Villagers pray to coconut tree [-Superstition running amok?]

Villagers worship a coconut tree, which they believe to be magic, in Banteay Meanchey province. Photograph: supplied

Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Mom Kunthear
The Phnom Penh Post

Over the past week, hundreds of villagers in Banteay Meanchey’s Thmor Pouk district have made the trek to a tiny yard in Banteay Chhmar commune to worship a coconut tree they believe possesses a magic healing spirit.

The owner of the bizarre 18-trunked coconut palm, Sar Yuk, 75, said he had no idea the three-year-old tree possessed special powers until a fortune-teller insisted the unusual garden feature was the key to healing a long-standing leg injury.

“The fortune-teller told me to offer sacrificial objects [fruit, food, incense and money] to the coconut tree to receive its healing powers,” said Yuk, who has spent the past three years forced to walk with a stick or shuffle across the ground on his buttocks.

Yuk said he listened to the fortune-teller and, after a day of preparing small sacrifices and praying, he was able to walk completely unaided.

Magical log draws thousands in Cambodia [-Stupid is as stupid does!]

Photo: RFA

July 26, 20122
AAP

THOUSANDS of Cambodians have visited a log that is believed to possess magical powers, local media report.

The 13-metre-long log was unearthed from the bottom of a pond in Pursat province, The Cambodia Daily newspaper said on Thursday.

The piece of wood has since been credited with healing powers and the ability to bring financial good fortune.

More than 3000 villagers have journeyed to the site, with some rubbing talcum powder on the wood in hope of seeing winning lottery numbers, the report said.

មនុស្ស​ផ្អើល​ទៅ​បន់​ស្រន់​ដើម​ឈើ​មាន​បារមី​នៅ​ពោធិ៍សាត់ - A practical joke turned into a superstition in Pursat

2012-07-24
Radio Free Asia

មនុស្ស​ច្រើន​ពាន់​នាក់​ខ្លះ​មក​ពី​ទីក្រុង​ភ្នំពេញ ខ្លះ​មក​ពី​ខេត្ត​នានា ដូចជា​បាត់ដំបង ប៉ៃលិន ព្រៃវែង ស្វាយរៀង​ជាដើម ដៃ​មាន​កាន់​ទៀន ធូប ទឹកអប់ ប្រេងម្សៅ ដើរ​សំដៅ​ទៅ​កាន់​ទី​វាល​តម្កល់​ឈើ​មួយ​ដើម ស្ថិត​ក្នុង​ឃុំ​អូរតាប៉ោង ស្រុក​បាកាន ខេត្ត​ពោធិ៍សាត់។ ពួក​គេ​ជឿ​ថា ដើម​ឈើ​នោះ​មាន​បារមី​អាច​ជួយ​គេ​ឲ្យ​សម្រេច​បាន​ក្ដី​ប្រាថ្នា​គ្រប់​យ៉ាង។

Thousands of people, some coming from Phnom Penh and other provinces, flocked to a tree in O'Ta Poang commune, Bakan district, Pursat province. These people believe that the power of the tree could save them as they wish. Listen to the audio report on how a practical joke turned into this gullible fiction.

សូម​ស្ដាប់​សេចក្ដី​រាយការណ៍​ពិស្ដារ​ពី​ព័ត៌មាន​នេះ៖

Listen to the report in Khmer below:

Click here to download the audio program in MP3

១. មនុស្សរាប់ពាន់នាក់នាំគ្នាមកមើលឈើដែលគេជឿថា មានបារមីកាន់។

Thousands of people came to look at the tree which they believe holds magic power.

 ២. បុរសឈ្មោះ ស៊ឹម ភឿន អ្នកជីកបានឈើដែលកប់ក្នុងដី ផ្ដល់បទសម្ភាសន៍ដល់អ្នកកាសែត។

Sim Phoeun, the man who dug the pond and found the tree, gave an interview to reporters

 ៣. ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋមកពីគ្រប់ទិសទីមកមើលឈើដែលគេជឿថាមានបារមីកាន់។

People flock from all over to see the tree they believe of holding magic power.

៤. អ្នកលក់ទៀនធូប និងម្សៅនៅទីតាំងដែលពលរដ្ឋជឿថាមានឈើបារមីកាន់។

Incense and candle sellers cash in on the event. They also sell flour for people to rub on the tree in hope of getting the lucky lottery number.

