Long ago, there was a wise and powerful hermit named Lok Ta Moni Eysei. He had three special students: Moni Mekhala, the clever goddess of the seas; Vorachhun, a prince connected to the earth; and Ream Eyso, a fiery-hearted demon. Lok Ta wanted to give a special gift to the student who deserved it the most. To decide, he announced a contest: whoever could bring back a glass full of morning dew first would win the mysterious prize.
As night fell, Vorachhun and Ream Eyso rushed into the forest. They shook every leaf and blade of grass to collect the precious dew in their glasses. When they returned to Lok Ta’s hut, they found Moni Mekhala already there with a full glass. She had cleverly left her shawl out overnight and simply squeezed the dew into her glass, winning the contest.
Lok Ta was proud of all his students and loved them like his own children. He surprised them with gifts: he turned Ream Eyso’s dew into a diamond axe, Vorachhun’s into a magic dagger, and Moni Mekhala’s into a beautiful crystal ball. However, Ream Eyso became jealous and wanted Moni Mekhala’s crystal ball for himself. He and Vorachhun tried to win her over to get the gem, but she refused and flew away. Determined, Ream Eyso decided to take the crystal ball by force.
Fueled by jealousy, Ream Eyso flew through the sky searching for Moni Mekhala. On his way, he met Vorachhun and attacked him, knowing the prince would try to stop him. Ream Eyso defeated Vorachhun and continued his search until he found Moni Mekhala. He demanded she give him the crystal ball, but she bravely refused and flew into the clouds to protect her friends. Ream Eyso chased after her, tearing through the clouds in his pursuit.
Once they were far from her friends, Moni Mekhala faced Ream Eyso. He demanded the crystal ball again, but she stood firm. Enraged, Ream Eyso swung his diamond axe. Before he could throw it, Moni Mekhala tossed her crystal ball into the sky. It flashed brightly, creating blinding lightning. Ream Eyso, in desperation, threw his axe, which roared through the sky, creating thunder. When the lightning and thunder mixed, rain began to fall from the heavens.
Mekhala approached the now-blind Ream Eyso. Remembering her teacher’s kindness, she chose to show compassion and flew away. Ream Eyso eventually regained his strength, found his axe, and followed her. Thunder, lightning, and rain continued to dance across the earth. Some raindrops fell on Vorachhun, reviving him with a golden glow. He grabbed his magic dagger and flew into the sky, ready to find Ream Eyso and Moni Mekhala once more.
Imagine you are a director creating a movie about the Cambodian myth. Draw a storyboard with six panels that depict the key events of the story. Use captions to describe what is happening in each scene. This will help you visualize the sequence of events and understand the characters’ motivations.
Choose one of the characters from the myth: Moni Mekhala, Ream Eyso, or Vorachhun. Write a short monologue from their perspective, explaining their feelings and actions during the contest and the chase. Perform your monologue for the class, and discuss how each character’s emotions influenced their decisions.
Conduct a simple experiment to create a mini thunderstorm in a jar. Use a glass jar, water, shaving cream, and food coloring to simulate clouds and rain. As you perform the experiment, think about how the myth explains the natural phenomena of lightning, thunder, and rain. Discuss how myths can offer imaginative explanations for natural events.
Design your own mythical creature inspired by the story. Consider the powers and characteristics of Moni Mekhala, Ream Eyso, and Vorachhun. Draw your creature and write a short description of its abilities and how it might interact with the characters from the myth. Share your creation with the class and explain your design choices.
Research another myth from a different culture that explains natural phenomena, such as the Greek myth of Zeus and thunderbolts. Compare and contrast it with the Cambodian myth of lightning, thunder, and rain. Create a Venn diagram to highlight the similarities and differences between the two myths. Discuss how different cultures use stories to explain the world around them.
Once, a long time ago, there was a powerful hermit named Lok Ta Moni Eysei. He had three promising students: Moni Mekhala, the brilliant goddess of the seas; Vorachhun, the princely manifestation of the earth; and Ream Eyso, a demon whose heart burned with passionate fire. Lok Ta wished to bestow a gift upon his most deserving student. To determine who that was, he announced a contest: whoever first brought back a glass full of morning dew would be the master of this mysterious gift.
