marysville

I went to Lake Mountain resort today and I passed Marysville on the way. The sight was a real tearjerker! I could not believe how much of our national forest was destroyed. I heard about it – I heard that the town was burnt to dust, but to see it for real, it was a overwhelming. Everything is destroyed! there was no access to the beautiful waterfalls, and houses on houses were gone. I pray for those who did not survived.

i support world refugee day

i support world refugee day! & the UNHCR

Why?

When you’re driven out of a conflict zone, you need a place to stay- a temporary haven. UNHCR needs to be able to set up temporary homes for the people. The more funds they have, the more homes they’ll be able to make…. the more land they can lease = less people repatriated, more people surviving….

When there’s a conflict in your country and you run out, you’ll more likely to get face certain death if you had to go back in. Sometimes you can’t stay in border countries if you have visas and more often than not, people are being repatriated back to their countries.

I suppose I have a bit of a bad spot with UNHCR because they repatriated my family and others who died at the hands of Khmer Rouge (who were still at large in the Pailin area, even into the late 80s- but I suppose it’s because they didn’t know about the protracted war- a great number of people perish on their way back) but there’s a classic example of why we should give. Once you’re out, you cant get back in- and if you do, there’s a big chance you probably wont survive.

a preview of Under the Bamboo Shoots!

hi guys

the book wont be available until after 30 August 2009, but here’s a sneak preview from the prologue. Hope you enjoy it!

The silhouette of the Khao-I-Dang mountain range created a shadowy blanket over the settlement below. The dwellers slept, unperturbed by the sound of ominous night creatures howling from the mountains. They slept despite the roof of their huts crumbling onto them, and the straw from the tattered mats prickling into their already-broken backs. They slept despite the insects that crawled around in their huts, gnawing with excitement into their malnourished bodies.

This was the least of their concern. They slept soundly to the night’s lullaby, lulled by the gentle warm breeze that passed through. They dreamt of streams that carried with its flow fresh food and water, devoid of skulls and bones that made rest in their memories. Uh! They surely rested as if they were lying a feather bed. Well! that was until footsteps broke their slumber…footsteps from steel boots marching against the dusty red roads that decorated the camp floor and they dreamt no longer.

© Kalyan Tresha Ky 2009 (Under the Bamboo Shoots)

Here is the Khmer version of the poster. The website is coming very soon! all very exciting.

Join this page for updates on updates/launches and availability dates.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kalyan-Ky/86679951983

Au revoir lovely world

Swine Flu info from Govt…

hey everyone! 

just in case you’re interested, here’s some info on the swine flu from the govt in victoria, australia. 

details what swine flu is – and preventation methods. 

keep safe. Swine Flu-FAQs-26-May-2009

Under the Bamboo Shoots

Hey all! Official poster for my novel Under the Bamboo Shoots here: 

Under the Bamboo Shoots is a poetic thriller, exploring the “other side” of greener pastures. 

It follows the lives of Samay, Annabelle and Frederick – three people whose parents endured the horrific events of the Khmer Rouge, and the civil wars of Cambodia.

Kalyan tells their stories through vivid prose and daring poetry, detailing their ups and downs as they come to grips with growing up as second generation migrants, and putting into prospectus what their parents went through.

A tale of love, friendship, self-discovery and learning about the beauty of forgiveness, Under the Bamboo Shoots will give readers a glimpse into the civil wars of Cambodia through the eyes of their children, and through the eyes of the children, the victims and survivors will know their stories are not forgotten.

The novel will be launched on Sunday 30 August, 11.30am at the festival club, federation square. Will include short play + musical performances. 

Entrance is FREE, but spaces are limited, RSVP required  

Please RSVP here… http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=99516997992&ref=mf

 

Peace!

Under the Bamboo Shoots –

if you can dream it you can make it reality! (random quote – not sure where it’s from)

When I was young – about 11 years old, I wrote a poem called the ‘Ocean of the Deprived,’ – about a young girls’ life in post-nuclear-war era. 

