The Fire King (Cambodia 2006, Part 3)

The first part of our Cambodia trip involved some site-seeing. Most of this took place far up in the north of Cambodia, in the Siem Reap province. While we were there we spent some time at the Cambodia Cultural Village. And it was here that  I learned, first hand, all about the Cambodian FIRE KING.This is how it happened. My friends and I were with a crowd of 500 or so Cambodians and internationals watching one of the short Cambodian culture plays/exhibits. The best I could tell, the people who were dancing around with skirts, spears, and painted faces were performing for us a little diddy about the ancient kings who used to rule the kingdom of Cambodia. It was mildly entertaining. But, all of a sudden, a group of these warrior men singled me out from the audience, grabbed me and hoisted me upon their shoulders, and took me into a mysterious hut.There in the dark, damp hut two Cambodians spoke to me in their native Khmer language and a little bit of broken English. This pair informed me that I was now designated as the Cambodian King of Fire. They then began to hand to me and put on me various bits and pieces of Fire King garb. I was given a stylish and feathery red vest, spears and such, several assorted yellow arm bands, a curly Cambodian wig, and a large Viking-esque helmet. Next I was given instructions which I could barely understand of how I was to act out the Fire King part once the men came back to fetch me from my kingly hut. Best I could understand, my job was to sit on my throne and look kingly and to periodically look into the fire, raise my weaponry into the air, and shout "Uuuuudaaaahhh" to the top of my lungs. So, that's what I did.As far as I could tell, the crowd appreciated my performance. I was told that I looked like a Cambodian Conan the Barbarian.