Moto-dups

APAD 164: Cambodia celebrates Pchum Ben Festival

Posted by The Insider on Sep 26, 2011 in A Photo a Day, Addicted to Meme, All things Khmer, Cambodia, Cambodia life, festivals, Mellow Yellow Monday, moto-dups, people, Phnom Penh, sights, transportation, What's On in Cambodia | 0 comments

Today, 26th of September, until Wednesday,the 28th, are the official dates for Pchum Ben this year. is the Pchum Ben Festival is the time, according to Buddhist beliefs, when the spirits of the dead walk the Earth.

Cambodians believe that to ease their ancestors’ spirit’s sufferings, they prepare food and gather to the pagodas to offer the food for them to eat. This is similar to the All Soul’s Day that is celebrated back in my native Philippines. So most of the Cambodians take this time to go back to their hometown to observe this tradition. So, naturally, the streets of Phnom Penh are virtually empty during these three days.

And, since most of the Cambodians and resident expats are out of the capital, the streets of Phnom Penh are virtually empty and devoid of the usual hustle-bustle of daily life! In fact, we can actually see the yellow and black-striped lane divider!

You can find more information about the Pchum BenFestival here.

More Mellow Yellow Monday entries here (please click logo):

APAD 155: The red earth

Posted by The Insider on Sep 10, 2011 in A Photo a Day, Addicted to Meme, All things Khmer, Cambodia, Cambodia life, Kep, moto-dups, people, sights, transportation, travel, What's On in Cambodia | 4 comments

After being powdered by the dust of summer comes the red, sticky mud of the rainy season, particularly in rural Cambodia.

I love the beautiful red clay soil in the countryside. Looks greasy from this angle but, no, it’s the thick, red, muddy road!

The mud is really harsh, and, as you can see, the road is virtually impassable – sticky, slippery, and will bury your vehicle (and you) if you’re stubborn enough to go on. Our shoes and flip-flops get coated with the sticky soil, and hardens like cement when it dries up, making them impossible to wear again.

This picture was taken in Kep, Cambodia in one of my field activities. I was based there for about 6months in 2006 and, I tell you, the rainy season added more challenge to the already very challenging work we were having at that time.

Huge props to the people on bicycles and motorcycles who patiently ply roads like this during the rainy season.

APAD 149: What good is it for?

Posted by The Insider on Sep 1, 2011 in A Photo a Day, Addicted to Meme, All things Khmer, Cambodia, Cambodia life, moto-dups, people, Photo Hunt, sights, Signs, transportation | 4 comments

NO PARKING. Really?

Not many people pay attention to signs in the streets, buildings, etc. Like above. Took this photo when we were driving up to the parking space on the 5th floor of the O’Russey market in Phnom Penh.

More signs worldwide can be found at the main site. Please click the logo to see other entries.