៥. ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋនាំគ្នាសែនព្រេន និងចាក់ទឹកពីលើគល់ឈើ ត្រងយកទឹកវិញយកទៅផឹក ដោយជឿថាជាជំងឺ។

People pray to the tree, some pour water on the tree and collect it from the bottom to use as cure for their disease.

 ៦. រណ្ដៅស្រះដែលគេជីកបានឈើ និងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋដែលមានជំនឿដួសយកទឹក ឬកើបយកភក់យកទៅព្យាបាលជំងឺ។

Pond where the tree was dug out, superstitious people scoop water and mud from the pond to use as medicine.

 ៧. ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋដែលមានជំនឿដួសយកទឹក ឬកើបយកភក់យកទៅព្យាបាលជំងឺ។

Superstitious people scoop water and mud from the pond to use as medicine.

៨. មនុស្សជាច្រើននាំគ្នាចុះមកបាតរណ្ដៅ ឬស្រះដួសទឹក និងកើបភក់យកទៅព្យាបាលជំងឺ។

A larger number of people (including the CPP stalwart) went to the bottom of the pond to scoop water and mud to cure their illnesses.

 ៩. ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋដែលមានជំនឿនាំគ្នាយកម្សៅទៅលាបលើឈើ រួចលាបាតដៃក្រែងឃើញលេខឆ្នោត។

Some would use flour to rub on the tree in hope of seeing a magic lottery number appearing on the palm of their hands.

១០. ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋដែលមានជំនឿនាំគ្នាយកម្សៅទៅលាបលើឈើ រួចលាបាតដៃក្រែងឃើញលេខឆ្នោត។

Gullible people use flour to rub on the tree and hope to see lottery numbers appearing on their hand.

It sure smells like Jim Baker's "Praise The Lord (PTL)"

Cambodian Monks Launch Online Blessing Website

The monks of Wat Chrey in Cambodia’s south-east, are embracing the tech world by working with a not-for-profit organization to offer Blessings online. The website OrangeRobes.com was officially launched today.

Cambodia (PRWEB) July 21, 2012

For $9 you can get a personalized Certificate of Blessing emailed to you or a friend. For $20 you can get the certificate posted. [KI-Media Note: For $1 million do you get a direct one-way flight to Nirvana?]

The monks of Wat Chrey in Cambodia’s south east, are embracing the tech world by working with a not-for-profit organization to offer Blessings online. The website OrangeRobes.com was officially launched today.

Making a donation to a Buddhist Temple (Wat) in return for a blessing from a monk is a tradition that is centuries old. OrangeRobes.com now offers this opportunity online.

The monks offer blessings for birthdays, weddings, births, house warmings, or simply for general health and happiness.

Created by Australian couple Adrian and Simone Low, OrangeRobes.com has two main objectives. To give those with a connection to Buddhism or Cambodia, an opportunity to receive blessings online, and also to raise much needed funds for small Cambodian projects.

Cambodian 'sorcerers' damned to exile

Villagers accused of sorcery sit at a house in Saleav village in Ratanakkiri province. Photograph: David Boyle/Phnom Penh Post

Ra Chorm Veuch, 44, smokes a pipe at her family’s home in Saleav village, in Ratanakkiri province. She and her family had to leave nearby Khoun village after being accused of sorcery. Photograph: David Boyle/Phnom Penh Post

Tuesday, 19 June 2012
May Titthara and David Boyle
The Phnom Penh Post

The women of Saleav village burst into hysterical, indignant laughter at the suggestion that they eat human flesh or uncooked meat, as they nurture their young – children condemned to grow up as exiles.

Tucked away in a remote area of Rattanakkiri’s Bakeo district, for more than two and a half decades, accused sorcerers have been banished to this barren outpost by various indigenous minority groups whose belief in the occult still thrives.

“I am so angry when they said that my village is a sorcerer village. I am not eating human, blood or uncooked meat; I am eating food just like other people do,” 17-year-old Ramas Voeun says, holding her baby in a krama.

