Happy Pchum Ben

Although the timing of our move to Cambodia was not our own, it sure has worked out nicely! We arrived just as Pchum Ben was to begin, one of the many National holidays in Cambodia. It feels a little like Christmas around here.

Although the timing hasn't been great in that many of the shops are closed and we aren't able to continue getting our home ready, we've basically begun our life here with a holiday! It's a long weekend, with the Friday and Monday as statutory holidays, but many take their holiday time before and after to celebrate Pchum Ben. 

We were able to join a Club that is about 2 minutes from our house. It kind of feels being on high end vacation as soon as you pass through the doors. There is a brand new gym with copious equipment, two large swimming pools, pool loungers, tennis, squash, badminton, ping pong and a nice little Garden Cafe. For an adult, it is $400 a year to belong, which is cheaper than we used to pay for our Canadian Club membership in Bangladesh, which we didn't always have access to as non-Embassy residents.

Fittie Greg is glad to get back into his exercise routine and hopefully his friend David will join him for early morning work outs. I have started swimming lengths and I can really feel it this morning. I hope to add the elliptical machine to my routine. There are the cold and hot spas in the change rooms to look forward to after the work outs!

Our gated community, called a "borey" is surrounded by "Wat Samrong", which is a Buddhist Temple. With Pchum Ben, that has meant a lot of aural action. It's been a live concert in World Music for me! We have heard an usual combination of chanting (by the monks, I would guess) and a more popular style of music as they celebrate. It reminds me of Indian music with flavours of Oriental music within it. It is definitely a sound I have never heard and quite enjoyable! Greg's Khmer colleague described Pchum Ben as a holiday combining Thanksgiving and Halloween as they celebrate the bounty but also pray for ancestral spirits.

We braved the shopping mall during the holiday and it felt like Christmas with the stores filled with Pchum Ben sales. I wonder when the holiday became commercialized? People were flocking to the stores to take advantage of the sales. I have been struggling to see the computer screen, so I had my eyes tested and bought some glasses. Somehow, I managed to choose the most expensive pair but it still was a deal compared to home as the total price for the glasses was $118. It became clear that there exists the danger of slipping back into the old routine of having too much stuff. It's nice that everything is available but we do not need everything!

The parking lot was amazing! Motorbikes (called Motos here) were everywhere! I can't imagine having to remember where I parked!

We found a hilarious tuk tuk driver for the ride home, called Johnny! Johnny speaks unbelievably good English! I asked him why and he answered that he studies English to improve his business. His tuk tuk had a fire extingusher, head rests, kleenx,speakers, lights (although they weren't working), Wifi, cup holders, laminated business cards. a BMW sign (haha)...it was unreal! And, he started the barter process at a very fair rate!

We were invited for dinner last night and it was nice to see a new friendship beginning. This couple are kindred spirits! We had a game of Ticket to Ride with the family and had a delicious meal together. (our hosts had baked amazing homemade rolls) After their children went to bed, we enjoyed tea and conversation. I am going to LOVE living in a small community where people have time for relationships and friendships. We are also loving being with our friends who encouraged us to move here (the Portelas and their adorable brood) as well as another lovely friend from our Bangladesh days. 

This is our last day of holiday until next month when the Water Festival begins. Greg is really looking forward to getting into work and learning the ropes. He's had enough rest to last a while. But, we are planning a beach trip within Cambodia with the Portelas for the Water Festival. Cambodia has the most statutory holidays of any country in the world! 

The timing of our arrival has also worked out well with the climate. It is HOT, don't get me wrong. (it's 31 degrees today) We do work up a visible sweat simply walking down the street, but it's livable. We bought an amazing fan and Greg's comment at breakfast was that it was sweater weather! Amazingly, we slept last night without the air conditioning. Electricity is crazy expensive here which is why the need to adjust and not have the air conditioner continually running.The cool season is moving in just as we are settling in and we are going to enjoy every minute! 

We are grateful that the time difference (we are 11 hours ahead of Ontario) allows us to Skype with the kids every morning and evening. It does our hearts well to see them looking out for each other and living as a family. 

There is a time for everything and there is a season!