This past week,
Cambodia’s King Father passed away. It was a significant death for all
Cambodians as he was king for many decades and is seen as divine. The King
Father had been living in China receiving medical care while his son acted as
king in Cambodia. Last Monday, on the day of the King Father’s death, Alan was
out in the city and saw crowds already gathering in prayer at the palace. Last
Wednesday, the King Father's body was brought back to Phnom Penh, and most of
the city greeted his body at the airport. We decided not to brave the crowds
with our little one but instead walked to a family run “coffee shop” down the
street and watched the footage on the TV there. Two nights ago, many Cambodians
said they saw the face of the king in the moon.
Songs from the
musical Evita have been swirling through my head as I see several
parallels with her story. As an American, it is hard to understand the devotion
and worship that citizens of other countries have for their leaders. Although I am far from the hubbub of the presidential
campaign, I imagine that crowds aren’t teeming to pray to Obama or Romney—maybe
for them, but not to them.
It has been an interesting and significant time to be living in
Cambodia.
For more
information on the King Father and the fascinating person that he was, go to:
For pictures, go
to:
-Katy
So interesting!
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