Khmers kowtow Hun Xen and Bun Rany ... Hun Xen and Bun Rany kowtow Hanoi

In Phnom Penh, about 200 students and administrators for the PPIU are kowtowing to Hun Xen and Bun Rany's picture, asking them to help Tep Kolab, the Rector of the University who is currently jailed. It looks like people no longer believe in the law anymore! (Photo: DAP-news)

Meanwhile, Hun Xen and Bun Rany are dragging their 3 sons to Vietnam to kowtow a former Vietcong thief. This is the 07 January culture prevailing in the Kingdom of Extraordinary Wonder (KEW!)

និស្សិត-សាស្ត្រាចារ្យ PPIU ២០០នាក់ លត់ជង្គង់ ខាងមុខ​ ផ្ទាំងរូបថត សម្តេចតេជោ និងលោកជំទាវ សុំជួយដល់ អ្នកស្រីទេព កូលាប

Wednesday, 29 February 2012
ដោយៈប៊ុនសាយ
DAP-news

ភ្នំពេញៈ និស្សិត និង សាស្រ្តាចារ្យ នៃសាកលវិទ្យាល័យ ភ្នំពេញអន្តរជាតិ (PPIU) ប្រមាណ២០០នាក់ នាព្រឹក ថ្ងៃទី២៩ ខែកុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ២០១២ បាននាំគ្នាលត់ជង្គង់ ព្រមទាំង លើកដៃសំពះ នៅខាងមុខ ផ្ទាំងរូបថតដ៏ធំ របស់ សម្តេចតេជោ ហ៊ុន សែន និងលោកជំទាវ គតិព្រឹទ្ធបណ្ឌិត ដែលដាក់តាំង នៅសាលប្រជុំដ៏ធំមួយ នៅជាន់ទី៦ នៃសាកលវិទ្យាល័យPPIU ដើម្បីទទូចសុំលោកទាំងពីរ ជួយដល់ សាកល វិទ្យាធិការ របស់គេ គឺអ្នកស្រីទេព កូឡាប និងស្វាមី ឱ្យនៅក្រៅឃុំ ជាបណ្តោះអាសន្ន ។

លោក គង់ ប៊ុនធី សាស្ត្រាចារ្យផ្នែកច្បាប់ នៃសាកលវិទ្យាល័យPPIU បានប្រាប់មជ្ឈមណ្ឌល ព័ត៌មាន ដើមអម្ពិល នាខណៈនោះថា ពិធីថ្ងៃនេះ គឺដើម្បីជួបជុំអានលិខិត ជូនសម្តេចតេជោ អង្វករ ពីចម្ងាយ សុំសម្តេចជួយរកយុត្តិធម៌ ជួយដល់លោកស្រី ទេព កូលាប និងស្វាមី នៅក្រៅឃុំ ជាបណ្តោះ អាសន្ន ដើម្បីកសាងក្តីតាមផ្លូវច្បាប់ បានពេញលេញ និងមើលថែកូនតូចៗ ព្រមទាំងសាងសង់ សាកល វិទ្យាល័យPPIU បន្ថែមទៀត ។
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200 PPIU students and administrators kowtow to a picture of Hun Xen and Bun Rany, asking them to help Tep Kolap, the university’s rector

29 Feb. 2012

By Bun Say

DAP-news

Translated from Khmer by Soy

Phnom Penh – In the morning of 29 February, about 200 PPIU (Phnom Penh International University) students and administrators decided to kowtow and pray to a large picture of Hun Xen and Bun Rany, his Chumteav, that was set up in a large meeting room located on the 6th floor of the PPIU. The students and administrators were praying for the pair of inert picture to help Mrs. Tep Kolap and her husband to be released from jail temporarily. Tep Kolap is the rector for the university and Heng Chheang, her husband and chairman of the PPIU board of directors, were accused of embezzling Kok An (the name says it all) who is an in-law relative of Heng Chheang and a crony of Hun Xen.

Kong Bunthy, a PPIU law professor, told DAP-news that the ceremony was held to read a letter to Hun Xen’s picture begging the latter to help find justice for Tep Kolap and her husband so that they may be released on bail and so that they can build their legal case, take care of their children, as well as continuing the building of the PPIU campus.

KI-Media Note: As far as we can tell, Hun Xen and Bun Rany’s picture refused to budge to the kowtow.