When dusk came, Vorachhun and Ream Eyso ventured into the forest. They left not one leaf or blade of grass untouched, impatiently shaking the precious fluid into their glasses. When they returned to the hermit’s hut, they found Moni Mekhala sitting patiently with a full glass of morning dew. She had left her shawl out overnight and won the contest by simply wringing out the fabric over her glass.
Proud of all his students and loving them like his own children, Lok Ta surprised all three with gifts. He turned the dew Ream Eyso collected into a diamond axe, Vorachhun’s into a magic dagger, and Moni Mekhala’s into a crystal ball unlike anything ever seen. Soon, Ream Eyso grew envious and decided he must have Mekhala’s prize. He and Vorachhun tried to win the goddess over so they could get the precious gem. But after she rejected their advances and flew off, Ream Eyso resolved to take the crystal ball by force.
Ream Eyso flew through the air in search of Moni Mekhala, propelled by jealousy. On his way, he encountered Vorachhun and attacked him, knowing that the righteous prince would never allow him to steal the crystal. The demon gained the upper hand in the heat of battle and hurled Vorachhun against the side of a mountain. Sure of Vorachhun’s defeat, Ream Eyso continued his search until he finally found Moni Mekhala. He demanded that she and her friends either submit to him, the most brilliant of Lok Ta’s students and rightful master of the crystal ball, or face dire consequences. Mekhala, without fear, refused and flew off into the clouds, hoping to draw the demon away from her friends. Ream Eyso took the bait, ripping through clouds in his crazed pursuit.
Once far enough away, Mekhala confronted her pursuer. Ream Eyso made one last demand, but the goddess remained unfazed. Enraged, he began to swing his diamond axe. Before he could hurl the weapon, Mekhala threw her crystal into the air. As it climbed the height of the sky, it emitted powerful flashes of lightning that blinded the demon. Ream Eyso let his axe loose in wild desperation. As the weapon flew through the air, it cut through clouds, creating deep, rolling peals of thunder. And when the lightning and thunder mixed, precious seeds of water fell from heaven: rain.
Mekhala drew close to Ream Eyso, now blind and powerless without his axe. She pondered what she should do to the one who had harmed her friend. Remembering the kindness and love of her teacher, Moni Mekhala chose compassion and flew into the sky. Shortly after, Ream Eyso regained his strength, found his axe, and followed her. Thunder, lightning, and rain continued to dance across the earth. Some drops fell on Vorachhun and revived him, his skin golden like a rice field ready for harvest. Grabbing his magic dagger, he flew into the sky in search of Ream Eyso and Moni Mekhala.
Myth – A traditional story, often involving supernatural beings or events, that explains a natural or social phenomenon. – In literature class, we read a myth about how the sun and moon came to be.
Contest – A competition where individuals or groups compete to win. – The drama club held a contest to see who could perform the best monologue from a famous play.
Students – Individuals who are studying at a school or other educational institution. – The students eagerly participated in the school play, each taking on different roles.
Jealousy – A feeling of envy towards someone because of their achievements or advantages. – In the story, the character’s jealousy of his friend’s talent led to an unexpected twist.
Crystal – A clear, transparent mineral or glass resembling ice. – The stage was decorated with crystal chandeliers that sparkled under the theater lights.
Lightning – A sudden flash of light in the sky, caused by electricity during a storm. – The play’s dramatic scene was enhanced by the sound of thunder and flashes of lightning.
Thunder – The loud noise that follows a flash of lightning, caused by the rapid expansion of air. – As the actors performed the storm scene, the sound of thunder echoed through the auditorium.
Rain – Water droplets that fall from clouds in the sky. – In the novel, the rain symbolized the character’s sadness and longing for home.
Compassion – A feeling of deep sympathy and concern for others. – The protagonist’s compassion for the struggling artist was a central theme in the story.
Battle – A fight or struggle between opposing forces, often used in stories to depict conflict. – The epic battle between the hero and the villain was the highlight of the fantasy novel.
