2009 - Cambodia

This is a photo travel log of our brief 4-day excursion into Cambodia following our stay in Vietnam. All four days would be spent in and around Siem Reap, the town closest to Cambodia's chi ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 05:57:27 -0700

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This is a photo travel log of our brief 4-day excursion into Cambodia following our stay in Vietnam. All four days would be spent in and around Siem Reap, the town closest to Cambodia's chi ...

SIEM REAP - The name "Siem Reap" means the 'Defeat of Siam' - today's Thailand - and refers to a centuries-old bloodbath. But as old as Siem Reap is, it still resembles a frontier village w ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 05:12:06 -0700

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SIEM REAP - The name "Siem Reap" means the 'Defeat of Siam' - today's Thailand - and refers to a centuries-old bloodbath. But as old as Siem Reap is, it still resembles a frontier village w ...

We would be introduced to Siem Reap and its surroundings by our trip leader Chanthra.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:47:24 -0700

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We would be introduced to Siem Reap and its surroundings by our trip leader Chanthra.

Despite the surge of tourism in the last few years, most of Siem Reap's residents are still relatively poor and are trying to make a living by finding their own special tourist niche.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:47:01 -0700

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Despite the surge of tourism in the last few years, most of Siem Reap's residents are still relatively poor and are trying to make a living by finding their own special tourist niche.

Other residents continue to practice age-old trades.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:46:23 -0700

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Other residents continue to practice age-old trades.

Evidence of Siem Reap's split personality can be seen in the local market...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:48:55 -0700

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Evidence of Siem Reap's split personality can be seen in the local market...

...where a variety of produce can be found...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:47:27 -0700

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...where a variety of produce can be found...

...along with young vendors and American tourists who haven't quite figured out how to convert U.S. dollars into Cambodian riel (we bought 3 limes for a dollar - should have been closer to ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:48:29 -0700

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...along with young vendors and American tourists who haven't quite figured out how to convert U.S. dollars into Cambodian riel (we bought 3 limes for a dollar - should have been closer to ...

Yet, just a few blocks from the traditional market is the very touristy "Pub Street" lined by very upscale restaurants and bars.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:21:39 -0700

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Yet, just a few blocks from the traditional market is the very touristy "Pub Street" lined by very upscale restaurants and bars.

Our first evening in Siem Reap, we attended an exhibition of Khmer Classical Dance.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:48:52 -0700

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Our first evening in Siem Reap, we attended an exhibition of Khmer Classical Dance.

Khmer dance was once known as robam preah reachea trop or "dances of royal wealth.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:50:32 -0700

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Khmer dance was once known as robam preah reachea trop or "dances of royal wealth.

During the French protectorate era, it was confined mainly to the courts of royal palaces and performed by the consorts, concubines, and attendants of the emperor.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:52:20 -0700

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During the French protectorate era, it was confined mainly to the courts of royal palaces and performed by the consorts, concubines, and attendants of the emperor.

Today it is the main attraction at restaurants and supper clubs throughout Siem Reap.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:51:30 -0700

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Today it is the main attraction at restaurants and supper clubs throughout Siem Reap.

As with previous dance performances in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, we didn't understand many of the plots, but there were obviously dastardly villains and ogres.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:50:42 -0700

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As with previous dance performances in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, we didn't understand many of the plots, but there were obviously dastardly villains and ogres.

A young dance contingent from local schools joined the performance.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:50:39 -0700

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A young dance contingent from local schools joined the performance.

The colorful dancers were exceptionally skilled and entertaining, but we couldn't help but be impressed by the young boy who played this xylophone-like instrument through most of hte perform ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:49:41 -0700

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The colorful dancers were exceptionally skilled and entertaining, but we couldn't help but be impressed by the young boy who played this xylophone-like instrument through most of hte perform ...

After the performance, audience members were invited on stage for a 'photo op' with the dancers. Some of us lept at the chance.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:46:32 -0700

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After the performance, audience members were invited on stage for a 'photo op' with the dancers. Some of us lept at the chance.

ANGKOR WAT - Its outline was unmistakable, giant stone spires symbolizing the revered Mount Meru of Hindu myth, depicted in virtually every book of ancient ruins, sketched , painted, and pho ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:23:21 -0700

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ANGKOR WAT - Its outline was unmistakable, giant stone spires symbolizing the revered Mount Meru of Hindu myth, depicted in virtually every book of ancient ruins, sketched , painted, and pho ...

