The Month of April

If you're currently reading this post (April 11) you know that you're traveling during the Cambodian New Year.  If your bus ticket seems quite expensive-well it is, but don't think that they're just sticking it to foreigners, even Cambodians are shelling out more. 
Along the highway you may see what appear to be scare crows, they're meant to ward off the evil spirit of cholera.   It is merely a protective measure and does not mean that the disease has entered the village.  The buddism that is practiced in our village is a mixture of old animist beliefs entertwined with Buddhist principals.  I've little doubt that there is much that Lord Buddha would neither understand nor aprove of.  But then it isn't too hard to imagine The Buddha, Jesus Christ and Carl Marx walking down the streets of Southeast Asia and saying to each other "This is not what I meant, not what I meant at all."

Additionaly, you will see what appear to be sails waiting for boats- rolled up sheets of plastic hanging from a mast with a light on top all along the highway.  That means only one thing-it's cricket season again.  The little buggers are attracted to the light at night, hit the plastic sheet and slide down into a large bucket that is waiting for them.  The are collected and sold to be fried.  The really "haute cuisine" crickets are cleaned and a peanut is stuck in their bellies.  Chacun a son gout.

During this time of year there is much celebration, especially at the wats, but at many private homes as well.  Work gets put to the side and partying becomes the main format.