THE  FIRST EVER 100% SOLAR-POWERED CONCERT IN TIMES SQUARE FOR PEACE & ECOLOGY – POWERED BY BATTERY TOUR WITH RINGO STARR VIRTUALLY REQUESTING A MOMENT OF PEACE AT 12PM ET ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

PEACE LEGENDS JOIN FORCES WITH YOUNG GLOBAL INFLUENCERS IN A MOVEMENT FOR PEACE, HUMAN SECURITY, AND CLIMATE ACTION, AS TIMES SQUARE IN NEW YORK CITY PAUSES FOR PEACE.

DATE & TIME: SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 LIVE BROADCAST STARTED AT 12:00PM EDT VIA UNIFY at www.facebook.com/UNIFY and www.youtube.com/goodnewsbroadcast.  The website for the event is:  www.pausetheworldforpeace.org

On  September 21st, 2023 on the UN International Day of Peace, the 21st. Annual  Pause The World for Peace Broadcast, both in-person and global virtual audiences experienced the first ever 100% solar-powered concert in Times Square for peace and ecology, powered by multi-faceted musical artist and climate activist AY Young and his Battery Tour. Also featured is mental tranquility advocate and acclaimed singer Michel Pascal, who was joined by US Presidential Candidate, author, and activist Marianne Williamson and Myron McKinley of Earth, Wind, & Fire. As a part of the larger six-hour Peace Day event, this concert shared virtual messages from legacy peacekeepers like Ringo Starr, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Douglas, Jane Goodall, Sir Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, Deepak Chopra, Joe Dispenza, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, and Shakira. The nonprofit event producer Good News Corporation has partnered with OMMM, UNIFY, WE.net, AY Young, Battery Tour, SmartFlower, Playa Betty’s, 5 Star Diamond Award, Samsung, GM, BNP Paribas, Hugg-A Planet, New York Parks and Recreation, and Times Square Alliance.

Reverend Paul Sladkus, All Faiths, and Spiritual and Executive Producer for 21 years in Central Park, NY, Times Square, NY, and worldwide stated, “ This year’s participation exceeded our expectation to strengthen the message of International Peace, along with showing our love for MOTHER EARTH.  Here are the links for the three parts, approx. 2 hours each.  We are in negotiation for additional broadcast because Pausing the World for Peace is always needed” 

https://pausetheworldforpeace.org/2023/11/02/part-1-pause-the-world-for-peace-2023/

https://pausetheworldforpeace.org/2023/11/02/part-2-pause-the-world-for-love-2023/

https://pausetheworldforpeace.org/2023/11/09/part-3-pause-the-world-for-hope-2023/

 The Battery Tour’s involvement in the Pause the World for Peace event was highly intentional. On a mission to break barriers and build bridges, AY Young was appointed by the United Nations as the Global Youth Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals in 2020, Generation 17 Youth Ambassador, and SDG Champion. AY has performed over 800 concerts powered entirely by the Battery Tour’s renewable energy. “We are all outlets for change,” says the artist. And driving positive change was a major theme between Pause the World for Peace event collaborators. 

Michel Pascal led a dance meditation and musical performance, seamlessly combining the serenity of meditation, and the joy of dance, promising a unique and transformative experience. Pascal, is co-founder of OMMM which is a movement to create a positive impact on individuals and communities worldwide through the practice of meditation, music, and multimedia content. Pascal, A.K.A “The Medicine Voice,” has been performing at Carnegie Hall since 2016, while working closely with marginalized communities, including prisoners and veterans. The concert featured a bilingual meditation guided by Juliana Klinkert, an esteemed meditation teacher known for her work at the Amity Foundation and in Hispanic communities.

