Sad news
I am just checking my facts but I may have some sad news soon about one of Cambodia's most iconic figures whom many thousands of tourists have met in person over the years. It wouldn't take a genius to work out who I am referring to, but I won't give the name until I check my facts with the family. This news has been reported before, a year or two ago but was ill-informed at that time, however, now I believe its a reality. Check here for the sad news.
Labels: Choun Nhiem
posted by Andy Brouwer at
7:23 PM
2 Comments:
I think I know who you're talking about... I hope the news was just a bad rumor... I didn't get to see him the last time I visited, and I want to see him again :(...
Sorry Boone, but its no rumour, it's a fact. Actually one of my friends attended the funeral and forgot to tell me the news. It happened about 3 months ago and within a few more days the family will hold their 100-day ceremony to honour his memory. Everyone at Angkor knew him and he will be greatly missed by all, tourists and locals alike.
I keep re-running in my head my first ever meeting with him in 1997 when I sat down with Nhiem on a slab of sandstone in the shade at Ta Prohm and he tried to sell me a small bronze bell. I declined but we shook hands anyway and a wide grin spread across his lined face. I took his photo and went back to see him a year later, to give him a copy of the picture. He seemed a bit non-plussed but put the picture in his bag and offered me another trinket, a small silver elephant I think, which I declined again. This time he turned away and approached another tourist who had him in his camera lens for another photo opportunity. It was great to see him a few years later on the BBC programme, but I know that at the time of filming, he was really struggling to maintain his sweeping duties.
Andy
Post a Comment
<< Home