■■Days in Phnom Penh■■
My favorite Cambodian desert. iced coffee and waftle
■■Rainy season■■
If you've ever been to Indochina, you would know that the rainy season starts each year in June and ends in November. During this time, it does not rain all day. inevitably, in mid-day, the sun suddenly disappears behind clouds that roll in and then spread, and then a few drops of rain start falling--that's the sign of a squall to come. When it arrives it rains so hard (like a cloud burst) it really cools you off, especially after wondering around in the hot tropical sun. To stand in the rain is like taking a shower provided by nature.
Normally it rains a short time but sometimes it continues for a few hours. If you go around without an umbrella or raincoat, you have to stay under a building's eaves or a tree to stay dry or you could ask your motorcycle driver where the best place is to avoid the rain.
One day, my motorcycle driver and I looked for the best place near where we were and got there by walking sideways like crabs, since everyone was trying to get out of the rain and the sidewalks were very crowded. Looking at the street I saw so many people hurrying to go back home. I saw whole families of four or five people riding one motorcycle while the smallest children were hiding under their fathers' raincoats (or ponchos). While witnessing all of this, it still had not stopped raining. My motorcycle driver andI looked at each other wondering when the rain would stop.
When I noticed the street again. it was like a pond. Children came out of nowhere and jumped and splashed in the flooded street. I wondered whether they liked the cool water or the fun of splashing each other.
I was supposed to visit some shops on this day but on my way I lost my enthusiasm to follow my plan since it was just as interesting to watch the rain and the people for a while. When I think of my trip to Cambodia, the most memorable thing for me is this day of the squall and everyday life of Cambodians. These memories are even more vivid than those of the ruins of Angkor Wat.
■■Cambodian Boxing■■
When you go around Phnom Penh, even if you take a motorcycle taxi, the heat, dust , noise and hot sun are exhausting. When I couldn't take anymore, which was a few times a day, I would go to a local cafe and take a rest.
At local cafes in Cambodia, the customers during the week are mainly men who kill time by watching TV and save their energy during the hot afternoons. On Sundays, however, something is different. Everyone there is excited about watching boxing on television . The program begins with Thai boxing ( Muay Thai) and then Cambodian boxing starts. The men in the cafes discuss who will win. This was my first chance to watch and I was told I should stay to experience Cambodian boxing so I did.
From my observations, the beginning of Cambodian boxing is similar to Muay Thai, both Cmabodian and Thai fighters begin with a dance for victory and their teacher.
While I was watching, a gong rang every time a boxer got in a punch, and the men at the cafe would shout their pleasure or disappointment. Before one fight, someone asked me who I thought would win. i chose the figther in the red corner and somehow I joined the everyone's enthusiasm for boxing. While the men and I were talking in the cafe, we sould watch the fighters on television. The fighter in the blue corner connected with a strong punch and the fighter in the red corner fell to the floor. During my Sunday visit to a cafe in Cambodia, I was surprised at the fighter's strength behind their punches, considering their petite body sizes, and at the audience's enthusiasm.
Khmer are normally so shy and quiet,,not while watching boxing.
During my stay in Cambodia, I had also heard that boxing matches are held at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh eery Sunday so if you would like to see the same contrasts I saw, you should watch the audience as well as go to see Cambodian boxing.
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