ANGKOR WAT: ACT I - Approaching Angkor Wat is like attending the theater for a 4-act classic play. First, as the sun rises behind the temple, there is Act I - a walk down the first causeway ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:52:21 -0700

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ANGKOR WAT: ACT I - Approaching Angkor Wat is like attending the theater for a 4-act classic play. First, as the sun rises behind the temple, there is Act I - a walk down the first causeway ...

Once great caravans of elephants paraded four-abreast down the sandstone blocks of this walkway. To the ancient Hindus, the walk symbolized a journey across the oceans, the first leg of a p ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:53:30 -0700

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Once great caravans of elephants paraded four-abreast down the sandstone blocks of this walkway. To the ancient Hindus, the walk symbolized a journey across the oceans, the first leg of a p ...

ANGKOR WAT: ACT II - Then Act II unfolds as you enter the West Portico, passing the giant stone lions guarding its doorways. At many ancient ruins, this impressive structure might have been ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:53:54 -0700

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ANGKOR WAT: ACT II - Then Act II unfolds as you enter the West Portico, passing the giant stone lions guarding its doorways. At many ancient ruins, this impressive structure might have been ...

Inside the West Portico we were greeted by Vishnu, the multi-armed god believed by the Hindus to be the preserver of the universe. Angkor Wat was dedicated to this supreme deity, and he (it ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:53:56 -0700

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Inside the West Portico we were greeted by Vishnu, the multi-armed god believed by the Hindus to be the preserver of the universe. Angkor Wat was dedicated to this supreme deity, and he (it ...

Exiting the West Portico, the drama builds as we see the towers of Angkor Wat clearly for the first time. But as in any good theatrics, the suspense must be allowed to build.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:48:43 -0700

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Exiting the West Portico, the drama builds as we see the towers of Angkor Wat clearly for the first time. But as in any good theatrics, the suspense must be allowed to build.

Ahead of us is another walkway, this one more than 380 yards long, the length of three football fields.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:52:21 -0700

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Ahead of us is another walkway, this one more than 380 yards long, the length of three football fields.

On either side of the great causeway were smaller structures. In the 19th century, explorers called these "libraries," but there is no evidence that they contained manuscripts, scrolls, or ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:49:13 -0700

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On either side of the great causeway were smaller structures. In the 19th century, explorers called these "libraries," but there is no evidence that they contained manuscripts, scrolls, or ...

We knew we were getting closer to the most sacred area of Angkor Wat when we came upon the weathered figures of nine-headed nagas, the sacred snake in Hindu and Buddhist culture.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:11:58 -0700

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We knew we were getting closer to the most sacred area of Angkor Wat when we came upon the weathered figures of nine-headed nagas, the sacred snake in Hindu and Buddhist culture.

ANGKOR WAT - ACT III: Now, with anticipation mounting with each step, the curtain rises on Act III - the Ascent. Angkor Wat is approached by a series of stone stairways and platforms. For ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:11:13 -0700

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ANGKOR WAT - ACT III: Now, with anticipation mounting with each step, the curtain rises on Act III - the Ascent. Angkor Wat is approached by a series of stone stairways and platforms. For ...

ANGKOR WAT - ACT IV, THE CLIMAX: There before us, the dramatic climax, the postcard view of Angkor Wat, the image on the Cambodian flag, the Hindu's symbolic tribute to Mount Meru, the core ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:26:38 -0700

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ANGKOR WAT - ACT IV, THE CLIMAX: There before us, the dramatic climax, the postcard view of Angkor Wat, the image on the Cambodian flag, the Hindu's symbolic tribute to Mount Meru, the core ...

There is as much sandstone in Angkor Wat as there is in Khafre's great pyramid in Egypt (over 5 million tons).

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:58:10 -0700

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There is as much sandstone in Angkor Wat as there is in Khafre's great pyramid in Egypt (over 5 million tons).

After crossing the moat (the ocean) and the outer terraces (the continents), we made our final ascent up some very steep steps (obviously reaching the kingdom of the gods was never meant to ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:08:26 -0700

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After crossing the moat (the ocean) and the outer terraces (the continents), we made our final ascent up some very steep steps (obviously reaching the kingdom of the gods was never meant to ...

...and it was worth a commemorative photograph.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:08:49 -0700

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...and it was worth a commemorative photograph.

Welcoming us into the sacred environs of Angkor Wat were apsaras, celestial nymphs of exquisite beauty who danced in the clouds and waters of Hindu mythology, now immortalized in stone.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:55:27 -0700

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Welcoming us into the sacred environs of Angkor Wat were apsaras, celestial nymphs of exquisite beauty who danced in the clouds and waters of Hindu mythology, now immortalized in stone.

