ANGKOR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION CANCELLED

Angkor Wat was inscribed in the World Heritage list on December 14, 1992, and an International Co-Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor (ICC) was established.

Celebrations were planned for this year’s 20th anniversary, but this week the committee announced, “Due to the national mourning for His Majesty the King Father, Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, who played a key role in inscribing Angkor on the World Heritage List, the festivities planned for the 20th anniversary of this inscription (1992 - 2012) are postponed.”

CHRISTMAS TREE MANIA

It’s that time of year again, the silly season, when people of goodwill go crazy and create creations in the name of the Christmas spirit.

Consequently Christmas trees are being lit up at an alarming rate in major hotels throughout Siem Reap, and only Thursday night two of the most high profile hotels ‘illuminated.’

Sofitel lit up its tree in its lobby, with help from the “little carol singers” from Honour Village.

Meanwhile, at precisely the same time Raffles lit up its Eric Raisina-designed Christmas tree with help from the “little dancers from the Ngin Karet Foundation for Cambodia.”

The amazing thing about this year’s Raisina-designed tree is that it actually looks like…wait for it…a tree.

Raisina’s 2010 tree design was inspired by a traditional Cambodian fishing net and hence looked like a net, albeit a very nice net.

Last year’s “tree” was in the shape of a Cambodian silk lotus blossom, representing the spiritual bloom from Buddhism.

But this year’s tree is a triangular shape that looks decidedly tree-like and it’s been adorned with cool adornments inspired by Kbach which, Eric says, “Is the general term, used in the Khmer language, to name the variety of ornaments which decorate objects and architectural surfaces throughout Cambodia. Kbach demonstrates shape, form, script and various complex characters inspired by nature, animals and certainly an expecting object.”

But the prize for Christmas decor innovation this year must go to new hotel on the block, the Sayana and its boss, Aussie-expat Daryl Hissey.

Part one of the creation appeared late last week, eliciting much comment. But it was a case of “wait…there’s more”, and early this week part two of this amazing apparition lit up the night skies, revealing flying elephants pulling a sled.

According to Darryl Hissey, the creation is the work of the hotel’s engineering team. Darryl says, “I asked them to do a lighting display and that’s what they came up with, a Khmer Christmas.”

NEW GM FOR SHINTA MANI

Siem Reap’s well known hotel executive Christian de Boer this week officially announced he’s the new general manager of the ‘new’  Shinta Mani hotel.

Christian arrived in Siem Reap just over five years ago and worked as sales and marketing director at Shinta Mani’s then sister establishment, Hotel de la Paix.

But when the hotel management was taken over by Park Hyatt, Christian became sales and marketing director of the very chi chi new island resort, Song Saa.

He officially quit this job last Saturday because he wanted to remain in Siem Reap.