Praying an anchor: A STOOOPID superstition?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qzW7Dbmn-A

3 Thai army choppers taken down by "fierce guardian spirits"?

An army officer inspects the charred wreckage of the Bell 212 helicopter which went down yesterday morning about 12km from the office of the Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi. It was the third helicopter to have crashed in eight days. It had been sent to assist in the search and recovery operation of two helicopters which earlier crashed in the area. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD

Superstitions haunt forest

Some residents say the signs of another helicopter accident were there

25/07/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

With three army helicopters crashing in just eight days, questions are being asked as to whether the tragedies were the result of accidents, a conspiracy _ or supernatural powers.

A number of soldiers, officers and civilians working or living in Kaeng Krachan National Park, the site of the initial stranding of a group of officers, journalists and encroachment suspects which prompted the disastrous chain of fatal rescue and retrieval operations, believe bad omens are to blame.

"The guardian spirits here are very fierce," said one resident of Ban Panern Thung village in Phetchaburi's Kaeng Krachan district.

An army pilot who was not connected with the three fatal helicopter missions said a colleague had told of a fortune teller who predicted the third crash.

In the Kingdom of infinite Wonders, taking exams require: (1) food offering to the spirits; (2) blessing with holy water; or (3) buying cheat sheets ... studying is the last choice

Boeung Trabek High School (Photo Siv Channa, RFI)

High school students pray and get blessed with holy water in hope of passing their final exam

23 July 2011
By Ky Soklim
Radio France Internationale
Translated from Khmer by Si Sophon
Click here to read the original article in Khmer

"If Hun Sen's government sets out to keep the youth “dumb”, it cannot do a better job after 18 years of power." - Anonymous

Two days prior to the final high school exit exam, young male and female students seem to be very confused. Some went to offer foods to the spirits, others tried to get blessed with holy water, while others are only looking to buy the cheat sheets so they can copy the answer. On the other hand, teachers from the Cambodia Independent Teachers Association (CITA) are calling for an end to the leak of exam topics during the exam day.

At about 8AM on Saturday, 3 female students from Boeung Trabek high schools carried food and fruits on their motorbikes to a spirit shack located near the sport field close the high school.

With smiling faces, the three students said that they are preparing an offering to the spirit in the school in order to ask for wellbeing, as well as to ask for the spirit to help them pass their exams this year. One of the students confirmed that the offering prior to the exam is a Khmer “tradition” that was passed on from one to another. Such offering will help secure the students’ determination and not let them have fear during the exam day.

Another group of students who just completed the offerings said that the offering must be conducted, but the studying must be done as well in order to pass the exam. Another group of students discussed about the merit of being blessed by holy water. Some plan to have their parents pour the holy water on them, whereas another group talked about asking the service of monks instead.

Cambodia: where fear, magic and murder intertwine

Pah Eang, 22 (left), and Nith Pov, 29 (right), sit underneath their new house, which has become a gathering place for the remaining family members of two accused “sorcerers” who were killed in this remote village six months ago. (Terry McCoy/GlobalPost)

An average of three Khmer are accused of sorcery and killed every year.

March 29, 2011
Terry McCoy
Global Post

BOMNOK, Cambodia — In the midday swelter of early hot season, Pah Eang shivered and walked into a mountainous forest she’d once visited every day. She said she was scared. She hadn’t been to this place, open and silent, in five months. Not since the killings and whispers of magic.

Pulling at her red sweatshirt, Pah dissolved into the Cardamom Mountains that ripple through western Cambodia, and began her search for a place that keeps this 22-year-old awake at night and plagues what’s left of her family. Her path wound deeper until everything was quiet and the only mark of humanity was a bamboo-thatched hut in a clearing so idyllic the savagery of what had occurred there was difficult to imagine.

Last September, Pah’s father and younger brother were killed around 1 a.m. in this hut. The father, Pheng Pah, 46, was stabbed to death while his son, Pah Broh, 15, had his throat slit. When the bodies were discovered the next morning, some villagers in this deeply rural community 25 miles from a paved road rejoiced. They said the father and son were “sorcerers” and had deserved to die.

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: The Yantra

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

Thai army scared of Khmer black magic

Yantra for Thai soldiers?

