APAD 120: Still empty
Here in our neighbourhood, most residents have not returned yet from their New Year’s holiday.
We cherish the remaining quiet moments. Sooner or later, they will return. So will the noise and regular flurry of activities.
APAD 119: Empty
Today is the third day of the Khmer New Year and the capital of Phnom Penh is still quiet.
My husband and I went out yesterday as our pantry needed to be re-stocked. Most of the shops are still closed – quite expected – so we had to drive downtown to find an open grocery. And we actually enjoyed the quiet drive downtown with only very few people and vehicles in sight.
While in the Cambodian countryside, the people are having huge celebrations and merry-makings during this three-day holiday, the streets in Phnom Penh are empty, if not eerie, and devoid of any traffic.
One lane at the Russian Boulevard, heading to the direction of Pochentong airport. Empty. I was so tempted to drive.
Here is the northern part of Mao Tse Tung Boulevard, several metres off the Russian Boulevard-Mao Tse Tung intersection. One can see the through the long road.
APAD 118: Street-dancers
Today is the second day of the Khmer New Year… Happy New Year!
Sousdei chhnan thmey!
These young people were singing and dancing inside Psah Thmey (Central Market). Their singing was accompanied by Khmer traditional music instruments. As they danced their way through, the local shoppers offer hem money in return for blessings and good wishes for the New Year.
APAD 117: Noontime rush
All wanting to go home and no one’s giving way.
As a result we’re all stuck. Under the scorching sun.
When will they ever learn?
APAD 116: Summer rain
Yesterday, we finally had rain after several weeks of extreme heat.
The rain was strong enough, with a bit of wind, too.
Having had 38Cs in the past weeks, this is really a welcome change. A cool relief from PhnomPenh’s summer heat. This is probably the first big rain in a long time… six months, more or less, if I am not mistaken.
Just 30mins of rain and our street is already flooded. Why? Because some genius cemented the drains. Drat.
APAD 115: Lotus
My six year old niece, Beebop, has taken a liking for writing. At her age, I am amazed at how adept she is at that, even writing text messages to us. Being a big fan of old-fashioned letter-writing, I encourage her a lot. I think writing, and reading (my other love), are worthwhile pursuits that improves the mind of children without spending a lot of money.
Last year when her father, my younger brother, went home for the Christmas holidays, I sent Beebop a handwritten letter to go with the small present that I bought for her. As her aunt, I want to give something to her that will allow her to practice her love for writing and her creativity. So instead of the usual toys and clothes, I gifted her with a nice writing paper, several rolls of deco tapes and some twines. It is up to her – I thought – what she’ll make of them. She texted me back when she received it. She said she loved it so much.
When her father returned to Phnom Penh, naturally, my niece sent me a parcel in return with my name written on the brown paper bag, in her own handwriting. Inside the parcel were goodies from home – packs of piaya, dried mangoes, etc. – that I sorely missed. But the “star” of the package was the sweet thank you note with cute doodles like any six year old would draw.
So anyway, to encourage her love for written words further, I sent her a postcard last Sunday. It has a nice yellow lotus flower on the stamp.
Postcards and stamps are also good educational tools to learn about the many places and things around the world. With the help of imagination, postcards and stamps take you just about anywhere without leaving your home!
It’s a pity that with everyone around her busy with chores everyday, there is no one she can really turn to. But I hope that by engaging her in a letter exchange with me, she will learn to love the written words through letters as much as I have. And I’m very much here to support her. I wonder how she’ll react when she receives the postcard. I also hope she notices the hand-stamped animals there 🙂
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