Cheeky, Sneaky Cat

Normally I'm a big fan of animals, but since I moved into my house I've been avoiding the resident little calico like the plague. There's just something about pets, no matter how clean, in developing worlds that is questionable to me. However, over the past week Cocoa has been bound and determined to become my best friend. I have tolerated her to a certain extent. She started creeping closer and closer as I was doing work for my internship or when I would lesson plan. It was actually kind of nice to have a buddy during such dull hours. Today however, laying right next to me turned into getting as close as possible. She sure is a cheeky, sneaky little thing.

Kicking it with the King at Bonn Chroat Preah Nongkoal

Last Wednesday began as a perfectly crisp cool morning, the night air remained delightfully cold and pushed it's breeze through til morn. Actually it was cool enough that a blanket was necessary to sleep, a phenomenon indeed during this time of the year. I showered and dressed hastily to meet my friends for the Royal Ploughing Ceremony; held annually, this event creates such a stir that schools, governmental offices, and even shops close up. Maybe it is because this event is one where King Norodom Shinouk himself attends. The ceremony has historically been carried out by the royal family, where the king would direct the plough around the field as his wife would walk some feet behind sowing rice seeds.

The entire event was fascinating, though sitting in the tourist section adjacent to the King's was rather hot. Our seated section was not dotted with ceiling fans, but the free water and vintage hand fans did help a little. Prior to the ploughing, Buddhist monks open the ceremony by chanting. Then the royal oxen, bred specifically for this annual event, are lead by the king's royal hand around the field three times. However the royal family actually no longer leads this event, so a elected King Meakh and representative Queen Me Hour take their places.

Once the whole procession have lapped the track three times, Brahmins pray to the Gods of Heaven for blessing over the harvest season to come. Royal oxen are then lead to a row of silver trays. These trays contain individual portions of rice, corn, beans, fresh cut grass, water and wine. After the Brahmans see the items eaten they are able to make a prediction about the next season. For example, if fresh cut grass is eaten there will be pestilence amongst the livestock in the land. Or if the wine is sipped gangs will rule the city. No, I did not make the last one up, it was in the tourist info packet! From where we were sitting, it looked like the oxen ate corn, rice, and grass; but no one confirmed or denied it. What could come of next year's harvest, we will leave that knowledge to the Brahmans and the Khmer.

All in all it was a very educating day. We even got to see the king himself! You know a country is small if you get to see a king walk within 10 feet of you (see photo below).  So, if you would like to see video of the event start at 4:20: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laNEy9hGrI8