Young and Pascal, along with the generations they represent, continue a wave of peace work built on the foundations of champions of peace like David Gershon (led 1986 Earth Run Torch of Peace), Ben Bowler (founder of UNITY Earth bringing cease-fires for peace), his eminence Shyalpa Rinpoche (currently building Universal Peace Sanctuary at UNESCO World Heritage Site for Peace), Jonathan Granoff (World Academy of Art & Science Fellow and UN Ambassador to the Nobel Peace Laureates), and Jeremy Gilley (founder of Peace One Day with Sir Paul McCartney message). They, like others both in New York and nationally, including Michael Fitzpatrick (25-year cellist to the Dalai Lama), Rick Ulfic & Andrew Kaen (established 11 Days of Global Unity), Reverend Susana Bastarrica & James Cannings (founded Vigil for International Day of Peace), and Reverend Deborah Muldow & Fumi Johns (of May Peace Prevail on Earth with 250,000 Peace Poles worldwide), Peace Lights Peter Rogina, have dedicated their lives to empowering communities, fostering cooperation, and addressing global challenges with social innovations. Seeds planted decades ago are breaking ground as a new surge of activism takes shape in a post-pandemic society ready for collaborative action.

The Pause the World for Peace event included a special segment entitled “Peace in Action” with renowned representatives sharing the latest in major global issues, including domestic violence, school safety, human rights, human security, animal rights, climate action, and ending violence in health, politics, and religion, regardless of gender, race, or disability, promoting practical paths to a thriving life for all. A special military and police tribute for fallen heroes was featured. 

The Pause the World for Peace event, set in the Duffy Square section of Times Square, NY, is hosted by the Good News Corporation, whose founder Reverend Paul Sladkus has continued to be a leader in rallying movements for peace in action. Sladkus, who is an ordained all-faith minister, implores, “193 countries in the UN unanimously agreed to a CEASE FIRE EVERYWHERE, ACTS OF PEACE & LOVE, and WE CAN DO IT. We listened to Ringo Starr at 12:00 pm Noon ET as he requested a Worldwide Moment of Silence for PEACE, from Times Square, virtually on September 21, 2023, and we prayed to keep that moment going for peace and ecology  to last FOREVER.”

The event ran until 5:00PM EDT and aired to the world via UNIFY (received 2 billion views with the UN for Peace Day in 2017), which broadcasted the program to their combined partner audience of millions worldwide. McKinsey Co. stated that there are 1.6 billion people worldwide already aware of the International Day of Peace. Pause the World for Peace aimed to amplify the urgent need for collective action and global cooperation. Together, we stand in solidarity to promote peace, human security, and climate action for a better and brighter future for all.

Musicians who performed  with Michel Pascal were  Myron McKinley, Earth, Wind and Fire Musical Director, Paul Pesco,  legendary guitarist of Madonna and Jennifer Lopez; Stacey Lamont Sydnor, iconic drummer of The Jackson 5; Ian Martin, soulful bassist known for collaborations with David Foster and Barry Manilow; Randy J. Greene, artist, singer, and dancer of Tuscarora Nation, Turtle Clan; and other diverse, exceptional musicians. Other stage appearances include: the City of New York, Heck from Angry Elephant, Peace Parrots, Protect Yo Heart (featuring artist Uncutt “Love is…” wall), Let’s Disrupt Digital Music Showcase, Indiggo Twins, Chip Shelton Peace Ensemble, Elvis & Elton John Performance Artists Ralph Carey & Russ Davis, Michael Jackson performance artist W. Jackson from China Great Wall, Madonna Artist Chrissie B, Marvin Gaye Artist Doug Quarteze with Gina Muza & Ant Hatcher, Reid Stowe 1,000 Days at Sea, “Beyond the Raging Sea” (refugee movie trailer), Prince Alpert Ocean Rescue Movie, David Lynch TM, Harlem Globetrotters Cheer Program, Andrea McArdle as Annie on broadway with dog Sandy, Saranne Rothberg (Stage 4 cancer survivor, Comedy Cures Foundation), Dr. Levry Global Visionary for Peace, Author and Founder of Neuro Activating Advanced Meditation (NAAM), performance artist Quinn Lemley as Rita Hayworth (face painted on atomic bomb as PR stunt, WWII), Bruce Stephen Foster, World Renown Performer Giorgia Fumanti, Carnegie Hall Pianist Katya Grineva, Michael Bulychev-Okser, Global Stress Initiative, Operation Warrior Shield, “Rock & Roll Man” the Musical (Pioneer DJ Alan Freed, unified through music, desegregation, he named rock & roll, performed by Constantine Maroulis), and the Woodstock Forever: Peace, Love & HOPE Movie.  Special Virtual Message and from their famous Get-Together song from Jesse Colin Young from the Youngbloods, Peter Yarrow from Peter, Paul & Mary. As well as a message from generations MacKenzie Brooke, Reif Harrison, and Chuckie Armstrong from Wonderama.

