The Media Verdict

(Published on soc.culture.sg on 20 September 2004, I include the aftermath wriiten in April 2005 at the end)

The writing was on the wall. And now the time it comes. MediaWorks is to "merge" into a new company called MediaCorp TV holdings Pte Ltd. The verdict is much more politically motivated than a commercial reason by looking at the deal.

Wrong use of word- merger
By merger, we means equal partners, there is no dominance of one party to another. Because of the profuse merger and acquisition in the eighties, many companies took advantage of acquisition in the form merger to boost revenues and prevent writing off goodwill in the profit and loss account. The Standard setting authorities since have tightened merger to very restrictive use.

Clearly for the case of SPH and MediaCorp, IT IS NOT EQUAL.MediaCorp is holding 80% of share and is assigned to the management of the new company. In other words, it is dominant and should be accounted for as acquisition.

The implications of the verdict
It was said that the deal is win-win. I doubt so.
The winner-MediaCorp
It has been openly lashing out want to pin down its rival MediaWorks. And now it gets all what it wants:

1 Putting Channel U under its control, MediaCorp as management of the company can marshal all the resources, it has the ability to stultify or debilitate Channel U further development headlong.

2. Getting free cash resources 10 m from SPH while maintaining control. SPH owns 20% of the share; it was said SPH holds two, and MediaCorp holds three seats in the board.MediaCorp has the controlling interest in decision making.

3. Pulling SPH to invest in loss making business-Today.SPH is to pay 19.26m. SMRT has just gotten its foot out of the loss-making business-Today. MediaCorp has quickly roped in SPH to fill the vacancy, clearly MediaCorp is the winner.

The "betrayer"-SPH

It seems I use scathing word "betrayer" to describe SPH’s behavior towards MediaWorks.
Recently, I read a book, titled "The dark side of organization behavior" It says, "(In an organization) the psychological contract and its violation, unlike expectations, centers around ongoing exchange in a relationship..." "Within this relational context is the notion of trust..." "It is because breach and violation inherently take place in the context of a trusting relationship that its occurrence can be so damaging…"It says the first source of breach is reneging whereby purposeful breach occurs because the breaching party is aware of his or her obligation but is either unwilling or unable to fulfill some terms of the contract."

In the same vein, MediaWork’s management and artistes were inspired to form a new station to pursue their goals which are different from MediaCorp. That made a serious dent in MediaCorp talent pool and subsequently affected their viewer rate in some of the programmes; the tussle of competition between the two stations is keen.

Some of the artistes are mortified that rationalization exercise can be political and vindictive.SPH attracted them when was in need. And eager to divest the lost making unit to stop bleeding, SPH throws back the ball to their ex-employer, MediaCorp; leaves their fate to their ex-boss, is a breach of psychological contract around ongoing exchange in a relation, a breach of trust.

SPH has legitimate reason to say four years of investment with no return, enough is enough. They have to put a full stop somewhere. It raise another question that where and how to attract investors who have deeper pocket and farther vision to struggle for success in the long haul in this industry may be a concern for searching new operator.

It is very clear that the major advantage is to get rid of MediaWorks, the loss-making unit.
It is not clear whether the purchasing of 20% interest for 10m is advancing shareholder value. First, from strategic perspective, it is hardly we can see any synergy advantages for purchasing the stake or strategy advancing SPH current core business. Second, I do not have financial details I can’t judge it is worth 10m.(The public available data for MediaCorp is up to 2002,from Thomson Investment and also MediaWorks financial data is lacking)

I am confounded by its investment in Today. Today is allowed to run independently. It pays 19m for 40% stake in Today to compete with its core business with no controlling interest. First, Today is running free sheets; Second, SPH is in cut throat competition with Today on advertising dollars. There are many business opportunities out there to pursue; it is unfathomable why pointing the gun shoot at its own foot? The 19m certainly can help SPH break through growth stagnant and expand regionally.

And since both sides decide not to compete, why not let the talents of Today absorb into SPH?

The loser-MediaWork

There are two critical aspects brought down MediaWorks.

First, It was born in the wrong time when the economy was in the down cycle.That greatly affected their only life blood-advertising revenues. During economic downturn, few companies are willing to make investment in advertisement.
And now the economy recovers, will it make a difference if MediaWorks rebirth? Possible! But it is tough. This industry carries very high fixed costs.

Advertising revenues depend on several factors: first, the economic factor determines the consumers’ pocket, The propensity is to achieve marketing effectiveness to save marketing dollars in bad times; Second, putting up advertisement also depends on the advertisers’ margin, the type of product and sales volume; Third, A stable advertising revenue depends on strong advertisers and their consistent support. And there is a population size constraint.

Second, Weak business model-Advertising income also appears cyclical, fluctuate from month to month. Of course there are peripheral incomes, such as publishing magazine, programme selling, and big screen operation etc.The revenues are either small or unpredictable. To extricate from fluctuating revenue generation dilemma, we need a different business model.
What is the implication to general public? Will the future program becoming homogeneous and prosaic? I doubt so.