Keep your talismans close, boys

Army says troops need protection against Khmer black magic.

12/02/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

Si Sa Ket : The Thai army believes it needs the help of talismans to protect itself from Cambodian soldiers.

The chief of the 2nd Army Friday distributed talismans to his troops to help protect them from evil curses which he believes Cambodians are likely to call upon in their fight over disputed border areas.

As a result, soldiers guarding the border with Cambodia are now equipped with arms, life-saving kits - and talismans.

Second Army chief Thawatchai Samutsakhon issued assorted talismans to soldiers stationed at the disputed border area near the Preah Vihear temple in Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district to ward off Khmer curses.

"I believe in this and I have to take care of my subordinates in every possible way," Lt Gen Thawatchai said.

Kampong Chhnang : Authorities warn the Krus (shamans)

Villagers trying to sell their clay pots to the patients of the Kru (All photos: Koh Santepheap)
The price of the clay pots dropped after the authority stopped the operation on 19 August.

Thursday, August 19, 2010
By Kang Kallyann
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Alain de Veng
Click here to read the article in French

For several days now, thousands of villagers have flocked to the village of Sala Lek 5, attracted by the miraculous healing sessions organized by a group of women who claim to be able to make contact with spirits.

The cops asked the shamans (Krus) who are organizing the gathering in the village of Sala Lek 5 (O'Russey commune, Kampong Tralach district) to stop their operations, an observer on the spot told Cambodge Soir Hebdo.

Thousands of people, most of them sick , met for the past several days in front of the house of the Krus who are supposedly able to provide cure through a magic process that involves communicating with spirits.

The patients must first buy a clay pot at a cost of about 14,000 riels (~$3.50) and fill it with glutinous rice, rice bran and mung beans.

The Kru would then perform a prayer in front of the pot and then plant incense sticks in it. While they do not bill for the service, voluntary donations are accepted.

Many sellers have tried to take advantage of this opportunity by setting up roadside stalls near the Kru’s home selling clay pots, a local craft ware that Kampong Chhnang is famous for.

Six other women-Krus have also set up shops nearby, they ensured that they possess the same healing power.

They told people that twelve ghosts from the same fraternity from around the world have gathered in the district of Kampong Tralach to help sick people.

"I arrived in the village on Saturday 19 August because my fiancee had a stiff neck. I bought the clay pot, but I was very suspicious, and I expressed my doubts to the woman-Kru during the ceremony. The next night, I felt a pain in my chest, I was scared, and in my head, I apologized to the Kru," claimed Saroeun , a young man of twenty, who traveled from Phnom Penh.

"I am educated and I do not believe in shamans. But there, as I waited for my turn, I saw a woman who sold porridge entering into a trance. Suddenly, she threw the content of the porridge pot on the ground. She seemed possessed by spirits," Saroeun said.

When asked about the measures taken to prevent disorder , Mov Sokhon , police chief of Kampong Tralach district, declined to answer questions from Cambodge Soir Hebdo.

Peeping Tom arrested: He was a crooked monk in Wat Srah Chork Pagoda

Neth Khay sitting next to police officers during the raid (All photos: Bunry, Koh Santepheap)
Neth Khay showing the hidden camera inside the bathroom
Bathroom where the victims were videotaped
Neth Khay ordered disrobed by the pagoda chief
Neth Khay changing into street clothes after being disrobed
Neth Khay taken into custody
Police searching Neth Khay's Lexus vehicle

Search uncovered more than 300 additional photos in phone memory banks of crooked monk Neth Khay

27 June 2010
By Koh Ekreach
Koh Santepheap News
Translated from Khmer by Neay Choch

Phnom Penh – Following the turmoil surrounding the distribution by Bluetooth phone of videos showing several naked women taking their holy bath, the police uncovered more than 300 other pictures in the phone memory of former monk Neth Khay who lived in monk housing no. 1, Wat Srah Chork Pagoda, Srah Chork commune, Daun Penh district, Phnom Penh city. The pictures were recovered during a search and arrest made on 26 June 2010. Some of pictures were videos while others were still photos.

Police experts from the Daun Penh district indicated on 23 June 2010 that relatives of one of the victims complained to the police by showing the article published by Koh Santepheap on 18 June calling on all the victims to come forward and bring their complaints to the police so that the culprits involved can be arrested.

