Khmer new Year

No one knows how to do "sparkly" like the Cambodians!This picture shows some of the (very) many decorations on sale in the market this morning with which Cambodian families decorate their homes to celebrate Khmer New Year. New Year, ,which is also celebrated in Laos and Thailand is the biggest holiday in Cambodia. Everyone leaves the cities and travels to their home towns and villages. The roads are busy and the price of bus tickets increases dramatically. The holiday officially lasts for 1 week but unofficially at least 3 weeks.There is a spirtual side as it is believed that this is the time of year when old spirits depart and new ones enter. Homes are cleaned and then everyone moves to the wat to pour water over the Buddist images and also the monks!.There are parades, tying of sacred string round each others wrists and lots of games involving throwing water and flour at each other. My 'blip that got away'was of an elderly monk riding pillion on the back of a moto clutching so many of these colourful decorations he could hardly be seen. I was sad to miss the picture but happy to know that the pagoda is bright and sparkly as well.