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New Year Scenes 1
16 April 2010—

There are some very obvious changes in Phnom Penh because of the New Year celebration.  For example, the streets are deserted and the traffic lights—considered optional in regular times—are totally ignored.  And yet there are other parts of city life that continue on the same as at any other time of the year.

Tngay Leang Saka is the name of the third day of the new year celebration.  Buddhists cleanse the Buddha statues and pour perfumed water on the hands and maybe the heads of their elders.   These ritual cleansings are thought to be kind deeds that will bring longevity, good luck, happiness and prosperity in life.  By pouring water on their grandparents and parents, children also hope to obtain from them best wishes and good advice for the future.  [From Wikipedia]

Closed shops
Closed squatter stalls
Deserted street
Deserted neighborhood
Those who left the city left behind whole neighborhoods virtually empty. Regular, more substantial shops are shuttered and locked and even the squatter stalls on the streets are wrapped and secured. Normally bustling streets are practically deserted, and in a quiet neighborhood a remaining resident puts her flag out early in the morning.
Family traveling by car
Traveling by van
Traveling within the city by tuk-tuk
Traveling by motorbike
Some families delayed their departure from the city but now by car and by van some prepare to visit the provinces. The family in the van has their ice chest and rice cooker to help with preparing food for all the family gathered in a relative's home in the province. Inside the city visiting continues. One family, dressed really formally, travels in a tuk-tuk. Another family divides the children between two motorcycles piloted by mom and dad.