This evening, as I was walking the streets of my neighbourhood, the above mentioned line from Jane Austin's Sense and Sensibility came to my mind. In the movie, it comes as a response to a little girl's eager question-Tell me, what is India like?
If I were to answer this question about Phnom Phnom tonight, it would go like this:
It's 6 o'clock in the eve- and in November this means Sunset time. Dusk is setting over the hustle and bustle of the market and all its stalls, street food carts, small outside shops and cafes. The smells of BBQ meat of all kinds, little bonfires of burning trash in front of people's houses(seems to be the way to get rid of unwanted garbage), as well as the smell of all types of exotic fruit.. lingers in the hot November night.
Families come to "sit outside." This is one of Khmer habits I am loving loving loving. As dusk is probably my favourite time of day- I love the fact that people come sit outside their houses at sunset on little chairs and chat to their neighbours. The streets are buzzing with mixture of voices and noises- little kids shouting and laughing, running around, kicking a ball or their shoe(yes, this happens often as a substitute for a ball), laughter of adults, a ringing noise of the ice-cream man, the steady, distinct voice of the egg seller.
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| View of the evening traffick |
It feels like Christmas-with all the bells ringing, lights, laughter and roast meat smell:)
Needless to say, I love evenings in Phnom Penh:)
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