Channel U has set their mark and in no small feat. Eventually is the viewer who decide which station to watch and there is quid pro quo-the cable TV compete for viewership.
The new management will want to prove themselves under the watchful eyes that they can do better for channel U than under the umbrella of SPH, converge into the style of MediaCorp production will not draw more viewership.Viewers are attracted by the style and content of the production, not the other way round.

What is the implication to Media artistes? Will they get short shrift or nit-picked? I doubt so.

Singapore has a small pool of TV artistes and production crews. Especially those who have already made their marks and proved themselves in the field are very much sought after avidly.
Vicariously, everyone is in the business and behaves businesslike and there is no personal grudge. It is only how you prove your value to the new company that matters. As I mentioned, the success of the new company only make the management shine, there is no reason to take personal revenge to impede business success.

There are watchful eyes around, the rationalization exercise under the lead of independent director (Some question the effectiveness of so-called independent director, they are usually not the expert in the field, that restricts their function to question the CEO), probably weeds up only weak candidates. The question is how you define weak candidates, there will be political tussles.
Those who relish the kind of cosy, familylike working environment and culture in MediaWorks may be replaced by big organization bureaucratic culture. That may temper the MediaWorks’ staff passion.

The future of the industry

Time to cough golden eggs now and it is free, is free.
I think a more workable business model is to adopt "Pay as you watch" system, in the mean time scrap license fee and replace with leasing arrangements with operators.

I think the authority must have been recouped its infrastructure costs by now. The authority calculates a price range to cap on the maximum price charge. The formula will take into account of current license fee, the maximum hours viewer watching, maintenance and repair charges of infrastructure and put a cap for maximum price, and review the price as required. The operator can charge viewer within the price range.

The biggest advantage of this model is to stabilize the income risk of the incumbents, making the survival more viable, because there is a large pool of subscribers paying a fixed fee to buttress the operators’ income, coupled with other revenues will be able to tide over any economic conditions. Competing for the pie also increase competition of the operators, eventually benefiting the viewers; but this is also a double-edge sword.

The authority will lease out their infrastructure to the operators, and charge leasing fee to cover maintenance, repair and replacements.

Consolidation should improve competition and improve viewing quality rather than whittle it. The verdict has a sobering effect need to elucidate: Profitability is one of the important consideration, but also other criteria such as how to nurture quality and promising new incumbent to ensure their survival to make the scene in this industry vibrant, and flourishing.

The Aftermath (Written on 7 April 2005)

Half a year has passed, from hindsight; many of my views elaborate in The Media Verdict proved to be withstanding the change of times. This article is not to inscribe something of an epic. Rather, I am writing of some new thinking I hope you will share.

MediaCorp:

MediaCorp is an organization inherited the government working culture. Rather through market competition. It moves ahead with finesse to make way to achieve its goals. After the acquisition, it was said in order to clear channel U old stocks.

During the period from 1 Jan 2005 to 1 April 2005, existing programs for channel U were asked to stop and there were no new programs on show, effectively, like going through austerity program in economics term. And many of the U channel artistes moved to channel 8 playing subordinate roles or sidelined. Forcing audience switched to watch channel 8. An article in Straits Times described channel U as MediaCorp "Stepchild". There are many discriminating practices are rooted on their competitive culture and certainly is not healthy for organization growth.

An April 2005 Harvard Business review article best describes this management practice. The article categorizes this practice as "opportunist". The author says, "It is characterized by mistrust, egocentrism, and manipulative. It focuses on personal wins and sees the world and other people as opportunities to be exploited. Their approach to the outside world is largely determined by their perception of control--in other words, how they will react to an event depends primarily on whether or not they think they can direct the outcome. They treat other people as objects or as competitors who are also out for themselves. Opportunists tend to regard their bad behavior as legitimate in the cut and trust of an eye-for-an eye world. They reject feedback. Externalize blame, and retaliate harshly. "

I said the media consolidation was politically motivated, rather than a commercial transaction.

1. The government wants the TV media strictly under their control. One interesting economics article describes this choice as "traditional economics arguments"; It says government involvement is basically for two reasons: political and social.

Regulation was designed to ensure that a sufficient range and balance of programs was provided on each television channel, alongside programs that catered for minority as well as for mass audiences. The one argument "government involvement primarily will be social policy", such as MediaCorp recent promoting marriage couples, procreation programs. "There is a question about whether an unregulated market will provide the same socially correct level of programming quality and innovation."

2. The main theme of this economics article said the broadcast landscape has been altered radically by the advent of satellite and cable broadcasters and digital programming. There has been a steady drift in general attitudes away from government intervention to free market provision

The economic arguments ("traditional economics arguments") for government intervention are the existence of market failures- -They are resulting from a freely-functioning market in broadcasting will not produce the socially desirable outcome. There are three main types of market failures according to the article:

Broadcasting is a public good (It means non-excludable, no one can exclude others from consuming. And consuming of the good by one person does not decrease the amount of the good left for everyone else. Basically, we are paying license fee to watch this public good, the regulator instead of using this pool of money to sponsor the operator to shoot programs that support the government policy).

