Friday, May 15, 2009

khmer new year celebration

The streets of Phnom Penh in mid morning were almost deserted. Everyone who could left town for the provinces, and the ones who stayed enjoyed quiet time at home with family and neighbors.
This man was out early to make sure his flag was straight and true.
Because their passengers were not out on the streets, neither were the cyclo peddlers who took a forced break. They are among the poorest of the urban poor and would not take a holiday if they had an option. This is a shelter where a group of the cyclo drivers live.
Many families prepared decorations for their homes. This arrangement is more spiritual than decorative, an offering to ancestors, and it indicates a family with Chinese ancestry.
Near the DDP office our really poor neighbors make the most of the holiday on a mat spread out on the side of the street in front of their small wooden shack. The DDP guard (blue shirt, in back) joined them for the afternoon since the DDP office was closed.
Some of the people still on the streets hadn't finished their visiting and took a tuk-tuk loaded with gifts to see their friends or family.

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