According to the victim’s complaint, the police was able to locate the location of the monk housing in Wat Srah Chork, and a raid led by Sok Sambath, the Daun Penh district police commissioner, was conducted on 26 June 2010. 37-year-old former monk Neth Khay was arrested, he was a native of Russei village, Daun Tei commune, Ponhea Krek district, Kampong Cham province. According to the court warrant, the police searched monk housing no. 1 where Neth Khay lived, they uncovered 82 VCDs, 2 phone memory banks, 4 mobile phones, a DVD editing machine, an incense container can where a camera was hidden inside, one computer set, one white Lexus RX300 car bearing the license plate 2M-6390, $5,134 in US currency, 670,000 riels ($170) and a passport.

Following the search, the police uncovered more than 300 photos of naked women in the phone memory banks, some of them were on videos, while others are still photos. Some of these photos are also found in the mobile phone of the crooked monk as well. The police indicated that these photos were taken through a hidden camera installed in the bathroom, and there are no less than 5 hidden cameras planted in there for the crooked monks and his accomplices to take picture when the victims are taking their bath in there.

Relatives of the victim whom Koh Santepheap published an article about but did not show any of her picture thanked Koh Santepheap through the police for not posting any of her naked picture in order to protect her honor, and it was through this publication that they learned about this incident and brought their complaint to the police. The swift raid on the crooked monk earned the praise from the victim’s family.

The Phnom Penh police called on all other women who were victimized by this crooked monk to come forward and bring in their complaints in order to bring additional charges on the crooked monk. The Daun Penh district police said that they have filed the case of Neth Khay to the Phnom Penh court already, charging him with “taping and distribution of naked pictures.”

Thai police arrest suspected seller of 'child ghosts' [Kaun Krork]

Tue, 22 Jun 2010
DPA

Bangkok - Police arrested a former nurse as a suspected seller of "child ghosts" after 14 pickled foetuses were found in an abandoned house in north-eastern Thailand, media reports said Tuesday.

Police said Naengnoi Kaan admitted to buying foetuses from a woman who performed illegal abortions in Ubon Ratchathani province on the border with Laos and Cambodia to sell as "luk krok," or "child ghosts," believed to bring good luck, the Bangkok Post reported, citing police.

The case came to police attention after a scavenger found 14 bottles of pickled foetuses in an abandoned shophouse that belonged to one of Naengnoi's relatives.

Police said the nurse had allegedly stored the foetuses in the shophouse while awaiting orders from prospective customers.

Luk krok, according to Thai superstition, are particularly helpful for winning lotteries.

An office building with better Feng Shui for Comrade Hun Xen?

An engineer (L) stands on a scaffold as labourers work at the construction site for the office of the Prime Minister in Phnom Penh March 25, 2010. Cambodia's parliament is to debate a law next month that would allow foreigners to own property directly, one of the aims being to attract more investors to the Southeast Asian country. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Cambodian fortune-teller foiled in reverse alchemy swindle [-A case of "Hor Dak Khear"?]

Jan 19, 2010
DPA

Phnom Penh - A fortune-teller who turned gold jewellery into tin foil to dupe villagers has been warned by police not to repeat the scam, national media reported Tuesday.

Bun Srey Neang was arrested after persuading villagers in Kandal province near the capital that they should leave their jewellery in a jar with her for 15 days. She said all of their wishes would come true when they came back and opened the container.

However the Cambodia Daily newspaper reported that villagers got much less than they hoped for when they found that their jewellery, worth around 200 dollars, had been replaced with tin foil.

The district police chief said the fortune-teller had been warned that she would be arrested if she repeated her scam.

'This magic is used to cheat honest people who are uneducated, especially those who believe in magical fortune-tellers,' said police chief Pa Som Eth, adding that Bun Srey Neang had since returned the jewellery to the villagers.

Cambodia is a predominantly Buddhist country, but belief in magic and the supernatural remain widespread.

Cambodians seek fortune by betting on their dreams

Friday, 09 January 2009
Written by MOM KUNTHEAR AND THOMAS GAM NIELSEN
The Phnom Penh Post

For many punters, interpreting the signs and symbols in their dreams plays a vital part in winning it big in one of the Kingdom’s numerous lottery draws

Cambodians around the country are dreaming of winning it big in one of the Kingdom's numerous mei chnaot, or daily lottery draws. While many test their luck on a regular basis, dreams have played a vital part in both winning and losing for many punters.