It is not enough just to use the catch-phrase that public service broadcasting must "inform, educate and entertain". The author argues: why the free market, if left unregulated, will not inform, educate and entertain? As to "inform, educate and entertain", many will share with me that the trends of increasing government’s propaganda. After a stressful day work thinking of to unwind yourself, you may want to protest but to no avail to watch this government’s propaganda. Whether it is to put the cart before the horse?

Digitization means that television signals can be encrypted; pay channel like starhub makes TV no longer non-excludable though still non-rivalries.

The broadcasting market is inherently concentrated, leading to market power. The making and broadcasting of television programs has exceptionally high fixed costs (Once these expenses are paid, there are economic of scale) and very low marginal costs. Having a small number of firms in the market is efficient, in the sense that it avoids duplication of the large fixed costs required for broadcasting and uses the scarce spectrum without interference. The down-side is that a small number of firms can allow each firm to enjoy and exercise market power.

Market power leads to deadweight loss- -It means unexploited gains from trade that reduce the social surplus from producing a good. Just like MediaCorp is concerning making profit at the expense of viewer interests, such as repeat broadcasting old stuff many times. There is little the consumer can do because of the monopolistic nature unless increase competition or subscribe for pay channel. According to the article, there is considerable anecdotal evidence that competitive market structures are more innovative than are monopolies, although economicetric evidence on the general linkage between concentration and innovative is inconclusive.

Digitization allows channel to be limitless but fixed costs of program and broad casting under digitization are still enormous.

Consumption of broadcasting is subject to externalities. Externalities mean the spill-over effects that occur when the social costs and benefits derived from some activities are different from the costs and benefits derived by the producers and consumers of that activity. For example, program with a violent content has a negative effect of more violent in society. Another argument for subject to externality is individuals are imperfectly informed about the benefits from consuming the good, there is a danger that consumers will under-invest in the development of their own taste, experience and capacity to comprehend because it is only in retrospect that the benefits of such investment become apparent.

MediaCorp is keen to expand regionally. However, they are not ready for such an effort. Their immediate task is to continuing restructuring. The process includes assessing market segments-- local and overseas and followed by critically self-evaluating its core competency to ascertain the gap between market needs and current competency. For oversea programs there are more hurdles, such as cultural and political reception etc and of course program quality. Country has stronger culture, political and economic influence usually has the upper hand in terms of receptivity, such as Korean, Japan, and American.

Another aspect is to develop talent pool, as this industry basically depends heavily on people to perform. This requires a conducive environment that promotes creativity and technical excellence. To achieve this, a change of organization culture is imminent. A mix of technical and administrative experts is elected to the top echelon to balance technical and management excellence.

It can keep project management on top of every executive daily task. Other best practices to achieve operation excellence include:
Continue to source talent locally and overseas. Develop talents with star potential.
Consider instituting training programs to support continuous improvement initiatives.
Liaise with local university to set up courses, lifting the status of the profession and offering the artistes a career.
Institute performance measurement to align with the organization goals and improvement targets.
Promote team spirit, as many operations are project-based.
Use Activity-based management to control program budgets.

SPH:
As to SPH, it eventually lopped off loss-making MediaWorks. However, their share performance is still lackluster. Analyst is not convinced of the company’s advertising revenue potentials. The characteristics of SPH are
It is a large cash hoard with no investment opportunities.

It is monopolistic housing many papers publication under one roof. On the one hand, it achieves economic of scale by sharing the fixed assets and updating the latest technology. It also promotes certain extent of internal competition among the evening papers. Basically are the Chinese papers Sin Ming daily competes with Lian He Wan Pao. As to Lian He Zhao Pao, the Chinese morning paper and Straits Times face little competition. Until lately the new comer "Today" a free sheet which gives close fight to Straits Times in term of advertising revenue. Sitting on the cash hoard, the company faces little motivation to improve operation efficiency to improve shareholder value.

There are restrictions facing the company to expand regionally. Basically, The Company publishes Chinese, English, Malay, and Indian language papers. It is difficult if not impossible for them to put their foothold in the region because media is under local government control. If you can’t liberalize your paper at your own home, it is hard to convince the host country to accept your investments. I should say this practice is universal. The difference is internal competition.

What SPH can do is to:

Redefine it business boundary. They are not in the paper business. They are in publishing business, looking for adjacent business opportunities. This will give more business scope.

Restructure existing business, spin-off unprofitable businesses through buy out, implement share services charge out system rather than cross subsidies to promote operation efficiencies.

Gallery 4(Thailand & Cambodia)

Thailand

I attached a map of Thailand and Cambodia.You can double click on the picture for better view. If you have problem viewing the picture, please double clich on it.



I spent a week backpacked following the route starting from Phuket by air, and spent few hours taking tuktuk (a motor transport) around the island, and in the evening, I changed to coach bus taking about 12 hours passing Hua Hin heading north to Bangkok. At Bangkok, I spent a day visiting Wat Sai floating market of river Chao Phraya and the city.

