Cambodian is an old country, and it is inevitable for many superstitious things to still remain. Growing up, I learned a lot of things to not do or say when traveling; especially in natural places. From forests to mountains and more, we believe that there are still ancient spirits residing in trees or various spots. However, today we only focus on the things Cambodian people avoid when camping. This leisure activity has been popular for the past few years, all the more reason to know what to avoid.
Answer To Calls
When you are sleeping in your tent, and then you hear someone call your name, do not answer. Do not answer to that and do not open your tent to go out to check, just ignore it. Things are the same if you see colorful lights flying outside. Another thing to remember is not just a normal calling, it could be like “Come out, there are animals! (tiger, snake, etc)” or “Leave, the authority does not allow camping tonight.”, etc. It is possible for the voice of the person who calls to be someone you know or someone with you. But in the middle of the night is not right, so never answer that or leave the tent to check. That is not real, and those are just bad spirits trying to lure you out to harm you.
Things are the same with other noises around you, do not leave your tent. It is a sign that there are spirits nearby, and don’t try to be brave, they are not what you want to encounter. Professional campers and hikers highly recommend using a walkie-talkie when you go camping. This is the best way to communicate because there is no mobile connection in the wild. You know you can easily talk to each other.
I have experienced this but not in the forest or in the wild, it was in my own home. During Chinese or Khmer New Year, I would hear my mom call my name and I would yell “Yesssss?”. No one was calling me, and that happened every year for a few years during my childhood. I was told that it was the call from my house protector, and that was not harmful.
Curse
Bad words are not to be said when you are hiking, walking in the forests, or camping. It does not matter if it is towards your friends or the obstacles you are experiencing along the way. Always watch your mouth and avoid cursing or using bad words that disrespect nature and spirits in the wild. Same with your jokes, do not make clever jokes that will lead to bad fortune for you and your group later.
Insult
Do not say anything that might come off as an insult to the old spirits in the areas. You should never say things like “I am not afraid of those spirits.”, “I do not believe that those spirits are real.”, “Come on, it is 2024, and you still believe in spirits?”, or “If the spirits are real, come to meet me tonight.”. Just be careful with your words and the jokes that you make because it might affect you later. It has been countless cases of people who say disrespectful things and met the unpleasant sight of spirits in their sleep. That would be considered the least serious one because the worst would be getting lost, possessed, haunted, etc.
What Ifs
During your adventures, avoid saying things like “What if we are lost?”, “What if the tiger comes out of nowhere and eats us?”, or “What if there is a ghost?”. Basically, you should just avoid making unfortunate comments or speaking of the concerns on your mind. We believe that saying those things out loud can bring bad luck to you. I don’t know about you but I have known a few people who always say things like this when traveling. I don’t understand what’s going on in their mind to say such things out loud.
Other Little Things To Remember:
- Always ask for permission before the excretion because it is their domain and their land.
- Ask for permission before setting up your tent and make sure to say goodbye and thank them for their spot for you to camp in.
- Do not harm or kill animals no matter how big or small when you see one. Either avoid them or move them away nicely. However, fishing is okay but you should ask for permission as well.
- When you see a beautiful spot, it is okay to say how nice the view is. However, do not say things like “I can live here forever.” or “I really want to live here.”. Once again, be careful with what you wish for.
- If you eat and your food keeps falling, leave it be. Do not kick it away, step on it, or pick it back up. Don’t worry about littering because insects or small animals will come to feed on that later. The most important thing is something that you cannot see is probably trying to get a piece of your meal. It is better to let them have it.
Conclusion
When it comes to beliefs, it all depends on the individual. Whether or not they believe, it is up to them. However, do not insult or look down on other cultures’ beliefs just because you don’t believe them. It does not cost a thing to open up your mind to learn different things and respect one’s culture. I do not experience any of these myself despite the fact that I have been here since birth. It is all about respect, and I find it fascinating to listen to those who have years of experience venturing into the wild. This is why I want to share this knowledge with you here, I hope it is something new to read about.
Related Post: Superstitious Beliefs Cambodian Elders Don’t Do