Cambodia is a gorgeous country in so many ways. This was the scene a few weeks back as I headed home from work. Cameras could not capture the beauty of the gargantuan, deep orange sun sinking into the horizon. Kids were playing soccer in the street with a small, hollow plastic ball. Some of the adults sat on the curb or on small plastic stools watching the world go by in front of them. They either chatted with those sitting nearby or would shout greetings to neighbors coming home from work. Some folks meandered along with their shopping bags from the market holding fresh meat and vegetables for the evening meal. It is a sight. In many ways, presence seems to be valued in ways we seem to have forgotten in the USA. When was the last time you saw people sitting on their stoops, shouting to their neighbors?
All was so tranquil (thankfully, I live on a fairly quiet street and am lucky enough that a few trees still stand). That evening, as I settled in for some quiet meditation, all was calm. I positioned myself on a pillow on the floor. Just sitting there made me start to drip with sweat, "Oh well. It is like my own private sweat lodge." I started to try to let the thoughts slip from my mind as I settled down. As I felt some of the days tension melt away, I suddenly heard a street vendor turn the corner, the loud speakers proclaiming "Hot duck embryos! Two eggs, 37 cents! Two eggs, 37 cents!"*
As I sat, eyes closed, waiting for the noise to subside, I realized, my neighbors were making a purchase because the sound was not moving. Apparently, all the neighborhood kids must have come running, because there it sat in front of my house shouting about this tasty snack. I laughed out loud. Oh, Cambodia. I guess it is no different than chanting to let the brain slip into a peaceful place. Though, I am not sure there has ever been a meditative chant about duck embryos...
Speaking of foods that you would not find sold from carts roaming the streets like the ice cream man in my motherland, I had the distinct pleasure of trying a new food recently. As you know, I am a vege-cultutarian, aka I will give up my vegetarian ways to taste new cultural foods. Recently at work, my co-workers were eating duck embryos and these little guys...
Mmmmm... Frog leg. I'm not gonna lie, after eating this, all I was thinking about is how evolved frogs are and that they are the best indicators for changes in the ecosystem. Their little bodies detect things long before our tough skins ever can. I was also thinking about all the frog species that have gone extinct due to the changes in climate...
*[Translated from Khmer and into US currency for understanding]
