From funerals that last for days to returning the body to the earth, we learned all about traditional and beautiful Cambodian death practices.
After speaking with a few local Khmer (Cambodians), I was told that after death the body goes through two specific stages.
Initially there is a funeral, white flags are flown from a high post and mourning music is played from dawn till dusk, sometimes for a few days. Tables, chairs, and food are provided as people turn up throughout the day to pay their final respects to the deceased.
The body is then buried and left alone for 3-5 years before it is exhumed and cremated. I believe this is to allow the flesh to rot and return to the earth. After the bones are exhumed, they are cremated and taken to a site similar to a graveyard of shrines. I'm not certain, but each family may have its own shrine as each village normally has its own resting area.
In memory of their ancestors, the Khmer keep a small, ornate house on their premises known as spirit houses, they resemble scaled up versions of birdhouses, just a lot more expensive. The belief is that their ancestors are always with them and need somewhere to live. Thus, the living family members will often leave a cup of tea or small bits of food outside the spirit house to appease their ancestor's spirits.
