A New Wave of Change in Cambodian Blogosphere

Since July last year, the growing popularity of weblogs among Cambodian Internet users is quite remarkeable. Whatever reasons you could think of – overhype of the mainstream media or indulgence in information technology. Though there is no exact count of Cambodian weblogs, according to Technorati, as of now there are 104,832 posts contain keyword Cambodia. And one point interesting is weblog are appearing in a language other than English, Khmer! Weblog, an easy-to-use publishing tool, is probably a possible way to bring a new life and smile to Khmer literature. The question is: will technology empowers the way we live? Although weblog reached its height to make individual become a publisher in a minute, at least for the time being many Cambodian authors find the online tool a mean to showcase their works.

Weblogs in local language – Khmer:
KhmerLegend, as its name, dedicates to Khmer old stories about famous people and events in the past. One of recent posts, ‘Killing Two Birds with One Arrow,’ is a story about arts of war. Here is an exerpt part of the post:

ព្រួញមួយបាញ់បានសត្វពីរ បានន័យថា ក្នុងពេលតែមួយប្រើមធ្យោបាយតែមួយ អាចផ្ដូលសត្រូវឲ្យបរាជ័យចាប់ពីពីរនាក់ឡើងទៅ ឬក៏អាចទទួលផលប្រយោជន័ចាប់ពីពីរឡើងទៅ ។ ការប្រើប្រាស់ល្បិចកលហ៍នេះ មិនធម្មតាទេ ហើយក៏មិនងាយស្រួលដែរព្រោះថា ល្បិចនេះគឺយើងត្រូវប្រឈមមុខនិងគូរសត្រូវជាច្រើននាក់ ឲ្យតែខ្វះការប្រុងប្រយ័ត្ន ឬធ្វេសប្រហេសតែបន្តិចពិតជាត្រូវជួបគ្រោះអាសន្នធំហើយហេតុនេះ មុននិងក្រោយនៃកិច្ចការ ត្រូវតែព្យាយាមរង់ចាំឲ្យបាននូវបរិយាកាសនិងពេលវេលាដែលសមស្រប ។

An arrow to kill two birds refers to one way to defeat enemies more than twos or to succeed more than just one things. Using this tactic is not as usual and not easy because when using it we have to confront with many rivals. And if we are little careless we will face danger. Thus, before and after the working on this job we have to be prepared for the right circumstance…”

NeoKhmer created by a Cambodian born citizen who lives in a foreign country, but is interested in learning to read and write his or her native language. Ryan Chan posts poems, novels, and history. Joke4Everyone is all about funny stories. A picture featured on the sidebar read that: ‘funny stories that make you relieve from stress — everyone's the same! Sopheak's Diary, a weblog of a 24 year-old aid worker. His weblog posts range from local issues to foreign affairs to his personal observations. And Sousdey (Hello), running by a Cambodian woman student. On the Mother's Day, commemorative message for her parents she wrote is emotionally expressive.

Almost Live Blogging
Live blogging is possible, so splashing breaking news is nothing new in blogosphere. The news headlines of the recent death of former Khmer Rouge chief, Ta Mok, from wire news services and other online news sources has become one of the most discussed topics in Cambodian weblog community. Ailing Ta Mok, who was accused of genocide, has died at the age of 80 in Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital. He was expected to be one of the first people tried for genocide and crimes against humanity at UN-backed hearings due to start next year.

Cambodia Weblog Directories Launched:
Not a Yellow Page, it is, of course, a directory of Cambodia weblogger. At least two open weblog directories went online recently where Cambodia webloggers can submit their own weblog address, a convenient way to promote their online presence. Cambodia Blogger's Directory Reminder allows users to add Cambodia-related weblogs, no matter you are Cambodians or expats, in or outside Cambodia. The web-based directory helps visitors look for weblog title by alphabet. And new comer CambodiaBlogger, a Khmer blog directory also accept to free submission of weblog about Cambodia with an exception on any adult, drug related or violent content. PlanetCambodia also offers a comprehensive list of Camobdia weblogs. The list is being arranged in several ways, alphabetical order, a Cambodian at home or abroad, and an expat category too.