Apsaras were obviously important to the builders of Angkor Wat since nearly 1900 of them are carved into its pillars, walls, and towers.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:10:58 -0700

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Apsaras were obviously important to the builders of Angkor Wat since nearly 1900 of them are carved into its pillars, walls, and towers.

Some of the apsaras seemed to be welcoming visitors to the temple. Each is unique, and there are an astonishing array of garments...and more than 30 different hairstyles.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:55:30 -0700

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Some of the apsaras seemed to be welcoming visitors to the temple. Each is unique, and there are an astonishing array of garments...and more than 30 different hairstyles.

There are so many apsaras throughout Angkor Wat that some scholars are postulating a alternative theory that the temple wasn’t built to honor gods but to glorify women.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:09:12 -0700

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There are so many apsaras throughout Angkor Wat that some scholars are postulating a alternative theory that the temple wasn’t built to honor gods but to glorify women.

Whatever their purpose, the exquisite and detailed carvings are one of the most fascinating aspects of this amazing structure.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:10:24 -0700

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Whatever their purpose, the exquisite and detailed carvings are one of the most fascinating aspects of this amazing structure.

Beautiful dancing apsaras were not the only figures sculpted into the stones of Angkor Wat. Looking closely at the base of pillars surrounding the main courtyard of Angkor Wat, we found repe ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:57:02 -0700

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Beautiful dancing apsaras were not the only figures sculpted into the stones of Angkor Wat. Looking closely at the base of pillars surrounding the main courtyard of Angkor Wat, we found repe ...

Angkor Wat is massive, but often the smaller details best display the skills of its ancient craftsmen. The Gallery of a Thousand Buddhas once housed hundreds of Buddha images, but many had ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:10:11 -0700

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Angkor Wat is massive, but often the smaller details best display the skills of its ancient craftsmen. The Gallery of a Thousand Buddhas once housed hundreds of Buddha images, but many had ...

But in the next gallery, the world's longest continuous expanse of bas-reliefs was still intact - nearly a half mile of intricate carvings decorating the perimeter of the central temple, dep ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:14:01 -0700

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But in the next gallery, the world's longest continuous expanse of bas-reliefs was still intact - nearly a half mile of intricate carvings decorating the perimeter of the central temple, dep ...

The detail of Angkor Wat's bas reliefs was exquisitely detailed, portraying great battles....

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:57:37 -0700

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The detail of Angkor Wat's bas reliefs was exquisitely detailed, portraying great battles....

...and loyal subjects subservient to the emperor.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:57:25 -0700

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...and loyal subjects subservient to the emperor.

One of the reasons that Angkor Wat is still is such good condition is that it never ceased being an active temple - first Hindu, then Buddhist. Monks still worship and care for the facility ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:13:58 -0700

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One of the reasons that Angkor Wat is still is such good condition is that it never ceased being an active temple - first Hindu, then Buddhist. Monks still worship and care for the facility ...

Despite the constant presence of monks and the unceasing tide of tourists, the temple is still home to some of the native wildlife.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:07:34 -0700

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Despite the constant presence of monks and the unceasing tide of tourists, the temple is still home to some of the native wildlife.

On one side of the central temple, we entered the "Chamber of Echoes" where standing against the wall and thumping your chest produces a reverberation that all in the chamber can hear.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:11:23 -0700

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On one side of the central temple, we entered the "Chamber of Echoes" where standing against the wall and thumping your chest produces a reverberation that all in the chamber can hear.

As we made our way to the far side of the main temple, the scaffolding was not as visible, so we used the towers of Angkor Wat as the backdrop for one of our "we were there" photographs.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:58:24 -0700

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As we made our way to the far side of the main temple, the scaffolding was not as visible, so we used the towers of Angkor Wat as the backdrop for one of our "we were there" photographs.

Angkor Wat was the construction masterpiece of King Suryavarman II who reigned from 1112 to 1152 AD. It is surprisingly well preserved. The secret of its immortality lay first in the skill ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:59:03 -0700

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Angkor Wat was the construction masterpiece of King Suryavarman II who reigned from 1112 to 1152 AD. It is surprisingly well preserved. The secret of its immortality lay first in the skill ...

