Ruins and Songkran
Posted by Stuart at 07:51 PM on April 14, 2003We got an early start this morning with the four of us (Nat, Pae, Richard, and myself) piling into the rental car and heading south to Panom Rung. I had been to the Khmer temples just a month ago, but this time promised to be different because of Songkran and because I was traveling with friends in a car instead of being alone on a motorbike.
As I walked around the ruins, I was still amazed at what I saw. I studied them closely, looking for camera angles and details that I might have missed the first time. Of course, taking pictures of myself and my friends were a new activity that I missed on my first trip.
The ride through the countryside was fun. All along the road, young people stood by the side with water guns and buckets and hoses. We were protected this time in our rental car, but it was still very entertaining to watch the less fortunate motorcycle riders (who, by the way, were also having a great time).
We returned to the village about an hour before sunset, and Nat and I (and later Pae and Richard) joined the kids on the road outside Nat's house for some wet fun. It is surprising how much fun it is to throw water at cars and bikes and open bed trucks that pass by. Of course we were soaked in minutes. As the sun set we headed back to the house and I actually looked forward to the "shower" that seemed so foreign to me just two days ago.
Dinner at Nat's house tonight was very special. His brother and family who live in the next village came over, which brought the total to about 7 adults and 10 children. Before we ate, Nat's 70 year old father sat in a chair, clothed in a sarong around his waist. Each of the children and grandchildren (young and old) one by one would approach him on their knees, bow three times and then anoint his hands and feet with leaves dipped in a herbal mixture. They then picked up a string that had been soaking in the mixture and tied it around his wrist, finishing by bowing three times again. Even I was able to participate in the Songkran ceremony, and I felt very lucky and honored to do so.
Dinner was again, of course, awesome. We grilled meat over an open fire. I am not sure what to call the procedure, but everyone sits around the grill cooking the meat and drinking the noodle and vegetable soup that is cooking around the base of the grill. Delicious!