CONTACTS & LINKS:

Event Contact: Paul Sladkus, paul.sladkus1@gmail.com 212 647 1212 www.pausetheworldforpeace.org

AY Young Contact: Amanda Charney Amanda@BlackPandaPR.com

UNIFY Contact : Tiffany Brown PRStuntGirls@gmail.com

OMMM Contact: Juliana Klinkert info@hommm.xyz

For Updates: Good News Corporation YouTube Channel & Pause The World For Peace

#drjosephmichaellevry #timessquare #pausetheworldforpeace #ny #nyc #fatherduffysquare #duffysquare #pausetheworld

The post PAUSE THE WORLD FOR PEACE HOSTED A HISTORIC BROADCAST, Dr. Joseph Michael Levry… appeared first on Good News!.

Jean Shafiroff hosts luncheon in honor of the American Humane with Dr.  Robin Ganzert

at Swiftys at the Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida (photo credit: CapeHart Photography / Jessica Lawten)

Jean Shafiroff, philanthropist, television host, and author of Successful Philanthropy: How to Make A Life By What You Give, hosted an outdoor luncheon at Swiftys at The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, FL in honor of American Humane.

The luncheon was attended by a group of guests and supporters of the work of the Organization.  Those in attendance included Jean Shafiroff (Board Member), Dr. Robin Ganzert (Executive Director), Ava Roosevelt, Kim Dryer, Kathleen Gannon, Sharon Jablin, Pamela O’Connor, Lauren Roberts, Janet Levy, Pamela Wright, Elizbeth Steinberg and Rashmee Sharma.

Jean Shafiroff greeted guests and spoke about the many programs that American Humane performs. “Philanthropy is my passion,” said Mrs. Shafiroff. “I am deeply moved by the incredible work American Humane does throughout the world, and it was an absolute honor to welcome Dr. Ganzert and my dear friends to celebrate the vital programs and services the organization provides.” Next Jean Shafiroff introduced Dr. Robin Ganzert who spoke about the work of the international work of the American Humane

To download selected photos, please visit: https://bit.ly/3G0UHLy

Photo Credits: CapeHart Photography / Jessica Lawten

About American Humane:

American Humane is the country’s first national humane organization. Founded in 1877, American Humane is committed to ensuring the safety, welfare and well-being of animals, and our leadership programs are first to serve in promoting and nurturing the bonds between animals and people. For more information or to support our work, please visit www.americanhumane.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Jean Shafiroff:

Jean Shafiroff is a philanthropist, humanitarian, TV host, writer, and the author of the book “Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life By What You Give”. Jean works extensively as a volunteer fundraiser and leader in the philanthropic world. She serves on the boards of 8 charitable organizations and each year chairs upwards of eight to 9 different charity galas. Among the many causes she champions are those involved in women’s rights, rights of the underserved, health care, and animal welfare.

Jean serves on the boards of the American Humane, Southampton Hospital Association, NYC Mission Society, French Heritage Society, Couture Council of the Museum at FIT, Global Strays, New York Women’s Foundation, Casita Maria, and Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation Honorary Board. A Catholic, she served on the board of the Jewish Board for 28 years and now is one of their honorary trustees. Jean Shafiroff is an influencer and has over 1.2m Instagram followers.

For more information please visit www.jeanshafiroff.com

Jean Shafiroff is a influencer and has over 1.2m Instagram followers.

