Postcards from Cambodia

A Cambodian musician playing Plom Sleuk, leaf blowing.

A palm juice vendor. Palm juice is one of my favorite drinks in Cambodia.

Making a toast to my childhood career as a palm sap collector.

 A monkey of Phnom Santuk, showing off his macho monkey prowess. (Ooops!)

 

Image of the Yoni, carved on a rock underneath flowing water at Rumaneyathan Kbal Spean.

A poor man carrying luxury wood, Kro Nhoung, from Kbal Spean to base camp. I made inquiry as to whom he was supposed to bring this precious wood. The man did not give me satisfactory answer. I assume the park authority arranged for his service, but it is anyone’s guess.

A discarded mobile radio broadcasting station parked inside the abandoned Ta Mok’s residential compound at Anlong Veng. 

Two beautiful baby cows relaxed on the marsh land behind Ta Mok’s residential compound in Anlong Veng.

The border highway leading from Anlong Veng to Samraong Chong Kal.

A two-room school building located in rural Oddar Meanchey Province. This two room school housed grade 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 altogether. There was only one teacher present during my impromptu visit; the other teacher was sick. She was overseeing all 5 classes including her 9 months old baby.

I donated about 30 copies of the Fables and Folktales children books, which my colleagues and I have written, to this two room school. Upon seeing those children’s books, all the students were beaming with joy.

 Trey Andaeng Ang, one of my favorite foods when eaten with pickled baby cucumbers and Chrouk Mo-Meanh.

Chrouk Mo-Meanh, Tropeang, Sandaek Bondos, ning Trosak Tram, (A variety of pickled/fermented vegetables).

An array of dish samples, made from critters found in the rice fields around Oudong.

My impromptu friends. These two young boys are local kids living in Oudong. They came to fan me and my wife to earn some money for a living. I offered each of them a can of Coca Cola while they were fanning us. Afterward, we gave them foods to eat their fill (Muoy cham aet) and some money. One of the boys decided to keep the Coca Cola for his grandma as it is a ubiquitous drink in Cambodia. Seeing how caring the boy was toward his grandmother, I made him drink the Coca Cola I offered him and bought him another one to bring to his grandma.

Decorating a traditional Cambodian wedding tent in the village.

 A typical tent for traditional Cambodian wedding.

Guests gathering during pre-wedding ceremony.