... and second, in contrast to its neighbors, Angkor Wat was never really abandoned. When the Frenchman Henri Mahout arrived in the middle of the 19th century, it was still being cared for ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:21:36 -0700

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... and second, in contrast to its neighbors, Angkor Wat was never really abandoned. When the Frenchman Henri Mahout arrived in the middle of the 19th century, it was still being cared for ...

The classic view of Angkor Wat - the world’s largest sacred temple.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:15:06 -0700

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The classic view of Angkor Wat - the world’s largest sacred temple.

It’s as if nature is saying to the modern world: “Let me win this one.” About a mile northwest of Angkor Wat we visited what is undoubtedly the most atmospheric ruin at Angkor - Ta Pro ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:44:56 -0700

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It’s as if nature is saying to the modern world: “Let me win this one.” About a mile northwest of Angkor Wat we visited what is undoubtedly the most atmospheric ruin at Angkor - Ta Pro ...

Cloaked in the shadow of giant, overhanging trees, the jungle’s roots and vines refusing to relinquish their grasp, Ta Prohm has been left much as the first explorers found it, entangled b ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:03:51 -0700

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Cloaked in the shadow of giant, overhanging trees, the jungle’s roots and vines refusing to relinquish their grasp, Ta Prohm has been left much as the first explorers found it, entangled b ...

Actually, many westerners may have seen Ta Prohm before – except they may not have known it. It was the set for several sequences of the movie Laura Croft – Tomb Raider. One of the most ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:02:28 -0700

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Actually, many westerners may have seen Ta Prohm before – except they may not have known it. It was the set for several sequences of the movie Laura Croft – Tomb Raider. One of the most ...

Ta Prohm was built around 1186 AD. After the Khmer empire fell in the 15th century, the temple was abandoned for centuries.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:03:12 -0700

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Ta Prohm was built around 1186 AD. After the Khmer empire fell in the 15th century, the temple was abandoned for centuries.

When the French began the effort to restore the temples of Angkor in the early 20th century, they decided to leave Ta Prohm largely as it had been found, as a "concession to the general tast ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:04:09 -0700

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When the French began the effort to restore the temples of Angkor in the early 20th century, they decided to leave Ta Prohm largely as it had been found, as a "concession to the general tast ...

Ta Prohm is a temple of towers, enclosed courtyards, and narrow corridors. We found several corridors clogged with jumbled piles of carved stone blocks dislodged by the roots of long-decaye ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:03:58 -0700

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Ta Prohm is a temple of towers, enclosed courtyards, and narrow corridors. We found several corridors clogged with jumbled piles of carved stone blocks dislodged by the roots of long-decaye ...

...although Joe and a few of us, led by our guide, ignored one of the "Do Not Enter" signs in a vain search for a hidden panel of bas-reliefs.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:06:42 -0700

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...although Joe and a few of us, led by our guide, ignored one of the "Do Not Enter" signs in a vain search for a hidden panel of bas-reliefs.

Angkor scholar Maurice Glaize observed, "On every side, in fantastic over-scale, the trunks of the silk-cotton trees soar skywards under a shadowy green canopy, their long spreading skirts t ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:05:35 -0700

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Angkor scholar Maurice Glaize observed, "On every side, in fantastic over-scale, the trunks of the silk-cotton trees soar skywards under a shadowy green canopy, their long spreading skirts t ...

Particularly remarkable was the way the massive trees had framed small temples, their roots enveloping the sides of the structure but leaving the entrances accessible.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:06:05 -0700

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Particularly remarkable was the way the massive trees had framed small temples, their roots enveloping the sides of the structure but leaving the entrances accessible.

We could have spent many more hours - probably even days - exploring Ta Prohm without exhausting all of the photo possibilities.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:22:35 -0700

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We could have spent many more hours - probably even days - exploring Ta Prohm without exhausting all of the photo possibilities.

In one of the temple corridors, we came across a linga - an ancient Hindu representation of the god Shiva (and cosmic manhood)....

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:53:03 -0700

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In one of the temple corridors, we came across a linga - an ancient Hindu representation of the god Shiva (and cosmic manhood)....

...while in another corridor we found Jere taking a break.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:53:08 -0700

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...while in another corridor we found Jere taking a break.

Like the other Angkor temples, Ta Prohm's beauty is not only in its setting, but also in the small details of the exquisite carvings on its walls.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:02:38 -0700

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Like the other Angkor temples, Ta Prohm's beauty is not only in its setting, but also in the small details of the exquisite carvings on its walls.