The next day, I took a train going north to the historical site Ayutthaya. After visiting several temples, I got a bus to visit the Temple of Buddha's footprint. After the visit, I changed to train going North again to Sukhothai province, Lop Buri, I could remember vividly that it was Chinese New Year, because I could hear fire crackers sound waking me up early in the morning. I spent a day visiting historical temples and took a coach going North to Chiangmai.

Chiangmai's weather was coolly. The famous spots are Wat Phra Singh , Doi Suthep and the market place. After Chiangmai. I headed North again, I took a bus to Fang, changed to a mini-bus to Tha Thon pier for raft to Chiang Rai, and traveling down hundred km by boat of Kok river. This gives me a chance to soak up a rich diversity of typical northern landscape which I never get on the speeding bus.

Chiang Rai is a place adjacent to Laos and Myanmar. A famous spot to visit is Doi Tung. I reached there was evening time. The weather changed to icy. On the same day. I took a night coach back to Bangkok.

This time I headed West by train to Kanchanaburi province. The notorious spots are River Kwai, the film "the bridge over River Kwai" made river Kwai a famous spot but really looks quite ordinary. The material for the bridge were brought from Java by the imperial Japanese army. The Death Railway to Myanmar is also site of wartime reminder. It is estimated that 16,000 POWs died while building the Death Railway to Myanmar of which the bridge is only a small part. The strategic objective of the railway was to secure an alternative supply route for the Japanese conquest of Myanmar and other Asian countries to the west. The Japanese army forced the POW to complete the 415km railway suppose to build in five years to only 16 months. The labors, POW , many from Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia and Indonesia estimated around 90,000 to 100,000 laborers died in the area. Other war reminders are The war cemetery and The Jeath war Museum. Erawan National park is another main sight notorious for its seven-tier waterfall. It was a day at Kanchanaburi and then back to Bangkok and headed home.

Puket

Phuket is Thailand largest island, and remains the wealthiest province in Thailand. Basically, its main business activities is
Tourism. It offers a huge range of water sports and magnificent diving facilities to make the most of the clear and sparkling seas. The famous spots are Ao Patong which is 15km from Phuket town, , the most developed and expensive, with a nightlife verging on the seedy. The picture shows three tourist spots Ao Karon beach, is slightly nicer, and adjacent Kata Yai (big kata Bay) beach and Kata Noi beach (small kata bay) the kata is the smallest and least spoilt of the trio. If you are really looking for peace and quiet you should turn instead to some of the beaches on the far northwest coast, such as Hat Nai Thon or Hat Nai Yang. Besides beach going, Laem Phrom thep is a popular place to view sunset. You can also go up Khoo Rang Phuket hill to have a bird-eye view of the City.

Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya, 80km north from Bangkok was founded by U Thong in1351, and rose rapidly by expanding trade route with China and India. It stepped into the political vacuum left by the decline of the Khmer empire at Angkor (In Cambodia) and the first Kingdom at Sukhothai. Ayutthaya by the mid-fifteenth century controlled an empire covering most of the area of modern-day Thailand. In 1767, this 400 years long prosperous dynasty was captured by the Burmese, and many wats (temples) were in ruin. And now it resembles a graveyard for temples, grand, brooding red-brick ruins rise out of the fields, satisfyingly evoking the city's bygone grandeur.
This picture is Wat Yai Chai Mongkol. The reclining Buddha represents the Buddha's dying moment when he attained Parlnibbana or ultimate nirvana. The Wat was established by King Ramathibodi in 1357 as a meditation site for monks returning from study in Sri Lanka. You can also visit Wat Phanan Cheong (the oldest temple in town) and Wat Phra Si Sanphet (the largest in its time).

This picture is Wat Phra Mahathat . The name "Mahathat" indicates that the temple was built to house remain of the Buddha himself (according to royal chronicles). King Ramesuan(1388-95) was looking out of his palace one morning when ashes of the Buddha materialized out of thin air here. A gold casket containing the ashes was duly enshrined in a grand 38m high prang. You can climb what remains of the prang to get a good view of the broad grassy complex, with dozens of bricks spires tilting at impossible angles and headless Buddha scattered around like spare parts in a scrapyard



This picture is Wat Phra Phutthabat (Temple of Buddha's footprint) (You can refer the footprint from the picture), is the most important pilgrimage site in Central Thailand. I was attracted by the interesting story. The place is at 17 miles Southeast of Lop Buri along Western site of the highway.

The legend dates back to the beginning of 17 century when King Song Tham of Ayutthaya sent some monks to Sri Lanka to worship the famous Buddha's footprint of Sumunkut. To the monk's surprise, the Sri Lankans asked them why they had bothered to travel all the way going there when according to the ancient pali scriptures, the Buddha has passed through Thailand and had left his footprint in their own backyard. As soon as King Song Tham heard this he instigated a search for the footprint which was finally discovered in 1623 by a hunter name Pram Bun when a wounded deer disappeared into a hollow and emerged miraculously healed. The hunter pushed aside the bushes to discover a foot-shaded trench filled with water which immediately cured him of his terrible skin decease. A temple was built on the spot but was destroyed by the Burmese in 1765. The present buildings date from the Bangkok era. Ah! Not forget to tell you, the footprint is five feet long. Imagine how large is the Buddha body!

