Markets and Festivals

Today was our full day off of this week - we had Friday morning off and Sunday afternoon tomorrow as well. Unfortunately I have to go to a meeting with a youth club tomorrow, so please pray for me!

I managed to sleep until 8am today (more or less) ! That's the first time since I arrived. We met at the office at 11.30 for our Social.

Alex and Olivia on the tuk tuk

We got tuk tuks to Kampong Chhnang town and went to a restaurant which we were told had western food. This was true to varying degrees. Those of us who wanted western food were mostly disappointed. There was no garlic on the garlic bread, and they had no burgers in the restaurant.

I ordered Thai style curry, which was nice enough but not quite what I was expecting, and I had a very strong iced americano. I've had so little caffeine in the last few weeks that it gave me a headache!

After that, we went to Kampong Chhnang market, all hoping to buy something. I was hoping to find a traditional-looking skirt, because we had been invited to a local party/festival which took place this evening, and I only have trousers with me. Unfortunately most of the clothes here are far too small, and the traditional style clothes are made to measure. Also, according to Channa it was quite expensive there - she wanted to buy some jeans but she said she didn't want to pay the price they were asking. But it was an eye opening experience!...

It felt very hot inside. The photos don't really do it justice but it reminded me of a UK indoor market, just louder, hotter and more claustrophobic. The space between the stalls was like being inside a humid and dark tunnel - we were there at 2ish. All the light inside was artificial. Most of the stalls sell gold and silver jewellery, or fake designer clothes. Khmer people don't actually like silver - it's mostly sold for the sake of the Borang (foreigners).

Everywhere we went in the market we heard "Borang!" I don't think it's an offensive term, from what the Khmer volunteers have told me. But anywhere I cycle in community, I hear a chorus of "Hello" - all of the children shout as we go past. I've gotten quite used to it now. We mostly all just shout hello back.

We were supposed to be at the market for about 2 and a half hours, but it has been so hot today we left about an hour earlier than we anticipated. It's quite tiring to be so hot for so long.

After all that, we went back to the office and cycled back to our homes to change for the festival. The Khmer tradition is to wear white shirts to these things, which thankfully most of us brought with us. The Khmer men will wear white shirts and dark trousers, and the women will dress up beautifully with traditional skirts, usually blue or green. I don't have very good photos but here are the ones I have.

 The food we ate - the Khmer call it porridge, but it's like boiled rice in a stock with meatballs. Quite savoury. They had bread in it and pasta too, and then some rice/nut 'cakes' for dessert.

 Tim, Heng, Connor, Zaynab, Channa and Sokmeng

 Some poor quality photos of the outside of the festival/party

 We also met some Americans! The Khmer hosts brought some other Borang to sit with us - two people from the US Peace Corps who are here as volunteers also. They are in month 7 of a 2 year stint! I was very impressed - 2 years seems like such a long time. They had very good Khmer. It was nice to see them interact with our Khmer volunteers in their own language.

If we get the opportunity to go to another festival, I'll try and get some better photos. There seems to be a few a week so there may be another chance.


And here's a lizard on my host home door to end the post, just because I love the geckos (Channa doesn't get it at all).