Than Sythoun, a 30-year-old lottery aficionado, has been using his dreams to play the game for about two years. He started his gaming career after his paternal great-grandmother spoke to him in a dream, providing him with the winning combination 4098 and the letter A.

"In the dream, I was looking at a fax machine and suddenly these numbers came out on a piece of paper with the letter A," Than Sythoun said, adding that the A stands for the lottery type - in this case, the Vietnamese lottery.

Than Sythoun decided to play a different number combination on the basis of the dream and ended up getting three out of four lottery digits correct, earning him a tidy sum of US$340.

Each lottery draw normally comprises four numbers, and players can bet on two, three or all of them.
In Than Sythoun's first attempt at the game, he guessed three of the four digits correctly using 098 out of his dream combination of 4098. When the numbers 6098 were drawn, he won because he had guessed the last three numbers.

"In the dream I was looking at a fax machine and suddenly these numbers came out on a piece of paper."

The prizes Than Sythoun and other players can win grow exponentially with the amount of numbers in the combination they dare to bet on.

Ever since he won his first game, Than Sythoun has used his dreams to play the lottery and sees the signs he receives as a blessing from his great-grandmother.

"It might seem weird, but I strongly believe that she helps me when I lack money or am in a bad spirit," he said.

"I often think of her before going to bed, and sometimes I pray for her to give me clear numbers to win the lottery," he said, adding that he plays once or twice a week.

Sometimes a whole month can go by without Than Sythoun dreaming, but he still waits patiently for messages. "I only play when I have a dream," he said.

Don't push luck

Khoun Tan, a 60-year-old worker at the Angkor Beer Company, used to spend from 3,000 to 5,000 riels each day on the lottery, and he says his dreams also helped him to win.

"When I had dreams, I was sure that I was going to win. I could guess what numbers to bet on. For example, if I dreamed about an egg, I would use the zero [in my combination]," he said, adding that he sometimes won more than $100 using this method.

But a while back, his luck ran out.

"Recently, I stopped playing because I often lost. I had bad dreams almost every night and I could not win anymore," he said, adding that he also felt too old for the lottery circuit.

Than Sythoun agrees that it is important not to force the numbers. He speaks eagerly of the various dreams that have helped him profit but that have also on occasion lost him money.

"I do not go around and try to see numbers everywhere. I try to let the numbers come to me," he said. "Out of 10 games, I win around 7 or 8."

Testing lucky dreams

The Phnom Penh Post decided to put Than Sythoun's theory to the test by gambling 1,200 riels on different number combinations using some of the digits from one of his dreams.

Whether or not this dream came from Than Sythoun's great-grandmother is uncertain. Either way, he was more than happy to share his luck.

"I was walking when an old lady carrying a young baby guessed my age to be 16. She was flirting with me, saying that she had to sleep with her husband first and then we could go to a pagoda," he said, adding that amid the interesting ending of the dream, only the number 16 was worth using in the lottery.

There is an elaborate philosophy when it comes to interpreting various dream signs and symbols, said Than Sythoun confidently.

Hands equal five - the number of fingers on each hand - while man symbolises nine and woman is seven or eight. If you see a dog in your dream, you should use the digit four because of the dog's four legs, and a mobile phone is four as well because of its four corners.

There is even a book on the market on how to interpret dreams for use in lotteries, with over a hundred pages of pictures suggesting ways of converting dream sequences into digits.

"Some poor people like motorbike taxi drivers play a lot and try to find number combination all the time. They hope to change their luck by taking a chance," Than Sythoun said.

Currently, five different companies are offering lottery games in Phnom Penh, making it possible to play four different draws three times per day. In total, that would make 12 different draws that you would have to play if your dream did not specify the exact time and type of lottery.

The Phnom Penh Post and Than Sythoun failed to win any money on this occasion by using his dream, but he insists that if he had used his dream digits in all possible combinations, it would have produced a winner.

"Sometimes I get the numbers right but I do not use them the right way," Than Sythoun said.