I: @JeanShafiroff @JeanShafiroffAtWork | F: jean.shafiroff | T: @JeanShafiroff

PRESS CONTACT (Jean Shafiroff):

Norah Lawlor | Lawlor Media Group | www.lawlormediagroup.com

Norah@lawlormediagroup.com | Tel: (212) 967-6900

I: lawlormedia F: LawlorMediaGroup |  T: @LawlorMedia

Jean Shafiroff, Rosita (photo credit: CapeHart Photography / Jessica Lawten)

Jean Shafiroff, Pamela O’connor, Robin Ganzert, Vickie Schnepps (photo credit: CapeHart Photography / Jessica Lawten)

Rashmee Sharma, Sharon Jablin, Dr. Robin Ganzert (photo credit: CapeHart Photography / Jessica Lawten)

Atmosphere (photo credit: CapeHart Photography / Jessica Lawten)

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Important advancement in treatment for patients living with Follicular Lymphoma (FL)

• Dr. M. Yair Levy, Texas Oncology – Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center

BACKGROUND:
Cancer is a disease that almost everyone will confront at some point in their lives, either personally or through a loved one. As we continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to ensure patients receive proper care when managing a chronic cancer, like follicular lymphoma (FL).1

FL is a slow-growing and incurable blood cancer that starts in the lymphatic system, which is a system of lymph nodes found throughout the body, including the neck, underarms, chest, abdomen and groin/pelvis.1 While FL can occur at any age, it is most frequently diagnosed among people aged 55-64, with a median age of 63.2 Of the estimated 74,000 individuals diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the United States each year,3 FL accounts for approximately 20% of all cases, or about 14,800 individuals.1

It’s important for patients and doctors to remember that cancer care should not be put by the wayside due to COVID-19. By having routine and open conversations with healthcare providers via telemedicine and select in-person visits, patients can help to support their own improved health outcomes. There is also new hope as treatment advances give patients with FL, and the doctors who treat them, new, convenient options to help fight this debilitating cancer.

With the FDA’s recent accelerated approval of TAZVERIK® (tazemetostat) for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma who have received at least 2 prior systemic therapies, FL patients have a new oral treatment option to discuss with their physicians. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial(s). For more information on TAZVERIK, including full Prescribing Information, please visit: www.tazverik.com.4

Dr. M. Yair Levy, Texas Oncology – Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, will be available for interviews. He will share details about this recent approval, risk factors, symptoms and treatment options for FL.
Interview is courtesy: Epizyme, Inc.

For more information on FL, please visit: www.lymphomaresearchfoundation.org or www.lls.org
For more information on TAZVERIK, including full Prescribing Information, please visit: www.tazverik.com

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Warnings and Precautions

• Secondary Malignancies

The risk of developing secondary malignancies is increased following treatment with TAZVERIK. Across clinical trials of 729 adults who received TAZVERIK 800 mg twice daily, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) occurred in 0.7% of patients. One pediatric patient developed T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL). Monitor patients long-term for the development of secondary malignancies.

• Embryo-Fetal Toxicity

Based on findings from animal studies and its mechanism of action, TAZVERIK can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. There are no available data on TAZVERIK use in pregnant women to inform the drug-associated risk. Administration of tazemetostat to pregnant rats and rabbits during organogenesis resulted in dose-dependent increases in skeletal developmental abnormalities in both species beginning at maternal exposures approximately 1.5 times the adult human exposure (area under the plasma concentration time curve [AUC0-45h]) at the 800 mg twice daily dose.

Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with TAZVERIK and for 6 months after the final dose. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with TAZVERIK and for 3 months after the final dose.

Adverse Reactions

In 99 clinical study patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma receiving TAZVERIK 800 mg twice daily: Serious adverse reactions occurred in 30% of patients who received TAZVERIK. Serious adverse reactions occurring in ≥2% were general physical health deterioration, abdominal pain, pneumonia, sepsis, and anemia. The most common (≥20%) adverse reactions were fatigue (36%), upper respiratory tract infection (30%), musculoskeletal pain (22%), nausea (24%), and abdominal pain (20%).

Drug Interactions

Avoid coadministration of strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitors with TAZVERIK. If coadministration of moderate CYP3A inhibitors cannot be avoided, reduce TAZVERIK dose.

Avoid coadministration of moderate and strong CYP3A inducers with TAZVERIK, which may decrease the efficacy of TAZVERIK.

Coadministration of TAZVERIK with CYP3A substrates, including hormonal contraceptives, can result in decreased concentrations and reduced efficacy of CYP3A substrates.