The walls of Ta Prohm - those left standing or unobscured by tree roots - displayed apsaras surrounded in many cases by amazingly intricate engravings.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:05:31 -0700

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The walls of Ta Prohm - those left standing or unobscured by tree roots - displayed apsaras surrounded in many cases by amazingly intricate engravings.

From virtually every corner of Ta Prohm, the carvings stared out from the walls. In some cases where the carvings do not appear to be of dancers, scholars believe they may be representation ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:53:15 -0700

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From virtually every corner of Ta Prohm, the carvings stared out from the walls. In some cases where the carvings do not appear to be of dancers, scholars believe they may be representation ...

Although split by a crack in the sandstone, this apsara still displayed the beauty of the carvings and the skills of the ancient sculptor.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:07:06 -0700

1000places
Although split by a crack in the sandstone, this apsara still displayed the beauty of the carvings and the skills of the ancient sculptor.

If Angkor Wat is testimony to the genius of the ancient Khmers, Ta Prohm is a reminder of the power of the jungle.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:49:18 -0700

1000places
If Angkor Wat is testimony to the genius of the ancient Khmers, Ta Prohm is a reminder of the power of the jungle.

During our time at Angkor we took a brief break from our temple explorations to visit a local school.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:59:12 -0700

1000places
During our time at Angkor we took a brief break from our temple explorations to visit a local school.

The parent company of Overseas Adventure Travel - our tour organization - uses a portion of our trip fees to support the school.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:01:20 -0700

1000places
The parent company of Overseas Adventure Travel - our tour organization - uses a portion of our trip fees to support the school.

As in every similar visit, the students are initially a little shy - wondering who these strange foreigners are.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:59:50 -0700

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As in every similar visit, the students are initially a little shy - wondering who these strange foreigners are.

But after a few moments - and an exchange of waves and winks - the smiles come out.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:00:53 -0700

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But after a few moments - and an exchange of waves and winks - the smiles come out.

There were probably nearly 50 children in the classroom we visited, yet they all appeared to be on their best behavior for us.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:59:38 -0700

1000places
There were probably nearly 50 children in the classroom we visited, yet they all appeared to be on their best behavior for us.

We knew our trip leader had a way with the ladies, and from the admiring look he received from one of the students, that was particularly true of the younger ones.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:00:01 -0700

1000places
We knew our trip leader had a way with the ladies, and from the admiring look he received from one of the students, that was particularly true of the younger ones.

Jeanne always seems to attract a crowd of young girls - it's probably her blond hair...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:01:00 -0700

1000places
Jeanne always seems to attract a crowd of young girls - it's probably her blond hair...

...I, on the other hand, have to get by with my witty bantor...except that no one could understand my English or, for that matter, my Cambodian.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:22:08 -0700

1000places
...I, on the other hand, have to get by with my witty bantor...except that no one could understand my English or, for that matter, my Cambodian.

In 1181 AD, ten years after the Chams - from today's Vietnam - had overrun Angkor Wat and conquered the nearby Khmer capital city, a new Khmer king would emerge. Named Jayarvarman VII, he w ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:34:57 -0700

1000places
In 1181 AD, ten years after the Chams - from today's Vietnam - had overrun Angkor Wat and conquered the nearby Khmer capital city, a new Khmer king would emerge. Named Jayarvarman VII, he w ...

Angkor Thom's entrance was guarded by two rows of stone sentinels – 54 devil-gods on one side, an equal number of benevolent deities on the other.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:22:53 -0700

1000places
Angkor Thom's entrance was guarded by two rows of stone sentinels – 54 devil-gods on one side, an equal number of benevolent deities on the other.

At each of the four stone entrances to the walled city, a giant stone face stares down at all those who enter...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:15:05 -0700

1000places
At each of the four stone entrances to the walled city, a giant stone face stares down at all those who enter...

... watching with the same enigmatic smile it has had for 500 years.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:14:05 -0700

1000places
... watching with the same enigmatic smile it has had for 500 years.

1000places' photo

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:07:50 -0700

1000places

Of all the structures at Angkor, Angkor Thom may be the most mystical. The name means "Great City," and its centerpiece - the Bayon - appears from a distance to be a massive muddle of jutti ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:21:01 -0700

1000places
Of all the structures at Angkor, Angkor Thom may be the most mystical. The name means "Great City," and its centerpiece - the Bayon - appears from a distance to be a massive muddle of jutti ...

