A DAY in the LIFE..

Given that life here starts up 5-30  to 6 am and seeking  that I seem to be surviving on 5 hours sleep on average I have taken to the morning walk. It’s the only time of the day when the weather suits the wee amble about. Rising sun, rambling by wooden houses , some on stilts where life has already started moving. Fires are on for cooking and smoke wafts through the banana and coconut trees and hens and chickens roam freely (but never run across the road like paddy chickens). Little girls shout hello hello. The gentle hills of Mondulkiri are at their tropical best and beautiful. The walk will last about 30 to 40 minutes and will involve buying a a small bread roll for 25 cents (US).

The walk isn’t (literally) all sunshine as one has to brave the hoards of local dogs who seem to suffer from an epidemic a barking. I’m usually easy about dogs but given that I spent over € 150 for rabies vaccination I feel slightly more timourous (is that a word) and debate with myself whether Cambodian dogs can smell foreign blood and the hints of fear.

This morning I had been awakened by loud music coming from somewhere which apparently means a wedding So this morning as I head towards the 2 bulls at the top of the town (see The Road to Mondulkiri) I see a scene somewhat like in this photo ( these wedding photos are not mine as my camera packed up 2 weeks ago). Qeulle glamour and everybody carrying golden trays laden with flowers and fruit mainly.

Weddings in Ireland cost small fortunes and so it is here. It looked as if half the town were going to the day (and its only about 6-45 am). I see my landlady and her husband joining the procession.

In Cambodia family is king and therefore weddings are an essential part of the fabric of this society.

Often they tale place in tent like structures that sometimes are built in the centre of roads.

                             


And can be very posh

                                

But can they look smart

I continued on my walk and passed the hotel courtyard where the fiesta would take place and yes the tent like stuctures were in place as was a gig rig for the band ( the source of the sleep disturbing music). Two huge photos of the happy couple are placed on either side of the hotel entrance. They never look happy as the photo format seems to be very stylised. Beyond the hotel gate there is another tent that resembles and army cooking depot with 12 huge cauldrons steaming over fires contained in metal barrels.

I continue down the road to fetch the bread and on my return the glamour guests are streaming into the venue. A long day lies ahead and it will continue (with 2 big breaks) late into the night and I will try to sleep against the music that I know aroused me 15 hours earlier.

And all this before i even had my breakfast which consisted of that bread roll stuffed with 2 bananas and a lick of marmalade and my first cup of Liptons tea made in my own hands in my inconvienent  shed like attachment, to the sleeping quarters.

Here's to us all being wedded to bliss whatever the costume or the country and getting a good night sleep as often as possible whether alone or otherwise.