Sukhothai Province

Prior to 13 century, the land now known as Thailand was divided into a collection of petty principalities. Most of which owed their allegiance to the Khmer empire and its administrative centre at Angkor in Cambodia. With the Khmer's power on the wane. Two Thai generals joined forces in1238 to oust the Khmers from the northern plains, founding the kingdom of Sukhothai( It means dawn of happiness in Pali) under the regency of one of the generals Intradit. Intradit's youngest son Ramkhamhaeng laid the foundations of a unique Thai identity by establishing Theravada (Hinayana) Buddhism as the common faith and introducing the forerunner of the modern Thai Alphabet; of several inscriptions attributed to him. Ramkhamhaeng turned Sukhothai into a vibrant spiritual and commercial centre. The border pushed as far south as to peninsula Malaya. By second half of 14 century, Sukhothai became a vassal state of the newly emerged kingdom of Ayutthaya in1438, and finally was forced to relinquish all vestiges of its independent identity. Traditionally, the Sukhothai era has always been viewed as the golden age of Thai history.
This picture is Wat Mahathat at Lopburi. The Wat Mahathat compound, packed with the remains of scores of monuments and surrounded , like a city within a city, by a moat. This was the spiritual focus of the city, the king's temple and symbol of his power, successive regents, eager to add their own stamp, restored and expanded it so that by the time it was abandoned in the sixteenth century it numbered ten viharns and the bot dominate the present scene, their soldierly ranks of pillars which formally supported wooded roof directing the eye to the Buddha images seated at the far western end.

The principal chedi complex which houses the Buddha relic built on an east-west axis in an almost continuous line with two viharns. Its elegant centre piece follows a design termed lotus-bud chedi and is classic late Sukhothai in style. Lotus bud represent the purity of Buddha thoughts battling through the clammy swamp and bursting into flower. The chedi stands are surrounded by eight smaller towers on a square platform decorated with a procession of walking Buddha-like monks. Others famous temples are Wat Si Sawai, Wat Trapang Ngoen and Wat Sra Sri, Ramkhamhaeng monument.

Chiangmai

Chiang Mai manages to preserve some of the atmosphere of an ancient settlement alongside its urban sophistication. The people here are more easy going, and speak more slowly than their cousins in the capital. Burmese influence is still strong-not just art and architecture, but also in the rich curries and soups serve here. There are two major temples worth visiting in Chiangmai. One is Wat Phra Singh. The Buddha came from Sri Lanka. The temple was built in 1345.

This picture is part of the temple called Doi Suthep. the mountain which rises steeply at the City's 16km western edge of Chiangmai which dominate the hillside gives a towering view over the town. Doi Suthep was established in 1383. A naga (Dragon headed serpent) staircase of 300 steps lead to the Wat at the end of the winding up the mountain. This is the North hottest shrine which takes its pre-eminence from a magic relic enshrine in its chedi and the miraculous legend of its founding.

The interesting story about this temple is the original chedi here was built by King Ku Na at the end of 14 century after the growing relic of Wat Suan Dork had self-multiplied just before being enshrined. A place had to be found for the clone, so King Ku Na put it in a traveling shrine on the back of a white elephant and waited to see where the sacred animal (the elephant) would lead. It eventually climbed Doi Suthep, trumpeted three times , turned around three times, knelt down and died, thereby indicating that this was the spot for the temple.

You can have magnificent view of whole Chiangmai at the temple's lower terrace .For going to upper terrace you have to remove your shoes.

Chiang Rai
The northernmost tip of Thailand, stretching from the Kok River and Chiang Rai to the border. On the west it is adjacent to Myanmar, on the east to Laos. What you can see is a sanitized presentation of the golden Triangle's opium fields and colorfully dressed hill people performing artificial folkloric rituals.

Doi Tung, is about halfway between Mae Chan and Mae Sai. At Doi Tung , you can look down over Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and China. Doi Tung means "Flag peak" from the northern Thai words. King Achutaraj of Ngon Yang ordered a giant flag to be flown from the peak to mark the spot where two chedis were constructed in 911AD. The Chedis are still there. The road up the hill is winding steep and narrow. Along the way are Shan, Akha and Musoe (Lahu) diverse ethnics' villages. Myanmar is a short trek from the peak and many travelers have cross over the border to view the large poppy fields guards by hill tribes people and KMT soldiers. At the peak 1800 m above sea level is Wat Phra That Doi Tung. Pilgrims to the Wat earn them good fortune by clanging the rows of dissonant bells around the temple compound.

This picture is The Royal Villa and Mae Fa Luang Garden,12 km up the summit then left up a side road, it was the home of the princess mother in her later years. It is an attractive site with many beautiful flowers in the garden. You can appreciate from the picture the colorful flowers blossoming in the chilling weather.