It's when you get closer that the mysticism of the Bayon begins to reveal itself. First you see one, then two, then more - and as you ascend into the temple, you begin to see them all aroun ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:20:19 -0700

1000places
It's when you get closer that the mysticism of the Bayon begins to reveal itself. First you see one, then two, then more - and as you ascend into the temple, you begin to see them all aroun ...

...giant faces, protruding from the cut stones, staring into space...or at you.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:17:47 -0700

1000places
...giant faces, protruding from the cut stones, staring into space...or at you.

Once 50 or more towers soared skyward from the Bayon (37 remain). They bore more than 200 faces. Finding them in the ever-changing shadows and sunlight is like searching for the pony in the ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:51:01 -0700

1000places
Once 50 or more towers soared skyward from the Bayon (37 remain). They bore more than 200 faces. Finding them in the ever-changing shadows and sunlight is like searching for the pony in the ...

Who were they? Some believe they represent the bodhisattva, a Buddhist saint who stops short of reaching Nirvana so he can continue to help mankind.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:20:34 -0700

1000places
Who were they? Some believe they represent the bodhisattva, a Buddhist saint who stops short of reaching Nirvana so he can continue to help mankind.

Others believe they are stone portraits of Jayavarman VII, the king who built the Bayon in the 12th century.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:16:58 -0700

1000places
Others believe they are stone portraits of Jayavarman VII, the king who built the Bayon in the 12th century.

Regardless of who the stone carvings are intended to represent, the effect of strange faces staring at you from every angle is overwhelming....and a little eerie.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:17:32 -0700

1000places
Regardless of who the stone carvings are intended to represent, the effect of strange faces staring at you from every angle is overwhelming....and a little eerie.

Not all of the Bayon's mystique is larger-than-life. Adding color to the setting, we came upon monks in their bright robes...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:18:39 -0700

1000places
Not all of the Bayon's mystique is larger-than-life. Adding color to the setting, we came upon monks in their bright robes...

... and some very beautiful apsaras...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:16:35 -0700

1000places
... and some very beautiful apsaras...

...glowing the late afternoon sunlight...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:19:33 -0700

1000places
...glowing the late afternoon sunlight...

...their postures in some instances more extreme than the other carvings we had seen at Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:16:18 -0700

1000places
...their postures in some instances more extreme than the other carvings we had seen at Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm.

And speaking of strange postures, we came upon a group of very live apsaras who enticed me into assuming something vaguely resembling the pose of an ancient celestial dancer.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:14:57 -0700

1000places
And speaking of strange postures, we came upon a group of very live apsaras who enticed me into assuming something vaguely resembling the pose of an ancient celestial dancer.

The morning after our first temple tour, we set out into the Cambodian countryside for a look at typical Cambodian life...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:24:28 -0700

1000places
The morning after our first temple tour, we set out into the Cambodian countryside for a look at typical Cambodian life...

...some of it from the back of an ox cart...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:23:19 -0700

1000places
...some of it from the back of an ox cart...

...with Tom and Loretta following us.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:24:16 -0700

1000places
...with Tom and Loretta following us.

Along the way, we were "raced" by a little boy on his bicycle and his precariously perched sister who was more interested in maintaining a secure grip than smiling for the camera.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:23:17 -0700

1000places
Along the way, we were "raced" by a little boy on his bicycle and his precariously perched sister who was more interested in maintaining a secure grip than smiling for the camera.

But others we passed raced to the side of the road to wave their welcomes.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:23:48 -0700

1000places
But others we passed raced to the side of the road to wave their welcomes.

Many of the huts along a small river are constructed on stilts to protect them from the annual flooding that occurs during the wet season.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:23:11 -0700

1000places
Many of the huts along a small river are constructed on stilts to protect them from the annual flooding that occurs during the wet season.

After our ox cart dropped us off, we walked out into some nearby fields where a woman was hard at work piling rice stalks into a stack that the entire community will use for feeding their li ...

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:25:47 -0700

1000places
After our ox cart dropped us off, we walked out into some nearby fields where a woman was hard at work piling rice stalks into a stack that the entire community will use for feeding their li ...

We stopped by the house of our local guide to visit his family...his oldest son....

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:25:18 -0700

1000places
We stopped by the house of our local guide to visit his family...his oldest son....

...his youngest son (who seemed more interested in playing with minnows he had collected in his pail)....

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:24:32 -0700

1000places
...his youngest son (who seemed more interested in playing with minnows he had collected in his pail)....

...and his very attractive teenage daughter.

nobody@smugmug.com (1000places) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:51:16 -0700

1000places
...and his very attractive teenage daughter.