Lactation

Because of the potential risk for serious adverse reactions from TAZVERIK in the breastfed child, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with TAZVERIK and for one week after the final dose.

Please see full Prescribing Information for TAZVERIK, available at www.tazverik.com

MORE ABOUT DOCTOR*
Dr. Levy received his medical doctorate at the University of Wisconsin at Madison School of Medicine. He served his residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and his hematology fellowship at Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. He also served on the faculty at Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Levy specializes in hematology, including lymphoma, myeloma and leukemia.

###

References:
1. Lymphoma- Non-Hodgkin: Introduction. Cancer.Net. Accessed September 15, 2020. Available at: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/lymphoma-non-hodgkin/introduction
2. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. Cancer stat facts: NHL – follicular lymphoma. Accessed September 15, 2020. Available at: https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/follicular.html.
3. About Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. American Cancer Society. Accessed September 15, 2020. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/about.html.
4. TAZVERIK® (tazemetostat) Prescribing Information. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: Epizyme, Inc; June 2020.

*Spokespeople are subject to change based on availability. Individual experience with diagnosis and treatment of follicular lymphoma will vary by patient.

Produced for: Epizyme, Inc.

#yair #levy #hope #patients #living #incurable #blood #cancer #follicular #lymphoma #texas #oncology #disease #love #covid #covid-19 #covid19 #pandemic #lymph #nodes #tazverik #risk #factors #epizyme #hodgkin #lymphoma #foundation #safety

The post NEW HOPE FOR PATIENTS LIVING WITH AN INCURABLE BLOOD CANCER appeared first on Good News!.

Remembering Samuel Pisar, Holocaust Survivor, Special Envoy for Holocaust Education by Judith Pisar
“In Memoriam Hungarian Composers,
Victims of Holocaust”
A Concert by world-renowned musicians,
Professors and students of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music (Budapest)
Violin: Vilmos Szabadi
Cello: Eszter Karasszon
Piano: Mariann Marczi
Lajos Delej: Scherzo Béla Bartók-Tivadar Országh: Hungarian Folksongs Imre Sárossi: Pastorale Zoltán Kodály: Transylvanian Lament György Justus: Jazz suite – Waltz, Tango Béla Bartók: Hungarian Folksongs Ferenc Vecsey: Valse triste György Justus: Elegiaque
A Talk by Ágnes Kőry, Director of the Béla Bartók Centre for Musicianship (London)

Judith Pisar has devoted her career to building cultural bridges across the Atlantic. As President of Arts France-USA, an organization committed to cultural exchange between the two countries, she regularly produces concerts and festivals of American music in Paris – including tributes to Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Broadway, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. Prior to that she served for 17 years as Chairman of the American Center of Paris, the avant-garde meeting place for French and American artists. In that capacity she selected Frank Gehry to design a new building in 1988 – one of his first in Europe. Described by Philip Johnson as “America’s Cultural Czarina in Europe,” she has also served on the French Ministry of Culture’s Conseil Supérieur du Mécénat, on the board of the Régine Chopinot Ballet and as a founding signatory of the World Charter against Cancer. Earlier in her career, she served as Director of Music at the Brooklyn Academy, Executive Director of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and founded The Composer Speaks, a lecture bureau which brought some of the greatest composers of the 20th Century — Pierre Boulez, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Iannis Xenakis, John Cage, Luciano Berio and others — to cities and universities throughout the United States. She is an Officer of the French Legion of Honor and a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters.
Performers
Vilmos Szabadi (violin)
Mr. Szabadi is Hungary’s foremost violinist, a regular soloist and frequent guest artist in the most prestigious concert halls around the world. Vilmos Szabadi studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music of Budapest where on receiving his diploma, he became the youngest ever to join the Professors’ team. His career as an international Concert violinist took off when he played Bartók 2nd Violin Concerto during the Bartók Festival at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The success of this Concert, led to invitations from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra as well. Mr. Szabadi was also among the privileged musicians invited by HRH Prince Charles to perform at the celebration in honor of Sir Georg Solti’s 80th birthday held at the Buckingham Palace in 1992. In 1993 the prestigious “Franz Liszt” prize has been awarded to Vilmos Szabadi by the Hungarian Government. In 1995 he also appeared on the Stradivarius series, played the Strad violin owned by Spanish Royalty in Madrid. Mr. Szabadi is a recent double prize winner of the renowned MIDEM Festival in Cannes, France. He plays a cremonese Laurentius STORIONI instrument dated 1778.

