Pictures do a lot to describe a place, but sounds are what really identify it to someone who has been there. There are two animal sounds that I will always think of when remembering Phnom Penh.
Just after sunset on the first day we arrived in Phnom Penh, a very loud croaking sound came from outside the kitchen window. It was a deep, loud croak ending in kind of a "hiccup" sound. This was repeated 5 or 6 times: co-ahup, co-ahup, co-ahup. We couldn't see what was making the sound. The following night we were startled awake about 3 a.m. when the same deep croaking came from right outside the bedroom window. Inquiries led to the conclusion that the sound came from a lizard, a very big lizard (maybe a foot long??). We dubbed it the "croaking critter" and heard it nearly daily during our stay. A couple of times I heard it during the day and would hurry outside to try to catch a glimpse of the author of the impressive sound. I never succeeded. So, the croaking critter has remained a purely auditory memory, never allowing for a visual confirmation.
The other sound was much more pleasant. Every morning about 5:30 a.m., about half an hour before sunrise, a bird would start warbling or trilling. The tone was lovely. Hearing that wake-up call was much more pleasant than the strident crowing of a rooster. It was my signal that the sun would soon be rising so I'd better think about getting up if I wanted to get out for a walk before it got too hot.
This specific croaking and warbling remains my auditory memory identity of the city of Phnom Penh.
Just after sunset on the first day we arrived in Phnom Penh, a very loud croaking sound came from outside the kitchen window. It was a deep, loud croak ending in kind of a "hiccup" sound. This was repeated 5 or 6 times: co-ahup, co-ahup, co-ahup. We couldn't see what was making the sound. The following night we were startled awake about 3 a.m. when the same deep croaking came from right outside the bedroom window. Inquiries led to the conclusion that the sound came from a lizard, a very big lizard (maybe a foot long??). We dubbed it the "croaking critter" and heard it nearly daily during our stay. A couple of times I heard it during the day and would hurry outside to try to catch a glimpse of the author of the impressive sound. I never succeeded. So, the croaking critter has remained a purely auditory memory, never allowing for a visual confirmation.
The other sound was much more pleasant. Every morning about 5:30 a.m., about half an hour before sunrise, a bird would start warbling or trilling. The tone was lovely. Hearing that wake-up call was much more pleasant than the strident crowing of a rooster. It was my signal that the sun would soon be rising so I'd better think about getting up if I wanted to get out for a walk before it got too hot.
This specific croaking and warbling remains my auditory memory identity of the city of Phnom Penh.
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