ON PARADE

The streets of Siem Reap were alive last weekend with the sights and sounds of colourful parades, culminating on Monday morning with a peak-hour traffic-clogger when about 2000 Khmers marched through the streets in honour of a man who wrote a dictionary.

Actually, according to 7Days Khmer reporter Rann Reuy, the procession was a celebration of the birth date later this month of supreme patriarch and Cambodia’s most prominent scholar of Khmer literature, Chuon Nath.

His legacy includes not only the “priceless Khmer dictionary” completed in 1967, but also the words to the national anthem and other meaningful songs such as “Savada Khmer”.

Chuon Nath’s birthday actually falls on Khmer month Phalkun 21, which falls on March 11 this year. But organisers held the procession on March 1 to avoid clashing with the all important preparations for the third anniversary of the death of Wat Bo’s abbot, Khieu Neuy.

GOLF SCRAMBLE

Sokha Angkor Resort’s genial general manager, Emmett McHenry, has eschewed Irish shenanigans in favour of Texas Scramble, and is hosting the Sokha Texas Scramble Golf Tournament on April 3 at the Angkor Golf Resort. Tee-off for the one-day tournament is 12.30pm.

Teams of four will be pitted against each other. If prospective players don’t understand the difference between a scramble and a Texas scramble, contact Mr McHenry for instant re-education.

Meanwhile, the action is hotting up at the Angkor Golf Resort, and manager Adam Robertson has announced the dates for the forthcoming 2010 Angkor Amateur Open.

This will take place on Friday, August 6 – Sunday, August 8, and is open to male and female players. The format will remain the same as last year.

STANDING CORRECTED

Last week I incorrectly reported that Emmanuel Garde was the new executive chef at Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor. But his appointment is in Phnom Penh at Raffles Hotel Le Royal.

Apologies to Raffles’ Siem Reap exec chef I Wayan Mawa for the many phone calls he received about the item. At least it proves that 7Days is widely read.