Vacation!

Right now we are in the middle of a public holiday called Ptum Bunn, where families make a trip to the pagoda to offer sacrifices to their deceased ancestors. They believe that during the past 15 days the spirits of their ancestors have been freed and are floating around. They need to bring them food to appease them so that they can rest for another year. If they are not appeased than Khmai's believe that the ghost of their ancestors' will haunt them. This Monday to Wednesday are the last days of Ptum Bunn and so they have become a public holiday and the whole city shuts down.

(This is a picture of a family traveling to the wat to bring their sacrifice of food.)

(One of many wats, all decorated for the holiday).

(A couple of us ladies decided to head to the resort to spend one day of our holiday.)

(It rained most of the day and so the way out of the resort was flooded.)

(My landlord gave Marije and I some Khmai cakes that are made for the holiday. This one is made of sticky rice, beans and pork. It tasted very bland. I prefer the banana cake which is the same but with banana instead of pork and beans.)

(Today I went and got my hair cut... it looks better than I thought it would.)