Page 23 - Raffles09_March2022

Mesmerising movement
Cambodia’s awe-inspiring temples, mountainous landscapes and paradise islands cast an undeniable spell but the country’s real treasure is its people. Conveying the legends associated with the origins of the Khmer people, Khmer Classical Dance is Cambodia’s most sacred form of storytelling. Each gesture is a form of communication, the four primary hand movements depict the cycle of life, a tree growing, bearing flowers, then fruit which fall and seed to bear a new tree. Deriving from Cambodia’s royal courts, the traditional dance was all but wiped out during the Khmer Rouge regime when over 90 per cent of classical dancers perished. Thankfully, it was revived by survivors and today the dance is listed as part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. To truly immerse yourself in a performance, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor puts on a spellbinding show in its tranquil gardens.
Fit for a king
The magic of stepping into a royal residence, previously sealed off from the public, is tangible around the world. And no trip to Jeddah is complete without a visit to Nassif House, the former residence of Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud – the founder of modern-day
Saudia Arabia. Nestled in among the shuttered buildings of Jeddah’s Old Town district, the Ottoman style property was a meeting place for notable gentry before it was converted into a library. Today, the Nassif House Museum’s 106 rooms showcase artworks including Arabic calligraphy and ornate wood carvings. It’s a whole treasure trove waiting to be discovered, as well as a glimpse into royal life.
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Stately souvenir
Maldivian island culture is quite literally entwined into its centuries-old crafts, as the thundu kunaa demonstrates. Woven from reeds – locally known as ‘hau’ – the traditional mat is indigenous to the marshlands of the island where the reeds thrive. Today the mat is used generally for sitting, sleeping or praying, with each pattern signalling a distinct functionality, but the thundu kunaa is also recognised as a royal gift. The Dutch and British governors of Ceylon were presented with such crafts by the Sultan of Maldives in the past, and mats are still presented to visiting dignitaries.
RAFFLES MAGAZINE 21
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