Polaroid of the Week: Monks Receiving Morning Alms in Battambang, Cambodia

As we bid farewell to Southeast Asia, we cherish memories of its delights: delectable cuisine, fresh coconuts, families on motorbikes, affordable beers and cocktails, breathtaking sunsets over oceans and rivers, lively night markets, thrilling tuk-tuk rides, children's joyful smiles, verdant rice paddies, shimmering golden Buddha statues, and the gracious Buddhist monks. Encountered in Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia, these saffron-robed figures often brightened our days, chatting to practice English or showing us their temples.
Across our travels, we witnessed the daily alms-giving ceremony common in Buddhist nations. Monks walk through towns, receiving offerings from shops, restaurants, and homes. Devout locals place rice, fruits, or vegetables in the monks' bowls for good fortune. In return, the monks chant prayers and bless the givers.




