"The tale of it is incredible; the wonder which is Angkor is unmatched in Asia." So begins Helen Churchill Candee's classic tale of Asian adventure. Today, readers can again experience the mystery of Cambodia's vast jungle temples through her eyes. Although Helen Candee is best known for surviving the sinking of the RMS Titanic, she walked with kings, presidents, the wealthy and the powerful. entertaining, educating and influencing them. This independent woman championed feminine equality and fought tirelessly for woman's rights. And, as a single woman, she traveled the Far East with a keen eye for detail, an inquisitive mind, and a sensitivity for local culture. Helen Candee's travelogue remains one of the most evocative English language accounts of the ancient Khmer capital. This expanded hardcover edition marks the first reissue of her complete 1924 work with more than 100 antique illustrations, an index and bibliography. For the first time in print, this edition also features an original biography of Helen Candee by historian Randy Bryan Bigham, and a reprint of Candee's original account of the Titanic disaster itself.
I am a publisher, educator, author and translator (English, Thai, French). My background is in marketing communications, public relations and elementary curriculum design, development and implementation. I am also a Southeast Asian specialist having worked and traveled in the area since 1990.
At DatAsia Press, my primary role is publications editor. DatAsia is presently focusing on a series of books relating to Cambodia and the Khmer Empire. We also publish a specialized "life skills" curricula for elementary school children called The Million Dollar Machine (MDM). These lessons give teachers and parents systematic methods to inspire children to stay healthy, set goals and acheive their full potential. MDM's effectiveness is validated by researchers at Columbia University and the University of Medicine and Dentistry NJ. The program also received a President Award for Private Sector Initiatives.
As a researcher, I work with Devata.org studying 1,796 devata (goddess) images at Angkor Wat to determine the historical role of Khmer women. I am now editing a book on this topic for release in 2009: "Daughters of Angkor Wat."
In 2007, my wife Sophaphan and I funded construction of Srei Devata Middle School in Baray, Kompong Thom through American Assistance for Cambodia. We continue working on educational projects to benefit children in Cambodia, Thailand and the United States.
