Stories, cows and husbands that wander

Have questions or resources regarding Khmer Culture? This forum is all about the Kingdom of Cambodia's culture. Khmer language, Cambodian weddings, French influence, Cambodian architecture, Cambodian politics, Khmer customs, etc? This is the place. Living in Cambodia can cause you to experience a whole new level of culture shock, so feel free to talk about all things related to the Khmer people, and their traditions. And if you want something in Khmer script translated into English, you will probably find what you need.
taabarang
Expatriate
Posts: 3858
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 7:49 am
Reputation: 978
Location: Outside of Kampong Cham city
United States of America

Stories, cows and husbands that wander

Post by taabarang »

Out here in the boonies of the Kingdom of Wonder,where the days flow on and begin to resemble one another.It is small things that begin to draw the attention, things like the unusually heavy traffic on highway 7 and the unusual number of ambulance sirens. It is of course Ching Ming, the Chinese grave cleaning day. My daughter has gone with granny to clean the grave of a man she never met and one suspects, to eat good food later.

So, I am sitting outside at home seeking relief from a bit of boredom when all at once I notice four strange cows in my back yard. Yep, it'' s that time of year when green grass is hard to find and their owners let them graze free range. In rural Cambodia free range means along the side of the road, anyone's property or orchard. The term for this is prawleng koh chawl. An interesting variation of this is used by wives who praleng pdey chawl. They let their hubbies look for greener pastures because they know all the grass is the same and like the cows they will find their way back to home and responsibilities.
As my old Cajun bait seller used to say, "I opes you luck.
Anchor Moy
Expatriate
Posts: 13458
Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 11:37 pm
Reputation: 3974
Tokelau

Re: Stories, cows and husbands that wander

Post by Anchor Moy »

This sounds idyllic, as long as you're ok to share with your neighbours, but what about all these stories between neighbours, where "what's yours' is mine and what's mine is mine"...not to mention the cows who eat your washing ?

(And I don't even want to go into the problems with sharing your wife - think there's another thread for that anyway. ;) )
User avatar
rozzieoz
Expatriate
Posts: 4862
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 3:51 pm
Reputation: 2590
Australia

Re: Stories, cows and husbands that wander

Post by rozzieoz »

Polyamorous villages??? I'm in!
Once you've read the dictionary, every other book is just a remix.
User avatar
frank lee bent
Expatriate
Posts: 11330
Joined: Sat May 17, 2014 4:10 am
Reputation: 2094
United States of America

Re: Stories, cows and husbands that wander

Post by frank lee bent »

Rozzie, you may find the dice loaded in favour of the blokes.

first class descriptive memoir Taa.

do one like that a day and you will have a book worth reading in 6 months.

i will buy one.

if electronic.
taabarang
Expatriate
Posts: 3858
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 7:49 am
Reputation: 978
Location: Outside of Kampong Cham city
United States of America

Re: Stories, cows and husbands that wander

Post by taabarang »

Thank you Frank lee bent. The first posters obviously have an agenda or preoccupation that has nothing to do with the introduction of an idiom that is used humorously. And of course, you are correct about the same right not being extended to wives. And as for "This sounds idyllic." Shit I said I was bored. And if you quoted the German phase which I used elsewhere here(Was ist meins ist meins and was ist deins ist auch meins.) you reversed the order, no biggie to be sure, but furthermore cows here do not eat laundry as far as I know. Both of you have read too much into my post. Secondly, I've read your posts rozzieoz and you're still in the honeymoon stage of your stay here. I can assure you that your love philosophy is better suited to your home country than it is to rural Cambodia.
As my old Cajun bait seller used to say, "I opes you luck.
rick_o'shea
Expatriate
Posts: 322
Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2014 9:04 pm
Reputation: 13

Re: Stories, cows and husbands that wander

Post by rick_o'shea »

I liked that. I've heard prolaing used in a few ways, but never like that!
taabarang
Expatriate
Posts: 3858
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 7:49 am
Reputation: 978
Location: Outside of Kampong Cham city
United States of America

Re: Stories, cows and husbands that wander

Post by taabarang »

Thank you Rick, yeah, that's why I post rural language usage and idiomatic spin-offs. I'm certain that the idiom is known to city dwellers, but since it's impossible to prawleng koh chaol(chawl was wrong)there is no need for usage.
As my old Cajun bait seller used to say, "I opes you luck.
User avatar
StroppyChops
The Missionary Man
Posts: 10598
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 11:24 am
Reputation: 1032
Australia

Re: Stories, cows and husbands that wander

Post by StroppyChops »

frank lee bent wrote:do one like that a day and you will have a book worth reading in 6 months.
I'd buy that.
Bodge: This ain't Kansas, and the neighbours ate Toto!
prahkeitouj
Expatriate
Posts: 2653
Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2015 11:46 pm
Reputation: 12
Cambodia

Re: Stories, cows and husbands that wander

Post by prahkeitouj »

If they just eat the grass is no problem, but some cows eat our plants. So praleng koh chawl is suitable to do in the forest,but in the village is a cause of argument.
Last edited by prahkeitouj on Thu Apr 02, 2015 11:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
កុំស្លាប់ដូចពស់ កុំរស់ដូចកង្កែប
Samouth
Expatriate
Posts: 3679
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2014 8:25 am
Reputation: 14
Location: Phnom Penh
Burundi

Re: Stories, cows and husbands that wander

Post by Samouth »

taabarang wrote:Out here in the boonies of the Kingdom of Wonder,where the days flow on and begin to resemble one another.It is small things that begin to draw the attention, things like the unusually heavy traffic on highway 7 and the unusual number of ambulance sirens. It is of course Ching Ming, the Chinese grave cleaning day. My daughter has gone with granny to clean the grave of a man she never met and one suspects, to eat good food later.

So, I am sitting outside at home seeking relief from a bit of boredom when all at once I notice four strange cows in my back yard. Yep, it'' s that time of year when green grass is hard to find and their owners let them graze free range. In rural Cambodia free range means along the side of the road, anyone's property or orchard. The term for this is prawleng koh chawl. An interesting variation of this is used by wives who praleng pdey chawl. They let their hubbies look for greener pastures because they know all the grass is the same and like the cows they will find their way back to home and responsibilities.
I spent a few minutes to understand it. I was confused by the your Romanization for the word cow (Koh). To me, it sounds like Island. So for the Romanizaation for island, we write (Koh).

BTW, i have never heard of this idiom. :(
បើសិនធ្វើចេះ ចេះឲ្យគេកោត បើសិនធ្វើឆោត ឆោតឲ្យគេអាណិត។

If you know a lot, know enough to make them respect you, if you are stupid, be stupid enough so they can pity you.
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 162 guests