APAD 257: Meak Bochea
One week ago today, Cambodia celebrated the Buddhist holy day called Meak Bochea. This is a little known Buddhist holiday, but for the devout Buddhists, it is a key holiday in the Buddhist calendar.
Falling approximately three months before the widely celebrated Visaka Bochea, informally known as Buddha’s Birthday, Meak Bochea commemorates they day that the spiritual leader Gautam Buddha announced his future; the death and accompanying nirvana into which he would enter. (Source)
Meak Bochea is a public holiday in Cambodia and all government offices and even schools are closed to allow people to go to their wats (temples) and offer food to the monks and pray.
APAD 195: Lounging on hammocks
Under the tree – what an awesome place to hang the hammock. This big tree provides a cool, shady nook to lounge or take a happy nappy on your hammock especially during the hot, summer season. See the smiles on their faces?
I, for one, love slinging (or “cocooning”) inside a hammock with a good book and basking in the breezy, summer weather. Traditional Khmer restaurants overlooking rice fields or the lake sport hammocks for customers to use while eating Khmer food. There must be something about eating meals while relaxing on a hammock.
This is my entry to this week’s Our World Tuesday.Click on the logo for more pictures of our world.
APAD 169: The Chanchhaya Pavilion, Phnom Penh
This is the Chanchhaya Pavilion, also known as the Moonlight Pavilion ,at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh. It dominates the facade of the Royal Palace along Sothearos Boulevard. Every time I pass by this place, I can’t help but admire the beautiful, distinct Khmer-classical style of architecture of this building.
This open-air pavilion, fronting the river, was originally built as a dance conservatory. It is now used as a venue for banquets and other state functions. On special occasions, locals and tourists alike come here to watch special performances of the Khmer classical dances.
In 2004, the Pavilion was used for a banquet and tribune for the new King Norodom Sihamoni during his coronation. It looks stunning, isn’t it? Have you ever wondered how it looks like at night? It is even more spectacular! If you are interested to see, please click here and here. More about the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh here.
This is my entry to this week’s Our World Tuesday. Click on the logo for more pictures of our world.
APAD 165: Flooding in Cambodia
Took this photo just this afternoon on our way home, around 5.30pm. We were driving along Sisowath Quay and I noticed that the water in the river is very high. A few more inches and the water will surely overflow to the main road.
The rising water level in the river is due to the incessant rains the past weeks. In fact, floods hit some parts of the country since last month and there have been reports of deaths. According to Relief Web, about 100 people have been reported dead. The Cambodian National Committee for Disaster Management also reported that approximately 90,300 families in 15 provinces have been affected, around 170,000 hectares of rice fields and 63,000 homes were under water.
To those who have generous hearts, please donate some canned goods and clothings to the Cambodian Red Cross.
This is my entry to this week’s Our World Tuesday. Click on the logo for more pictures of our world.
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