Just two sleeps to go and then I'm off. I spent most of the day cleaning and organising. My water filter needed a scrub, the fridge needed to be checked. I'm eating far more than I usually eat because I don't like throwing things away. For lunch I had two chicken legs and two wings, a bowl of bean salad, Digestive biscuits with blue cheese and a glass of milk - anything to be able to leave the fridge empty. I'm away for a month before the ladies arrive so there's no point in leaving items for them.
Phearak went off for a vaccination so there was no English class. Srun was also out as he was taking family to perform a graveside ceremony. It's done by those who've buried people in a Chinese fashion, i.e., with a large mount of soil over the body. For some strange reason the Chinese also like to have a few when they die so they like to be on a hill. Everyone gathers and the place is tidied up. Then strips of coloured paper are placed all over the mound - I've yet to find out why. Then mats are spread out and the feast begins. This is where the pig is disposed of; what isn't eaten at the meal goes home with the guests. Apparently, some people pay over a thousand dollars for a large pig. I learned that the one I bought for a friend is costing me $200 which is more than I've paid for a live pig. This ceremony only happens once a year, at the same time, so the sellers control the market. Sometimes the family provides the dead with items they may need in the after life - a house, car, clothing, umbrella etc all made of paper or cardboard. People are a bit shocked when I asked if they provide the dead man with a woman.
The power went off in the afternoon and it was scorching hot. I was planning on flopping on the sofa but, with the heat, I knew I'd nod off. I therefore decided to go for a walk. The street barber we use for the boys is just two blocks away so I went to see how he was doing and I ended up getting my hair cut. He's on a good thing because he only has a table, mirror, chair and umbrella, which he carts away in the evening; he leaves the large chunk of cement clients use for their feet. The locals pay $1 but foreigners pay $2. I then went two blocks in the other direction and looked at some clothing. I ended up buying a pair of trousers and a jacket I can use in Canada. It'll be nice to chuck out the older jackets I've been wearing - one of them cost me a couple of pounds in a charity shop in Lincoln and the other must have been donated because I found it in the car one day and I never did find out who owned it.
I know one person who has one of those speaker gadgets that you can talk to although many of the young folk in Asia have Siri and other voices on their phone. I'm told the gadgets are listening even when switched off, which is scary. Here, they would only hear me muttering to myself but in other homes they could be listening to secrets, arguments and other nasty things. I hate talking on the phone so I doubt I'll be getting one of these things.
