Weddings and Funerals

Sitting here at 7:30 am waiting to get on the bus for our 3 hour ride back to Phnom Penh where we will pick up Stephanie Boag. We hear the monks chanting off in the distance. A lovely sound. I wanted to share some random thoughts about things we encounter. One morning, we were awoken at 4 am by chanting that got louder and louder. Turns out it was the start of a wedding celebration. "party rental" trucks arrive filled with chairs, tents, beautiful colored awning, bbq's, etc. They set up under the canopies at the appointed party spot for several hundred people to come and join the bride and groom for several days of celebrations. We have seen many such parties and they are so colourful and beautiful. The same kind of set up takes place for funerals too. They carry on for days, there is more sombre chanting but the awnings and draperies are still elaborate. We wonder how the people afford these events... Completely off topic, this morning at breakfast Walter announced that Keith and Susan had joined the Communist Party! He had "Trotsky" if you know what I mean... Ha ha! Ron is just exiting the communist party today after being out of commission yesterday. Now off to the bus, Linda