Kanchanaburi
Thism picture is Erawan National park. It is 65 km northwest of Kanchanaburi. The seven-tier waterfall, topped by a triple cascade is etched into the national imagination not just for its beauty, but also for its alleged resemblance to a three headed elephant. This elephant (Erawan in Thai) is the formal national symbol. The park covers 550 square kilometers. There are seven levels for the waterfall. Each level comprises a waterfall feeding a pool of invitingly clear water partly shaded by bamboos, rattans, lianas and other clotted vegetation. It is fairly easy to climb up to the fifth stage, but the route to the sixth and seventh level get steep and slippery. The best pool for swimming is at level two.

Cambodia

I had opportunities to visit Cambodia due to job requirement. Basically, in Phnom Penh, you can visit the Royal Palace, Wat Phra Keo,Toul Sleng Holocaust museum displays pictures and tools of how Khmer route tortured their own people during their reining in Cambodia. Once a neighborhood school, the building was seized in1975 by Pol Pot's Khmer Route and turned into a prison; during its four years of operation as an interrogation center, some 20,000 Cambodians were tortured here. Fewer than 10 prisoners survived. The bodies of those that died under torture were tossed into the school's garden and playing fields; those that survived the torture went to the extermination camp outside of town called Choeung Ek, now known as the Killing Fields. The killing field, 14km Southwest of Phnom Penh, you see urn that contains many skulls and skeletons and mass graves. I will not show you these tragic pictures of the harrowing experience of the Cambodia people. I choose Angkor Wat instead at Siem Reap to represent Cambodia.

The Cambodian (Khmer) most glamorous times was the Khmer empire between 9th to the 13th Century, Cambodia developed a complex society based first on Hinduism and then on Buddhism. After the decline of the Khmers and the ascendancy of the Siamese, Cambodia was colonized by the French in the 19th century. That is why the French still has the affection towards the Khmers. During the tenure of my job in Cambodia, The French President Chirac ever had a short stay in our Hotel. And many of our Hotel staff have great respect to the French managers. Shortly after the end of World War II, during which the Japanese had occupied Cambodia, independence became the rallying cry for all of Indochina. Cambodia became a sovereign power with a monarchy and an elected government.

In the early 70s , the destabilizing consequences of the Vietnam War led Cambodia's political factions to take up arms. A very bloody civil war ensued. Khmer Rouge, under the French-educated Pol Pot, emerging as victors. A regime of terror followed. Under a program of Mao Tse Tsung-inspired re-education centered around forced agricultural collectives, hundreds of thousands of Cambodian died through torture and execution or from malnutrition and exhaustion in the camp. You will get a better picture of these tragic times by visiting Toul Sleng Holocaust museum museum I mentioned above.

Vietnam, unified under the Hanoi government , eventually intervened, partially defeated the Khmer Rouge, and brought back Prince Sihanouk as head of the state (Now Sihanouk has abdicated from the helm, and passed to his youngest son). The United Nations was brought in as a peace-keeping force, I was working in a hotel during those period, and in1996 a government was formed through democratic elections. In 1997, Hun Sen toppled the elected government, but political pressure forced new election-monitored by the international communities-in late summer 1998. Hun Sen won a plurality amid charges of election rigging and, resort to finesse and sordid politics,through coercive tactics, formed a government. After the death of Pot Pol in mid-1998, the Khmer Rouge presence and its threat to the country's stability diminished. It remains to be seen whether foreign investment and the development of tourism will follow, whether domestic problems will be solved. As far as what I follow up after I quit the job, the living of the Cambodian people is stultifying, has hardly any ameliorating. Life still in a shamble, poverty, corruption, crime, money laundering, prostituting....I am very sympathizing the Cambodian people still limping ahead for a blissful life>.(At this time , Cambodia is experiencing booming in their economy. It successfully attracted 8 billion (US$) of foreign direct investments in 2007. The largest investor is from South Korea, followed by China. GDP growth is 9.6% in 2007 and has foreign exchange reserves of 16 billion (US$) The 42 levels of twin towers of Golden plaza at central of Phnom Penh city epitomises new era of Cambodia that rising as fast growing emerging country. Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanouk harbours are three hotspots in property development, the land and house price are soaring. Main drivers of source of income are from tourism, oilfield,natural gas, textile and agriculture. Update at May 1 2008)

Angkor Wat



If Angkor had been discovered before the late 19th century, it certainly would have been classified as one of the seven wonders of the world. The Khmer empire reached the zenith of its power, influence, and creativity from the 9th to 13th centuries, and Angkor, the seat of the Khmer kings, was one of the largest capitals in Southeast Asia. In all there are some 300 monuments scattered in all directions through the surrounding jungle. Besides Angkor Wat, there are Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, Banteay Srei. I am giving details of Angkor Wat.

In the typical architectural art of the Khmers, the plan of Angkor Wat is simple and audacious. The five towers are the central element of the complex, forming a lotus bud ( the emblem of the Cambodia flag). Angkor Wat was founded at the beginning of the 12th century and is the best preserved of the Khmer temples. It was erected by King SuryavarmanII (reigned 1112-52) and dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. Like all the major monuments at Angkor, the buildings form a complex representing the Hindu (and Buddhist) Universe. The central shrines symbolize Mt. Meru, while the gates and cloisters depict the successive outer reaches of cosmic reality. Moats represent the seven oceans that surround Mt. Meru.

