(continued from flight, 6, written during November 2013) Phnom Penh I stepped out of the plane, holding my grandmother's elbow tightly as we descended the stairs onto the tarmac. The warm, dusty air pressed close immediately. I wonder what they did when planes landed during the rainy season. I had searched for Lakhena during the … Continue reading landing
Tag: Cambodia
jumping
As a child, my aunt told me, she was luh-peuh. During the high water season, she would sneak away in a little boat and paddle out to the temple. Or she would jump out into the Bassac River from the veranda of my grandparents' stilted house and swim. Those were not things that little girls … Continue reading jumping
get down to plant a seed
As we rode the tuk-tuk across the Bassac River, my aunt pushed her head against mine and asked in a low, conspiratorial voice, "So, don't you think it's time for you to get married and start a family? Do you have any plans?" It was a month into my 3-month stay in Cambodia. My parents … Continue reading get down to plant a seed
independence monument
cracking open lotus seed heads squeaking the crunchy green nuts between my teeth in the phnom penh heat watched over by the legion of brick-red naga strolling in the river breeze and streams of exhaust caused by the flow of traffic and tourists passing through this city the vimean ekareach marks the end of colonialism … Continue reading independence monument
narinda heng 