushcarts for disabled people.

The money will be spent on two projects – tricycles will be provided to people with disabilities so they can sell souvenirs, while other funds will go toward supporting disabled people by repairing their houses, providing them with food and offering schooling for their kids.

Meanwhile, last week the National Centre of Disabled Persons celebrated its ninth anniversary at the Siem Reap Town Hotel by demonstrating the use of the new Community Based Rehabilitation services guidelines book.

FALDO AT NATIONS CUP

GOLFERS turning up at the Angkor Golf resort this weekend for the FCC Nations Cup will be in for a surprise. They may come face to face with golf legend and supremo course designer Nick Faldo.

But he won’t be playing. Instead, he’ll be checking to see how the course has withstood wear and tear.

Faldo’s in Cambodia primarily to oversee plans for a new course in Phnom Penh.

But he’ll be happy to hear how well the Siem Reap course stood up to rain squalls that lashed the province this month.

Meanwhile, Temple Town’s newest golf resort, the Korean-owned Siem Reap Lake Resort, was badly clobbered by rain squalls. On the first night of the deluge, 30 bunkers collapsed, leaving the course looking like a disaster zone.

BAD TOURISM ADVICE

HOW not to be a tourism writer: number 1066.

This not-so-informative tip about Siem Reap’s tourist delights came from the popular blog Khmer Bird:

“No. 6 – Pub Street, there are a lot of restaurants there, food are good and cheap, like tonight for dinner we have tried the Pizza. I don’t remember the name, sorry about that. If you cannot figure out where it is, ask Tuk Tuk drivers, 100% they know where to bring you to.” Cheers.