As Cultures Come Together, its all in Bad Spirits

Published on Jan 18, 2016 by Luke Hunt

When Benjawan Singthuean moved into her new home in Phnom Penh after her husband transferred from Thailand for work, the 36 year old didn’t know much about the area.She performed the usual rituals any Thai Buddhist would when they set up in a new home, by paying respect to the guardian spirits. She lit incense, offered fruit and food to the spirits, and asked for protection as the new occupiers of the house.Read more from Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai in The Bangkok Post. .

Take off: The Cambodian Space Project

Published on Jan 14, 2016 by Luke Hunt

A podcast with Cambodian diva Sry Thy — also known as Channthy Kak – and Australian musician Julien Poulsen, the stars of the rock band Cambodian Space Project, which has won a legion of fans across the region and beyond for their music and politics.Tours across Asia, Europe and gigs with Australian music icon Paul Kelly and American Motown legend Dennis Coffey have cemented the bands eclectic status which has received an added boost with the release of a documentary “Not Easy Rock ‘n’ Roll”.Produced by German film maker Marc Eberle and Australian Richard Kuipers the documentary traces their rise from Cambodian rice fields to sold out rock venues in Berlin.Channthy and Julien spoke with The Diplomat‘s Luke Hunt about....

Brunei Bans Santa

Published on Dec 27, 2015 by Luke Hunt

Relations between the Islamic and Christian worlds have seen their fair share of tensions and even conflict, particularly in the Middle East where both faiths were initially fostered. That animosity is also being fostered in the tiniest corners of Earth where religion is often fashioned for political gain.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..

Cambodian Art Rises from the Ashes of War

Published on Oct 10, 2015 by Luke Hunt

For centuries, Cambodian art was defined by one-dimensional paintings of Angkor Wat, the imposing 12th century temple, or idyllic scenes of village life.It was a stock and trade venerated by the Royal Palace until its virtual annihilation under the murderous rule of the Khmer Rouge and the following three decades of war.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..

Vietnam Waives Visas, for Some

Published on Jul 3, 2015 by Luke Hunt

Vietnam’s decision to axe visa restrictions on five European countries is expected to be extended in a bid to shore up its tourism industry, which has been punished by a military standoff with China and a sharp deterioration in the Russian economy.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..