George Town Malacca The World Heritage Sites

4 news sites were announced World Heritage status by UNESCO! The Preah Vihear Temple of Cambodia, George Town, Malacca of Malaysia and agricultural site from Papua New Guinea are granted the Heritage status adding the total number of World Heritage Sites to 862. This is indeed a good news to Asia, to SE Asia in particular. However, the grant for Preah Vihear temple definitely not something Thai would celebrate. The temple located in the Thai-Cambodia border and both countries claim the ownership. Tell you what, even though the World Court ruled that Cambodia owns the Angkor Wat back in 1962, to some Thais, they still dispute that Angkor Wat, which situated in Cambodian land, belong to Thailand, now let alone the temple which is located along the border!

Years ago, a Thai Singer refused to perform in Cambodia and asked Angkor Wat to be returned to Thailand. This blunt attempt had caused a fierce riot against Thailand. The day before riot, I left Cambodia for Chinese New Year celebration back in Malaysia. I saw the news through TV3 broadcast. The riot in Phnom Penh city in protest against Thailand Government or in this case the whole Thais had gone uncontrolled. After Chinese New Year, I flew back to Phnom Penh and ask my driver to take a tour around the "hot spots". The conditions was bad. Many Thai invested companies and hotels were burnt down, Thailand Embassy was also under attack. This is not a good way at all to show a sovereignty but I could understand the anger of Cambodian over the Angkor Wat issue as this Angkor Kingdom has been the back bone of the Khmer's culture, their root and origin. If you've ever visited Bayon within the Angkor Kingdoms' remains in Siem Reap, you would amazed to notice that the face sculpture depict the typical look of Cambodian, square face, thick lips and wide nose. *very manly look* From this point of view, and not digging deep into the Angkor history, i think the Khmer people should have more rightful to own Angkor Kingdom sites.Well, you may argue that i take an easy stand on the ownership dispute as an outsider without much emotion, national pride and ancestry ties involved. My point is, since this case was brought to the judiciary of the World Court, one should respect and accept the verdict even it is against one's interest, and move on. Or else, what is the point bringing this case to the court in the first place. Likewise, as Malaysian, i accept that the Pulau Batu Puteh is now belonged to Singapore, full stop.

I never been to Preah Vihear temple, a place to worship God Shiva, the God of Destruction, for it is far away from Siem Reap town. But, i personally prefer its architecture. One of the popular souvenirs that i bought from Cambodia for friends and relatives was t-shirt printed with famous Angkor Wat picture. I have a few and my favorite is the one printed with Preah Vihear.

I am delighted that George Town and Malacca is now on the world map of tourist hot spot thanks to the World Heritage Status granted by UNESCO today. They may be already hot spots but i am sure they will be even hotter from now on. I am excited to see Malaysia becoming closer rival to Thailand in tourism. Malaysia may be truly Asia but Thailand simply too strong in their cultural piece apart from many beautiful places to offer to visitors.

I like to be greeted in indigenous Thai way "Sawadeekrap~". But in Malaysia, we greet in English which is nothing wrong but just a bit lacking in Uniqueness. Do you remember Malaysian tourism commercial, in which Datuk Micheal Yeoh tells the world about a land of truly Asia and do you notice how our girls in traditional costume greet the world? Right hand on lower left shoulder and 30 degree bow. Is this suppose to be the Malaysian way of greeting ? *I laugh out LOUD thinking myself doing this to foreign visitors let alone to Malaysian friends* See, this is what we are lacking. For Chinese-ed elders, they normally greet like this "吃飽了嗎？" For English-ed youngster, they may greet like "yo, what's up?" *Gasoline, blood pressure!* The Malays of course greet with "Wassalamualaikum". Well, maybe we Malaysians are unique in the way that we don't share common behavior, every group has its own uniqueness in their very own way.