Ancestral Spirits: Paying Respect

Cambodia just finished Pchum Ben, a week of visiting pagodas to honor the ancestral spirits. Most Cambodians, at least, visit 3 pagodas.

In their finest clothes, Cambodians line up in pagodas to offer incense, food and money. You see them in the streets carrying their rice containers. From these, they scoop rice over bowls lined up in long tables at the pagoda. In between these bowls were trays for the money offering. Bundles of hundred Khmer bills were offered. Pagodas provide music to make the days festive.

Wine and Airport Travel

With all the duty free stores selling some of your favorite wines or spirits at discount prices, the temptation is strong to pick up one. Before you do this, make sure you have a direct flight to your destination and you carry with you only the required quantity allowed by the country you are going to. Some countries like Maldives do not allow you to bring in wine. They will confiscate it in the airport but will give it back to you before you leave. The hassle is not worth it.

If you have a stop over, just don't bother to bring a bottle or two of your favorite wine in your carry on luggage. Even if you are in transit, going through security all over again, chances are these bottles will be confiscated. I was in HK airport just last week and the expensive ice wine I bought in Vancouver was confiscated by security so am here in Phnom Penh apologizing to my friends for not giving them a taste of Canadian icewine.