The teacher, of which I should not mention names, came back to me and said: “Deprived is not a word,” and gave me an big O for the project.
She then said with no prompt or justification, you should not be a writer, adding that from an ESOL background I would have no chance. 

Fortunately, I was stubborn and continued writing… and as of today, my book UNDER THE BAMBOO SHOOTS, has been selected to be launched at the Melbourne Writers Festival this year. It’ll be launched on Sunday 30th August, 2009 at 11.30am. I want to thank the organisers for giving me this date as it privotal in the storyline. Book that date! I’ll update more info soon.

It goes to show that anything is possible- and that you should NEVER let anyone discourage you, as they often have reasons or motives behind what they are saying. That teacher was not, as I’ll put it, other culture friendly – it wasn’t just me, but there were a few other victims. She had assumed I had an ESOL background because of my Asian appearance, but in reality, English is my first language. I lived in refugee camps and detention centres until I started school – it was my first known language. I only started learning to write Khmer when I reached university as I wanted to do social work in Cambodia in the future. 

I love writing – it provided solace growing up feeling isolated. 

Peace out! dream heaps!

luckiest person alive

I believe I can say I am the luckiest person alive – at least for today. 

I was on my way to the airport when the cars in front of me stopped abruptly. This is often not a problem in suburban streets, but this was in the middle of a 100km/h no traffic lights highway. The car that started the almost fatal incident halted to a complete stop, causing other cars behind them to emergency brake. Luckily I had the radio off and heard the squeal of the tires in front of me and with all effort in my body, used the brakes like I’ve never used them before – I later found out one of the brake lights went out in the process – that’s how hard I pushed the brakes. I literally went from 90 km/h to 0km/h in less than a few seconds. I had been driving quite a distance from the car in front of me to my relief. My aunty was driving in the car @ the back and almost hit, but reared off to the left just in time. It all happened so fast and I am very grateful to have survived. There was a motorcade in the express lane and the police were also there – but they didnt seem to do much, just usher the worried cars along… 

It was a miracle that there was no collision.  I keep playing the moment in my head again and again – and it seems like everything went in slow-mo, then fastened up again. 

I suppose it’s one of these situations that make you believe there is something out there protecting us…

feeling a bit philosophical

Every great oak tree started as a couple of nuts who stood their ground. – Unknown

I woke up this morning thinking of how important it is to filter our lives of negative influences… of those people who try to bring you down and discourage you of your pursuits.  As I am taught: “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us,” it’s been difficult to simply filter these people away. But then I was inspired by the Oak tree and the quote above – forgiving people does not mean you have to befriend them, forgiving them just means being at peace with them. 

I am in this situation where it’s been difficult to stop befriending someone as I felt if I did so… I was not doing my part in making peace with everyone. However, I have come to realize that  in some situations, by holding onto those relationships, they hurt us more than heal us. They distract us from being who are are. 

I suppose I felt guilt-tripped into continuing with this friendship as I did not want to feel like the person who JUST gives up or has selective friendships… and I know that I don’t. I am friends with those who are friends with me.

But sometimes, for the good of our lives, we have to say BYE to people who only seek to bring us down, and turn everything we do and say into something negative.
Who only use the word ‘friend’ for their benefit.

As the quote above suggests, it’s time to stand our ground and be the person we are, and not let anyone bring us down.

stories from khao-i-dang camp – website

hey all!

hope winter hasnt been too gloomy for you.

I’m currently in the process of creating a website that will serve as a portal into Khao-I-Dang camp.

this is where I was born and I felt that there is inadequate information about the place floating around – so if you have any pictures/stories/articles/artwork etc you’d like to share about the place, feel free to send them to me and I’ll put it up.

The site can be access @ http://www.khaoidang.com once it’s done.

Take care

khmer new year 2009

hi folks

A few days ago, Cambodians and cambodians from around the world celebrated Khmer New Year.
I was asked to host the event at the Khmer Wat Melbourne which was absolutely super.
There was music, dance, song, rides and most importantly food.

Here’s some pics from the event.