Angkor Wat is reached by an impressive causeway, an avenue lined with balustrades in the form of serpents. The complex itself rises in three concentric enclosures and you must wander around the terraces marveling at the Hindu deities and Buddha images, many of which lost their heads to looters. The other amazing collections of the images is sculpted on the 1 km long open colonnaded gallery. This collection tells the Hindu epics and Suryavarman's earthly deeds, both of which are celebrated by dancing apsaras.

Architecture and the fine relief symbolize the richness, power, and prosperity of the Khmer empire during this period, but such was the tremendous outlay required to build Angkor Wat that it nearly bankrupted the empire. It took 30 years to recover, and it was King Jayavarman VII who had the energy to revitalized the kingdom. Veering away the established Hindu god, he adopted Buddhism.

Galery 3 (UK & Paris)

I had a chance to visit UK was due to study a professional course in London. I spend most of the time in the tube (MRT) when I was traveling. Usually, I was only on simple trip--home and colledge due to zone restrictions. Sometime I went to Leicester square by tube to visit China Town to taste some Chinese food. I spent my very short vacation going round London, Oxford, Cambridge and Scotland. Before coming for good, I intended to tour Europe. I managed only go to Paris because of financial constraints. I am still regretting for not visiting other parts of England outside London and inside London and also Europe before coming back.

For this Gallery, I will not introduce The West End, Westminster and Whitehall, Oxford Street, Soho and Marble arch ,Downing Street, China Town, Kew Garden or Hyde Park in London (Of course I have many pictures of those). I choose some interesting landmarks I hope you will like.

London

Tower Bridge

Can still remember a Children's song "London Bridge is falling down" Of course the actual London bridge is at London Bridge city pier. It is situated in between Tower Bridge and Southwark Bridge. London Bridge has general implication of the bridges in London. There are twenty bridges crossing River Thames started from Hampton Court Pier to Barrier Garden pier. Tower Bridge is the last bridge of all bridges across Thames River. Perhaps Tower Bridge is the most striking of all. It was built between 1886 and 1894, and is currently the last downstream before the sea. When London was still a thriving port, tall ships visited London, the central section of the bridge was raised to allow safe passage. The walkway is open to visitors and offers spectacular views of London. A museum explains the working of the bridge.

Waterloo Barrack

Facing the White Tower to the North is the the Waterloo Barracks, which now contains the crown Jewels: orbs scepters and the centerpiece, the imperial State Crown, set with diamonds(2868 of them to be exact) sapphires,emeralds,rubies and pearls. This is part of the display in waterloo Barrack, taking picture is prohibited, you can see the value of this picture. The sword is sword of spiritual Justice. Those hanging are Sovereign's Scepter with Dove, also called the rod of Equity and mercy.


Madame Tussaud's

Madame Tussaud's (1761-1850) was employed at the court of Louis XVI to make wax figure. She was imprisoned during the Revolution and took models from the heads of guillotine victims (The original moulds are now in the chamber of horrors-which is part of the display in Madame Tussand's). She fled to London in 1802, and later exhibited her collection here. Much of Madame Tussand's is made up of the Garden Party exhibition where you can have your picture taken along side star-of-the -moment The museum is now exhibits historical tableaux, great figures of the day, "Heroes" etc. and lure in some 2.7 million visitors a year to see its wax works. The Museum is located at Baker Street.

This picture is the Royal family. The Grand Hall is where you will find models of world leaders past and present and the Royal family.

ST James Park

St James Park extends from the Horse Guards parade on the East to Buckingham palace on the west and is bounded on the North by the mall on the south by birdcage walk. Charmingly laid out in an aristocratic surrounding of palaces and government offices, and commanding a famous view in the direction of Westminster. This park is one of the most attractions in London. The lakes in the centre (5 acre) is frequented by ornamental waterfowl, for which Duck Island at the East end is reserved as a bleeding place. The flower bed is beautifully maintained, and the tree some dating from restoration add an oriental flavor to the over the lake.

Henry VIII laid out the land between his palaces at Whitehall and St James in1532 at the first royal park in London. Under the early Stuarts it was the resort of the court and other privileged persons. After the restoration, Le Notre was made great and very noble alterations. And the scattered ponds were united to form a canal. It was then open to the public.

Old Royal Observatory, Greenwich

The picture is Old Royal observatory. It is original home of Greenwich Mean Time where you can stand astride the Greenwich Meridian, the white line. In 1675 Charles II had the Royal Observatory built on a hill in the middle of Greenwich Park, intending that astronomy be used to establish longitude at sea. The preserved rooms are intriguing and you can see the actual time-pieces described in Dava Sobel's Longitude. You can place one foot either side of the meridian line and straddle the two hemispheres.






Shooterhill

I was told by an English woman who showed me the Greenwich Meridian Courtyard , insisted to introduce the highest ground in London-Shooter hill to me. If you climb up the tower , probably you can have a bird-eye view of London.




