2 April 2001 Another aspect of the new year celebration is loud music. The new year is a traditional time for boys and girls of the older variety to be able to get together, play traditional new year games, and just hang out, and the music is a big part of that scene. Groups of teenagers are very much a part of the night street scene now in the neighborhoods and--unfortunately--sounds systems worthy of the Super Bowl are all too readily available. In our neighborhood, the music started last night, from about 7:00 PM till after 11:00, and will be a nightly fixture till after the formal new year observance is over on 17 April. The only perverse consolation is that the huge speakers are set up outside the neighborhood wat which blasts us with its own music and chanting early in the morning. The monks, early to bed and early to rise, are getting a taste of their own medicine. Of course, most of them are young so they may be lying on their board beds secretly grooving to the music!
1 April 2001
April 13-15 are the official three days of the Khmer new year but people are already starting to get into the celebratory spirit. One traditional aspect of the new year celebrating here and in Thailand is the splashing and spraying of water on anyone and everyone within range. Every day more and more children on the streets have water guns as they anticipate the really big deluges to come in another week or so. Then people will not only be doused with water but also daubed with colored powder in bright hues. When you're soaking wet and get hit with a handful of brilliant green powder, it's noticeable!
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