Folkloric

On our last night in Siem Reap and indeed the whole trip we endured enjoyed a folkloric dance and music performance extravaganza.  

After another folkloric evening in Russia some years ago, Me Jenny and I promised each other that we would never put ourselves through that ever again,  and up until now we've managed to avoid anything with the word 'folkloric' in it.  However the kind Khmer people at the Golden Temple Residence offered us a complimentary dinner and it would have been a little rude to turn it down.

The traditional Khmer food was divine....

...but we couldn't quite work out whether the musicians were out of tune and off key or whether we just didn't have the proper trained ear to appreciate the traditional music.

There were several dances performed by ladies and gentlemen who were a little half hearted about it, but if I had to perform the same routine 7 nights a week to a tiny audience of people who didn't appreciate it, I'd be a little lacklustre myself!

 Some dances told a story about traditional fishing or daily life and some others, like the coconut clapping dance was a bit like a partner barn dance that we learnt in PE back in primary school.  We were probably just as bored with it then as the dancers were here.  

Or maybe they are meant to keep a straight (bored looking) face throughout the dances?  Maybe we just don't get it?

The ladies were very graceful in their movements and somehow have trained their hands and fingers to bend back in the most impossible way.

It was a very pleasant evening.  Please don't get me wrong - it isn't particularly Cambodian folkloric that doesn't appeal - it's ALL folkloric.  Maybe being more educated about it would help my appreciation, but it's a bit like punk and thrash music - I'm just not sure I like it.