“The Cambodian people always smile with cute eyes, this smiling has shown on every Cambodian’s natural face” it has been recorded in history since 100 years ago and started having survived heritage which cannot be invaluable.
A researcher of Cambodian civilization and cultures, Prof. Dr. Ros Chantraboth has highlighted the history and value of Khmer smiles that French intellectuals have begun to call “Cambodia is a land of smiles” since 100 years ago. After that those people came to study the sculpture culture, they found the smile of the Apsara and the smile of the god of Bayan, as well as the statue of King Jayavarman VII, a smiling expression of calm and avoid sin.
“The special features of Khmer people, before they speak out, they always smile and smiling before speak out, but the Siamese took the smile as their own, even though their airline also called Smiles, which Cambodians had to reclaim to keep from being theirs,” the professor said.
In the meaning of peace “a smiling doesn’t only worth in avoiding of anger, but also it is a cultural treasure which is invaluable”.
The Prof. Dr. Ros Chantraboth also supported this idea, he said that “a smile of Cambodian people is a cultural treasure and the potential to attract more tourists and investors and also to provide benefits for the nation”. He added “the former late king of Cambodia, Norodom Sihanouk was successful in foreign policies because of his fresh smiling, he has always been known by his good smiling”.
Another evidence, the famous historian and former advisor to the late king Norodom Sihanouk, Charles Meyer also titled his book as “Behind the Khmer Smile.” He described about the price and identity of Cambodian people in his book.
The reflection of the past and the history, as well as a long history of Cambodia, this author has identified one of the identities of the Khmer people in his book that Cambodian people have natural soft characters to welcome to all people. The legend of all Khmer is full of stories about deities who come down to experience many human kindness.
One of the most legends story has told that Preah Visnu transformed his body to be young and handsome knocking on every door in a Khmer village without anyone opening the door before he heard the attracted song from the poorest home. Within this home, there is a girl who served meals for handsome man with smiling and allow him to stay one night.
The legendary story which has never heard, and Charles Meyer retold which showed about beauty, history, and prosperity of Cambodia, especially the smiles of this nation.
In the second chapter of the book ” After the Smiling Dead”, Charles Meyer further argued that the value of nation in new century, the travelers from the West have written in their notebooks about Khmer characters very simple word ” the people who are happy and smiling, courteous, friendly, gentle and peaceful.”
At the same time, Anton Caragea, European Council on Tourism and Trade and Mircea Constantinescu, European Tourism Academy who used to travel in Cambodia by saying that “ Cambodia is 2016 World Best Destination and Favorite Cultural Destination Distinction 2016 by regarding the Cambodia is the 4th kingdom of wonder”
In these main points, Anton Caragea has praised about the smiling and friendly of Cambodian people that “If you want to see the real smiling and friendly come to visit Cambodia”.
