Long ago in Cambodia, there lived a hermit who possessed magical powers. Moni Mekhala, the water goddess, asked the hermit to be her teacher. The hermit agreed.

The ogre Ream Eyso decided that he too wished to possess magical powers. The hermit agreed to teach him as well.

The two learned a great deal. As their lessons came to an end, the hermit gave each an empty glass, and said, "The first to return tomorrow morning with a glass full of dew will win a prize." Moni Mekhala and Ream Eyso then departed.

The ogre went to sleep early, as he planned to wake up very early and collect dew from tree leaves. The resourceful goddess, however, laid a cloth upon the meadow, and went to asleep beside it.

The next day, before sunrise, Ream Eyso squeezed the leaves of trees, and dew slowly filled his glass.

When Moni Mekhala awoke, she squeezed the now-saturated cloth over the glass. In a matter of moments, her glass was full. She hurried to the hermit's hut. ねケ|WWW.FＡIＲy－ＴａlE.iｎＦoュㄓョァネト

The hermit gave her a magical glass ball as her prize. Overjoyed, she departed.

Arriving much later, Ream Eyso was furious when he learned of his defeat. The hermit gave Ream Eyso a gleaming gold ax as his prize.

But Ream Eyso coveted the magical ball. So, he went to the heavens, to look for Moni Mekhala. When he found her, he growled angrily.

"Give me that ball!" he demanded.

Moni Mekhala began to run away, and the ogre flung his ax at her. It narrowly missed her and, upon hitting the ground, filled the heavens with a thundering sound.

Moni Mekhala tossed her ball above her head. When she did, it radiated a streak so bright, it blinded the ogre, and Moni Mekhala escaped. Ream Eyso howled and rubbed his eyes, but by the time he could see again, Moni Mekhala was gone.

"I will find you," he cried. "I will chase you forever," and with that he too raced into the clouds.

This, the people of Cambodia say, was the origin of thunder and lightning.