17 April 2013
|
||
 |
The Cambodian flag widely flown for the new year, marking a connection between patriotism and a new year which isn't so visible in other countries. | |
 |
Probably three fourths of the population of Phnom Penh left town to celebrate the new year in their home villages. The city is noticeably different with block after block of shuttered shops. | |
 |
This row of shops is closed up but I suspect someone is home somewhere because no one would leave a car out overnight unattended. Someone drove these cars out of the living room in the morning and covered them against the sun, and they'll go back into the living room when night falls. | |
 |
Another row of neighborhood shops closed for a week. The official holiday ends today. Probably most government workers will take off till Monday. The ordinary workers will start coming back tomorrow and over the next four days. | |
 |
During the holidays the numbers of people in the city are reduced but garbage still accumulates. The private company that collects garbage had half its workforce on duty but it wasn't enough to keep the streets clean. First the dogs and then the human scavengers have spread this trash across the street. | |
 |
The shop gate is open so probably this family just put out their garbage and the bags haven't been ripped open yet. | |