Backyard of an Oxford University

Oxford is 1.5 hours journey on the west of London. I had a misconception before I reached Oxford. I asked a lady outside Bodleian Library where Oxford university was? She enlightened me that Oxford university encompassed all the thirty-six colleges in Oxford. There are Christ Church College, Merton College, Queen's College, Magdalen College, New College, Queen college are the most notorious.

Its name originated from the "ford for Oxen" over the Thames at Hinksey. No one know which college was the first university in Oxford. Some said University college was the first. Oxford's importance as an academic centre grew out of a 12th-century political quarrel between the Anglo-Normans from studying at the then centre of European scholastic life, the Sorbonne in Paris. Students came to study at the Augustinian abbey in Oxford, which soon became known for theological debate among different religious orders. When such debates were conducted in an academic setting all was well, but discussions among students occasionally spilled over into violence. Eventually universities at Oxford and Cambridge were given royal approval, so that future student rebellions would take place far from London. To help the authorities keep an eye on student activity, the university was broken up into colleges, each of which developed its own tradition.

The notorious Alumni included Ex-US president Bill Clinton, Poets have Percy Bysshe Shelly, T.S.Eliot, Robert Hardy. Authors have Lewis Carroll, Jonathan Swift, Economist have Adam Smith, Sir Christopher Wren.

Oxford university is now facing government budget cut problem, and they lose many outstanding students and scholars to the US universities. The critic focus on the one to one coaching system. each year the government's budget spends about 58 million US dollars You can also visit Sheldonian cinema, Ashmolean Museum, and Bodleian Library.

This picture was probably taken at the backyard of Trinity, Balliol and St, John Colleges( They are linked)

Backyard of Cambridge University

The term Oxbridge was coined to define the very special breed both universities produce(Oxford and Cambridge). Oxbridge graduate is popularly characterized as white,male,private-school educated, intelligent and upper class., but the value judgment attached to it depends on who is using it. To some, it denotes the highest levels of academic excellence, but to others it denotes the spoilt and snobby children of a privileged elite that unfairly dominate the upper strata of English life.

Whatever way you look at it , the truth is that Cambridge is an exceptional university. So far, the universities has produced 78 Nobel Prize winners(29 from Trinity College alone),13 British prime ministers, nine archbishops of Canterbury, an immense number of scientists, a healthy host of poets and other scribblers.

Today, the university remains at the top of the research league in British universities; it owns a prestigious publishing firm and a world-renowned examination syndicate; it is the leading centre for astronomy in Britain; its Fitzwilliam Museum contains an outstanding art collection; and its library is used by scholars from around the world.

The colleges and universities buildings comprise the centre of the city-like Oxford, Cambridge has no campus. The central area, lying in a wide bend of the river Cam is the back which combines lush river scenery with superb views of six colleges, including King college chapel. The other 25 colleges are scattered throughout the city. The colleges you worth visiting including King college chapel, Trinity college, Trinity Hall College, Christ College, Jesus College, Round College, Magdalene College. Queens' College, Emmanuel College.

This picture could be the backyard of Emmanuel University

Scotland

Scotland is divided into three areas, the southern Uplands, Central Lowlands or Midland Valley and the Highlands. The notorious spots are Craigievar Castle, culross, The village, Edinburgh ( The Edinburgh international festival, Charlotte square) Glasgow (Cathedral,the Burrell collection, Glasgow University), Inverewe Garden, Mellerstain, The Trossachs, Wester Ross.

Edinburgh-The palace of Holyroodhouse
At the east of the Royal Mile stands the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen's official residence in Scotland, adjoined by the ruined nave of the Abbey. The decoration of the state Apartments remains lavish as designed by Sir William Bruce in true restoration style. Highly intricate decorative plasterwork ceiling, lavishly carved woodwork. In the king Chamber there is a magnificent red bed. The Gallery wall are lined with many imaginary and a few real portraits of Scottish Kings.

These pipers are traditional Scottish. They are teachers and students in Scot school. They played music to entertain the public.









France, Paris

I took a ferry crossing the English channel. At that time the channel tunnel was in the process of completion. Going around Paris you can use Metro. Paris is 12 km across. The City lies in a basin, surrounded by hill. The City is divided into Monumental, Moneyed and Mythical, and Militant three broad areas. Monumental describes the central Right Bank areas, The right Bank (of River Seine) still connotes business and Commerce. Money and Mythical is the Left Bank art and letters and wealthy West,West means Bourgeois, smart and reserved, Militant is the third the traditional working-class, immigrant and a little Scruffy districts of the North and east.

Places of interests included Carte Musěes et Monuments, The Palais du Louvre, The Champs- Ĕlysěes, The Arc de Triomphe, The Grand Boulevards passages, Beaubourg (MusěeNational d'Art Moderne), the Marais and the Bastille, Eiffel Tower

River Seine

The backdrop of this picture is Institute de France, seat of Academic Francoise, an august body of writers and scholars whose mission is to safeguard the purity of the French language. This is the grandiose of the riverfront.






Mona Risa
The picture is Leonardo's painting Mona Risa in The Palais Du Louvre.