Mariann Marczi (piano)
Mariann Marczi started playing piano at the age of four and now she holds a PhD from Franz Liszt Academy of Budapest, where she is a Professor. Ms. Marczi is a winner of many national and international awards, scholarships and piano competitions. She performed almost in every country in Europe, and she is also a frequent guest artist at many music festivals, such as the Bartók Festival; Prague-Wien-Budapest Festival etc. Her repertoire includes a wide range of works from early Baroque to contemporary music. Ms. Marczi turns with particular attention towards the works of J. S. Bach, Béla Bartók and György Kurtág. Since 2012 she is also a member of the World Piano Teachers Association and she often participates as lecturer at international conferences, such as the World Piano Conference (Novi Sad, Serbia) and the London International Piano Symposium.
Eszter Karasszon (cello)
Eszter Karasszon is a young Hungarian cellist, student at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music of Budapest. She is already a winner of many national and international awards, such as the Dohnányi Chamber Competition (2013) and the VI. David Popper Competition (2015). In 2010 she has been granted a scholarship giving her the possibility to participate in a master class of Indiana String Academy to Janos Starker. Ms. Karasszon has not only performed in Hungary but in many European countries and in the United States as well.
Ágnes Kőry (talk)
Hungarian-born Ágnes Kőry is a graduate of the Béla Bartók Conservatoire Budapest, Royal Academy of Music London (DipRAM) and University of London (MPhil). An ex-professional cellist, she focuses on research into a variety of fields (which include baroque string instruments, composers Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály, Holocaust history ). Ágnes Kőry presented her papers on musicological conferences (University of Edinburgh, University of London, University of Manchester, Institute of Musicology Budapest) . She is an author of many musicological journals such as the Galpin Society Journal, Studia Musicologica, Early Music, The Consort, Ethnomusicological Forum and Parlando. Ágnes Kőry’s scholarly papers are also published on a variety of scholarly websites in the United States, United Kingdom, Hungary and Israel. Ágnes Kőry is a regular contributor to classical music websites. Ágnes Kőry leads the Béla Bartók Centre for Musicianship (London), where specialized musicianship training coexists with comprehensive music education

The post Remembrance event for the Hungarian Composers who perished during the Holocaust. In the presence of H.E. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations and Madam Yoo (Ban) Soon-taek Hosted by : H. E. Ms. Katalin Annamária Bogyay Permanent Representative of Hungary to the United Nations appeared first on Good News!.

The lure of the past is brought to life in Siem Reap nestled between the
rice paddy countryside along the Siem Reap River that serves as the gateway
to the temple ruins. Officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia and once
known as the Khmer Empire it is located in the southern portion of the
Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia bordered by Thailand to the northwest,
Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east and the Gulf of Thailand to the
southwest.

Siem Reap has tree lined boulevards, an historical museum and artisan
workshops consisting of art, wood and stone carvings, statues, furniture and
handicrafts. The City is best explored on foot or on a “tuk tuk” (a
rickshaw with the front-end of a motorcycle). Although not luxurious, they
are easy to find and inexpensive.

The Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort, a French colonial style
resort designed by Thai architect Choochart Polakit, is situated ten minutes
from the airport and five minutes away from the magnificent temples of Siem
Reap. It showcases intimate living space with timber floors and wrap-around
terraces surrounded by lagoons, landscapes and bright turquoise
mini-fountains, plus an outdoor swimming pool with a swim-up bar, three
restaurants, an 18-hole championship golf course and a spa for rejuvenation.

One of the largest and most important archeological sites in Southeast Asia
is the Angkor Archeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, comprised of
dozens of ruins including the legendary Angkor Wat. In the darkness of the
night we rode in rickshaws and used flashlights to get to the Angkor Wat
site where we witnessed one of the most mesmerizing sunrises over Angkor
Wat. Afterwards, we continued touring other remains of the Khmer era.

