Audio Assault

Seam Reap, Cambodia:



I was awakened at 6 o'clock this morning by the most god-awful wailing, banging, clanging, screeching, blaring cacophony emanating from the loud-speakers at a nearby temple, and it continued unabated until I left the guest house at 9:30 a.m. When I returned at 3 p.m. it was still going, as was the case when I came back at 7 p.m.

Apparently someone who lives in the neighborhood died last night, and the Buddhist priests have determined that the most auspicious date for his burial is about 4 days from now, so I'll get to enjoy this audio mayhem for another 72 hours.



Imagine an interminable, ear-splitting, mind-numbing, nausea-inducing extended soundtrack straight from the studios of hell. Or a fight between a tom cat and a bag pipe, combined with the sound a two year old in the throes of a temper tantrum maniacally banging a cowbell while a tone deaf woman screeches at the top of her lungs. 

Now turn the volume up to 11 and you'll have some idea of what I have to look forward to. I figure it's a good reason to get up early and get out and get on with my day. Otherwise I'd have to move across town to escape the noise...it's that pervasive.

Apparently there's a cease-fire between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. How it is that the local folks don't seem to mind is beyond my comprehension. Seriously...I’d sign up for water-boarding before this particular type of torture. At least with water-boarding there would be the possibility that it would put me out of my misery.

Why this hasn't been used as a method of torture is curious to me. I would surrender and tell the enemy all my passwords if subjected to this. But instead I'm paying by the day to listen to it...complimentary breakfast included.

Footnote: For additional funereal fun, read my post entitled "A Grave Situation"