29 April 2006
Temple Bayon II
At Bayon's entrance religious women monks greet you/peddle you for money and to make an offering to Buddha. From my understanding the religion in Cambodia is a fusion of Hinduism and Buddhism, justufying Buddha's existence by claiming he is a reincarnation of Vishnu. In all the temples and in Angkor Wat palatial complex, there are incredibly complicated etched epics along all the walls. Emerging from the temple sites, there are usually market stalls with vendors selling every imaginable souvenir. The most beautiful silk scarves and silk handbags truly mark Cambodia;s survival in the textile industry, after the phase-out of quota system. From the International Labour Organisation, Cambodia is seen to have secured their markets in EU by promoting its high labor standards within its textile sector; but I'm always skeptical at this claim. And I defnly wish I had time to visit a silk farm and seen the extraction of silk from worms.
One of the most awestriking aspects about Cambodia is that about 70-80% of the country is under 21 years old, and only 20% of young girls finish primary school education. So when you see people over 40 you really notice. Does this mean that the textile industry is run by teenagers? How does that fit into ILO labor standards? There are many young marriages, with teenagers caring for their young children. It is really an interesting story in development that this country is built by such young people, all on motorbikes! Most young people speak English/French as well as Khmer. So I heard several stories from teenage shopkeepers that their parents were killed under the Khmer Rouge, and that they are bringing up their siblings. During the early morning when walking around some of the temples, young children beg tourists for US dollars while their older siblings run the market stalls and roadside cafes. In the late afternoon, children home from school spend their playtime selling trinkets to foreigners, (practicing their economics, geography and multiple languages). I;m not sure what to make of it all, given that I was there for such a short time, but the young people seem so resilient, charasmatic, charming, persistent, and the best salespeople I;ve ever seen in action!
Temple Bayon in Siem Riep
Last month we held a regional orientation on trade-related issues and porjections of the Doha Development Round on meeting human development goals. Participants from all over Asia and Pacific region gathered in Siem Riep, and in the early mornings before the programme started I was able to visit some of the surrounding temples, including Bayon. Angkor Wat, the ancient Siamese capital had been abandoned when Thailand invaded it around 12th century. Malaria outbreaks and the high cost of running the massive city contributed to rulers' languid approach when invaders took over. For several centuries the city was left in ruins, for the rainforest to devour it. In 1920s a French traveller came across the intricately carved faces of Bayon, peering out eerily behind the jungle's curtains.
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