Major highlights of the Park included the Baynon, known for the large number
of smiling faces sculptured on the towers. A journey through one of the
most spectacular ruins at Ta Prohn is a breathtaking site of trees emerging
out of temple walls that become intertwined with the temple stones –
featured in the film “Tomb Raider.” A huge platform known today as Terrace
of the Elephants runs from north to south across the east front of the Royal
Palace. The walls are carved with various scenes of court figures,
elephants and bird-like creatures. Also shown were hunting scenes with
elephants carved into the wall. In several places the elephant appears to
be fighting another creature, possibly a lion.

Upon return to the hotel there was time for visiting the outdoor market
before dinner and the Aspara dancing show at the hotel featuring local
Cambodian/Khmer folk dancers. An Aspara is a female spirit of the clouds
and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology.
Monday morning we boarded a motor coach for a six-hour transfer from the
Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort to our ship moored at Prek Kdam,
Cambodia. Before embarking on our Mekong River cruise we travelled through
mountain roads viewing numerous rice paddies, oxen, small villages and
outdoor markets. We joined the AmaLotus, our floating hotel for the next
7-nights, in the late afternoon and met fellow passengers at a cocktail
party and dinner. The meals onboard were prepared by local chefs and
consisted of western cuisine as well as Vietnamese and Cambodian cuisine.
Wine and beer plus complimentary house brand spirits and soft drinks were
included throughout the cruise at lunch and dinner.
On Tuesday Kampong-Chhnang, one of the central provinces in Cambodia, was
our first stop on the Mekong River. Our tour was a motorboat excursion
along the Tonie Sap River viewing the wetlands, floating houses and fish
farms in the region. After lunch our guide took us on a leisurely walking
tour over dirt paths through the Koh Chen village visiting workshops that
specialize in silver jewelry and artifacts made from copper.
Wednesday we arrived in the city of Oudong, the former capital of Cambodia
and visited a Buddhist Monastery. The main attraction was a mummified monk
in a small chapel near the back of the temple. Inside the Monastery we
received a traditional blessing from Buddhist monks as we sat before them
listening to chanting and prayers and smelled the incense, candles and
flowers. Afterwards, an offering of a red thread was tied around our wrist
– a keepsake that signifies luck and prosperity.
The next stop was Kampong Tralach for the most popular transportation in
Cambodia – an oxcart. The Cambodian farmers use the oxcarts to harvest
crops, carry hay, animals and even their family members. Two of us were in
each cart as we travelled through the rural countryside of Kampong Tralach,
Cambodia for twenty minutes. Handrails were provided for each oxcart and we
were warned to keep our arms inside the cart to avoid arm injuries caused by
cart wheels.
After lunch on Wednesday we set sail for Phnom Penh, the capital and largest
city of Cambodia located on the banks of the Mekong River where we docked
overnight. Thursday morning we toured the Killing Fields. The mass graves
found here contain the remains of thousands of people. Survivor stories can
be heard from an audio tour – the loss of an infant, witness to a killing,
forced to leave home, anger, isolation and hope….
Thursday afternoon our guided tour of Phnom Penh included the Royal Palace,
Silver Pagoda and the National Museum. The Royal Palace, built in 1866, was
the home of the Cambodian King. At the end of the 19th century the Palace
was a small city with thousands of people living in courtyards. Inside the
Silver Pagoda were works of art, sculptures and hundreds of antique gifts
plus a Buddha statute made from pure gold with over 2,000 diamonds attached
to it. The National Museum, built in Khmer Style in 1917 by a French
architect, houses a collection of Khmer art dating from the pre-Angkorian
era.

Friday we cruised the Mekong River from Phnom Penh and crossed the
Cambodian/Vietnamese border before we anchored overnight in Tan Chau,
Vietnam. The next two days were spent touring numerous small cities before
arriving in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for our flight home.

The post Sunrise at Ankor Wat, The Kingdom of Cambodia – Photo by Dawn A. Levy article by Terri Hirsch appeared first on Good News!.