One day I went to my favorite Internet cafe on Monyvong Boulevard. There, for the second time, I met foreign weblogger Steve Goodman. I read most weblogs in Cambodian blogosphere, including his. One of the main things I find it interesting to follow up is his adventure to make photo documentation of pagoda, Watt in Khmer, in Cambodia. He has been to many countries in South-east Asia, interested in Buddhism, and fascinated in taking photo of home of monk. “Welp, I’ve completed work shooting exteriors of twenty-five Wats in Phnom Penh,” he wrote.
Taken by Steve Goodman
Decades ago, pagoda was where folks of this country acquired knowledge, and became monks to pay tribute to their parents. Today, provincial students stay in Phnom Penh pagodas as they have to spend money on college, textbooks, food, and clothes in this capital city. All in all, pagoda is not only for monks and citizens from every walk of life to maintain population’s largest religious of this Asean nation, but also where, hopefully in the future, another potential tourism destination not to mention ancient temple sites, Sihanoukville beaches, genocide museums, and other historical and resort sites. Anyone know how many pagoda in this country, asked Steve.
Well, I asked myself. How many pagoda have I been to? Not many. I think middle-age or old people visit the Buddist temple more often than youngsters. When people at my age focus mostly on what is going in life, study, work, and personal matters, thus we pay little attention and learn less about Buddhism. Again, when one claims to be this religious follower, how and what way can be determined it? We can take any identity card to place on our shirt and tell people who are. But what does it really mean to us by doing so. This is not necessarily required them to visit the temple day in day out. However, one of the most important thing is possessing a basic understanding of the teaching of Buddha. Therefore, there is room to further getting to enthusiastically know more.
Tharum:
I read on his blog about a “Wat Botum.” That was Sara’s Cambodian name - Botum. I think it means princess. Do you know where it is located or anything about it?
Hi Beth,
I found a site on Wat Botum. And based on the photo there, I think it’s near the Royal Palace. Tharum may help clear this out
You can find many of my Pagodas of Phnom Penh(tm) photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mythicaldude/sets/72057594054492865/
Hi tharum! It’s nice blog. You know i always confuse that your name is vutha’s name. But know i know clearly about it!!
Hi Tharum. I work part-time for a Buddhist organization called the ABE, Association of Buddhists for the Environment, and I happen to have answer to your question as to the number of pagodas in the country. According to the documents taken from the Ministry of Religion and Cults (2002-2003), there are 3,980 pagodas and 59,470 monks, from the Mahanika and Dhammayut sects.
Beth,
I checked Choun Nat Khmer dictionary, but could not find the term and explanation. Anyhow, I have heard of this name commonly used. Will talk to writer or professor to find out more.
Darachan,
Always confuse?
ZJ,
Your answer is very useful. Steve also visited the ministry, but seemed to get insufficient information.
[...] And the other week, talking with Michael, an Australian citizen who recently established a web design firm, I also met and had a brief with two Cambodia webloggers, a blog author of Sweet Cucumber and Phnom Penh Jungle Blog. The other international digital people I have met so far are: Michaela who has just left Cambodia for Africa as part of her fellowship program, Macapuno Rising of Kampuchea Crossings, Webbed Feet, and Steve. Probably there is wave of change in the Cambodian blogoshere in recent weeks as prolific travel writer Andy Brouwer joined us. The United Kingdom-based citizen maintains a great website with extensive and comprehensive information about traveling in Cambodia. And what I like his newly-launched weblog most is an ongoing introduction to Cambodian and Cambodia book authors. He had it all: Loung Ung, author of Lucky Child, Vatey Seng of ‘The Price We Paid : A Life Experience in the Khmer Rouge Regime, Cambodia’, an artist and writer Vann Nath. [...]