The word has a
variety of spellings including those above and khramer but more importantly it refers
to those mostly checked but sometimes striped cloths that are seen everywhere
in Cambodia.
They are a local
must have. No-one leaves home without at least one and they are so versatile. They
are sold to tourists too and are truly are irresistible. The more you see them
used in every day life the more they seem to appeal. Almost every traveller
passing through Cambodia has at least one and we are no exception. In addition we have had to purchase a few as
small gift items even though we were not planning to buy gifts. One hotel even gave us 2 as a parting gift as
we had spent more than the usual one or two nights in their establishment.
The biggest
surprise is that no monks ever seem to use them, although everything else a
monk requires is manufactured in orange for his exclusive use. Yes I do love
that.
I guess it comes
as no surprise that in the big towns and cities there are hundreds of shops
selling them but you almost never see a local wearing one. Many, many of the outlets are also proud to
state that their supply has been produced by women in a co-operative or
empowerment to end poverty project, or that their sale is in some other way supporting
worthy causes and charities. This of course is even more reason to purchase and
may explain why we now seem to possess over a dozen of them!
So what exactly are they you ask? Perhaps the
pictures below will help.
They vary in size,
shape and colour but can be used as:
a scarf,
a belt,
a sunhat,
a sarong,
a cushion for a head load,
a towel,
a cleaning cloth,
a blanket,
a shawl,
a sunshade,
a sunshade,
a curtain,
a turban,
a hammock for a
baby or child,
an apron,
a wrapping cloth for carrying goods,
a strap,
a tablecloth,
a sling for
carrying a child,
and doubtless many
other things.
I even saw someone tie 2 drinking bottles together in one and then tie it around his waist!
My only regret is
that I didn’t cotton on to their significance sooner and make it my mission to
photograph every use I saw them put to: just one more reason to return to
Cambodia I suppose.
If you think you
really need one yourself put in your request quickly as we are heading to Bangkok
on the 8am bus tomorrow.
Wel done .....
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